Author: MIL OSI Publisher

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Improving resilience on State Highway 1 at Utiku

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

New resilience work is underway this week at Utiku south of Taihape, on land between State Highway 1 and the railway corridor.

Work has now begun onsite and is expected to continue for at least four months.

During the work, crews will install new drainage in the area to boost the resilience of SH1 through this area and reduce risk to the road, which has been affected for many decades by a large, slow-moving landslide.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) Project Manager Gareth Howie says drainage is critical to any project, but drainage for this project is particularly crucial as it will redirect water away from the hillside, road and railway elsewhere in the existing stormwater system.

“This work, to redirect the water from the hillside and improve drainage, will boost the safety and reliability of the state highway and ultimately the efficiency of travel for all road users, hopefully minimising disruptions in future,” says Mr Howie.

In August 2023, cracks in the road meant emergency repair work needed to be undertaken, in addition to the installation of monitoring.

Over the next four months, NZTA is planning to install up to 3 incline drains (drains running up the hill) at the site, subject to approvals, which will reduce risk to the main trunk railway line as well as SH1.

Each drain will consist of four ‘fans’. At each of the fan locations in the drain, groundwater will be intercepted and will flow through the drain and be redirected.

“Water will be directed through the slotted drains from the upper levels into one exit point at the base of the drain, then filtered through the open swales, down into the culvert system and into existing culverts and then down to the Hautapu River, which is the direction the water is trying to take naturally,” says Mr Howie.

“We are working with mana whenua to ensure that water discharged from the drains remains in the same catchment, and effects on the Hautapu River, wetlands and watercourses are minimised as much as possible.”

Each drain will take up to four months to install and NZTA will monitor the effectiveness of each one before moving on to install the next. There will be minimal impact to road users as a result of these works.

Other work at the site this construction season to ensure a more resilient and safer road includes the felling of trees overhanging the road, and application of a second coat seal on the road following the 2023 emergency works.

This work is likely to involve some traffic management.

NZTA is also planning to install more instrumentation in the area to enhance monitoring with real time capability for response.

We will keep people updated as these works progress.

Site for first drain.

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Motorcyclist dies following crash in Palmerston North on 6 January

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

A motorcyclist critically injured in a crash in Palmerston North on 6 January has passed away in hospital.

The crash, involving a car and a motorcycle, occurred at the intersection of Victoria Avenue and Manapouri Crescent in Hokowhitu at around 2.10pm on Monday 6 January.

The motorcyclist was transported to Palmerston North Hospital with critical injuries and was subsequently transferred to Wellington Hospital.

Tragically, he died in Wellington Hospital on 9 January.

Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
 

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 

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Update on December selected prices indexes (SPI) release 2024 – exclusion of December 2024 rental data

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Update on December selected prices indexes (SPI) release 2024 – exclusion of December 2024 rental data – 10 January 2025 – The December 2024 SPI release, scheduled for publishing next week (16 January 2025), will not include actual rentals for housing data for December 2024.  

The administrative dataset for this information is provided by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment. MBIE has recently completed upgrades to their tenancy bond lodgment system and Stats NZ requires additional time to integrate this data for the rental price indexes.
 
This dataset also contributes to the consumers price index (CPI).  For the December 2024 quarter CPI, which will be released on 22 January 2025, we will produce a quarterly movement for rental prices using the two months of data already published for October and November 2024.
Stats NZ is confident in this approach.
   
We are working to integrate this dataset in time for the January 2025 SPI release in February 2025.

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Property Sector – Construction conditions look set to improve in 2025 – CoreLogic

Source: CoreLogic

The cost to build a ‘standard’ single storey three bedroom, two-bathroom standalone dwelling* in NZ increased by 0.6% in the three months to December, half the 1.1% growth seen in the third quarter of 2024 and also below the long-term average quarterly rise of 1.0%.
CoreLogic’s latest Cordell Construction Cost Index (CCCI) shows that the annual growth over the past 12 months has also slowed to just 1.1%, down from 2023’s rise of 2.4% and also well below the spike of 10.4% in 2022.
CoreLogic Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson said it was little surprise that construction cost growth has slowed in the past 12-18 months.
“The previous COVID-related pressures on materials supply chains such as plasterboard are no longer an issue, and there’s also been a wider slowdown in the number of new dwellings consented and actual residential construction work being undertaken,” he said.
“As a result, there’s been reduced pressure on the industry’s capacity, which naturally dampens cost growth, both for materials and labour.”
He pointed out that although the downturn in the construction sector has been deep and prolonged, it started from a very high base, meaning that over the longer-term recent levels of dwelling consents and construction activity have remained above previous troughs – including from right after the GFC.
In terms of specific product lines, the cost trends in Q4 remained mixed.
For example, carpet saw a 3% increase in the three months to December, with wall insulation up by 3% and plasterboard rising by 4%. On the other hand, external timber products dropped by -5%, and kitchen joinery costs were down by -3%.
Looking ahead, Mr Davidson said construction sector activity is unlikely to suddenly surge higher, especially with the slowdown in population growth due to the decline in net migration.
“Construction conditions look set to improve in 2025 as mortgage rates drop, but overall cost growth may still remain relatively controlled.”
“There are also signs in the new dwellings data from Stats NZ that a floor may have been reached and that a rise in construction is likely in 2025.”
Elsewhere in the market, Mr Davidson noted the loan to value ratio (LVR) rules continue to incentivise property buyers to look at new-build dwellings, while the debt to income (DTI) ratio restrictions do the same.
“DTIs aren’t having much impact right now, but with mortgage rates falling they’re set to become a greater consideration in 2025, and could result in a relative shift in property demand away from existing dwellings and towards the new-build segment.”
CoreLogic NZ is a leading, independent provider of property data and analytics. We help people build better lives by providing rich, up-to-the-minute property insights that inform the very best property decisions. Formed in 2014 following the merger of two companies that had strong foundations in New Zealand’s property industry – Terralink Ltd and PropertyIQ NZ Ltd – we have the most comprehensive property database with coverage of 99% of the NZ property market and more than 500 million decision points in our database.
We provide services across a wide range of industries, including Banking & Finance, Real Estate, Government, Insurance and Construction. Our diverse, innovative solutions help our clients identify and manage growth opportunities, improve performance and mitigate risk. We also operate consumer-facing portal propertyvalue.co.nz – providing important insights for people looking to buy or sell their home or investment property. We are a wholly owned subsidiary of CoreLogic, Inc – one of the largest data and analytics companies in the world with offices in New Zealand, Australia, the United States and United Kingdom. For more information visit corelogic.co.nz.
About Cordell Building Indices
The Cordell Building Indices (CBI) are a series of construction industry index figures that are used to monitor the movement in costs associated with building work within particular segments of the industry. The CBI indicate the rate of change in prices within particular segments of the New Zealand construction industry.
The changes in prices are measured daily through the use of detailed cost surveys, and are reported on a quarterly basis. This ensures the most current and comprehensive industry information available. Each index is based on a combination of labour, material, plant hire and subcontract services required to construct buildings within the particular segment being measured. The CBI measure the change in the cost of constructing buildings, and as such do not provide the actual costs.
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First Responders – Whangārei vegetation fire update #5

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand now has the vegetation fire in Whangārei under control, and is standing crews down for the evening at 8pm.
Incident Controller Denis Cooper says several crews will be back in the morning to extinguish the remainder of the fire and damp down hotspots.
“It’s been a big effort for our firefighters – who are both career firefighters and volunteers – and they’ve done a great job,” he says.
“We also appreciate the support of our community, and all the kind messages.”
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Oxfam – Richest 1% burn through their entire annual carbon limit in just 10 days

Source: Oxfam Aotearoa

The richest 1 percent have burned through their share of the annual global carbon budget -the amount of CO2 that can be added to the atmosphere without pushing the world beyond 1.5°C of warming- within the first 10 days of 2025, reveals new Oxfam analysis.
In stark contrast, it would take someone from the poorest half of the global population nearly three years (1022 days) to use up their share of the annual global carbon budget.
This alarming milestone, dubbed “Pollutocrat Day” by Oxfam, underscores how climate breakdown is disproportionately driven by the super-rich, whose emissions far exceed those of ordinary people. The richest 1 percent are responsible for more than twice as much carbon pollution than the poorest half of humanity, with devastating consequences for vulnerable communities and efforts to tackle the climate emergency. To meet the 1.5°C goal, the richest 1 percent need to cut their emissions by 97 percent by 2030.
“The future of our planet is hanging by a thread. The margin for action is razor-thin, yet the super-rich continue to squander humanity’s chances with their lavish lifestyles, polluting stock portfolios and pernicious political influence. This is theft -pure and simple- a tiny few robbing billions of people of their future to feed their insatiable greed,” said Oxfam International’s Climate Change Policy Lead, Nafkote Dabi.
Oxfam’s research shows that the emissions of the richest 1 percent since 1990 have caused -and will continue to cause- trillions of dollars in economic damage, extensive crop losses, and millions of excess deaths.
– The economic damage suffered by low- and lower-middle-income countries over the past 30 years is about three times greater than the total climate finance provided by rich countries to poorer ones.
– By 2050, the emissions of the richest 1 percent will cause crop losses that could have provided enough calories to feed at least 10 million people a year in Eastern and Southern Asia.
– Roughly eight in every 10 excess deaths due to heat will occur in low- and lower-middle-income countries. Around 40 percent of these deaths will occur in Southern Asia.
“Governments need to stop pandering to the richest. Rich polluters must be made to pay for the havoc they’re wreaking on our planet. Tax them, curb their emissions, and ban their excessive indulgences -private jets, superyachts, and the like. Leaders who fail to act are effectively choosing complicity in a crisis that threatens the lives of billions,” said Dabi.
Oxfam calls on governments to:
  • Reduce the emissions of the richest. Governments must introduce permanent income and wealth taxes on the top 1 percent, ban or punitively tax carbon-intensive luxury consumptions -starting with private jets and superyachts- and regulate corporations and investors to drastically and fairly reduce their emissions.
  • Make rich polluters pay. Climate finance needs are growing rapidly, especially in Global South countries bearing the brunt of climate impacts. While rich countries agreed to mobilise $300 billion a year to help Global South countries cope with warming temperatures and switch to renewable energy, this amount falls drastically short from the $5 trillion climate the Global North owes in climate debt and reparations.
Ton CO2 per capita per year Ton CO2 per capita per day Annual carbon budget, ton CO2 per capita Days to use up share of annual carbon budget Richest 1% 76 0.209 2.1 10 Poorest 50% 0.7 0.002 2.1 1022
Oxfam’s research shows that the richest 1 percent –comprising 77 million individuals, including billionaires, millionaires, and those earning over $140,000 per year in PPP terms– were responsible for 15.9 percent of global CO2 emissions in 2019. The bottom 50 percent (3.9 billion people with an average annual income of $2,000 in PPP terms) accounted for 7.7 percent of all CO2 emissions during the same year. “ Climate Equality: A Planet for the 99%“ draws on research by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and assesses the consumption emissions of different income groups in 2019, the most recent year for which data are available.
Between 2015 and 2030, the richest 1 percent are set to reduce their per capita consumption emissions by just 5 percent, compared with the 97 percent cuts needed to align with the global per capita level compatible with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement.
The first-of-its-kind study, Oxfam’s ” C arbon Inequality Kills,” tracks the emissions from private jets, yachts and polluting investments and details how the super-rich are fueling inequality, hunger and death across the world.
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SH1 work in Northland starting Sunday

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

A reminder, starting next week, our roading crews will begin essential road rebuilding work at key sites of SH1 between Whangārei and Ruakākā.

Additionally, there will be overnight closures for the resurfacing of SH1 Te Kamo Bypass/Kamo Intersection. Please plan ahead and allow extra time for your journey as our roading crews work to improve the highway.

SH1 Te Kamo Bypass/Kamo Intersection – Night works

From Sunday 12 January crews will be resurfacing a stretch of SH1 at Te Kamo Bypass.

The road will be closed between 8pm and 5am, Sunday to Thursday. The work is expected to finish the following Monday 20 January.

A detour (for light vehicles) will be available via Kamo township. High Productivity Motor Vehicles (HPMV) will be grouped together and guided through the worksite.

During the day, the road will operate with reduced speed limits in place.

Following the work at Te Kamo Bypass, crews will then resurface the SH1 / Kamo Road intersection, working overnight between 8pm and 5am on Tuesday 21 January, Wednesday 22 January, Thursday 23 January and again on Tuesday 28 January.

During this work, a temporary speed limit will be in place, in addition to lane closures and stop/go traffic management. There will also be a detour in place via Percy Street, Kensington Ave, Great North Road and Kamo township.

HPMV will be grouped and escorted through the worksite.

State Highway 1, Whangārei to Ruakākā

From Monday 13 January contractors will begin rebuilding the northbound left lane on SH1, between Hewlett Road and Salmon Road.

This work will take place during the day; however, the passing lane will remain closed for the duration of the works, with a 50km/h temporary speed limit in place 24/7.

Traffic flow will be maintained in both directions, except for brief periods of stop/go to allow contractors to shift equipment or set-up and pack-down the site.

Work is expected to be complete by Friday 31 January.

Alternative northbound passing lanes are located between Puwera and Oakleigh (slightly north of Oakleigh) and north of Ruakākā (just north of Prescott Road).

From Monday 27 January, contractors will be rebuilding the southbound left lane on SH1, between Flyger Road and Prescott Road.

The work will initially be untaken during the day and is expected to take 2 and a half weeks before crews then undertake 1 and a half weeks of overnight work.

The passing lane will remain closed for the duration of the works, with a 50km/h temporary speed limit in place 24/7.

During the day works, traffic flow will be maintained in both directions, except for brief periods of stop/go to allow contractors to shift equipment or set-up and pack-down the site.

During night works, the road will operate under stop/go traffic management.

Alternative southbound passing lanes are located between Puwera and Oakleigh (slightly south of Puwera) and between Oakleigh and Mata (near Totara Road).

2024/25 summer maintenance season

Rebuilding the road, which often involves replacing all or most of the structural road layers, improves the longevity of the network, the resilience and ultimately the safety and efficiency for all road users.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi acknowledges this work will be disruptive for some road users and appreciates people’s patience while this strengthening work is carried out to make the road more resilient.

This summer, roadworkers are out across the region making improvements. Expect delays and allow extra time before you travel. Road workers are out in all weather and do their best to keep everyone moving. Be tolerant and respectful of all crew members and follow any instructions on site. They’re helping to keep you safe.

Work is weather dependent and there may be changes to the planned works in the case of unsuitable weather. Please visit the NZTA Journey Planner website for up-to-date information on these works, including any changes due to weather.

Journey Planner(external link)

For more information about the overall maintenance programme and planned works, visit the Northland State Highway Maintenance Programme website:

Northland state highway maintenance programme(external link)

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Canterbury and West Coast: humming, high-vis highways

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA’s) highway maintenance crews are getting back into road repair and re-surfacing work this month and next across the central South Island – Canterbury and the West Coast regions.

All drivers need to be factoring additional time into their journeys and checking the Traffic and Travel maps before heading off so they are not surprised by a 20 or 30 minute delay, says NZTA’s Senior Network Manager for Canterbury Sagar Pandey.

A complicating factor this summer is the lack of summer temperatures and addition of rain in Canterbury, so drivers should also check that the planned works have not been postponed at short notice.

“In some cases we know people might travel through more than one road resurfacing project on a long journey, so adding an hour to the time expected and lowering your expectations around the time required is a good idea,” says Mr Pandey.

“We encourage people to drive safely and keep stress levels down on the highway – avoid tail-gating, take breaks. If you are following a truck, a caravan or trailer with a boat or a slower vehicle, take it easy, arrive safe.”

NZTA thanks everyone for slowing around our crews and traffic managers, taking a break along the way, and building in the extra time.

North Canterbury

Porters Pass, SH73, key route between West Coast and Canterbury: There is resurfacing work underway between Springfield and Castle Hill, the Kowai River Bridge No 2 to the Porter River Bridge starting this week (7 January) through to Wednesday, 22 January, 7 am to 6 pm.  The daytime work will involve ten-minute delays in both directions, managed with traffic signals.

  • Three nights of full closure next week:  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights, 13 – 15 January, weather and temperature dependent, the highway will fully close in both directions overnight 9 pm to 5.30 am with a traffic clearance between midnight and 1 am.  If it is wet, Thursday 16 January is a contingency night.

Lewis Pass route between the West Coast and Canterbury overnight closures: SH7 Handyside Stream area west of the Hanmer Springs turnoff is being resurfaced.

Six nights full closure from next week: There will be around six nights of full closure from Thursday, 16 January to Wednesday 22 January, weather and temperature dependent. Traffic will be stopped from 9 pm to 5.30 am with a clearance hour using Stop/Go between midnight and 1am.

Lewis Pass route between the West Coast and Canterbury overnight closures: SH7 Weka Pass, south of Waikari is being resurfaced from Tuesday, 21 January to Friday, 24 January, also weather and temperature dependent.

As for the other sites above, there will be a full traffic closure 9 pm to 5.30 am with a midnight traffic clearance midnight to 1 am using Stop/Go.  Check our map before you set out.

Detour for Weka Pass site for traffic under 46 tonnes: There is a detour around this site for vehicles weighing less than 46 tonnes via SH1 and Scargill Valley Road.

Emergency vehicles, the midnight envelope

During these SH7 and SH73 closures, emergency vehicles will be accommodated as quickly as possible at all times. NZTA thanks all regular night travellers for planning around the midnight to 1 am closures on these key routes.

It is possible the closure times could extend to earlier in the evening (eg 6 pm), managed with Stop/Go.

West Coast Region

SH6, South Westland, Epitaph underslip and rift area north of Haast: Rockfall prevention work restarts from Monday, 13 January and is expected to continue through to March, 2025.

From 13 January, the road will again be closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 12.30 and 4pm for rock clearing using explosives.

SH73, the Arthur’s Pass route: From Wednesday, 15 January to Tuesday, 30 January, crews will be repairing joints on the Otira Viaduct with a long work site managed by Stop/Go daytimes. Please build in an extra 20 minutes to your journeys, says Mr Pandey.

Night-time projects Mid and South Canterbury

Please check the traffic and travel map on the day for changes to these schedules, given many of these projects are weather and temperature dependent.

Journey Planner(external link)

SH1/SH79 Mid Canterbury, Rangitata intersection: Road resurfacing from Saturday 25 January to Thursday, 30 January. Up to 30-minute delays managed with Stop/Go.

SH1 Mid Canterbury, Hinds River Bridge: Asphaltic concrete resurfacing with up to three hour night closures, 9-10 March, Sunday and Monday. More details coming closer to dates.

SH1 Mid Canterbury, Rangitata Bridge: Asphaltic concrete resurfacing with up to three-hour night closures, 11-14 March, Tuesday to Friday. More details closer to the dates.

SH1 South Canterbury, Winchester Level Rail Crossing:  Asphaltic concrete resurfacing both approaches to the Winchester Rail Crossing 20 and 21 January, Monday and Tuesday.  SH1 closed at the rail crossing with local road detours, 6pm to 6am each night.  Detours will add around 20 minutes to travel times.

SH8 South Canterbury, Fairlie Township:  Asphaltic concrete resurfacing through the township on SH8 and SH79 24 – 31 January, Friday to Friday.  Night-time Stop/Go and delays of up to 20 minutes to be expected 7pm to 6am.   

Daytime projects Mid and South Canterbury

SH1 Mid Canterbury, Rakaia to Timaru: Resealing multiple sites from Friday, 24 January. Drivers can expect Stop/Go during daytime hours and delays of up to 40 minutes through to the end of January.

SH1 Mid Canterbury, Rangitata Bridge: Daytime delays of up to 20 minutes continue for bridge piling works.  Bridge closure over one night planned for March to cut old piles from the bridge, opening times every hour. More information will be provided closer to the date.

SH82 South Canterbury’s Waimate Gorge, to end of March: Drivers and traffic will be managed with temporary traffic lights 24/7 and a 30km/h speed limit from this week (6 January) to the end of March through this road reconstruction site. People should build in 20 minutes extra time while this work is underway.

SH8 South Canterbury, Coal Stream Fairlie, to end of April: Work continues on two more road reconstruction sites between Albury and Fairlie with 24/7 temporary traffic lights and delays of up to 20 minutes through to the end of April.

SH1 Timaru Showgrounds site, Bridge Road/Jellicoe St: Timaru District Council is replacing a water main pipe with lanes likely to be closed and traffic management, potentially from the end of January for around two months. More details to come.

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Waikato & Bay of Plenty state highway works January 2025

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

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2025 has kicked off with a number of active worksites across the region. With good weather forecast for the next few weeks it’s perfect timing for crews to get stuck back into the huge chipsealing programme, says Andy Oakley, Waikato System Manger for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

Our programme for the remainder of the summer is ambitious.  It means a lot of roadworks and disruption, however planning ahead will ease the frustration. 

“Using the NZTA Journey Planner, which provides real-time updates of network conditions including traffic delays, will help road users plan their way around the most disruptive worksites. Our Summer Journeys page will also be available in the lead-up to long weekends, helping holidaymakers choose the best time to travel to their destination,” says Mr Oakley. 

This work forms part of the government’s $2.07 billion investment into road and drainage renewal and maintenance across 2024-27 via the State Highway Pothole Prevention fund. 

Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway works as at 10 January 2025 [PDF, 277 KB]

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Appeal for information following Khandallah incident

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

Attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch

Police are seeking witnesses to a family harm incident in Khandallah, Wellington, yesterday. 

About 12pm on Thursday 9 January, Police were called to a bus stop on Cockayne Road after a man was seen holding a bladed object, damaging a bus shelter, and threatening a woman, who had a small child with her.

Officers arrived shortly after and attempted to engage with the man.

A Taser was deployed at the 32-year-old alleged offender, and he fell to the ground, hitting his head. The man received immediate medical attention by officers and was transported by ambulance to hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.

The victim was also treated for a minor injury, believed to have been caused by the bladed object. Thankfully, the child was uninjured and both the woman and child are being provided with support.

This was a volatile and unpredictable incident where there was an immediate threat to life, and we would like to thank the members of the public who called 111 without hesitation. 

Police are aware of others that assisted or witnessed the incident who have not yet spoken to Police and we are appealing for those people to make contact with us. 

If you have any information that could help our enquiries, please update us online now or call 105.

Please use the reference number 250109/0508.

Due to the alleged offender’s injury, the incident has been referred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority.

Charges will be considered when appropriate and enquiries into the incident are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre