Labour MP Ginny Andersen backtracks after incorrect claim about transport fund on radio
Labour MP Ginny Andersen publicly retracted claims made during a radio debate regarding the funding sources for road maintenance in New Zealand. She incorrectly argued that the National Land Transport Fund did not cover maintenance costs.
Why it matters
The incident reflects the intense political scrutiny on economic credibility and policy knowledge between opposing political parties.
Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen go head-to-head on Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking Breakfast.
Labour’s Ginny Andersen admits she wrongly claimed the National Land Transport Fund doesn’t pay for road maintenance during a live radio exchange in which she also attacked National minister Mark Mitchell.
Appearing on The Mike Hosking Breakfast on Newstalk ZB on Wednesday morning, Andersen claimed maintenance on roads wasn’t funded by the NLTF.
The NLTF funds road maintenance with an allocation for state highway and local road pothole prevention.
Andersen repeatedly told Mitchell that money came from a “different budget”.
“You don’t even know what you’re talking about. That is not that budget,” the Labour MP said.
As Mitchell said maintenance money did come from the NLTF, Andersen said: “No, it’s not. It’s not. It’s a separate fund. You need to go check that. It’s a separate fund.”
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