Hon MICHAEL WOOD (Minister of Transport): There's been excellent progress over the summer season. I'm pleased to report that the Northland rail line has reopened after KiwiRail replaced five bridges, lowered the tracks in 13 tunnels, and laid 30,000 new sleepers over seven months. At its peak, more than 600 people worked on it, and KiwiRail contracted local firms like Clements Quarries and Busck Prestressed Concrete, which helped to support local jobs. We've also made excellent progress in getting under way with Te Ahu a Turanga, the Manawatū Tararua highway which will replace the Manawatū Gorge route. That project is creating hundreds of jobs in the region, and it will employ 60 percent of locals on the project. The earthworks contract is already employing 100 locals, and that will increase to 400 in the near future. 