Category: New Zealand

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One-night maintenance closure for State Highway 2, Remutaka Hill this weekend

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Regular users of State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill for 2025 need to be ready for a planned closure this Sunday.

The route will be closed for planned maintenance for one night between 9 pm and 4 am, on Sunday, 9 March.

Road crews will be carrying out drainage, culvert maintenance and other general maintenance work,  and inspections. 

Drivers of light vehicles can book an escorted crossing if they need to travel the route at night. The only alternative detours are via the Pahiatua Track or Saddle Road to the north – a much longer trip. This can be done on the NZTA website.

Bookings are essential. While every effort is made to accommodate drivers on the night, those who do not have a booking may be turned away.

Full closures mean maintenance works can be finished faster, and they are safer for road crews.

Traffic volumes are also lighter at night – while around 7,000 vehicles travel the route daily, fewer than 300 use it at night. It means night works affect fewer drivers and are far less disruptive than day works.

Three more sets of night closures are planned in April, May, and June. Road users, especially those who travel over the Remutaka Hill regularly, should make a note of the planned dates.

Important information for Remutaka Hill closures

  • Escorted crossings for light vehicles are available during closure nights but must be booked in advance. We always communicate well before planned closures and provide contact details so bookings can be made.
  • Bookings are essential – drivers who turn up without one risk being turned away. If you have a genuine emergency on the night, the hill manager will decide how best to help you.
  • The escorted crossings are for light vehicles only. To keep our contractors safe, heavy vehicles cannot be accommodated.
  • Full access is always available for emergency services.

More information about planned maintenance closures for Remutaka Hill can be found on our website:

State Highway 2, Remutaka Hill, planned night closures. February – June 2025:

Nights closed

Start 9pm

Finish 4am

1

9 March

10 March

5

6 April

11 April

1

18 May

19 May

1

15 June

16 June
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Fixing the Doctor – night works planned for State Highway 6 Doctor Creek Bridge repairs

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

A critical piece of State Highway 6 infrastructure is about to be worked as part of the state highway summer maintenance season.

The Doctor Creek Bridge, between Belgrove and Kohatu is due to be resurfaced, weather permitting, later this month.

Contractors will be onsite at the bridge on the night of Wednesday, 19 March to complete asphalting work.

Because of there is limited road space, the bridge and the highway must be closed to traffic while this work is completed.

Resurfacing bridge decks cannot be completed effectively under stop/go traffic management. A full closure also allows the job to be completed much faster, meaning less over all disruption for road users.

A closure will be in place  on State Highway 6 between Wai-iti Valley Road and North Road from 7 pm on Wednesday, 19, March until 6 am on Thursday, 20 March. However, access will be available for affected residents and emergency services.

A local road detour will be available via Wai-iti Valley Road to Stock Road, to Valley Road, onto North Road then back onto State Highway 6 near Kohatu Junction.  The reverse for northbound road users.

This detour will add an extra 20 minutes to travel time. Drivers should plan their trips accordingly.

If weather or any unforeseen circumstances mean work cannot be completed on Wednesday night, the contingency night for this work is Thursday, 20 March.

View larger map [JPG, 123 KB]

More information:

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Fatal crash, Saddle Road, Woodville

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

One person has died following a two-vehicle crash in Woodville this morning.

Emergency services were alerted to the crash on Saddle Road at around 11.10am.

Sadly, one person was located deceased at the scene.

The Serious Crash Unit is currently conducting a scene examination.

The road remains closed, and motorists are advised to follow diversions.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Update on Morningside sudden death

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Police can now provide a further update on the previously unexplained death of a woman in Morningside.

Initially, Police were called to the Don Croot Street property at 9.15pm on 28 February after the woman was found unresponsive.

Despite CPR being performed at the scene, she was sadly unable to be revived.

Today, a post-mortem examination was completed.

Following this examination and other enquiries, Police consider there are no suspicious circumstances in relation to her death.

The woman’s death has now been referred to the Coroner.

Our sympathies are with her friends and family.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

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3 March 2025 Tenants ‘feel blessed’ to be living in new Avondale development A two and a half-year project to create the country’s largest social housing development is complete, with the final 30 homes in the 236-home Avondale development now ready for tenants.

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

Many of the tenants who will move into the newly completed homes in the fifth and final building in the Community Lane development will be older people or people with health needs. They will start moving in from mid-March.

“In just under two and a half years our build partner CMP Construction have delivered 236 new warm and dry homes. That’s one new home every four days,’’ says Nick Howcroft, Director Delivery at Kāinga Ora.

“I recently met some of the Community Lane tenants who moved in last year and it was so rewarding to get feedback on their new homes. When we hear our tenants say they feel safe, are using the community lounges to connect with each other, and feel blessed to be living here, I know we’ve done a good job and made a difference to the lives of hundreds of New Zealanders.”

Community Lane sits on a site where there were originally 45 older state homes. Now, there are 236 homes spread across five buildings. Most of the homes have been designed with older people in mind but there are also some apartments for small families.

It is high density living so getting the urban design right in the early stages of the planning for Community Lane was critical.  All the buildings were designed to capture the light, with many enjoying elevated views of the communal gardens and the local lane connecting tenants to the surrounding neighbourhood.

Separating the development into five buildings provides a sense of space, and the buildings are nestled around common areas to provide a feeling of safety to those living there.

Each building has its own community lounge and there are gardens and greenhouses providing outdoor spaces where tenants can meet and get to know each other.

“Avondale is a central Auckland suburb, and our development supported Auckland Council plans to revitalise this area. Kāinga Ora site works, and the installation of waste and storm water systems through our land, has enabled private developers to connect and build more new homes in the area,” Nick says.

“During the peak of construction up to 300 workers were onsite so this was busy housing development. The unit cost to build 236 new homes was $572,000 including all of the broader construction costs associated with the development. Commencing construction during a period of rising construction costs and supply constraints presented some challenges, and the overall team did well to execute on the delivery programme. Leveraging many of these learnings and engaging with the industry, we are resetting how we deliver density more cost-effectively in the future.”

Watch this video to learn more about the design and build.  

Page updated: 3 March 2025

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Weather News – Autumn kicks off with a chilly, stormy start – MetService

Source: MetService

Covering period of Monday 3rd – Thursday 6th March – After a warm, dry end to meteorological summer, autumn announces itself in a chilly and wet fashion. MetService is forecasting a cool week for most, with wet and thundery weather, and biting southerlies along southern and eastern North Island coastlines. However, brighter weather returns by the end of the working week. Meanwhile, Tropical Cyclone Alfred now appears less likely to affect Aotearoa New Zealand.

A rain-bearing cold front moves up the South Island today (Monday), delivering heavier falls to eastern areas at times before clearing from the south and west this evening. On Tuesday, it’s the North Island’s turn with rain and showers, reaching Northland by the end of the day. Thunderstorms are also on the cards, particularly for the lower North Island and upper South Island.

MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane explains, “Hail is likely from thunderstorms on Tuesday, especially for Nelson, Tasman, and Marlborough. While many areas have favourable conditions for thunderstorms, not everyone will see one. However, where they do occur, they could bring intense rainfall in a short period. After a dry start to the year, many places need rain, but a sudden downpour may not be the most beneficial way for it to arrive.”

Showers persist through Wednesday and Thursday for eastern regions and the lower North Island. By Friday, most places can expect brighter skies, aside from some cloud and showers in the far south of the South Island.

Alongside wet weather, a shift to cooler temperatures is on the way. “After highs in the upper 20s and even 30s over the weekend, mid-week temperatures will drop to the mid-teens, with cool nights as well. Parts of the Canterbury High Country may even see frost on Thursday morning, with Twizel forecast to dip to 2°C,” Makgabutlane says.

The cooler air is driven by southerlies, which could be strong at times in the eastern and lower North Island, leading to rough sea conditions. “Swell heights will be something to watch along the Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay coastlines from Thursday. Extra care is advised for anyone planning to be near the water,” Makgabutlane cautions.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which initially appeared to have the potential to turn towards Aotearoa, now looks more likely to track westward towards the Queensland coast of Australia. Our thoughts are with those who may be affected across the Tasman. MetService will continue to monitor developments, and more information on the cyclone’s impact in Australia can be found on the Bureau of Meteorology’s website: https://metservice.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=63982abb40666393e6a63259d&id=aec4796a6a&e=852c839bf9

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Girls are proving point in the trades | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

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Fifty years ago, seeing a woman in a hard hat on a construction site was a rare sight. Between 1975 and 1986, only nine women graduated from EIT with a qualification in trades. Today, that number tells a different story—730 women earned trades qualifications from 2003 to 2023.

Graduates like Cerise Wilson, who completed EIT’s Carpentry Level 3 Programme, are part of this growth, showing the diverse range of people choosing careers in the trades today.

As EIT marks its 50th anniversary, these numbers highlight the evolution of trades education and the increasing opportunities available to all.

Find out more about our School of Trades and Technology here https://lnkd.in/g_-7qNpb

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Serious crash, Saddle Road, Woodville

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Police are responding to a serious crash on Saddle Road, Woodville.

Emergency services were alerted to the two-vehicle crash near the Hope Road intersection at around 11.10am.

Initial indications suggest there are injuries.

The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.

The road is closed, and motorists are advised to avoid the area and follow diversions.

ENDS

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Local News – Pump track planned for Porirua’s Postgate Park

Source: Porirua City Council 

An under-utilised Porirua green space is to be transformed into a pump track for riders of all ages.
The southern end of Postgate Park in Whitby has been set aside for the 1000 sqm asphalt track, where bikes, scooters and skateboards can be ridden over jumps and turns.
This track is the brainchild of Whitby dad Daniel Heath, through Mana Cycle Group, and he has been responsible for fundraising the full amount needed to build the track so there is no burden on ratepayers. He says the location makes it accessible from walkways across Whitby, the eastern Porirua suburbs and Bothamley Park.
“This is going to be a world-class track built by Velosolutions, who are global experts in this type of construction, with other tracks they’ve built used for regional and national competitions,” Daniel says.
“We love it when kids are off their devices and outside, and a pump track promotes physical activity, skill development and fun. But it’ll be for older kids too – I know plenty of adults who will be hanging out to give this a go!”
Daniel says the idea for a pump track in this part of Porirua has been around since the Covid lockdowns and it’s been a challenge to fundraise and get to this point. While Porirua schools have built bike tracks, they don’t have the resources or space to build something with challenging elements like a pump track, he says.
“I felt as a community we could do better and the schools can save their valuable play space, and funds, for other things. There is plenty of space at Postgate Park and even with the track at one end, there will still be a lot of the park space still available.”
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says a facility like this is a win-win for the Porirua community.
“It’s going to be an asset for our residents, and visitors,” she says.
“It makes perfect sense for Porirua City Council to be in partnership with Mana Cycle Group to use a part of Postgate Park, and I congratulate Daniel and Mana Cycle Group team for all the heavy lifting they’ve done to get the project to fruition.”
Construction is set to start in mid or late April and take six weeks.
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Mining Sector – Business costs can’t increase to modernise DoC – Straterra

Source: Straterra Inc

The mining industry is encouraged to see Conservation Minister Tama Potaka say he aims to lower costs to businesses as the Department of Conservation (DoC) looks to modernise its processes, says Straterra chief executive Josie Vidal.
“In our submission on the discussion document Modernising conservation land management we note this important point, outlined in the foreword as one of the Minister’s two bottom lines,” Vidal says.
“There is no doubt the many layers of processes DoC has to provide access and concessions for the conservation estate needs modernising and we support this aim. However, there is a danger of over-simplifying and we have concerns about, and do not support, the proposed class approach to concessions. Instead, we prefer a case-by-case approach where each application is assessed on its overall merits.
“Getting a mine up and running is costly and business and miners already pay numerous charges for access arrangements and concessions. These include activity, management, and monitoring fees, industrial intrusion charges, and various other charges. This complicated and oblique charging system means that in aggregate, the payment miners make to the Government is substantial.
“There is a strong case for removing the requirement for concessions for mining operations. This could be achieved by allowing mineral permits to cover all land that is required for the mining and associated activities, such as roads and processing plants, and not just the mining of the mineral.
“We support more flexibility for the Government to exchange, transfer, or dispose of parcels of conservation land. This can benefit both miners and the DoC with enhanced conservation outcomes, as well as wider benefits for society.
“The conservation estate is one-third of New Zealand’s land and DoC doesn’t have the resources to manage that.
“Enabling land to be exchanged or disposed of can raise funds for conservation purposes (e.g. pest control) and/or ensure the land is being held by an owner best able to optimise the conservation value. Miners are often better placed than DoC to do this and miners on the conservation estate are engaged in pest control, kiwi breeding programmes, and other conservation projects.
“The aim of more flexible land exchange and disposal settings should be to support all Government priorities, including economic, while still providing a net conservation benefit and safeguarding vulnerable biodiversity.
“Mining tourism should be part of the enhanced tourism on conservation land goal in the discussion document. This would also help dispel the many myths and misinformation about mining on conservation land. There is already some mining tourism activity in New Zealand.
“We do not support giving the Minister of Conservation power to approve the National Conservation Policy Statement (NCPS) and area plans because of the risk of an ideologically driven minister rejecting perfectly acceptable uses of conservation land,” Vidal says.
– Exploration and mining currently occurs on conservation land excluding National Parks and Schedule 4 land. The Government and industry are not seeking to change the current settings in relation to this.
– Mining on conservation land is infrequent and the footprint is small because mineral resources are hard to find and strict hurdles have to be navigated before approval to mine is given. Only about 3,500 hectares or 0.04% of the conservation estate has been disturbed by mining. This is after more than 40 years of mining on conservation land.
– Not all exploration on conservation land leads to mining as the exploration phase may rule out mining.
– The status quo works well where exploration and mining applications are considered on their merits against the conservation values of the land in question. This case-by-case approach is a more versatile and superior approach than one based on land categorisation because it doesn’t rule out potential opportunities before they are considered.