Latest news with #NZTransportAgencyWakaKotahi
Otago Daily Times
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Putting the skids under buses
All aboard! Next stop, short-termism. In a week which gave us some evidence that New Zealand governments can think beyond the three-year electoral cycle, thanks to the release of a draft National Infrastructure Plan, buses have managed to bring us back to earth. The Otago Regional Council has been stuck between a rock and a hard place over lifting bus fares for passengers in Dunedin and Queenstown. Its hardest decision was whether to follow the road the government is steering regional councils down — to get rid of free bus fares for children. In the end, the council had little choice but to go in the direction laid out by the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. Despite opposition from some councillors, 5 to 18-year-olds will now pay $1.50 per trip while single adult fares will rise from $2 to $2.50. Cr Michael Laws, who voted against the adoption of the council's regional public transport plan 2025-35, voiced the concerns many parents will have, that at $1.50 a trip for only one child, that extra $600 a year may be another significant burden for a struggling household. Insisting on children becoming fare-paying customers was at odds with Associate Education Minister and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour's anti-truancy "crusade", Cr Laws said. PHOTO: ODT FILES It certainly is the case that the council has been railroaded into the fare hikes by the government. Their arms have been twisted by the not-so-subtle threat that to be eligible for central co-funding of public transport, they must align themselves with the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport and NZTA's fares and funding policy direction. While the previous Labour government and the Green Party have been big supporters of public transport, and low or no fares for children, the coalition has been slowly but surely turning that approach around. We have also seen it in the loss of financial support for cycling and pedestrian initiatives, and in money being more freely available for major roading projects (not to mention higher speed limits). What the government is actually doing is putting things in reverse when it comes to a cleaner, green future for New Zealand. The council, and others around the country, are now in a very difficult position, because if patronage falls as a consequence of these changes, then that's not an encouraging sign for the future of that service. The cleft stick faced by the regional council is that it could have carried on without the fare increases, but that would have cost ratepayers several hundreds of thousands of dollars in higher rates bills. Council staff told councillors ahead of the vote it was a "tricky balance" for them this time, trying to take into account elected representatives' expectations and those of the community and government. While there was "strong public support" for free children's fares, there was "strong opposition" from NZTA. Cr Andrew Noone, the co-chairman of the public and active transport committee, made it obvious to colleagues they had little choice. It had been made "pretty clear there could well be implications to existing services" if the council didn't increase passenger revenue. Chairwoman Cr Gretchen Robertson articulated her concerns about the unfairness of the position the government had put the council in. ORC one of the best-performing authorities when it came to raising money from public transport, but that success remained unrewarded: "Instead we are penalised and threatened with removal of current services and that's simply not OK," she said. Councillors agreed to write to Mr Seymour, Education Minister Erica Stanford and Transport Minister Chris Bishop in an attempt to explain that children's bus fares could backfire and affect attendance at school. We are of the view that scrapping free buses for children and increasing fares for adults is the kind of step backwards which those concerned about the country's future would go to great lengths to avoid. However, we appreciate the invidious position the regional council is in and understand why it made the decision it did. The pressure on bus fares from the coalition would be concerning enough on its own, without the wider amplifying anti-regional council views that some, most notably thwarted Resources Minister Shane Jones, are expressing. Little wonder the council, and its contemporaries across the nation, will be opting to take a cautious approach.
Scoop
2 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Annual Plan Adopted For Year Ahead
Kaipara District Council has unanimously adopted its Annual Plan for 2025/2026, with an average rates rise of 8.3% after growth. This includes a new targeted rate for three of the district's museums. Originally, the museums rate was expected to be on top of a previously signalled rate increases of 8.9% after growth for the coming year, but cost savings across other areas have reduced the final figure. Kaipara District Council Mayor Craig Jepson says the outcome reflects careful planning. 'We understand that any rates increase can be challenging for many members of our community, but this represents a significant achievement for our small rating base, especially given the current national economic climate.' Roading remains a key priority, with around $30 million planned on capital works this year, and around $13 million on operations and maintenance (excluding work carried forward from the previous financial year). Approximately $8 million is set aside for Cyclone Gabrielle and other extreme weather event-related repairs, of which up to 92% is funded by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). Recovery work includes repairing under and over slips, road surfaces, remediating slips, fixing our bridges, and replacing damaged drainage systems. Some of the projects planned for this year include pumpstation upgrades for Dargaville, the progression of the Proposed District Plan, local elections, and Wood Street revitalisation stormwater and surrounds. The Annual Plan for 2025/2026 comes into effect at the start of the financial year, with new rates taking effect from 1 July 2025. Final digital versions can be viewed on the council website from next week. Print versions will be available at council offices and libraries across the district in late July. What is a Long Term Plan and an Annual Plan? Every three years Council develops a Long Term Plan (LTP) in consultation with the community. Our Long Term Plan 2024-2027 was adopted on 31 July 2024. It outlines the services we will provide, the projects to be undertaken, the cost of doing this work, how it will be paid for and how the performance for each shall be measured. Following major damage to local infrastructure during the 2023 weather events, Kaipara is one of eight councils with an unaudited three year LTP focused on recovery, rather than the typical ten year outlook. In the two years between adopting an LTP, an annual plan is developed. The Annual Plan is a yearly update on what has been agreed through the LTP, highlighting any budget changes and work plans for each specific year. View the council discussion and decision on the (from 2:34:07).
Scoop
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Curious, Concerned: Picton Residents Weigh In On SH1 Changes
In a small room in Picton's library, dozens of people have gathered to discuss the intricacies of truck routes, intersections, school crossings and parking spaces. They pored over stands and wall displays, showing the proposed permanent State Highway 1 route along Kent Street to the ferry terminal, instead of through central Picton. The proposed changes have already caused controversy, with one resident calling them "horrible", when they were announced on 11 June. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi's pop-up sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday hummed with questions, fresh ideas and a bit of debate, but not from Heather Hopkins, a resident of upper Kent Street, who had popped in to see how the highway would go past her home. She was pretty happy, she said. "I'm not really affected, I just wanted more information," Hopkins said. "[I have] no concerns at all, it'll be free flowing, once everyone gets used to it." In the evening session, people were most drawn to the board showing where Kent Street met the Wairau Road/SH1 intersection, which would take ferry passengers and freight trucks from the terminals out of town under the new proposal. Lara O'Brien, who lived around the corner from Kent Street, said the intersection's new alignment would cut residents off from their own town centre during peak traffic. Drivers on SH1 south of Kent Street wanting to get into central Picton would need to make a right-hand turn onto Wairau Road towards Nelson Square. During peak ferry traffic, they would be stuck in a right-turning lane with no gaps, O'Brien said. "These people [leaving the ferry terminal] get to just go, but people going to town, when do they get to go?" O'Brien said. "You get 60 trucks coming out of the ferry terminal. This is going to be a congestion point for locals coming out of town." Another group lingered around the board showing the relocation of the Picton School crossing on Kent Street. Many of the attendees were reluctant to speak publicly about their opinions on the divisive subject. The loss of roadside parking and problems with trucks parking along the road were common complaints. A truck driver from Levin, whose cousin was a Picton-based truckie, came along to the evening session. He said NZTA did a similar consultation about a pedestrian overpass in Levin and he was sceptical that feedback would alter the proposal. A Picton resident praised NZTA for moving the crossing outside Picton School back to its original position, saying he didn't know why it was put there a few years ago. "They're just putting it back to where it was, because people don't use it." NZTA regional manager of system design Robert Osborne said the sessions were a valuable way of sharing information with Picton residents and getting their feedback. "The drop-in sessions were all well attended, with around 30 - 40 people each session and some coming to visit us a couple of times to ask further questions," Osborne said. "We received a great range of questions and comments, which will help us with our detailed design work. "We also understand... that there will likely be a wide range of opinions about them. However, this project is aimed at improving Picton's roads and making it easier for people to get around. "We look forward to continuing to hear from the community about our plans." Design plans would now be finalised and work would start next winter.
Scoop
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Reminder Of Upcoming Lane Closure - SH1 Otaika Road, Whangārei
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is reminding people travelling around Whangārei that on Sunday 29 June the northbound lane on SH1 Otaika Road between Rewa Rewa Road and Maunu Road will be closed for essential power pole maintenance. The northbound detour will be in place between 7am and 4pm, with more information here. People can also contact Northpower directly on 0800 10 40 40. People are asked to follow the marked detour routes and expect delays during this time. Detour route for SH1 northbound: 1. Turn right into Rewa Rewa Road/Kioreroa Road 2. Turn left onto Port Road/Okara Drive 3. Turn left onto Porowini Avenue 4. Turn left onto Maunu Road before joining SH1 Otaika Road. The detour route will add approximately eight minutes to peoples' journey. Important note for Heavy Vehicles (HPMV) The detour route is not approved for HPMV. HPMV will be parked and grouped together, and escorted through the closure approximately every 20 minutes, as required. Please take care when travelling through the site and watch out for crews working. Reduce your speed, adhere to the temporary speed limits and follow the directions of traffic management staff and signs. People are urged to plan ahead and use the NZTA Journey Planner for real time traffic information.
Scoop
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
O Mahurangi – Penlink To Fully Open In 2028
While O Mahurangi – Penlink is still scheduled for completion in 2028, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) had planned to open some sections of the road earlier near Stillwater and Ara Wēiti. However, a major slip at the project's largest fill site has now delayed construction of these sections. While NZTA is still working to understand the full scheduling impacts, the project will now open as a single completed corridor. Cracking in the ground which was first identified in December last year required all activity in the area to pause while it could be assessed. Extensive testing and monitoring showed a deep layer under the surface (deep shear plane layer) was significantly weaker than experienced on other similar sites on the project where earthworks had been undertaken. Due to the slips continued movement, emergency works were declared in March to allow remediation works to be undertaken sooner. This minimises the risk of the slip damaging existing assets and private property. Regional Manager Transport Services Stephen Collett acknowledges that this delay will be frustrating to residents of Stillwater and Ara Wēiti, as well as all road users that wanted to use the road to access State Highway 1 earlier. 'As the project uses a cut fill balance approach for earthworks, the material at this location is unable to be stored elsewhere until we can implement a solution. Until the solution can be implemented, earthworks are unable to continue at the previous pace along the alignment. 'Despite the delay, O Mahurangi remains on track to open in line with the Wēiti River bridge, giving people the complete benefit of the project from day one. This will ensure a seamless and more connected journey to and from State Highway 1' says Mr Collett. While remediation works are completed, construction has continued at pace in other areas of the site, including: The placement of beams and deck for the future overbridge at State Highway 1 are in place The ramps from State Highway 1 are starting to be formed Future alignment along Duck Creek Road has had beams placed, decks poured and barriers installed. Next the team will dig out the earth from under the bridge to build the future State Highway 19. The western side abutment of the Wēiti River bridge is completed and the two land-based piers are at their final height. An additional two in river piers are currently being constructed. Landscaping along the alignment has begun. Approximately 600,000 cubic meters of earth has been moved (about 250 Olympic sized swimming pools). Once complete, O Mahurangi – Penlink will unlock long term benefits for the Auckland region, providing a more resilient network to get people where they need to be faster, supporting economic growth and connecting people to new housing developments.
