The Government’s latest transport consultation document for Greater Christchurch has been criticised as a meaningless and expensive public relations exercise.

The Urban Growth Partnership for Greater Christchurch was established by local councils, mana whenua, and the Crown to collectively plan for the future growth of the region.

Transport Minister Michael Wood announced the Huihui Mai document last month, which includes a potential “turn up and go” mass rapid transit system, among other spatial plans.

However, this is not the first time that Labour has announced plans for a mass rapid transit system for Greater Christchurch.

In 2014, former leader David Cunliffe promised $100m for a “modern rail plan,” and in 2017, former leader Andrew Little pledged to invest $100m in public transport in Christchurch.

Motoring expert Clive Matthew-Wilson said the latest consultation document was meaningless.

“These surveys tend to attract networked activists with their own agendas that may conflict with the majority of people who live in that city.”

Matthew-Wilson, who edits the car review website dogandlemon.com, doubts “the government is interested in hearing the views of ordinary people.”

“As any Aucklander could tell you, ‘government consultation’ means listening to what the residents want, then mostly ignoring it.

For the last five years, groups such as Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi have consistently ignored any feedback that didn’t support their pre-planned agenda.”

He said “the government has already announced its national transport agenda, and it’s highly unlikely that they’ll change it, regardless of what the people of Christchurch say.

The government’s ‘consultation’ process appears to be little more than a public relations exercise.”

Matthew-Wilson adds that the government has “made such a shambles of transport in places like Auckland, many people doubt they’ll do any better in Christchurch.”

“Climate change is real, and our responses to climate change must be real as well.

However, the entire government agenda appears to have been hijacked by people with high ideals and low practical ability.

We need to reduce our use of cars, but first, each city needs a first-class public transport system, not the other way around.

I see no evidence to date that the government is capable of delivering a world-class public transport system. If the government wants to hear the views of the Christchurch people, it should allow the people of Christchurch to elect a transport board that would take full responsibility for getting the city moving. And if the transport board didn’t do its job, it could be voted back out again.”

National Party Transport Spokesman Simeon Brown said “Labour has failed to deliver any major public transport projects since they came to office, despite wasting tens of millions on consultants and working groups on projects like Auckland Light Rail – which has gone nowhere – and Let’s Get Wellington Moving which has only delivered a pedestrian crossing and a slower speed limit on one of Wellington’s busiest roads.”

He said “The Greater Christchurch Partnership is likely to end up heading in the same direction under Labour, with millions spent on expensive consultants and flashy advertising, while actually delivering very little to reduce congestion and to get better public transport.

If Labour wants to actually deliver better transport infrastructure, they would be better off listening to what people have to say, rather than suggesting to them what they should think.”

The Christchurch City Council has been approached to comment on the costings of the plans.

Minister Megan Woods who is on the Greater Christchurch Partnership declined to comment.