Latest news with #NZTAWakaKotahi
1News
04-07-2025
- General
- 1News
Fears pests are using Transmission Gully to enter Wellington
Some conservationists are concerned about the potential impact of ferrets entering Wellington amid a significant rise in the number of pests being caught on Transmission Gully. Documents released under the Official Information Act show that between January 2024 to 14 April this year, 701 pests were trapped or killed on the road. That's up from RNZ's previous reports of 226 pests trapped between November 2022 and January 2024. The animals killed in the latest data set included stoats, weasels, deer, rabbits, rats, pigs and possums. Predator Free Wellington has been working for years to get rid of all pests in the capital. ADVERTISEMENT Project director Julian Wilcocks told RNZ there had been quite a lot more trapping done along Transmission Gully. But Wilcocks said it had also been a "bumper season" recently for mustelids which included animals such as stoats, ferrets and weasels. "That is a real massive concern because we don't have ferrets in Wellington City and so obviously, we want to really keep those from getting into the city." He said if ferrets got into the city it would be "dire straits" for their work. "Ferrets — they have a very high metabolism, so they need to eat a lot of protein which is often our native species." They also had huge roaming distances and were particularly damaging to kiwi, Wilcocks said. "It has taken us a number of years' effective methodologies for eliminating rats, stoats and weasels and so we wouldn't want to be adding ferrets to the mix." ADVERTISEMENT The furthest south a ferret has been found on the motorway was at Haywards in 2023. NZTA Waka Kotahi regional manager Mark Owen told RNZ $165,000 had been allocated for pest management on Transmission Gully for this financial year. Owen said the investment aligned with Greater Wellington Regional Council's pest management plan. "The plan dictates that NZTA/Waka Kotahi is responsible for controlling pests on road reserves that it occupies. "NZTA/Waka Kotahi also manages pest plants in accordance with this plan." He said that it followed best practice and focused on feral pigs, mustelids and deer. Predator Free Waikanae member Kevin Sheppard said his organisation had been trapping along the Kāpiti Expressway which linked up to Transmission Gully. ADVERTISEMENT Sheppard told RNZ the pests were quite lazy and would take the easiest route north and south. He said since they started trapping on the expressway 220 animals had been caught by the group. Sheppard said that while new roads such as Transmission Gully and the Kāpiti Expressway have been "an amazing addition" to the region, work needed to be done to continue trapping along the roads. "It obviously does simply create a pathway for animals such as stoats and ferrets to move along quickly." He said there were likely to be gaps in the trapping network at least along Kāpiti Expressway. "We're trapping between Waikanae heading up to Peka Peka on one side, so there's nothing happening on the other side."
Scoop
02-07-2025
- Climate
- Scoop
Filled To The Brim With Heavy Rain
Covering period of Thursday 3rd - Tuesday 8th July We're in the thick of it again today (Thursday), with a slew of Heavy Rain Warnings and Watches, Severe Thunderstorm Watches, Strong Wind Watches, and a Heavy Snow Watch. The hits just keep coming with these quick moving systems, it's giving us weather whiplash. In amongst the widespread rain, the top half of the North Island is on the lookout for downpours with Severe Thunderstorm Watches from this afternoon. Commute time in Auckland is looking busiest, so it's a good idea to head home earlier if you can. MetService Meteorologist Katie Hillyer advises, 'The localised downpours are the real risk we are highlighting with the Severe Thunderstorm Watches; people shouldn't be fooled by the lack of thunder and lightning. It's a good time for people to turn on notifications in the app for any Severe Thunderstorm Warnings that may be issued for their area'. Damaging winds are also possible for Northland and Auckland, with a background of strong winds as per the Strong Wind Watches, combined with the potential of gusts between 90-110km/hr in any Severe Thunderstorms. As the heavy rain band moves off, these areas are not completely out of the woods, with heavy showers and possible thunderstorms and hail on Friday and Saturday. It will take until Sunday and into Monday for these areas to get some settled weather, even if it's not for as long as we're hoping. Heavy Rain Watches have also been issued for the Wellington and Kapiti regions for this afternoon and evening. Rain is setting in the Tasman, Nelson and Marlborough regions as they are under their Heavy Rain Warnings until 7pm today. 'While accumulations are not as high as last week, the saturated starting conditions will play a huge part in the impacts we will see, so it is important to not get caught comparing numbers to last week', says Hillyer. 'We advise on the weather, but local emergency management services and councils know their areas best, so people are encouraged to also pay close attention to their messaging and advice', she continues. After this rainband moves off today, showers, some possibly heavy, continue into Friday and early Saturday before settled weather pushes in. A different flavour in the south of the country, with a Heavy Snow Watch for Southern Canterbury High Country, Queenstown Lakes District, and Central Otago where down to 600 metres, snow may approach Warning criteria, but those down to 400 metres may get a fresh dusting today. Many road passes have the risk of snow settling, so travellers should keep up with messages from NZTA Waka Kotahi. Dunedin and North Otago are also under a Heavy Rain Watch from 3pm-3am, before gradually settling into the weekend.
Otago Daily Times
17-06-2025
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
'Just too icy': Dunedin drivers slide into strife
Police are advising caution after receiving "multiple reports" involving icy roads in Dunedin this morning. At least three cars were involved in a crash near the intersection of London St and Heriot Row this morning. One appeared to have crashed through the fence of a neighbouring property. Iraklis Papadopoulos said he was on his way to work when his motorcycle "completely slipped on the road" at the intersection. Icy conditions on Heriot Row, in central Dunedin, caused a number of minor crashes this morning. Photo: Supplied/Gregory Easton "It was just too icy, I suppose." "My bike definitely won't start and it makes a weird noise when I try to get the ignition going." The route was the same one he always took to work. In four years, this was the first time he had encountered problems with ice, he said. "It's just kind of unlucky, I just wasn't expecting it." At the intersection of Cosy Dell Rd and Queen St, pedestrians and motorists were also seen attempting to avoid slipping on a large patch of ice. Southern District police advised motorists to be aware of the cold and icy conditions, and to take caution when out and about on roads. "Police have received multiple reports around the district due to ice on the roads, especially in the Dunedin area near Heriot Row and London St. "Please limit yourself to essential travel only and allow for extra time on your journey. "Reducing speed, using headlights and windscreen wipers, and watching your visibility will also ensure a safe trip." It is a slippery start for many Southerners this morning after temperatures plummeted well into the negatives overnight. At 7am, Mosgiel was sitting at a frigid -5degC, though MetService claimed it felt -7. Becks topped the teeth-chattering charts with -8, Lindis Valley got to -7 and Arrowtown was at -6. NZTA Waka Kotahi and local councils have urged caution on roads in Central Otago and the Queenstown/Lakes areas due to the icy conditions. Cautions are in place on SH6 between Gibbston and Kingston, and from Wānaka to Haast Pass. Icy conditions are also expected on SH8 between Tarras and Omarama, and on SH85 between Ranfurly and Alexandra. No specific warnings are in place for Dunedin drivers but ice remains likely around the city. QLDC said there were reports of thick fog in many places, as well as ice. Grit had been applied on Malaghans Rd, Littles Rd, and Dalefield Rd in Queenstown. Particular caution has been urged for those in Fernhill. There have been no reports of accidents on Southern roads due to the conditions this morning but police urged drivers to take extra care and increase their following distances.
RNZ News
28-04-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Drivers urged to take extra care on Northland's state highways as heavy rain looms
Flooding on State Highway 10 at Kāeo during Cyclone Tam earlier this month. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf NZTA Waka Kotahi is urging drivers to take extra care at four crunch points on Northland's state highways as more heavy rain is expected to batter the region later today. The roading agency said flooding was possible on State Highway 1 at Rangiahua, west of Ōkaihau, and at Whakapara, north of Whangārei, as well as on State Highway 10 at Kāeo. More slips were possible on State Highway 1 at Mangamauka Gorge, south of Kaitāia, which was still down to one lane after Sunday's big slip closed the road for more than 24 hours. Temporary road surfaces on State Highway 1 at Whakapara and Akerama, where major road rebuilding projects were underway just north of Whangārei, could also be affected by heavy rain. NZTA warned that large potholes could form anywhere and floodwaters could hide branches or other hazards. Flooding just 30cm deep could be enough to sweep away vehicles, the agency said. A MetService heavy rain watch for all areas north of Whangārei was forecasting heavy rain, possible thunderstorms and localised downpours from 10am today until midnight. Northern and western parts of the region were likely to be worst affected. MetService this morning also declared a severe thunderstorm watch for Northland, with downpours of 25-40mm/h possible, from 10am until midnight. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
