Latest news with #WakaKotahiNZTransportAgency
Scoop
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Scoop
TruckSafe New Zealand Supports AFMS
Press Release – TruckSafe New Zealand The AFMS is a flexible risk-based system that allows transport businesses to vary driver work and rest times beyond standard legal limits, but only where robust fatigue management systems are in place and approved by the regulator. TruckSafe New Zealand, the industry-designed and independently audited safety management system, is now supporting transport operators nationwide in preparing for and achieving approval under the Alternative Fatigue Management Scheme (AFMS) framework set out by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. The AFMS is a flexible risk-based system that allows transport businesses to vary driver work and rest times beyond standard legal limits, but only where robust fatigue management systems are in place and approved by the regulator. TruckSafe New Zealand provides operators with exactly that: a comprehensive, fit-for-purpose safety management structure that aligns with the AFMS performance standards. 'TruckSafe is uniquely positioned to help operators meet the rigorous expectations of AFMS,' says Carol McGeady, Director of TruckSafe New Zealand. 'It provides the documented policies, procedures, training frameworks, and internal review systems that the Transport Agency requires for AFMS approval. It takes the guesswork out of compliance.' TruckSafe New Zealand has been developed by industry, for industry, and covers key areas critical to fatigue management, including driver fitness for duty, safe scheduling and rostering, training and supervision, and vehicle safety. Through independent auditing and structured documentation, TruckSafe gives operators the confidence to demonstrate compliance with both the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and the Land Transport Act 1998. Benefits of TruckSafe-aligned AFMS readiness include: Clear fatigue prevention policies and responsibilities Proven systems for monitoring driver work/rest time Driver consultation and engagement processes Documented countermeasures for flexible operating limits Independent verification through external audit TruckSafe also provides tools and guidance to help operators plan effective rest strategies, document countermeasures, and gather the evidence needed to submit a strong AFMS application. For operators that subcontract or work with contractors, TruckSafe's structure supports Joint Management provisions ensuring wider compliance across the transport supply chain. 'We know that setting up an AFMS can seem complex and time-consuming, but TruckSafe makes it manageable,' said Carol McGeady (TruckSafe New Zealand Director) 'It's a proactive step that enhances operational flexibility and positions businesses as leaders in safety and compliance.' With AFMS approval increasingly recognised as a mark of excellence in fatigue management, and likely to feature in future procurement and tender requirements operators who act now will be better placed to win contracts, retain good drivers, and reduce fatigue-related incidents.
Otago Daily Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
WW2-type bridge considered for flood-prone Canterbury stream
A bailey bridge is being considered for the Wharekiri Stream. Photo: Supplied by Shirley Millard A bailey bridge is one option being considered to give Clarence Valley residents more reliable road access. Developed during World War II, bailey bridges are commonly used as temporary structures or for emergency situations. Kaikōura District Council chief executive Will Doughty said a range of options are being considered, following Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency's (NZTA) decision last month not to extend a sunset clause on funding for a replacement bridge on the Waiau Toa Clarence River, north of Kaikōura. Doughty said the council has previously considered a bailey bridge as a temporary solution, but the cost blew out to $2m when it became clear steel abutments would be needed. ''The stream has changed, so we will relook at that. The elected members are keen to see what is the best bang for buck.'' The Glen Alton bridge was destroyed in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2016. The NZTA board approved emergency works funding of $12.6m from the National Land Transport Programme in 2019 to replace the bridge - a 95 percent subsidy. But the project has been beset by delays, leading to NZTA's funding being withdrawn and leaving landowners high and dry. The council has left the local share of $500,000 in the 2025/26 annual plan budget. The remains of the Glen Alton bridge in the Clarence Valley, north of Kaikoura. Photo: Supplied by Kaikōura District Council Doughty said property owners have not given up on the goal of a replacement bridge over the Waiau Toa Clarence River. The cost of the building a new bridge is now estimated to cost $16.5m and the council would need to acquire land for an access road and a resource consent from Environment Canterbury. The previous road access was taken out by the earthquake. ''The indications are a consent might only be valid for five years, so we would need to look at what is the likelihood of getting the funding within that timeframe,'' Doughty said. The Clarence Valley is home to several properties, including forestry blocks, large hill country properties and Department of Conservation land. For now access in and out is via Waipapa Road, Wharekiri Stream and a paper road through several properties. But the Wharekiri Stream is prone to flooding in heavy rain events and can be impassable for up to two weeks. Access is by four-wheel-drive only. Doughty said the cost of installing a bailey bridge on the Wharekiri Stream would depend on the size of the bridge and how long it was needed for. Bailey bridges were typically hired, rather than being a permanent structure, and could cost upwards of $30,000 a year for a single span bridge. It was unclear how any solution would be paid for or whether property owners would be asked to contribute. ''No conversations have been had with landowners about contributing,'' Doughty said. ''It is too early to say, but we've got to look at all options. By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
01-07-2025
- Climate
- Scoop
Damaging Storm Costs Waimakariri Council Nearly $1m
Severe weather and rain which hit Canterbury in May cost Waimakariri District Council nearly $1m in emergency works, but council staff say it could have been a lot worse. Speaking at a council meeting on Tuesday, July 1, the council's utilities and roading general manager Gerard Cleary said the investment of more than $20m in drainage improvements in Kaiapoi in recent years has paid off. Heavy rain swept through Canterbury between April 29 and May 2, causing flooding in Christchurch and Selwyn. In Waimakariri, there was damage to roading and three waters infrastructure, resulting in 49 services request and a repair bill of $972,953. ''This event really showed the benefit of some of the investment the council has made,'' Mr Cleary said. ''In previous events such as 2014 we saw substantial surface flooding in parts of Kaiapoi.'' The extra drainage capacity also relieved pressure from excess water getting into the sewer network, he said. Mr Cleary said around half of the nearly $1m of emergency works is being funded from existing budgets. With the majority of the expense for road repairs, the council has applied to Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency for emergency works funding. The Christchurch and Selwyn councils declared local states of emergency following the flooding, but Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon said his council's infrastructure investment had made the district more resilient. ''When nature comes along we are bound to respond. It is what our community expects and we need to keep our community safe and protected. ''We were close to a declaration, but because of the work which had been done and the updates we received from Environment Canterbury, we felt we didn't need to. ''These aren't one off events and they are occurring more often than we would like so we need to keep on top of it.'' The council's investment from the 2024/34 Long Term Plan in an infrastructure resilience team also meant the district was prepared, he said. Mr Gordon said more work is planned to improve the district's resilience to future flooding, including for the Mandeville area. ''In our capital budgets for future years there is quite substantial money set aside for drainage projects and I know that the Mandeville drainage project, which I know councillor [Paul] Williams has been pushing for, would mean about $22m in debt if we choose to go to stage two.'' Mr Cleary said even with taking on extra debt to fund further infrastructure investment, the council would be able to respond to a future earthquake or major flood event. He said the council has insurance to cover its three waters infrastructure in a major event, and it can apply for NZTA emergency works funding, alongside debt funding. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Techday NZ
30-06-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
National Motu Move public transport card rollout faces major delay
The nationwide launch of Motu Move, New Zealand's new public transport card system, has been delayed again, with no fresh rollout date set and mounting frustration from commuters and local leaders alike. The introduction of Motu Move—billed as a game-changer for public transport users—was meant to bring New Zealand's buses, trains and ferries under one easy payment system. Instead, the project has run into fresh complications, and the first stage of the rollout in Timaru and Temuka has missed its mid-2025 target. This latest setback leaves the system's full introduction across the country in limbo. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, which oversees the programme, confirmed the delay in a statement this week. Officials blamed the slip on "challenges with the delivery of the more complex components" of the new system, particularly integrating various fare concessions and ensuring seamless payment for passengers no matter where they travel in New Zealand. The agency said it is working on a revised plan for Canterbury—the first region set to receive Motu Move—while also reviewing the entire national rollout schedule. An updated timetable is expected in August. Minister expresses frustration Transport Minister Chris Bishop did not mince words about his concern over the delay, telling Parliament's Transport and Infrastructure Committee he is "worried" about the project and has recently summoned the National Ticketing Solution governance group for urgent talks. "It is not on track at the moment," Bishop said. "I have made it clear to those overseeing the rollout that this is a government priority and that we need to see clear progress. No options are off the table." An external, independent review is now underway to diagnose what has gone wrong and what it will take to get Motu Move back on track. Bishop says he expects to receive a new delivery plan by the end of July. "New Zealanders deserve a system that is simple, reliable and available across the country. We have invested a significant amount of money and time into this, so I have encouraged the governance group to exercise strong leadership to get things moving again," he said. Frustration at the local level In Canterbury, where local authorities had been preparing for Motu Move's launch in Timaru, patience is wearing thin. Deon Swiggs, Deputy Chair of Environment Canterbury and a key advocate for the project, said the delay is "definitely frustrating". "We've been promised a modern, unified ticketing system for several years now," Swiggs said. "The principle of Motu Move is fantastic—whether you're in Christchurch, Wellington, or Auckland, you should be able to just tap on with your phone or card and travel seamlessly. But we need a clear and realistic timeline." Environment Canterbury had initially hoped to pilot Motu Move in Timaru as early as late 2024, before that deadline was pushed to early 2025 and then again to July. The region has already trialled contactless debit and credit card payments on Christchurch's airport bus route, and Swiggs hopes those lessons will make the transition smoother. He says the core payment technology appears robust, but integrating all the regional fare concessions, discounts and transfer rules is proving more complex than anticipated. "They need to deliver a product that is robust enough for us to roll out to the public. Communication needs to improve, too, so that everyone—councils, operators, and especially passengers—know what to expect," he said. A long-running and costly project Motu Move, officially known as the National Ticketing Solution, is one of New Zealand's most ambitious public transport projects. The idea of a unified transit card has been floating around for well over a decade. More than $146 million has been spent since 2018 developing the system, with total costs expected to reach around $1.3 billion over the next 15 years. The new system is supposed to allow people to pay for all major public transport services—whether bus, train or ferry—with a single card or by using their credit/debit card or smartphone. The plan is to phase out regional cards like Snapper, Metrocard and Bee Card, making it much easier for people to travel around the country, especially for those who travel between cities. However, deadlines have repeatedly slipped. Canterbury's launch was first targeted for December 2024, then early 2025, then July, and now there is no clear date in sight. Rollouts for Wellington, Auckland and other regions have also been pushed back. Looking ahead Despite the setbacks, both central and local government leaders remain committed to seeing Motu Move delivered. Bishop said funding is not the issue, pointing instead to technology and delivery challenges that need fixing. Waka Kotahi says it is exploring "alternative delivery approaches", such as rolling out some Motu Move features in phases. For now, however, the existing regional cards remain in use and Kiwis hoping for a one-card-for-all solution will need to wait a little longer. "We all want this to happen," Swiggs said. "It's about getting it right for the long term."
Otago Daily Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Canterbury councils list roading ambitions - if they can find the money
While pleased to see the Woodend Bypass going ahead, Canterbury council leaders say they will keep lobbying for other roading projects. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has been pressing ahead with geotech testing with its contract partners, ahead of work starting on the Woodend Bypass next year. The project is expected to cost close to $1 billion, around half of Canterbury's $1.8 billion roading budget in the 2024/27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). It means other North Canterbury roading projects are having to wait. Top of the list for the Waimakariri District Council is the proposed Rangiora eastern link road, Skew bridge at west Kaiapoi, and the Tuahiwi crossroads intersection on Rangiora-Woodend Road. ''They are all in our budgets for the outer years (in the 2024/34 Long Term Plan), but if we need to bring them forward, we will be only too happy to,'' Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon said. The council has prepared a business case for the proposed $35m Rangiora eastern link road to present to NZTA. The road will help reduce congestion through Southbrook by diverting traffic at the 'S-bend' on Lineside Road, passing to the west of the council's waste treatment ponds and cutting through council-owned land and the Spark family farm, before connecting with Spark Lane. From Spark Lane, the arterial route will continue up McPhail Road and Bellgrove Boulevard to Coldstream Road. Should the council be successful in obtaining a 51 percent NZTA subsidy, ratepayers will stump up 25%, with the balance coming from development contributions. The Hurunui District Council has estimated it needs about $3 million a year to maintain and upgrade its ageing network of 286 bridges. But it has received funding for just one bridge replacement in the 2024/27 NLTP. The council's chief executive Hamish Dobbie said if the Canterbury region received its fair share of funding, it would reduce the delays for local roading projects. The Canterbury region has around 13% of the population and accounted for around 15% of vehicle kilometres travelled, but received just five percent of national road funding, Mr Dobbie said. ''If Canterbury got its fair share of land transport funding, then we would get a better deal out of it.'' Mr Dobbie said one of challenges was NZTA funded bridges out of operational funding, when they were expected to last 80 years. ''Funding it through operational funding is not sustainable. We should be looking at intergenerational (or loan) funding, where we spread the cost out over time.'' Four bridge replacements were included in the 2024/34 Long Term Plan, but the council received just $600,000 towards bridge replacement in the 2024/27 NLTP. It is planning to replace a bridge at River Road, Waiau, in this year's annual plan at a cost of around $1m. By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
