Latest news with #Pukekohe
RNZ News
a day ago
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Frustration grows over Auckland road works ‘mess'
The upgraded culvert on Paerata Rd will help future-proof the stormwater network, and the risk of the culvert overflowing. Photo: LDR/ supplied / Auckland Council Motorists using a south Auckland road are fed up with road works, which are expected to drag on for almost two years due to delays. The Paerata Road culvert upgrade in Pukekohe started in April 2024 and was to be completed this spring, but will now finish in February 2026. Auckland Council is upgrading the stormwater culvert on the southern end of Paerata Rd, after extreme weather and Cyclone Gabrielle caused severe flooding to nearby properties in 2023. Resident John Lewis said there seemed to be no end in sight for the roadworks. "I know it has to be done and I'm all for improving infrastructure but for someone who frequents the road, it's been really annoying that it's taken this long," Lewis said. Pukekohe resident Marama Ratu said traffic was a mess and the potholes didn't help either. "They've [potholes] just gotten worse," she said. "It's already slow going through there, then we have to swerve to avoid these huge potholes that just keep getting bigger ... it's a mess." She understood why the project was important but questioned its delay. "They're saying it's going to be completed next year, that's almost two years of this spectacle. Surely, they could complete it sooner?" The project will be completed in February 2026. Photo: LDR/ supplied / Auckland Council Council said the reason for the delay was because it chose the most traffic-friendly construction approach, which meant constructing the bridge in two halves. According to council, 17,000 vehicles cross the culvert every day. Council's principal delivery - special projects Leighton Gillespie said the bridge was being constructed in halves to keep the roads open. "But [it] ensures continued access for all road users," Gillespie said. He said the council opted for the most traffic-friendly construction approach for the project. "While this means extending the overall programme duration, it allows us to maintain uninterrupted two-lane traffic flow throughout the works. "This decision was made to minimise disruption for the community and local businesses by avoiding full road closures or stop/go traffic control." Gillespie said they also encountered some unforeseen utility services that required relocation and coordination, which have contributed to delays in the programme. "These challenges have now been resolved, but the associated impacts on time remain." Council's upgrade of the stormwater culvert on the southern end of Paerata Road meant replacing the existing 1.8m x 1.8m box culvert with a 12-metre-long bridge across Whangapouri Creek. "Fortunately, we have been able to progress downstream works while approvals were being finalised, helping to maintain overall momentum. "We've received relatively few complaints about traffic to date, and we continue to adapt our traffic management in response to the needs of businesses and the wider community." Gillespie said the work was important to help future-proof the stormwater network by reducing the frequency of flooding upstream, and the risk of the culvert overflowing. "We will also be completing erosion protection and securing downstream slopes." It was all part of wider stormwater upgrades in the area, to reduce flooding and support future growth, he said. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Otago Daily Times
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
He's Tunza Grunt relishes track conditions
Stephanie Faulkner was in the spotlight on her home track of Phar Lap Raceway yesterday, collecting a fitting victory for the connections of He's Tunza Grunt in the Waimate Cup (1600m). The meeting was initially set to be run on Sunday but, after heavy rain through the week, it was rescheduled yesterday, and that was telling in the testing track conditions on course. One runner who was always going to appreciate the ground was He's Tunza Grunt, Faulkner's four-win galloper who came into the cup underrated after resuming over 1200m in May. Riccarton visitor Iffididit was backed into odds-on favouritism and was prominent early from an outside barrier, while jockey Brandon May opted to settle near the tail of the field aboard He's Tunza Grunt. Along the back straight, outsider Quartz Queen put a big margin on her rivals, but began to tire at the 600m and Iffididit and Midnight Runner hit the lead turning for home. Iffididit kicked clear at the 200m but was very wayward in the closing stages, just as He's Tunza Grunt came powering over the top to score impressively by 1¼ lengths. Faulkner had been slightly sceptical on entering the open contest early in his new campaign, but was thrilled to pull off the win. "I thought this may have been a bit ambitious second-up, but he's an older horse and didn't have a long spell, and being a lighter-framed horse, he's come back pretty fit," she said. "He loves those loose, heavy tracks and he's pretty tough. "It was great to win today. I haven't really looked at the programme but I'll be doing that now. "He was getting back down into 65 grade again, but he'll be back up near open company now." A son of Pure Champion out of an unraced Encosta De Lago mare Sacred Jewel, He's Tunza Grunt has now earned over $100,000 for Diana Goodeve, a Waimate local and long-time supporter of the club alongside her late husband, Bob. "It was a lovely win for Diana. She is from Waimate and they have put a lot of time and money over the years into supporting the Waimate Club," Faulkner said. "I haven't won this as a trainer before, and I actually ran second in it riding one of Bob and Diana's horses years ago, back in the early '90s. "It's probably one of Diana's lifelong dreams to win this race, and I know Bob will be up there smiling." Earlier in the meeting, Faulkner won the opener with a new addition to her stable in Storms Ahead. Formerly trained by co-owner Clinton Isdale, Storms Ahead was first-up since running at Pukekohe in October, but was well-backed in his southern debut closing at $2.40. — News Desk By Jess de Lautour
RNZ News
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
By the numbers: Moana Pasifika's 2025
Moana Pasifika fans, crowd and supporters, Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika, round 16 of the Super Rugby Pacific competition. Photo: Photosport / Elias Rodriguez Moana Pasifika has achieved good numbers in 2025 in attendance, digital reach and individual accolades. Their season came to an end without a playoff spot, but the North Harbour-based franchise said in a statement on Tuesday their season has been what fans have labelled memorable. More than 48,000 people attended Moana Pasifika games, five played at North Harbour Stadium and two at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe. Chief executive officer Debbie Sorenson said the "season has been phenomenal and I'm so proud of our players, staff and sponsors for all of their hard work that went into making it a success". "A massive thank you has to go to our people for showing their support wherever our team was playing," she stated. "You brought the energy and atmosphere to our games, which is uniquely Pacific. We are so lucky to be able to use our platform to share this with the world." The franchise said they saw an average increase of 369 percent in scanned attendance at each of their home games, compared to the previous season. Over 680 of those fans were members who attended all five of the matches at Albany. 2024 World Rugby Player of the Year, Ardie Savea, led the team to six wins, the best they have recorded in their four-year history. Four of those wins were against New Zealand franchise clubs - the Blues, Crusaders, Highlanders and the Hurricanes. Moana Pasifika. Photo: Andy Radka/ActionPress The club finished the regular season in seventh on the standings, just one step away from having qualified for the play-offs . Savea was voted the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year, as voted by opposition coaches and captains, and also named as the best number seven in the competition, his name appearing in the honorary Super Rugby Team of the Year . Super Rugby fans acknowledged the individual efforts of players too, voting for Moana Pasifika standouts as the Player of the Week for five of the 14 rounds that the team played in. That saw Miracle Faiilagi (round 4), Patrick Pellegrini (round 7), Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou (round 8), and Ardie Savea (round 12 and 14) named as the best player of those rounds. The club said a key part of building fan connection to the team this season was through the social media channels and the authentic, unbarred, fun content produced. Moana Pasifika have added over 150,000 new followers across social platforms in 2025 year to date - more than the five New Zealand clubs combined. The club said the introduction of Moana Pasifika vlogs gave fans access to engaging, behind-the-scenes, player-led content of the team, driving YouTube subscriptions up by 462 percent. Interestingly, the United States, South Africa and the United Kingdom are some of the top countries that make up Moana Pasifika's audience - alongside New Zealand, Australia and Pacific Island nations.
RNZ News
27-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
The young grower winning awards
Jack Haddon, 22, has won the Pukekohe 2025 Young Grower regional title. The awards are for commercial fruit and vegetable growers from across the regions, up to the age of 30. Farm and operations manager Jack joined agriculture outfit Balle Brothers aged 17 and he now manages 200 hectares of cauliflower and cabbage. He beat three other contestants to win the award and will now compete in the national awards in Christchurch in September. Jack Haddon speaks to Kathryn. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
27-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
High quality agreements with new trade partners priority for agricultural sector
Lettuce crops being grown in market gardens in Pukekohe. Photo: RNZ/ Brad White New Zealand agriculture can no longer rely on its usual international customers and needs to look for new markets, industry leaders believe. A report from business consultancy KPMG on Agribusiness Agenda, has tapped local leaders in various parts of the country's agricultural sector for their views on where the industry needs to go. KMPG spokesperson Ian Proudfoot says tariff uncertainty is spurring people into action. "They're thinking about where else can we sell products, what do we need to make those products look like, and what attributes do they need to have for them to be sold effectively." One of the highest priorities identified by the report was the signing of high quality trade agreements with new trading partners. India is high on the list along with South East Asian markets such as Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. Biosecurity remained the top of the must-do list, along with post-pandemic supply chain resilience. Proudfoot said there was support to maintain migration settings, but also a need to grow a skilled local labour force, rather than relying on migrant labour, and a training system to deliver it. He said sustainability was not just important but non-negotiable. "The overriding message is that we can't change our course on main reason is commercial. We're selling to a relatively small group of customers around the world who are servicing a high value market. Those commitments are really important to them."
