Whereas it takes 20 minutes to drive from Dunedin North to far-flung Mosgiel, and whereas just occasionally commuters are held up across two light changes, Auckland's traffic problems are bad and becoming worse. Peak hour is more like peak three hours, twice a day. All it takes is an accident and motorways are jammed and nearby streets gridlocked. That happened twice last week, much to the utter frustration of thousands of motorists.
There are, however, two reasons why southern smiles should be suppressed. The first is the undoubted importance of Auckland to the nation and its economy. An efficient thriving main city is important for the prosperity of the nation. The second is the likelihood that we might all have to pay for Auckland's clogged arteries.
A $60 billion plan to address the city's transport issues was announced in late March ($68 billion is now being quoted). Developed by Auckland Transport and the New Zealand Transport Agency in collaboration with the Auckland Council, the money would be invested over the next 30 years in a programme across motorways, improved public transport and including cycleways. The problem is, of course, how to pay for it all, and a $12 billion ''funding gap'' has been identified.
Auckland faces hard choices: road tolls, additional rates, cordon charges, extra fuel taxes. Then there will be, and is already, pressure for the taxpayer to cough up billions.
The matter was underlined by dire warnings from Auckland business leaders this week that, without serious investment, the city would become less and less effective. This week, too, the so-called Consensus Building Group, headed by Mayor Len Brown, presented its report and urged Aucklanders to state their preference for road charges or rates and fuel taxes before recommendations go to city council in July.
Centralisation in major urban centres is a feature of the modern world. Despite the potential to live almost anywhere in a ''connected'' age, people still flock to the Big Smoke. Government and companies draw business in online, and through centralised call, distribution and management centres, and big cities suck up resources and internal and external migrants, a point that should be recognised by those calling for hefty government funding.
As it is, the Government in effect subsidises living in Auckland, and thus Auckland business, through such things as extensive state housing and higher accommodation supplements. If the Government provides substantial help to deal with Auckland's transports problems, it further undermines the comparative advantage of living and working in other places - particularly lower transport and housing costs and the absence of commuting nightmares.
It should, therefore, be up to Auckland to solve and pay for tackling congestion. That means the Government should stay out of the decision-making and not rule out options as it has been doing - and as it did again yesterday. When the Government butts in it can be no surprise if Aucklanders then turn around and expect big contributions. Auckland has its super size, its super city and its enormous capacity. It should be left to it.
Auckland could well find much better value in building up rather than out, in becoming more of a multi-nodal city, in creating road charging and public transport incentives that draw motorists from private cars. So far, the disparate parties that make up the Consensus Building Group have made good progress. At the same time, many residents are recognising solutions that were completely unpalatable a few years ago - like cordon or road charges - will be necessary.
What is clear is, with another 40 or more cars on its motorways each day and with predictions of another million people over the next few decades, Auckland has to do something. What should also be clear is the best people to sort this all out - and with discipline of having to pay for it - are Aucklanders themselves.
