Support the local rail workshops in NZ...

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeAnd just why does KiwiRail refuse to get big train building jobs done in its own workshops in NZ? Why do they emperil future jobs in NZ? Probably because the current National government told them so.

China's CNR Corp is to build 300 container flat-deck wagons to bolster Kiwirail's aging fleet. China undercut the NZ bid by 25% it is claimed. They will also provide 20 new locomotives for NZ as well.

There must be some way for the NZ workshops to become involved in the work for KiwiRail.

This narrow approach to purchasing puts hundreds of jobs at risk and threw the viability of KiwiRail workshops into doubt, according to the Council of Trade Unions.

We now have a State-owned rail operation again in New Zealand, with capable workshops and staff.

While  there needs to be the best possible value for money spent, the local industry needs to be supported or it will just end up as a run-down maintenance operation again. The two workshops in Lower Hutt and Dunedin employ 180 people each.

The Hutt workshops were also the right place to carry out another upcoming project - refurbishing the ageing Wellington electric commuter train carriages .

So support the local rail workshops in new Zealand.

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Give the train work to New Zealand railway workshops...

Image via Wikipedia

We'd love to see New Zealanders make the trains we need for Auckland's new electric rail system. It would create hundreds of jobs in Dunedin and Lower Hutt, improve our balance of payments by $114 million, and make our economy more resilient.



We should at least bid for the job, but John Key's Government doesn't have much faith in our manufacturing abilities. I've talked to the men and women from the Hillside workshop and know we have the skills and the ambition.



You can drop a line to the Transport Minister and ask him to have a bit of faith. Let's have a go and at least encourage KiwiRail to tender for the work.



The Green Party

http://www.greens.org.nz/


All Kiwis would support this if the workshops have the facilities and expertise. Why Not? If it creates jobs for Kiwis here, it has to be a great thing for New Zealand. But no, National wants their ideological mates overseas to get the work and make profits out of us here. I support the Green Party totally in this matter! It would create jobs in Lower Hutt and Dunedin; two areas which have suffered economically and from unemployment in recent years.

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