Prime Minister Bill English is blaming Auckland's traffic woes on road works which he says will help in the long term.
It follows comments from the city's mayor that yesterday's budget had nothing in it to ease growing congestion across Auckland.
"We can understand the frustration that people feel in their cars as they get around, but part of what's slowing down the traffic is the large number of projects", Mr English says.
It's a sentiment echoed by finance minister Steven Joyce, who believes traffic will ease as each project is completed.
Mr Joyce says that will start with the long-awaited Waterview Tunnel, which he revealed this morning will open in the next couple of weeks.
"Those are going to make a big difference - and I'm not saying that they're the answer, but I think it's really important that we don't ignore what's being done."
But Auckland mayor Phil Goff is standing by his comments that yesterday's budget fell short when it came to Auckland's infrastructure.
Mr English says that's not true.
"I completely disagree with Auckland being one of the losers. The rest of the country is ploughing billions of dollars into Auckland."
"I appreciate Phil's probably being a little bit political in that", Mr Joyce adds. "He's an old Labour guy from way back. He's probably running his arguments."
Bill English says there's bound to be more investment in Auckland, but exactly when that will be is anyone's guess. He says as good projects come through the Government will be open to working with the council on how to fund them.
Newshub.
