The Campaign For Better Transport

The Campaign for Better Transport is a politically independent, voluntary incorporated society which is committed to better transport alternatives for Auckland and New Zealand. It is run by a committee that meets on a monthly basis.

Cameron Pitches, Convenor

Cameron has been the Convenor of the Campaign for Better Transport since its inception in 2002. Prior to that, Cameron administered the website for a the predecessor Campaign for Public Transport organisation.

Professionally, Cameron is a software consultant specialising in Oracle and SQL Server databases, and custom desktop and website development.

Dr. Graham Bush, Secretary

For thirty years Graham Bush lectured in Political Studies at the University of Auckland where he was in charge of the Diploma in Local Government & Administration. He is also the author of four books on Auckland and has been a media commentator on Auckland issues for four decades. From 1999 until 2007 he was a member of the Auckland Regional Land Transport Committee.

Committee Members:

Barry Palmer

Barry has a B.E. Mech. Eng. degree from Canterbury University and worked as a professional engineer for a number of engineering firms.  He has also lectured in Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics and Physics at a number of Technical Institutes throughout his working life. Now retired, Barry has been a member of the  Light Rail Transit Association for 25 years.

Barry has been a member of many delegations to various councils and government advocating heavy and light rail.

Garth Houltham

Garth has lived in Auckland all his life. He is a Primary School Teacher who currently works as a Reliever throughout Auckland. He has a passion for history, is a mad keen family historian and was a foundation member of the Onehunga Branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists.  He is currently the Research Officer for the New Zealand Fencible Society. Garth is also an active member of The Onehunga Enhancement Society. He has been a CBT member for 3 years and was the Co-ordinator of the successful campaign to have the Onehunga Railway line reopened.

Jennifer Northover

Jennifer has various undergrad and postgrad qualifications from Auckland and Massey Universities in science, commerce and systems.  Jennifer has held senior consultancy roles at KPMG and prior to that with Ernst Young.

Currently Jennifer contracts to organisations to design and implement solutions for business improvement, generally with a focus on the interface between the business operations and supporting systems.

Jennifer has done a lot of work in the local government sector, and currently works for Local Government Online developing and managing online interactive forms for local and territorial authorities.

Jon Reeves

Having lived in Switzerland, France and the UK for close to 9 years, Jon found how enjoyable it was to live in cities and countries with excellent bus, tram, ferry and rail services. Since returning to NZ at the end of 2005 Jon decided to do his best to try and re-establish public transport and railways, close to the excellent systems NZ had until the early 1960’s, when the roading mentality took over control of this country. Jon works in the radio industry as a media consultant.

Dr Francis Reid

Francis believes that Auckland is a beautiful city, but he wants to help make it even better to live in and to move around with improved public transport and options for pedestrians and cyclists. Francis has a PhD in the History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Cambridge. At present he works as a Business Development Associate for Fonterra. He was the manager of the recent Action Stations campaign. He lives in Northcote, and one day he would like to be able to commute to work on his bicycle across the Harbour Bridge.

Our Vision

Equitable funding for all (Auckland) transport modes

• A framework for funding that reduces fossil fuel dependency
• A funding system that does not favour roads
• Transparent decision making on transport issues

Extension of Auckland rail lines to major population centres

• Rail Tracks – Onehunga / Wiri-Manukau City Centre / Southdown-Avondale / Kumeu-Northcote
• Rail Services – West to Helensville, South to Tuakau, Hamilton and Wellington

Improvement of rail infrastructure to meet urban passenger and freight needs

• Electrification of rail lines in Auckland region
• Lengthening of rail station platforms to accommodate full length of trains used
• Create policy on rail freight needs (including track capacity and need for more tracks on routes)

Development of an Integrated Transport Network

• Covering rail/road/ferries/cycles/pedestrian
• Development of Newmarket rail station as major transport hub
• Shifted emphasis from single CBD/Britomart hub to multiple hubs at regional mode junctions
• Integration of tickets, fares and schedules between transport modes
• Better land use strategies and town planning to reduce trip demand
• Develop arterial ferry routes

Intelligent use of roads and motorways

• Creation of more and better High Occupance Vehicle arterial lanes and carparks
• Discourage single occupant vehicles
• Encourage broader benefit cost benefit analysis for roading projects

Extension of walkway and cycleway networks

• Creation of arterial cycleways and walkways
• Construct walkway and cycleway across Auckland harbour bridge