National has unveiled a new South Island growth plan, promising investment in Canterbury freight infrastructure and 96 additional beds at Christchurch Hospital if it is re-elected in November.

The plan includes $50 million for shared road and rail connections needed for a proposed intermodal freight hub at Rolleston, alongside an estimated $70 million to fully fit out Tower Three at Christchurch Hospital.

National Party leader Christopher Luxon said the package was aimed at supporting economic growth across the South Island through infrastructure, exports, energy and public services.

“The South Island is a powerhouse of the New Zealand economy. 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,” Luxon said.

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

Under the policy, a re-elected National Government would invest $50 million in connections for the proposed Rolleston intermodal freight hub.

Rolleston sits at the junction of the Main South Line, the Midland Line to the West Coast and State Highway 1, with National describing it as a natural location to consolidate freight moving between Canterbury producers, ports and the rest of the South Island.

However, the Crown contribution would be conditional on a final business case, committed freight customers and binding private sector co-investment.

National has also promised to complete the fit-out of Tower Three at Christchurch Hospital.

The building is being constructed with 96 beds included as shell space, meaning the rooms will be built but not initially finished for patients.

National estimates completing the rooms would cost about $70 million and said the work would make all 96 beds available for patients, adding capacity to the South Island’s largest hospital.

Luxon said National was already delivering for the South Island, including increasing transport investment by 42 per cent to nearly $4 billion.

“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,” he said.

“We’re investing in infrastructure to support growing communities, cutting red tape that is holding back energy generation, jobs and tourism, and delivering better public services with more hospital beds and classrooms.”

The policy document said Canterbury’s allocation through the 2024–27 National Land Transport Programme had increased from $1.2 billion in the previous three-year period to $1.8 billion, a 50 per cent increase.

Existing Canterbury projects highlighted by National include $38.5 million for the replacement of Christchurch’s Pages Road Bridge, construction of the second Ashburton Bridge, $4.5 million for the first stage of the Rangiora Eastern Link and the SH1 Rolleston Access Improvements.

The plan also points to the SH76 Brougham Street upgrade, SH75 Halswell Road improvements and early works on the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass.

National is also promising changes aimed at increasing South Island energy generation.

New data centre projects would be required to be accompanied by new “firmed” electricity generation, with the party arguing the measure would prevent large new electricity users putting upward pressure on power prices for households and businesses.

Other commitments include making National Land Transport Fund public transport funding available for Queenstown gondola proposals and developing a new Government Policy Statement on mining and extraction under the Fast Track Approvals Act.

National also plans to use its next Government Policy Statement on Land Transport to prioritise vulnerable parts of the South Island state highway network, including bridge replacements on critical routes.

In education, the party has pledged to complete nearly 100 additional teaching spaces already funded across the South Island, including classrooms in fast-growing areas such as Selwyn, Rolleston and Queenstown.

Luxon said National’s economic approach meant it could continue investing while improving public services.

“By getting the books back in order and managing the economy responsibly, National can continue investing in growth while improving the public services New Zealanders depend on,” he said.

“We’re fixing the basics, backing growth and building the infrastructure needed to help the South Island reach its full potential.”