NEW ZEALAND: The government is study the possibility of using a public-private partnership model for the acquisition of electric multiple-units for the Auckland electrification project.

'The use of public private partnerships can be a sensible way to procure this kind of expensive, long-life asset' said Transport Minister Steven Joyce after visiting Australia, where a A$3·6bn PPP is being used to procure 78 eight-car double-deck EMUs for Sydney. 'I have asked Ministry of Transport officials to look into how this might work in the New Zealand context and expect their initial report in a few weeks.'