‘Absurd Waste’: Labour Slams Government Over $150,000 Road Cone Hotline
By Lions Roar Aotearoa Political Desk
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND (Sunday, February 1, 2026) — The Labour Party has launched a scathing attack on the coalition government’s recently axed “road cone hotline,” labeling the $150,000 project an “absurd” waste of taxpayer funds that failed to uncover widespread issues.
The digital initiative, designed to allow the public to report unnecessary traffic management, was shut down in December—six months ahead of schedule—after a WorkSafe review found that only a tiny fraction of sites were actually over-coned.
📉 The Math of the “Cone Crisis”
Labour’s transport spokesperson, Tangi Utikere, highlighted what he called the staggering inefficiency of the pilot program. By September 2025, the government had spent nearly $150,000 on the project.
- Cost Per Call: According to Utikere, the spend equates to roughly $136.15 for every single complaint logged up to that point.
- Falling Interest: While reports peaked at 641 in June, they plummeted to just 217 in July. By late 2025, valid complaints had slowed to fewer than 20 per week nationwide.
- The Reality Check: A WorkSafe inspection of 250 sites found excessive cone use at just 6 percent of locations.
“We’re talking about huge amounts of public money that could be prioritised to address real concerns that the public is feeling right now,” Utikere said, dismissing the project as “clearly not required.”
🏗️ WorkSafe vs. Public Perception
The discrepancy between public frustration and actual site safety requirements was a key finding of the review.
WorkSafe chief executive Sharon Thompson explained that while a forest of orange cones might look “excessive” to a passing driver, the setups were usually compliant with council-approved safety plans. The issue, she noted, was not a lack of rules, but inconsistent use of newer, risk-based guidance by different local councils.
🏛️ Government Defense: “Voice for the Public”
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden defended the pilot, arguing that it achieved its goal of clarifying WorkSafe’s role in temporary traffic management.
- Education over Enforcement: The Minister directed WorkSafe to move away from aggressive enforcement and focus more on guiding councils and contractors.
- The “Root Cause”: Van Velden stated the hotline gave the public a voice and identified exactly why people were concerned, even if those concerns didn’t always result in a safety breach.
📊 Road Cone Hotline: Final Stats
| Metric | Detail |
| Total Reported Spend | ~$150,000 |
| Total Notifications | Over 1,300 |
| Inspection Result | 6% of sites found “excessive” |
| Peak Activity | 641 reports (June) |
| Closure Date | 19 December (6 months early) |
