"Regional Rapid Rail could also be expanded to other parts of New Zealand. Networks focussed on Wellington and Christchurch are the obvious candidates."

#HarrietGale, 2017

https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2017/08/17/introducing-regional-rapid-rail/

It's worth remembering that our existing railways weren't built as a national rail network. They started as local and regional transport systems, and only later were plans made to join then up into a comprehensive national network. A job that was never finished (eg Ōtautahi to Whakatū).

"The Stage 2 investment of $400 million dollars, comparable to one section of an expressway bypass, buys a comprehensive three-line rapid rail network linking Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga to each other, and to their satellite towns and villages. The Stage 3 network of $1.5 billion would revolutionise transport in the Golden Triangle area, for the price of one rural motorway."

#HarrietGale, 2017

https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2017/08/17/introducing-regional-rapid-rail/

'Oh but we can't afford a modern train system'. Bollox we can't.