Transport 2026: Who Speaks for Transport and Infrastructure in New Zealand Politics?

Last updated: 3 August 2026

Transport is one of those political portfolios that rarely stays confined to one minister, one opposition spokesperson or one type of policy debate.

New Zealand’s transport conversation runs through:

  • Roads and road safety.

  • Public transport.

  • Passenger and freight rail.

  • Aviation.

  • Ports and coastal shipping.

  • Infrastructure funding.

  • Fuel and energy security.

  • Climate resilience.

  • Housing and urban development.

  • Freight and supply chains.

  • Regional development.

  • Local government.

  • Resource-management reform.

Anyone trying to understand transport policy ahead of the 2026 General Election therefore needs a wider lens than simply asking who the Minister of Transport is.

The principal government figure is Transport and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop. However, major decisions also involve the Finance Minister, Associate Transport Minister, Minister for Rail, Minister for Auckland, Energy Minister, Regional Development Minister, local-government ministers and parliamentary committees.

The same is true across the opposition parties.

Labour divides responsibility between its Transport spokesperson and its Infrastructure and Public Investment spokesperson. The Green Party combines Transport and Infrastructure under one experienced spokesperson. ACT has separate but overlapping transport and infrastructure specialists. New Zealand First’s influence is spread across Rail, Regional Development and its Associate Transport spokesperson.

Te Pāti Māori now has a clearly designated Transport and Infrastructure portfolio holder, while Opportunity has a transport-relevant policy author and infrastructure specialist but does not yet publicly identify a formal national Transport spokesperson.

This guide identifies the people most likely to shape, challenge, explain or deliver New Zealand transport and infrastructure policy through the 2026 election.

The Transport and Infrastructure Political Map

As of 3 August 2026, the central political figures include:

Current Government

  • Chris Bishop — Minister of Transport and Minister for Infrastructure.

  • James Meager — Associate Minister of Transport.

  • Nicola Willis — Minister of Finance and Minister for Economic Growth.

  • Simon Watts — Minister for Auckland and Minister of Local Government.

  • Simeon Brown — Minister for Energy and Minister for State-Owned Enterprises; former Minister of Transport.

  • Winston Peters — Minister for Rail.

  • Shane Jones — Minister for Regional Development and Resources; Associate Minister of Energy and Finance.

Labour

  • Tangi Utikere — Transport, Local Government and State-Owned Enterprises spokesperson.

  • Kieran McAnulty — Infrastructure and Public Investment spokesperson.

  • Carmel Sepuloni — Auckland Issues spokesperson.

Green Party

  • Julie Anne Genter — Transport and Infrastructure spokesperson.

ACT New Zealand

  • Cameron Luxton — Transport spokesperson.

  • Simon Court — Infrastructure spokesperson and Parliamentary Under-Secretary.

New Zealand First

  • Andy Foster — Associate Transport spokesperson and Chair of Parliament’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee.

  • Winston Peters — Rail spokesperson and Minister for Rail.

  • Shane Jones — Economic Development and Infrastructure spokesperson, with direct relevance to regional transport and energy infrastructure.

Te Pāti Māori

  • Oriini Kaipara — Transport and Infrastructure portfolio holder.

Opportunity

  • Dave Bainbridge-Zafar — the most transport and infrastructure-relevant Opportunity candidate directly engaged through Transport 2026.

  • Qiulae Wong — party leader.

  • Daniel Eb — deputy leader, with relevance to regional and rural policy.

Not every person on this list holds a title containing the word “transport.”

That is precisely why the wider map matters.

A major railway decision may be shaped by the Rail Minister, Finance Minister and State-Owned Enterprises spokesperson. An Auckland public-transport decision may involve the Transport Minister, Auckland Minister, local government, Auckland Council and multiple party spokespeople.

Infrastructure projects can also succeed or fail because of decisions involving planning law, energy supply, Crown borrowing, procurement, local-government finance and workforce capacity.

National and the Current Government

Chris Bishop — Minister of Transport and Infrastructure

Chris Bishop is the central transport and infrastructure figure in the current Government.

His current portfolios are:

  • Attorney-General.

  • Minister of Housing.

  • Minister for Infrastructure.

  • Minister Responsible for RMA Reform.

  • Minister of Transport.

  • Associate Minister of Finance.

He is the MP for Hutt South.

Bishop took over the Transport portfolio in January 2025, replacing Simeon Brown.

His combination of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, planning reform and Finance gives him unusually broad influence over the way New Zealand plans and builds.

His responsibilities connect:

  • State highways.

  • Public transport.

  • Infrastructure funding.

  • Housing growth.

  • Land-use planning.

  • Resource-management reform.

  • Public-private partnerships.

  • Road-user charges.

  • Tolling.

  • Long-term project sequencing.

  • Auckland transport reform.

This combination reflects the Government’s view that transport cannot be planned independently of housing, infrastructure and economic growth.

Bishop now fronts most of the Government’s major transport announcements, including the Major Transport Projects Pipeline, Roads of National Significance, road maintenance, bridge programmes, public-transport infrastructure and electronic road-user-charge reform.

He is also responsible for the Government’s response to the National Infrastructure Plan and for reforms intended to expand the ways infrastructure can be funded and financed.

That makes Bishop more than the minister responsible for NZTA.

He is one of the main architects of the Government’s wider approach to growth, planning, construction and infrastructure investment.

Background and Political Style

Bishop has a legal, communications and political background rather than a professional career in transport or engineering.

He worked in politics and public affairs before entering Parliament and was the National Party’s campaign chair for the 2023 General Election.

His influence comes from his ability to coordinate policy, funding, planning and delivery across several portfolios.

He is best understood as a political and delivery minister rather than a technical transport specialist.

Why Chris Bishop Matters for Transport 2026

Bishop will be central to the election debate over:

  • Which transport projects are genuinely funded.

  • Which Roads of National Significance can proceed.

  • The balance between roads and public transport.

  • Electronic RUC.

  • Time-of-use charging.

  • Tolling and private finance.

  • Auckland governance.

  • Infrastructure debt.

  • Maintenance.

  • Resource-management reform.

  • Cross-party infrastructure planning.

National’s final 2026 transport platform is likely to be built heavily around Bishop’s record and programme.

James Meager — Associate Minister of Transport

James Meager is:

  • Associate Minister of Transport.

  • Minister for the South Island.

  • Minister for Hunting and Fishing.

  • Minister for Youth.

  • MP for Rangitata.

His Transport responsibilities extend beyond the main state-highway and road-funding programme.

Meager has been particularly visible in:

  • Aviation.

  • Maritime transport.

  • Coastal shipping.

  • Search and rescue.

  • Regional air connections.

  • South Island infrastructure.

  • Digital transport documents.

  • Transport regulation.

His portfolio gives him an important role in parts of the transport system that can receive less political attention than roads and urban public transport.

Aviation

Meager has fronted the Government’s Aviation Action Plan and the accelerated aviation-rules programme.

This work includes:

  • Modernising civil aviation rules.

  • Reducing certification delays.

  • Supporting new aviation technology.

  • Addressing workforce shortages.

  • Supporting vulnerable regional routes.

  • Improving regional air connectivity.

Aviation matters to transport policy because New Zealand’s geography makes regional and international air travel essential to tourism, trade, healthcare, emergency response and communities without reliable alternatives.

Maritime and Regional Connectivity

Meager has also been closely involved in:

  • Coastal-shipping resilience.

  • Regional ports.

  • Maritime governance.

  • Search-and-rescue funding.

  • Chatham Islands shipping.

  • Regional access.

His role demonstrates why transport politics cannot be reduced to roads versus rail.

For many communities, the most important transport connection may be an aircraft, coastal vessel, ferry or resilient regional road.

Nicola Willis — Finance and Infrastructure Funding

Nicola Willis is:

  • Minister of Finance.

  • Minister for Economic Growth.

  • Minister for Social Investment.

She does not hold a formal Transport portfolio, but no major transport or infrastructure programme can proceed without Finance approval.

Willis has direct influence over:

  • Budget capital allowances.

  • Crown borrowing.

  • Infrastructure investment.

  • The National Land Transport Fund.

  • Strategic fuel reserves.

  • Fiscal limits.

  • Public-private partnerships.

  • Long-term Crown payment obligations.

  • Project sequencing.

A government may support dozens of transport projects in principle.

The Finance Minister helps determine how many can actually be funded, when they can begin and whether the Crown can afford their long-term costs.

Willis has appeared alongside Bishop on major infrastructure and resilience announcements, including Budget 2026’s capital programme.

Why Nicola Willis Matters

Transport policy frequently becomes a fiscal argument.

The central questions include:

  • Should infrastructure be financed through taxation or debt?

  • How much should road users contribute?

  • Should private investors finance public assets?

  • How much can the Crown commit to future payments?

  • Which projects should receive priority?

  • How should infrastructure spending be balanced against health, education and other services?

Willis is therefore one of the most important transport-adjacent political figures in the 2026 campaign.

Simon Watts — Auckland and Local Government

Simon Watts is:

  • Minister for Auckland.

  • Minister of Local Government.

  • Minister of Climate Change.

  • Minister of Revenue.

His Auckland and Local Government portfolios make him highly relevant to transport.

Councils are responsible for or closely involved in:

  • Local roads.

  • Public-transport planning.

  • Parking.

  • Walking and cycling.

  • Regional transport plans.

  • Bus stops and stations.

  • Speed management.

  • Infrastructure supporting housing growth.

Watts has also been directly involved in Auckland’s transport-governance reforms.

The new system transfers most policy, planning, road-control and capital-delivery responsibilities from Auckland Transport to Auckland Council while retaining a smaller public-transport delivery organisation.

The reform creates a new relationship between central government, Auckland Council, local boards and Auckland Transport.

Watts will remain important in determining how that transition operates and whether local-government funding arrangements can support the responsibilities councils are expected to carry.

Simeon Brown — Energy, State-Owned Enterprises and Former Transport Minister

Simeon Brown is currently:

  • Minister of Health.

  • Minister for Energy.

  • Minister for State-Owned Enterprises.

He is no longer the Minister for Transport and should not be described as the current Minister for Auckland.

Brown nevertheless remains relevant to Transport 2026 for two reasons.

First, he served as Transport Minister during the earlier part of the current Government and was closely associated with:

  • The Government Policy Statement on Land Transport.

  • Roads of National Significance.

  • Speed-limit reform.

  • Road maintenance.

  • Public-transport funding settings.

  • Auckland transport policy.

Second, his current Energy and State-Owned Enterprises portfolios affect several major transport issues.

These include:

  • Electricity generation for transport electrification.

  • Fuel and gas security.

  • Crown-owned energy companies.

  • KiwiRail and other state-owned enterprises.

  • Electric-vehicle charging.

  • Public-transport fleet electrification.

Transport is increasingly dependent on the energy system.

Electric buses, trains, cars, ferries and charging depots require sufficient generation, grid connections and reliable electricity supply.

Brown’s current role therefore keeps him relevant to the wider transport and infrastructure debate even though he no longer controls the main portfolio.

Winston Peters — Minister for Rail

Winston Peters is:

  • Leader of New Zealand First.

  • Minister of Foreign Affairs.

  • Minister for Rail.

  • Minister for Racing.

He is the Government’s principal political figure on rail.

His responsibilities include:

  • KiwiRail.

  • National rail-network investment.

  • Freight rail.

  • Metropolitan rail infrastructure.

  • Rail-linked ports.

  • Cook Strait transport.

  • The Marsden Point rail connection.

Peters has a long political association with rail and public ownership.

New Zealand First presents rail as strategic national infrastructure supporting freight, regional industry, ports and resilience rather than primarily as an environmental programme.

Budget 2026 included up to $1.075 billion for KiwiRail’s planned network investments and $106.9 million for metropolitan rail renewals. New Zealand First lists this as one of its major current achievements.

Peters is likely to remain central to political debate over:

  • KiwiRail’s commercial performance.

  • Rail-network funding.

  • Passenger and freight rail.

  • Cook Strait ferries.

  • Rail-enabled shipping.

  • Northport and Marsden Point.

  • Public ownership of strategic transport links.

Shane Jones — Regional Development, Resources and Energy

Shane Jones is:

  • Minister for Regional Development.

  • Minister for Resources.

  • Minister for Oceans and Fisheries.

  • Associate Minister of Finance.

  • Associate Minister of Energy.

He is also New Zealand First’s deputy leader and one of its principal infrastructure and economic-development figures.

Jones does not hold the formal Transport portfolio, but he influences transport through:

  • The Regional Infrastructure Fund.

  • Northland development.

  • Marsden Point.

  • Ports.

  • Energy infrastructure.

  • Resource development.

  • Regional airports.

  • Freight corridors.

  • Industrial investment.

Transport infrastructure is often required before regional economic development can occur.

A new industrial area, mine, port expansion or energy project may require:

  • Better roads.

  • Rail connections.

  • Port infrastructure.

  • Workforce transport.

  • Energy supply.

  • Freight facilities.

Jones is therefore one of the current Government’s most consequential transport-adjacent ministers.

Labour Party

Tangi Utikere — Labour Transport Spokesperson

Tangi Utikere is Labour’s spokesperson for:

  • Transport.

  • Local Government.

  • State-Owned Enterprises.

  • Racing.

He is also Deputy Shadow Leader of the House, MP for Palmerston North and a member of Parliament’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee.

Utikere is Labour’s main voice on:

  • Roads.

  • Public transport.

  • Rail.

  • Transport funding.

  • Local-government transport.

  • Government project priorities.

  • State-owned transport assets.

Before entering Parliament in 2020, he served for 10 years on Palmerston North City Council and became Deputy Mayor in 2016.

That local-government background is important.

Many transport decisions sit at the boundary between central and local government, particularly:

  • Local roads.

  • Public-transport services.

  • Regional transport planning.

  • Parking.

  • Urban growth.

  • Council infrastructure funding.

Utikere’s experience is therefore more closely connected with local governance and community delivery than with commercial transport operations or engineering.

Labour’s Emerging 2026 Position

Utikere is fronting Labour’s developing transport programme.

The party has announced a weekly public-transport fare cap of:

  • $20 in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

  • $10 elsewhere in New Zealand.

The policy would begin on 1 July 2027 under a Labour Government.

Utikere has also become Labour’s main critic of the Government’s Roads of National Significance and Major Transport Projects Pipeline.

His role will become more prominent as Labour releases policy on:

  • Roads.

  • Rail.

  • RUC.

  • Public transport.

  • Auckland.

  • Ferries.

  • Infrastructure funding.

  • Regional connectivity.

Transport 2026 Interview

Transport 2026 has completed an interview with Tangi Utikere.

The discussion covered:

  • Integrated transport.

  • Roads and rail.

  • Public transport.

  • Infrastructure continuity.

  • Procurement.

  • Road-user charges.

  • The second Waitematā Harbour crossing.

  • Local government.

  • New Zealand capability.

Statements made during that interview should be distinguished from formal Labour manifesto commitments unless the party publishes matching policy.

Kieran McAnulty — Infrastructure and Public Investment

Kieran McAnulty is Labour’s spokesperson for:

  • Housing.

  • Infrastructure.

  • Public Investment.

He is also Labour’s Shadow Leader of the House.

McAnulty should no longer be treated only as a transport-adjacent Labour figure.

He is Labour’s principal infrastructure spokesperson.

Labour has said McAnulty will work alongside Utikere, linking:

  • Transport.

  • Housing.

  • Infrastructure.

  • Local government.

  • Public investment.

This division of responsibilities is important.

Utikere leads on transport policy and network questions.

McAnulty is more likely to lead on:

  • How infrastructure is financed.

  • Public investment.

  • Housing infrastructure.

  • Project continuity.

  • Crown capital.

  • Long-term national development.

The two portfolios will overlap substantially during the campaign.

For example, a second harbour crossing is both a transport project and one of the country’s largest potential infrastructure investments.

A railway expansion may require decisions involving Transport, Infrastructure, Finance, State-Owned Enterprises and Housing.

Carmel Sepuloni — Auckland Issues

Carmel Sepuloni is:

  • Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.

  • MP for Kelston.

  • Spokesperson for Auckland Issues.

  • Spokesperson for Women.

  • Spokesperson for Pacific Peoples.

Her Auckland portfolio gives her an important role in Labour’s transport debate.

Auckland contains:

  • New Zealand’s largest public-transport network.

  • The country’s largest concentration of congestion.

  • Major rail and busway investment.

  • The Auckland Transport governance transition.

  • Long-term rapid-transit questions.

  • Airport-access and harbour-crossing decisions.

  • Significant housing and infrastructure pressure.

Sepuloni is likely to work alongside Utikere and McAnulty on Labour’s eventual Auckland transport and infrastructure programme.

Green Party

Julie Anne Genter — Transport and Infrastructure Specialist

Julie Anne Genter is the Green Party spokesperson for:

  • Transport.

  • Infrastructure.

  • Urban Development.

  • Building and Construction.

  • State-Owned Enterprises.

  • Economic Development.

She is one of Parliament’s most established transport-policy specialists.

Genter has been a Green MP since 2011 and served as Associate Minister of Transport between 2017 and 2020.

Her professional and political background is closely associated with:

  • Public transport.

  • Urban planning.

  • Passenger rail.

  • Walking and cycling.

  • Road safety.

  • Vehicle emissions.

  • Housing and transport integration.

  • Climate-focused infrastructure.

Unlike many MPs who rotate through transport portfolios, Genter has maintained a long association with the subject.

Even where other parties disagree with her policy priorities, she remains one of New Zealand politics’ most recognisable transport voices.

Green Party 2026 Policy

The Greens have released a 2026 manifesto containing a dedicated transport programme.

It includes:

  • Mass rapid transit.

  • Comprehensive bus lanes.

  • Passenger and freight rail.

  • Rural and interregional buses.

  • Targeted free public transport.

  • Walking and cycling.

  • Electric-vehicle incentives.

  • A future phase-out date for fossil-fuel vehicle imports.

Genter is now presenting a complete election platform rather than only responding to isolated government announcements.

Her role will be central to debates over:

  • Roads versus public transport.

  • Rail.

  • Infrastructure borrowing.

  • Climate resilience.

  • Public ownership.

  • Transport emissions.

  • Urban development.

ACT New Zealand

Cameron Luxton — ACT Transport Spokesperson

Cameron Luxton is ACT’s spokesperson for:

  • Transport.

  • Infrastructure.

  • Local Government.

  • Housing.

  • Building and Construction.

  • Environment.

  • Conservation.

He is ACT’s formal general transport spokesperson.

His background includes work as a licensed builder and dairy farmer rather than transport operations or engineering.

That gives him a practical construction, property and regional-growth perspective.

Luxton’s combined portfolios connect:

  • Roads.

  • Housing development.

  • Infrastructure funding.

  • Council decision-making.

  • Planning.

  • Building regulation.

  • Rural access.

ACT’s current transport position generally emphasises:

  • User-pays funding.

  • Electronic RUC.

  • Tolling.

  • Private investment.

  • Public-private partnerships.

  • Regulatory simplification.

  • Local accountability.

  • Long-term planning.

Transport 2026 Interview

Transport 2026 has interviewed Cameron Luxton.

The discussion covered:

  • Congestion charging.

  • Public-private partnerships.

  • Road-user charges.

  • Bus lanes.

  • Regulation.

  • Procurement.

  • Local government.

  • Infrastructure.

  • Energy supply.

  • Competition.

Luxton’s interview gives Transport 2026 a direct source for ACT’s broad policy direction, but individual comments should remain distinguished from formal election commitments.

Simon Court — ACT Infrastructure Specialist

Simon Court is:

  • ACT spokesperson for Infrastructure.

  • ACT spokesperson for Energy and Resources.

  • ACT spokesperson for Climate Change.

  • Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Infrastructure and the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform.

Court was previously ACT’s Transport spokesperson but should now be presented primarily as the party’s infrastructure specialist.

He studied civil engineering and spent nearly 25 years working as a civil and environmental engineer across:

  • Contracting.

  • Consulting.

  • Local government.

  • Infrastructure delivery.

  • Environmental remediation.

This gives Court one of the most directly relevant professional backgrounds among New Zealand’s transport and infrastructure politicians.

He has been closely involved in:

  • Public-private partnerships.

  • Infrastructure finance.

  • Market-led proposals.

  • RMA replacement.

  • The National Infrastructure Plan.

  • Asset management.

  • Energy infrastructure.

  • Long-term central-local planning.

Court described the Government’s response to the 30-year Infrastructure Plan as advancing principles ACT had promoted for several years, including long-term planning and disciplined investment.

The Luxton–Court Division

ACT’s responsibilities are best understood as overlapping:

  • Cameron Luxton is the formal Transport spokesperson.

  • Simon Court is the senior infrastructure specialist.

Luxton is likely to front broader transport, local-government and housing issues.

Court is likely to remain influential on:

  • Funding.

  • Financing.

  • Engineering.

  • Planning.

  • Resource management.

  • Project delivery.

  • Energy.

New Zealand First

Andy Foster — Associate Transport Spokesperson

Andy Foster is:

  • New Zealand First Associate Transport spokesperson.

  • Chair of Parliament’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee.

  • A New Zealand First List MP based in Wellington.

This corrects an important gap in the earlier version of this page.

New Zealand First does now identify Foster with a formal transport portfolio.

He is not simply transport-adjacent.

Background

Foster has extensive local-government experience.

He served for many years on Wellington City Council and was Mayor of Wellington.

His background also includes:

  • Investment finance.

  • Economics.

  • Urban planning.

  • Governance.

  • Conservation.

  • Public administration.

New Zealand First describes him as recognised for leadership in transport, urban planning and finance.

His experience gives him relevance across:

  • Urban transport.

  • Council infrastructure.

  • Public transport.

  • Local-government finance.

  • Road planning.

  • Housing.

  • Regional governance.

Transport and Infrastructure Committee

As Chair of Parliament’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee, Foster plays a significant role in the scrutiny of:

  • Transport legislation.

  • Infrastructure legislation.

  • Energy.

  • Building and construction.

  • Road safety.

  • Maritime transport.

  • Public submissions.

  • Government agencies.

Select committees examine bills, hear submissions, conduct inquiries and report to Parliament.

The Chair does not determine the law alone, but influences the committee’s process, hearings and working culture.

Foster’s combination of party portfolio, select-committee leadership and local-government experience makes him one of the most important figures on this page.

Winston Peters — Rail

Winston Peters remains New Zealand First’s principal figure on:

  • Rail.

  • KiwiRail.

  • Cook Strait transport.

  • Freight resilience.

  • Marsden Point.

  • Public ownership of strategic infrastructure.

He should not be treated as the party’s general Transport spokesperson when Andy Foster now holds the Associate Transport portfolio.

A clearer division is:

  • Andy Foster: general transport and parliamentary scrutiny.

  • Winston Peters: rail and nationally strategic transport assets.

  • Shane Jones: regional, port, energy and industrial infrastructure.

Shane Jones — Regional and Energy Infrastructure

Shane Jones is central to New Zealand First’s infrastructure programme.

His influence includes:

  • The Regional Infrastructure Fund.

  • Marsden Point.

  • Northport.

  • Energy security.

  • Resources.

  • Regional airports.

  • Industrial infrastructure.

  • Freight connections.

New Zealand First’s transport position is more distributed across senior figures than the structures used by Labour, ACT or the Green Party.

This reflects the party’s tendency to connect transport with:

  • Rail.

  • Regional development.

  • Fuel security.

  • Ports.

  • Public ownership.

  • Domestic industry.

Te Pāti Māori

Oriini Kaipara — Transport and Infrastructure Portfolio Holder

Oriini Kaipara is Te Pāti Māori’s formal portfolio holder for:

  • Transport.

  • Infrastructure.

  • Housing.

  • Small Business.

  • Employment and Training.

  • Sports and Recreation.

  • Māori Development.

She is the MP for Tāmaki Makaurau.

This replaces the outdated position previously stated on this page that Te Pāti Māori did not have a clearly identified Transport spokesperson.

Kaipara now provides a direct political contact for the party’s transport and infrastructure policy.

Background

Before entering Parliament, Kaipara worked as:

  • A journalist.

  • A television news presenter.

  • A cultural leader.

  • Pouwhiringa, or Cultural Lead, for the New Zealand Olympic Committee.

She was elected to Parliament following the 2025 Tāmaki Makaurau by-election.

Her background is not in engineering or commercial transport.

Her relevance comes through political representation, communication, cultural leadership and her combined portfolios.

Why Her Combined Portfolios Matter

Kaipara’s responsibilities connect transport with:

  • Housing.

  • Employment.

  • Training.

  • Small business.

  • Māori development.

  • Community access.

This reflects a broader view of transport.

The central questions are not only which roads or rail lines should be built, but whether people can reach:

  • Work.

  • Education.

  • Healthcare.

  • Whānau.

  • Marae.

  • Community services.

  • Affordable housing.

Te Pāti Māori has not yet released a complete standalone 2026 transport manifesto.

Kaipara’s role will therefore be important in explaining the party’s positions on:

  • Transport affordability.

  • Public transport.

  • Rural access.

  • Roads.

  • Rail.

  • Infrastructure funding.

  • Te Tiriti and planning.

  • Māori participation in procurement.

  • Climate resilience.

Opportunity

Dave Bainbridge-Zafar — Infrastructure and Transport Policy Voice

Opportunity does not currently prominently identify one formal national Transport spokesperson.

The clearest transport-relevant figure directly engaged through Transport 2026 is Dave Bainbridge-Zafar, the party’s candidate for Dunedin.

Bainbridge-Zafar holds an MBA in infrastructure asset management.

His professional experience includes senior roles with:

  • Dunedin City Council.

  • Health New Zealand.

  • Gore District Council.

  • The New Dunedin Hospital programme.

This gives him one of the more directly infrastructure-focused backgrounds among the smaller-party figures covered by Transport 2026.

Transport 2026 Interview

Transport 2026 has interviewed Bainbridge-Zafar.

During that discussion, he said he had helped write Opportunity’s universal free-public-transport policy.

The interview covered:

  • Free public transport.

  • Infrastructure asset management.

  • Road-user charges.

  • Electrification.

  • Electricity and charging capacity.

  • Procurement.

  • Competition.

  • Long-term planning.

  • Practical urban access.

  • Coach loading and parking.

He should be described as:

Opportunity’s most transport and infrastructure-relevant current candidate engaged through Transport 2026.

He should not be described as the party’s formal Transport spokesperson unless Opportunity confirms that title.

Qiulae Wong and Daniel Eb

Qiulae Wong is leader of Opportunity and is standing in Mt Albert.

Daniel Eb is deputy leader and is standing in Kaipara ki Mahurangi.

Wong has broader responsibility for the party’s overall programme, including:

  • Infrastructure.

  • Energy.

  • Climate transition.

  • Economic reform.

  • Public investment.

Eb’s regional and rural focus gives him relevance to:

  • Rural transport.

  • Regional development.

  • Food production.

  • Community connectivity.

Opportunity’s 2026 policy includes:

  • Universal free public transport.

  • A 30-year infrastructure framework.

  • Increased public infrastructure investment.

  • Renewable-energy expansion.

  • Public-transport electrification.

  • Business EV incentives.

Its formal portfolio structure remains less centralised than those of larger parliamentary parties.

Parliament’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee

The Transport and Infrastructure Committee is Parliament’s main specialist committee for:

  • Transport.

  • Transport safety.

  • Infrastructure.

  • Energy.

  • Building.

  • Construction.

As of 3 August 2026, its members are:

  • Andy Foster, New Zealand First — Chair.

  • Carlos Cheung, National — Deputy Chair.

  • Dan Bidois, National.

  • Simon Court, ACT.

  • Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, Independent.

  • Tracey McLellan, Labour.

  • Tangi Utikere, Labour.

  • Celia Wade-Brown, Green Party.

The committee matters because transport policy does not move directly from a ministerial announcement into law.

Legislation is examined, challenged and amended through parliamentary processes.

The committee can:

  • Hear public submissions.

  • Examine bills.

  • Question officials.

  • Conduct inquiries.

  • Publish reports.

  • Recommend amendments.

  • Bring sector concerns into the parliamentary record.

The committee’s work may be less visible than a party conference or major infrastructure announcement, but it can materially change legislation.

Infrastructure and Funding Players

The broader Transport 2026 project now places greater emphasis on infrastructure.

That requires tracking several people who may not hold the principal Transport title.

Nicola Willis — Finance

Willis determines the fiscal room available for transport and infrastructure.

Her decisions affect:

  • Capital allowances.

  • Borrowing.

  • Project affordability.

  • Crown guarantees.

  • Public-private partnerships.

  • Long-term payment commitments.

Kieran McAnulty — Labour Infrastructure

McAnulty will help determine Labour’s approach to:

  • Infrastructure investment.

  • Public capital.

  • Housing infrastructure.

  • Project continuity.

  • Long-term national rebuilding.

Simon Court — ACT Infrastructure

Court is ACT’s principal figure on:

  • PPPs.

  • Private finance.

  • Planning reform.

  • Asset management.

  • Infrastructure engineering.

  • Energy.

Shane Jones — Regional Infrastructure

Jones connects transport with:

  • Regional development.

  • Ports.

  • Energy.

  • Resources.

  • Industrial growth.

  • Northland.

Simeon Brown — Energy and State-Owned Enterprises

Brown remains relevant through:

  • Energy security.

  • Electricity generation.

  • Transport electrification.

  • KiwiRail.

  • Crown-owned infrastructure companies.

Simon Watts — Auckland and Local Government

Watts connects:

  • Auckland transport.

  • Council governance.

  • Local roads.

  • Public-transport planning.

  • Housing growth.

  • Local-government funding.

These figures help determine whether transport policy can actually be financed, powered, planned and delivered.

MPs with Relevant Transport or Infrastructure Experience

Not every influential transport politician has worked in the sector.

Some come from:

  • Law.

  • Finance.

  • Local government.

  • Engineering.

  • Construction.

  • Aviation.

  • Farming.

  • Communications.

  • Public administration.

A smaller group have professional backgrounds directly relevant to transport or infrastructure.

Simon Court — Engineering and Delivery

Court has almost 25 years of experience as a civil and environmental engineer.

That gives him direct exposure to:

  • Infrastructure construction.

  • Consulting.

  • Local government.

  • Environmental remediation.

  • Project delivery.

He is the clearest current example of a transport and infrastructure politician with a substantial professional engineering background.

Dave Bainbridge-Zafar — Infrastructure Asset Management

Bainbridge-Zafar has an MBA in infrastructure asset management and experience across council, health and major public infrastructure.

His background is particularly relevant to:

  • Maintenance.

  • Asset condition.

  • Long-term investment.

  • Project governance.

  • Public-sector delivery.

Tim Costley — Aviation and Operational Leadership

National MP Tim Costley served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force from 2001 to 2023 as a helicopter pilot and in senior leadership roles.

His experience included operations in Afghanistan, East Timor, the Solomon Islands and humanitarian missions.

Costley is not a Transport spokesperson.

However, aviation is part of the national transport system, and he is one of the MPs with the clearest operational aviation and logistics backgrounds.

Andy Foster — Local-Government Transport Governance

Foster’s long local-government career gives him practical experience in:

  • Urban planning.

  • Council finance.

  • Public transport.

  • Local roads.

  • City infrastructure.

  • Governance.

His expertise is political and institutional rather than commercial transport operation.

Tangi Utikere — Local-Government Delivery

Utikere’s decade on Palmerston North City Council and service as Deputy Mayor gave him experience with the institutions responsible for:

  • Local roads.

  • Public transport.

  • Planning.

  • Urban growth.

  • Council infrastructure.

Julie Anne Genter — Transport Policy Specialisation

Genter is best described as a policy and planning specialist.

Her significance comes from:

  • Portfolio continuity.

  • Professional planning knowledge.

  • Ministerial experience.

  • Long-term ownership of transport issues.

Cameron Luxton — Building and Regional Experience

Luxton’s construction and farming background gives him a practical perspective on:

  • Infrastructure cost.

  • Housing growth.

  • Regulation.

  • Rural access.

  • Local development.

Political Titles Do Not Tell the Whole Story

A formal portfolio title is only one measure of political influence.

Transport decisions can be shaped by:

  • The minister controlling the project.

  • The Finance Minister controlling funding.

  • A coalition partner controlling a related portfolio.

  • A select-committee chair examining the legislation.

  • A local-government minister setting council rules.

  • An energy minister controlling the electricity transition.

  • An infrastructure spokesperson influencing investment policy.

  • A party leader making a coalition demand.

That is why Transport 2026 tracks both formal spokespeople and wider political players.

Who Is Most Likely to Shape the 2026 Debate?

Roads and Major Projects

  • Chris Bishop.

  • Tangi Utikere.

  • Cameron Luxton.

  • Julie Anne Genter.

  • Andy Foster.

  • Winston Peters.

Infrastructure Funding

  • Nicola Willis.

  • Chris Bishop.

  • Kieran McAnulty.

  • Simon Court.

  • Shane Jones.

  • Opportunity’s leadership and infrastructure policy team.

Public Transport

  • Chris Bishop.

  • Tangi Utikere.

  • Julie Anne Genter.

  • Cameron Luxton.

  • Oriini Kaipara.

  • Dave Bainbridge-Zafar.

Rail

  • Winston Peters.

  • Chris Bishop.

  • Tangi Utikere.

  • Julie Anne Genter.

  • Andy Foster.

Auckland

  • Chris Bishop.

  • Simon Watts.

  • Carmel Sepuloni.

  • Tangi Utikere.

  • Julie Anne Genter.

  • Cameron Luxton.

  • Oriini Kaipara.

Energy and Transport Electrification

  • Simeon Brown.

  • Shane Jones.

  • Chris Bishop.

  • Julie Anne Genter.

  • Simon Court.

  • Opportunity’s energy and infrastructure team.

Regional Development

  • Shane Jones.

  • James Meager.

  • Tangi Utikere.

  • Cameron Luxton.

  • Oriini Kaipara.

  • Daniel Eb.

Transport 2026 Interview Status

Transport 2026 has completed direct discussions with:

Tangi Utikere — Labour

Topics included:

  • Integrated transport.

  • Roads and rail.

  • Public transport.

  • Infrastructure continuity.

  • RUC.

  • Procurement.

  • Auckland.

  • Local government.

Cameron Luxton — ACT

Topics included:

  • Road pricing.

  • PPPs.

  • Regulation.

  • Procurement.

  • Local government.

  • Congestion.

  • Energy.

  • Infrastructure.

Dave Bainbridge-Zafar — Opportunity

Topics included:

  • Free public transport.

  • Asset management.

  • Infrastructure planning.

  • Electrification.

  • RUC.

  • Competition.

  • Procurement.

  • Practical urban access.

Transport 2026 will continue approaching:

  • National.

  • The Green Party.

  • New Zealand First.

  • Te Pāti Māori.

Parties may also provide written responses, corrections or updated policy documents.

Quick Reference List

National and Current Government

  • Chris Bishop — Minister of Transport and Minister for Infrastructure.

  • James Meager — Associate Minister of Transport.

  • Nicola Willis — Minister of Finance and Minister for Economic Growth.

  • Simon Watts — Minister for Auckland and Minister of Local Government.

  • Simeon Brown — Minister for Energy and State-Owned Enterprises; former Transport Minister.

  • Winston Peters — Minister for Rail.

  • Shane Jones — Minister for Regional Development and Resources; Associate Minister of Energy and Finance.

Labour

  • Tangi Utikere — Transport, Local Government and State-Owned Enterprises spokesperson.

  • Kieran McAnulty — Infrastructure and Public Investment spokesperson.

  • Carmel Sepuloni — Auckland Issues spokesperson.

Green Party

  • Julie Anne Genter — Transport and Infrastructure spokesperson.

ACT New Zealand

  • Cameron Luxton — Transport spokesperson.

  • Simon Court — Infrastructure spokesperson and Parliamentary Under-Secretary.

New Zealand First

  • Andy Foster — Associate Transport spokesperson and Chair of the Transport and Infrastructure Committee.

  • Winston Peters — Rail.

  • Shane Jones — Regional, energy and industrial infrastructure.

Te Pāti Māori

  • Oriini Kaipara — Transport and Infrastructure portfolio holder.

Opportunity

  • Dave Bainbridge-Zafar — most transport-relevant current candidate directly engaged by Transport 2026; formal spokesperson status unconfirmed.

  • Qiulae Wong — party leader.

  • Daniel Eb — deputy leader.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is New Zealand’s Minister of Transport?

Chris Bishop is the Minister of Transport.

Who is the Minister for Infrastructure?

Chris Bishop also holds the Infrastructure portfolio.

Who is the Associate Minister of Transport?

James Meager is the Associate Minister of Transport.

Who is responsible for rail?

Winston Peters is the Minister for Rail.

Who is Labour’s Transport spokesperson?

Tangi Utikere is Labour’s Transport spokesperson.

Who is Labour’s Infrastructure spokesperson?

Kieran McAnulty is Labour’s spokesperson for Infrastructure and Public Investment.

Who is the Green Party’s Transport spokesperson?

Julie Anne Genter is the Green Party spokesperson for Transport and Infrastructure.

Who is ACT’s Transport spokesperson?

Cameron Luxton is ACT’s Transport spokesperson.

What is Simon Court’s role?

Simon Court is ACT’s Infrastructure spokesperson and Parliamentary Under-Secretary working on Infrastructure and RMA reform.

Who is New Zealand First’s Transport spokesperson?

Andy Foster is New Zealand First’s Associate Transport spokesperson.

What is Andy Foster’s parliamentary role?

He is Chair of Parliament’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee.

What is Winston Peters’ transport role?

He is Minister for Rail and New Zealand First’s principal rail spokesperson.

Who holds Te Pāti Māori’s Transport portfolio?

Oriini Kaipara holds the Transport and Infrastructure portfolios.

Who is Opportunity’s Transport spokesperson?

Opportunity does not currently prominently identify a formal national Transport spokesperson. Dave Bainbridge-Zafar is the most transport-relevant current candidate directly engaged by Transport 2026.

Why is the Finance Minister included?

Major transport projects depend on Budget funding, Crown borrowing and long-term fiscal commitments. The Finance Minister therefore has substantial influence over what can actually be delivered.

Why are Energy ministers included?

Transport electrification and fuel security depend on electricity generation, grid capacity, gas, fuel supply and energy policy.

What does the Transport and Infrastructure Committee do?

It examines legislation and issues involving transport, transport safety, infrastructure, energy, building and construction.

Who chairs the committee?

Andy Foster of New Zealand First is the current Chair.

Does Transport 2026 endorse any of these political figures?

No. The purpose of this page is to identify their roles and relevance, not to support a party or individual.