President of Local Government NZ, Lawrence Yule, says the about face in transport priorities signaled by the National Govt could pose problems for local councils. “The changes signalled in the discussion document may require significant changes to some councils’ current plans and programmes. It is not clear yet how that increased level of investment will […]

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The Sustainable Energy Forum has criticised the Govt’s plans to increase state highway funding and make highway construction the centrepiece of transport policy. Convenor of the Sustainable Energy Forum, Tim Jones, says, “The Govt is living in a fool’s paradise if it thinks that highway construction is the way to improve our transport system.” Although […]

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Auckland Regional Council Chairman, Mike Lee, says the Govt has “wrecked” the prospects of a viable commuter train system. His comments come after the Auckland Regional Council was caught wrong-footed after the Govt scrapped the regional fuel tax, having advanced plans to introduce an integrated ticketing system, order new trains and build stations it now […]

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Just days after announcing a $4.1bn boost in the State Highway construction budget, the Govt has sunk the Domestic Seafreight Development Fund announced by the previous Govt designed to boost the use of coastal shipping. Transport Minister, Steven Joyce, claims axing the $28m allocated to the initiative was done as the Govt is concerned about […]

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Airways Corp. posted a 5% increase in revenue for the six months to Dec. 31, reflecting the arrival of Virgin Blue’s local unit Pacific Blue part-way through the same period a year earlier. The corporation, responsible for air navigation services within NZ’s 37m km2 of airspace, had sales of $70.2m in the first half as […]

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The Govt will buy new electric commuter trains for Auckland and Wellington and have KiwiRail operate the trains rather than the respective regional councils. Transport Minister, Stephen Joyce, has written to to Auckland Regional Council chairman, Mike Lee, saying it “makes sense” for Govt-owned KiwiRail, rather than the regional councils, to buy and own all […]

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Northland Port Corp. chairman, Mike Daniel, has quit his job, angry and frustrated, after 14 years overseeing the port and property group. The final straw, Daniel says, was a letter from majority shareholder Northland Regional Council putting the kybosh on the company’s proposals to delist from the NZX, sell the assets or split into two […]

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Six of the largest highway projects, including the Waikato Expressway, Christchurch Southern Motorway, State Highway 1 from Puhoi to Wellsford and Auckland’s Victoria Park extension, will jostle for funding under the Govt’s increased budget for transport infrastructure. Transport Minister, Steven Joyce, says this week’s announcements are intended to “send a strong signal” to construction firms […]

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NZers will not get to use greener bio-fuels unless the Govt introduces legislation to replace the Biofuels Bill it dumped recently. This is according to the Kiwi holding the record for fastest circumnavigation of the earth in a powerboat. Pete Bethune, whose bio-fuelled boat Earthrace beat the existing record by 14 days in 2008, says […]

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Dunedin City Council staff may set up a freight group to look at ways of encouraging companies in and around the city to carry more freight by rail and sea. The report from council transportation planning manager, Don Hill, recommends additions be made to the council’s 2006 transportation strategy to bring it more into line […]

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