New Zealand's government has diverted funding bound for public transport, rail, and walking and cycling projects into road-building and highway maintenance in a "back to basics" transport package.
But to fund it, the coalition is planning higher fines and to raise rego costs from $NZ106 ($A99) to $NZ156 ($A146) inside two years.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced 15 new "roads of national significance" to be built as four-lane highways, with the government aiming for private funds to help overcome an infrastructure deficit.
