Ok so Waka Kotahi think that the replacement road between HB and Manawatū will carry over 11,000 vehicle movements per day. Important to remember- can’t toll below 10k a day. Let us have a look at THEIR numbers shall we. Cause we can.

Even if it was 11k vehicles per day, the amount received from the toll wouldn't even cover interest costs. Assume 11k/day every day (lol) times 365 days, times $4.30, plus 12% for HT paying double. $30m per annum revenue, assume no costs. Bill of $824m, that's 3.5%. Realistically won't clear 1%.

Waka Kotahi publish data via their online data portal. Anyone can take a dive into that. Filtering out the two current roads that are being used to get across the Mountain Range. Saddle Road and the Pahiatua Track. Circled. Data is nice and fresh. Highlighted. I'll take it as CSV please.