Queenstown is looking at an urban gondola network to relieve pressure on its roads, particularly between the airport and the town centre. Photo / Will Nelson

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has promised to complete Christchurch Hospital’s third tower if re-elected.

The tower, costed at $184 million, is already under construction but has been delayed. It is expected to add 96 new beds.

Luxon made the announcement at Business Canterbury’s South Island Election Conference inChristchurch as part of his party’s South Island plan.

Luxon also teased a policy on data centre construction, and pledged funding for a Gondola project in Queenstown.

“The South Island is a powerhouse of the New Zealand economy,” he said. “Worth around $100 billion a year, its farms, vineyards, mines, ports and tourism operators help drive growth, create jobs and generate export income that benefits the entire country.”

He said he would require “data centre projects to be accompanied by new, firmed generation”, as he did not want the projects to push up power bills for everyone else.

He also announced that National would enable the Rolleston intermodal freight hub, and would develop a Government Policy Statement on mining and extraction under the Fast Track Approvals Act.

The policy document also said National would allow a gondola project in Queenstown to receive public transport funding from the National Land Transport Fund –the pool of money funded by fuel taxes and road user charges.

Public transport can receive funding to help reduce road congestion.

Queenstown is looking at an urban gondola network to relieve pressure on its roads, particularly between the airport and the town centre. National promised that this network could receive public transport funding.

“National is already delivering for the South Island, including by increasing transport investment by 42 per cent to nearly $4 billion and securing a free trade agreement that will provide a major boost for farmers and growers across the island.

“There’s a lot going well in the south, but there’s more we can do to unlock its full potential.

“National backs the South Island to succeed, and today we’re announcing a package of commitments that will drive further growth and create more opportunities, jobs and higher wages,” Luxon said.