Jacinda Ardern has ruled out any more regional fuel taxes under her leadership, following a feisty debate with Simon Bridges in Parliament earlier on Wednesday.
During Question Time, Mr Bridges asked whether the Prime Minister had discussed the possibility of regional taxes with any regional council outside Auckland.
"I can give this guarantee to this house and consumers there will be no other regional fuel taxes while I am Prime Minister," said Ms Ardern, "which at the moment feels like it might be for a while."
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Ms Ardern said some regions had asked for a fuel tax due to "the infrastructure deficit [the previous National-led] government had left them".
"Some regions are desperate for investment," said Ms Ardern. "We have ruled it out."
Mr Bridges responded by asking whether the Prime Minister was making that decision "on the hoof, because she knows how much this is hurting Kiwis all over this country."
Heckling from both sides prompted Speaker Trevor Mallard to call for order as noise levels grew in the chamber.
Mr Bridges later said the Prime Minister had "backed down and ruled out rolling the regional fuel tax beyond Auckland "due to pressure from the National Party".
He said Ms Ardern "needs to go further, do the right thing, and throw her numerous taxes out completely".
Newshub.
