Current City and District Council areas will be amalgamated into 4 - 8 regions. Representatives from Councils will form an Authority in each region responsible as the provider. Private road contractors will compete for contracts to maintain and construct roads. There will be power to impose tolls as a means of paying for new bridges and roads as well as reducing traffic on congested roads. Petrol prices could increase by some 7 cents a litre. Diesel fuel will go up, too.

Selling the dodgy Road Reforms will require more skill than a rally driver The Reformers are concentrating on at least three issues. One- rates will be reduced. Two - congestion is getting worse. Three - more safe roads are needed.

A new trivial pursuit - count the number of times a Road Reformer uses the word "safety". And a free trip to Suffers Paradise to any reader hearing a Road Reformer admit that big contractors and banks will gain most. And the people the least.

The contribution of property rates to actual roading will be abolished. That does not mean that Councils will reduce rates or landlords their rents. Increased user charges and petrol /diesel costs will increase consumer prices. Nor are farmers assured of reduced costs.

The power to impose tolls on busy highways or bridges will create attractive and assured investment for bankers. They have the millions to do so.

Only very big contractors will be able to afford investment in the necessary plant to maintain and construct roads. Shell Oil is already involved. Overall, the Road Reforms are designed for Big Business to make more millions at the expense of the ordinary motorist.

Workers and others on low and fixed incomes living in rental accommodation will fate the worst. They face increased consumer prices, increased user charges and little or no relief from any reduction in rates.

Fierce criticism has come from farmers and rural residents relying on country roads. Their concerns are the lack of social responsibility by private profit- driven corporations sensitive to the costs of maintaining access to isolated farmers.

North Shore City Council Works Chairman Bruce Levy says "there would be no incentive for road providers to encourage passenger transport use as every bus passenger, is a lost motorist, a lost customer, and a lost revenue."

Already, there is tremendous opposition to the Road Reforms from City and District Councils, farmers, and community groups. The very real prospect of more foreign ownership and control of public assets with more user charges adds to peoples concern and anger.