Public transport, to complement cycling?

Written By: - Date published: 7:23 am, June 17th, 2021 - 51 comments
Categories: auckland supercity, cycleway, public transport, Social issues, transport, uncategorized - Tags:

By Jenny How to get there

The other week the NZ Herald ran a large full page opinion piece by Simon Wilson calling for, a lane of the Harbour be turned into a bike-way. Complete with an artist’s impression of what it would look like.

Simon Wilson: It’s time to bike the Auckland Harbour Bridge – NZ Herald

Simon Wilson’s opinion piece was followed by a protest on the Bridge the following Sunday.

Even on a Sunday this caused major traffic “Chaos”. If the protest had been done during the working week. The Bridge would have been thrown into gridlock.

Short of building another harbour crossing, there is another way to get cyclists across the Bridge. Buses.

The Auckland Harbour Bridge is an eight-lane motorway bridge over the Waitemata Harbour in Auckland, New Zealand…..

….About 170,000 vehicles cross the bridge each day (as of 2019), including more than 1,000 buses, which carry 38% of all people crossing during the morning peak.

Auckland Harbour Bridge – Wikipedia

Dividing 170,000 vehicles by eight lanes gives you 21,250 vehicles per lane.

Ignoring for a moment the 1,000 buses. Let’s be generous and say there is only one person per vehicle, ie 21,250 people.

Take one lane off the Harbour Bridge for a bike lane, 21,250 people still need to get across the bridge every day.

Let’s be generous again, and assume that, 4,000 of these commuters will switch to bicycles to cross the bridge, every day. (even in bad weather). That still leaves 17,250 extra cars to crowd into the remaining lanes.

How can it be done?

  • For argument’s sake, let’s assume that the bridge is already at full capacity.
  • 17,250 extra vehicles added to the remaining 7 lanes – grid lock.
  • Let’s bring the buses back into the equation.
  • Doubling the 1,000 buses a day, to 2,000 buses a day, will get 17,250 people across the bridge, with seats to spare.
  • Again assuming the bridge is already at full capacity.
  • An extra 1,000 buses added to the remaining 7 lanes – grid lock.

But how about this?; double the number of buses, and Instead of taking one, (or two lanes) for a bikeway, take one, (or two lanes) to extend the Northern Busway across the Harbour Bridge, and right into the city centre.

Many buses are already fitted with a cargo bay. To accommodate cyclists wanting to cross the harbour, buses with cargo bays for bikes and dedicated bike loading bus stops either side of the bridge. (Cyclists will be able to cross the Bridge while viewing the beauty of the harbour from the comfort of the bus, in all weathers, and without risking getting blown over the railing).

For convenience of use, and to sweeten the deal, and to get even more people out of their cars, make the Northern Busway fare free for its entire length.

(People love free stuff) Single payer, means people still pay through their rates and/or taxes, but the trade off for commuters is in the savings made in fuel and running costs, not to mention parking costs. Other external costs, pollution, climate change, traffic congestion, will also be less. A net gain for all of us.

38% of commuters already cross the Harbour Bridge during peak hour on the bus. Increase that to 50% (or more), will free up capacity on the remaining 6 lanes – grid lock avoided.

Much less vehicle traffic and congestion and air pollution in the inner city, will benefit cyclists and pedestrians, and the remaining drivers.

One more thing. Make those buses zero emission buses. We only have 33 Zero emission buses in Auckland now, however the council say they intend to make the whole bus fleet zero-emission within ‘a few years’.

INNER CITY AUCKLAND CITYLINK BUSES GO ELECTRIC

…..The e-buses will help reduce carbon emissions and enable Auckland to meet its climate change goals and ditch diesel and petrol public transport, [Mayor] Goff says.

Not only are the e-buses quieter, but they will also improve Auckland’s inner city air quality – especially in the Queen Street valley area, he says….

……On Sunday April 25, Lower Albert Street will re-open for North Shore buses. Some Central and West Auckland bus routes will also now use it to begin their journeys out of the city

Auckland Transport will now have 33 zero-emission buses deployed.

Inner city Auckland CityLink buses go electric | EV Talk (evsandbeyond.co.nz)

To recap:

Each lane of the Harbour Bridge takes 21,250 vehicles a day. If we take one lane away for a bikeway most of those 21,250 drivers displaced by the bike-way are not going to become cyclists. Instead they are going to be crowded back onto the remaining 7 lanes. Since the Bridge is at capacity during rush hour now, this can only result in longer travel times and more ol’ pollution. 

Far better taking one lane for a busway across the Harbour Bridge, and as an incentive to get people out of their cars, make it fare free, The Northern busway has been a runaway success. 38% of commuters already cross the bridge on the bus. The buses are a proven way of getting thousands of commuters to leave their car at home. However the Northern busway suffers a bottle neck at the Harbour Bridge and can never meet its full potential until it is brought right across the Bridge and into the City.

Ideally two lanes will be needed for a busway, but with the lane moving technology one lane would suffice. Southwards in the morning Northwards in the afternoon.

The return journey made on the uncrowded side of the motorway.

To incentivise the 21,000 motorists displaced by the missing lane, not to add to the remaining 7 lanes, the Northern Busway must be made fare free for its entire length.

The Auckland Harbour Bridge is an eight lane motorway, constructed solely for motor vehicle use only.

Like most motorways the Auckland Harbour Bridge doesn’t lend itself to being retrofitted for bikes and pedestrian traffic, The traditional answer has been to construct separate cycleways to the side. And this is being done on the Southern and Western motorways. But the Harbour Bridge presents a unique problem

There was a plan to build a sky-path for cyclists and pedestrians under or beside the main carriageway. But it proved to be a hugely complicated and expensive engineering project.

Taking a lane for a bikeway is not practical. The engineering nightmare that was the sky-path has been ditched. The new plan is for a new and separate bike and pedestrian harbour bridge to be built beside the existing harbour bridge. The price tag for this bridge is $785 million and the completion date is 5 years.

A fare free busway with an option for bicycle stowage is a far cheaper solution and can be implemented immediately. All of the infrastructure is already there.

On a personal note.
I recently took an intercity bus trip to the East Coast. At Gisbourne the bus was boarded by a number of cyclists who stowed their bikes in the copious luggage compartment for the journey to Taupo. At Taupo they got off the bus, took their bikes out, and continued their journey by bike..

It occurs to me that every bus should have these luggage compartments, for stowing bikes prams etc.

The government are considering giving one lane possibly even two lanes over to a bikeway as a temporary measure, until the new bike bridge is completed.

Instead of a three month trial of a bikeway. How about a Three Month Trial of a Fare Free Northern Busway all the way into the City. Who knows, we might find out, we won’t need any new bridge or tunnel harbour crossings with multi $billion dollar price tags.

Free public transport: Synchs in with environmentalism, reducing poverty & inequality. Demanding all cities have free public transport would help the poorest amongst us, demand more growth for public transport and take some of the stress out of our groaning roading system that can’t cope as it is. Major way to directly combat climate change.

Fare-Free New Zealand

51 comments on “Public transport, to complement cycling? ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. lprent 1
    17 June 2021 at 7:24 am

    Many buses are already fitted with a cargo bay. To accommodate cyclists wanting to cross the harbour, buses with cargo bays for bikes and dedicated bike loading bus stops either side of the bridge.

    I suspect that there are some pretty basic issues with that. As someone who has loaded a bike on buses, trains and cars – it is never a simple task even for simple light bikes like racing bikes. Currently the intercity buses have a cargo bay that can get used by cycles. It is designed for luggage. Even a single bike chews up the space.

    This is the advice given by Intercity about taking a bike.

    Yes, bikes are allowed as checked luggage. Here's what you need to know:

    • Bicycles must be collapsed down (both wheels removed from the frame) with handlebars turned sideways and the chain covered. They should not exceed total dimensions (length + width + height) of 158cm (62inches). Bicycles presented in this fashion will be accepted for travel and counted as one of your two Checked Luggage entitlements.
    • Please contact us in advance of travel so we can inform the driver. This may make it easier for him/her to leave space for your bike, although we cannot guarantee carriage on any specific travel date or service.
    • There are some services that can't carry bikes for space reasons. Please check the Oversize Luggage page for a full list.
    • In the interest of other travellers’ luggage and driver safety, all bicycles must have the pedals removed and the chain covered.
    • The charge for bicycles that are not collapsed down is $10.00 per bike, per individual bus connection. This is payable to the driver.

    Needless to say this isn't going to suit commuter traffic. It'd be a operations nightmare to handle even a couple of bikes in storage compartments on any single bus.

    Bikes can be festooned on the bus. Or more realistically have parking spaces in a bus.

    Unlike this guy, I'm 62 and I have electric bike that weighs something like 50-60kgs. It is also awkward with the mirrors to keep track of the murderous car drivers and the saddlebags that I usually have on it with computer gear. Trying to lift my bike up on to rack is simply impossible. I’d break something – probably me.

    At least 2/3rds of the cyclist commuters that I see on my commutes have e-bikes. They simply aren't light. I'd imagine that anyone doing commutes will have e-bikes in the next few years. There are far more of them being sold than EVs.

    As you can see, having secure bike parking on a bus chews up space. Those displayed examples are piddly sporting bikes compared to a modern commuter e-bike.

    Most of those 1000 buses per day happen only at rush hours. Now imagine having 50 bikes waiting for the next bus at commuter time and more arriving. Unlike humans just carrying a briefcase or pack, it takes far more time to load (and unload) bikes. Rather than 5 minutes to swipe a 50 people on board a bus, it'd take more like 30 minutes to put 50 bikes on buses and secure then so they don't injure other bikes or other people. That just adds an hour to the commute for no practical usage.

    Basically if there were 4000 or even 1000 cyclists on a bus commuting daily on a bus shuttle, then you'd expect to see the Northern Busway (already heading close to capacity) grind to a halt. I'd expect to see massive disruptions to the orderly operation of the buses for walk-on passengers. The bus stations have limited space for buses to stop, limited room for expansion, and no real way to fill up with people loading and unloading bikes on to buses.

    Ideally two lanes will be needed for a busway, but with the lane moving technology one lane would suffice. Southwards in the morning Northwards in the afternoon.

    The return journey made on the uncrowded side of the motorway.

    A switch single lane doesn't really cut it either. It would have worked 20+ years ago.

    But the last time when I was last commuting from the CBD area to the North Shore in 2010 the buses were invariably full in the main commuter periods. That is because there is a lot of work from Birkenhead to Albany done by people who live on the other side of the bridge.

    These days there is no uncrowded side of the bridge in rush hours. Just one that is slight less congested than the other.

    There isn't enough parking around the North Shore business areas to park a car. The chances of getting 'parked' going over the bridge in the 'opposite' direction is nearly the same as it is going the other way. The buses in both directions are usually full, and the rush hours now last about 2.5-3 hours morning and evening. So the buses do multiple return trips.

    I used to commute counter to the traffic in the 90s. But that died as a technique somewhere towards the end of the 00s. The traffic flows directions have been evening out ever since. Now I only work where I can bike or bus to in a reasonable length of time. So my premium for working over the bridge now includes 2 hours of commute each day – ie more than the median income in NZ.

    • weka 1.1
      17 June 2021 at 9:24 am

      Roughly how many bikes per trip? Other sectors use bike trailers behind buses. The first bus in this link takes 54 riders and their bikes. Obviously there are logistical and engineering issues (redesign for ebikes) as well as expectation of behaviour change, but they don’t seem insurmountable.

      https://www.bike-express.co.uk/Corporate_Events

    • Jenny How to get there 1.2
      17 June 2021 at 10:20 am

      First off. Thanks for putting this post up.

      Since I first penned it. I have rethought several aspects.

      After agriculture, transport is New Zealand's greatest source of Greenhouse emissions.

      We need to restrict the use of the private (ICE) motor vehicle as much as possible.

      I am not in favour of congestion charges to restrict private car use, as this form of impost always falls hardest on those least able to afford it.

      I don't think another harbour crossing that leaves 8 lanes for ICE vehicles to pour across the harbour is the best use of our resources. And will do little to nothing for greenhouse emissions related to transport.

      Yes, I think taking one or two lanes away from cars on the Bridge is a good idea.

      I realise that this will create a lot of hardship for commuters in the short to medium term until things resettle into the new reality.

      But the climate crisis is so extreme that this short term pain may well be worth it.

      (Even if it only acts to stop us being held in total contempt by following generations).

      Global warming may have already passed irreversible tipping point | Climate News | Al Jazeera

      P.S. Thanks Lprent for your thoughtful contribution.

      • gsays 1.2.1
        17 June 2021 at 10:32 am

        No reckons from me, it all sounds great.

        One bit of advice I received was to not call anything free. Someone pays, instead: complimentary, gratis, no charge etc

        • Jenny How to get there 1.2.1.1
          17 June 2021 at 12:08 pm

          Yes I have seen the word 'complimentary' used before in relation to fare free bus services. By past Manukau City Mayor Barry Curtis, who had voiced support for a fare free bus service trial in Manukau City.
          Curtis said he thought that complimentary buses could be used as feeders for the then proposed Manukau train station.

          Just as you say, gsays, nothing is free. Someone pays.

          It is my opinion that public services are run more efficiently and cheaply through single payer than user pays.

    • Jenny How to get there 1.3
      17 June 2021 at 11:32 am

      lprent

      17 June 2021 at 7:24 am

      …..As someone who has loaded a bike on buses, trains and cars – it is never a simple task even for simple light bikes like racing bikes….

      I can fully believe your problems with getting bikes onto public transport, having witnessed it myself.
      Coincidently, yesterday I had to catch the train to Papakura from Pamure after driving my 86 year old father's car to his mechanic in Morrin Rd, to replace a faulty alternator. (Yes, he still drives).

      On the return journey, the train was pretty full, at Otahuhu a cyclist in full racing kit brought his racing bike onto our passenger carriage. His bike may have been litght weight but it still took up a lot of room. Without room to move past the seats, and seated passengers, he and his bike stood in the doorway partially obstructing both doors. The cyclist was approached by the guard. I was too far back to hear the full conversation between them, but it appeared affable. What I did hear was the cyclist agreeing to move his vehicle to another carriage.
      At the next stop he got off. I couldn't see where he went, but I presume that he reboarded the train at one of the low loading carriages that most of the commuter trains have for cyclists, where the floor level is set between the bogies level with with platforms and where the seats are set against the wall, and fold out of the way to make room for bikes, wheelchairs, mobility scooters, prams etc.

      (Cyclists on the trains in South Auckland are usually dressed in battered work clothes with a workaday bike, the bike and train are their way to commute to their factory job).

      Did I mention that yesterday it had been raining. (along with cars, a perennial enemy of cyclists).

      Let me say here, that I admire all the heroic cycle commuters and one day hope to join them.
      ,
      ,

  2. Noel 2
    17 June 2021 at 8:29 am

    Relative in Aussie got a job as a light rail guard. Cyclists bitching about insufficient racks was a daily occurance. Said to one cyclist moaner "you got on at X where do intend to get off" which by relatives calculation was 4kms. Made my day he said.

    • lprent 2.1
      17 June 2021 at 8:37 am

      by relatives calculation was 4kms

      Easier to ride – that is about 10 minutes max. Provided you can avoid hill, parked cars with their arbitrary door opening and cars driven so as to drive you into them.

      Getting a bike secured on a bus and then getting off is close to the same time.

  3. GreenBus 3
    17 June 2021 at 8:55 am

    What about some purpose built "bike buses"? Nothing but cyclists and there machines with easy loading access/ramps. Using existing lanes so no need to lose 1 or 2 and gridlock traffic. Like a ferry service. No passengers just riders and bikes.

  4. Stuart Munro 4
    17 June 2021 at 9:23 am

    At least until a bike crossing is available, buses are a logical option. A pair of purpose built shuttle buses giving pedestrians and cyclists a free trip across the bridge, one in each direction, might go a fair way to supporting cycling and pedestrian options until the TA's glacial bureaucracy provides something better. Purpose built, a bus could accommodate about a dozen bikes, with up to twenty passengers (some standing). Other vehicles would be needed for wheelchairs & baby strollers – but the engineering is pretty light – something NZ is good at.

      • Stuart Munro 4.1.1
        17 June 2021 at 9:59 am

        Looks great – though might be modified somewhat for speed and ease of loading/unloading.

        Ideally, it ought to handle recumbent bikes too – they have advantages over moderate to long distance, as well as Ebikes of one kind or another.

        • weka 4.1.1.1
          17 June 2021 at 10:21 am

          Yep. Definitely would need to be designed for the Auckland situation, and I’m assuming there wouldn’t be 50 bikes per trip in the immediate future so plenty of space to transport all the different things.

        • gsays 4.1.1.2
          17 June 2021 at 10:35 am

          While we are at it, space and design for mobility scooters/walkers.

          • Jenny How to get there 4.1.1.2.1
            17 June 2021 at 11:47 am

            gsays

            17 June 2021 at 10:35 am

            While we are at it, space and design for mobility scooters/walkers.

            I spoke to one of my friends who went on the bike protest with her bike and crossed the bridge. I asked her was there anyone on the protest on a mobility scooter. She said, "No. But good idea. Maybe next time"

  5. Ad 5
    17 June 2021 at 10:56 am

    “For convenience of use, and to sweeten the deal, and to get even more people out of their cars, make the Northern Busway fare free for its entire length.” Making public transport free just for North Shore citizens is the most inequitable proposal I have ever heard in transport.

    "At Gisbourne [sic] the bus was boarded by a number of cyclists who stowed their bikes in the copious luggage compartment for the journey to Taupo. At Taupo they got off the bus, took their bikes out, and continued their journey by bike." Two random holidaymakers blissing out near Taupo, versus a daily Auckland rush-hour, is as useful as comparing a 1 gallon butter churn with a laden Fonterra milk tanker.

    “38% of commuters already cross the Harbour Bridge during peak hour on the bus. Increase that to 50% (or more), will free up capacity on the remaining 6 lanes – grid lock avoided.” No; huge new subdivisions being built north of the harbour bridge are driving vehicle demand far into the future. Demand across the bridge grinds up slowly only because the dedicated busway has pulled greater percentages out of cars.

    There are already spaces on NEX buses for prams and bicycles. With that already-existing choice, people prefer to take their bikes on ferries from North Shore's multiple ferry sites.

    Your 'whattabout-ism' is so strong I wonder if you work for NZTA.

    • Alice Tectonite 5.1
      17 June 2021 at 11:35 am

      "There are already spaces on NEX buses for prams and bicycles."

      Taking your bike on the bus

      Bikes are not permitted on any of Auckland's bus services, unless it's a folding bike.

      Auckland Transport

      Might have something to do with the 'choice' to use ferries

      [changed user name to the approved version]

      • Ad 5.1.1
        17 June 2021 at 2:12 pm

        Agree could well do.

        As LPrent mentions above, lifting a bike onto a bus – even a kneeling one – is a task for the fit alone.

    • JO 5.2
      17 June 2021 at 1:20 pm

      . . .bikes on ferries from North Shore's multiple ferry sites.

      Yes, and if we can build roll-on, roll-off car and train ferries we can build wheel-on wheel-off bike barges (Take a WOWO to your WorkOut!), no need to take apart or lift the bike, multiple angle parks on board, every hour (the electric units from Upper Hutt to Wellington run about every half hour till after 12am, it can be done), minimum fares. Just imagine that flotilla lit up with pennants flying for a harbour festival. . .

      https://www.locaboat.com/en/barges-history-afloat/

      In an age when we are all thinking about ways to save our planet, barge transport offers one of the best ways of moving bulk quantities of merchandise from one place to another. Official estimates have shown that barges consume one and a half times less energy than trains and five times less than road transport. Not only that, but a single barge can transport the equivalent of fifty lorryloads and almost the same number of railway truckloads.

    • Jenny How to get there 5.3
      17 June 2021 at 1:34 pm

      Hi Ad,

      lprent, has already pointed out the shortfalls and difficulties of loading bicycles onto public transport.

      I thought Weka's suggestion, with accompanying link, was exquisite. Who knew that such things existed? If implemented, Weka's suggestion would obviously be much cheaper than a dedicated stand alone bridge.

      But as you point out, there are already other options for cyclists to cross the Harbour.

      But that is not what this is about. Cyclists and pedestrians don't want to just get across the harbour, they want to get across the harbour, on the Harbour Bridge.

      I can sympathise with this desire., How many times have I crossed the Auckland Harbour bridge behind the wheel of a car wishing I could lift my eyes away to admire the glorious view, instead of having to fixate on the road ahead.

      How about this.

      To scratch that itch.

      One, (or two), lanes of the motorway on the Auckland Harbour Bridge be given over to a busway during the week and to bicycles and pedestrians on the weekend.

      What do you think?

      • Ad 5.3.1
        17 June 2021 at 2:09 pm

        Since NZTA have already been directed by the Minister to consider a lane for cycling over the bridge, the obvious follow-on to this will be dedicated busway lanes over the bridge: pressure is building fast for this since bus volumes will increase with the extension of dedicated busway through Albany late this year I believe.

        It is now highly likely that NZTA will pull away one bridge lane at least for non-car traffic.

        • Jenny How to get there 5.3.1.1
          17 June 2021 at 2:38 pm

          ‘
          “It is now highly likely that NZTA will pull away one bridge lane at least for non-car traffic.
          Ad

          '
          This great news.laugh

          I just hope the Minister can stick to his guns.

          Knowing Michael Wood personally I know his heart is in the right place, but we are all only human. The political pressure on Michael and his ministry not to follow through on his direction to 'consider' taking one lane away from automobile traffic will be immense.

          The usual suspects, the oil companies, the automotive industry, the AA, the roading lobby, the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, and last but not least, the Nats, will do everything within their power to make sure this never happens.

          The first thing they will try to do is whip up public sentiment against it.

          (the Radio Talkback battle is already, all but lost).

          Against this propaganda onslaught a fare free public transport option across the bridge which puts money in people’s pockets to get them out of their cars, is an admittedly populist policy that would act keep the average commuter on side.

        • Jenny how to get there 5.3.1.2
          18 June 2021 at 11:19 pm

          “It is now highly likely that NZTA will pull away one bridge lane at least for non-car traffic.
          Ad

          Yes, but only on Sundays.

          The government would continue to look at options for interim use of existing harbour bridge lanes for cycling and walking, such as cycling access on Sundays, Wood said.

          https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300323635/auckland-harbour-bridge-cycle-rally-arrested-cyclist-says-access-to-bridge-needed-to-modernise-city?rm=a

          A bit disapointing, as this will do nothing to reduce car use, or congestion or pollution or greenhouse emissions. This is far less than could be hoped for.

          Cyclists get their wish to cycle the bridge and enjoy the ambiance and the views. While BAU is not bothered one little bit.
          .
          The battle has been won, but the war has been lost.

          • Jenny how to get there 5.3.1.2.1
            19 June 2021 at 7:17 am

            This is why humanity will fall into the pit

            • Jenny how to get there 5.3.1.2.1.1
              19 June 2021 at 8:45 am

              I know what our political leaders will say.

              "The political pressure on us, was just too great. We couldn't justify taking one lane of the Harbour Bridge away from the car traffic."

              To the politicians, I would say: "You can justify it."

              "Just as you did for the covid crisis,. Make your case. Argue your corner. Take a stand. State, that the climate crisis demands it."
              "After all arguing your case is the bread and butter of polticians"
              "Screw up your courage"
              "On the debating floor, raise your voice, get passionate".
              "Just as you did for the covid crisis, point to overseas examples; The increasing and worsening weather disasters, the terrible floods and droughts, the increasing and more deadly wild fires.
              (mention the southland floods).
              "Something must be done. We are going to make a start, we can no longer afford or justify having eight lanes of motorway traffic in the heart of our biggest city. The climate crisis demands it.

              Challenge your opponents to defend their position. (They can't)

              Win over the public.

              No more motorways, It is imperative that we make room on our transport network for low emissions public transport, cycling and pathways.

              Finally; There is no such thing as half a revolution.

              The cycle/pedestrian bridge doesn’t address climate change, it is a poor compromise to keep the car lobby and the cycling community both happy.

              If the projected cost of the Northern Pathway cycle bridge blows past $1 billion, (which is quite possible), our opponents will use it to beat us around the head with it. And this administration will be finished.

        • Jenny how to get there 5.3.1.3
          19 June 2021 at 9:06 am

          "I’m on your side when times get rought and friends just can’t be found…"

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YysjzeaDB-A&t=1s

    • Stuart Munro 5.4
      17 June 2021 at 2:01 pm

      Fact is, we have good reason to support a transition from cars to bikes. Part of the equation in making bikes desirable, which must outweigh the convenience of cars, is reduced waiting times, and not getting clipped every time you choose to cross the harbour. That cars are not, yet pedestrians and cyclists are, is an anomaly overdue for correction.

      • gsays 5.4.1
        17 June 2021 at 6:22 pm

        Great observation, Stuart.

      • Jenny how to get there 5.4.2
        18 June 2021 at 11:14 am

        Stuart Munro

        17 June 2021 at 2:01 pm

        …..getting clipped every time you choose to cross the harbour. That cars are not [charged], yet pedestrians and cyclists are, is an anomaly overdue for correction.

        gsays

        17 June 2021 at 6:22 pm

        Great observation, Stuart.

        Cyclists and pedestrians and bus users have to pay a fare to get across the harbour, but people in cars don't.

        Yes, this is a ‘great observation’.

        In the age of climate change we need to be incentivising people to cycle and walk, and take public transport.

        Ferries, buses, trains, are providing a public service, they relieve congestion on our roads, they reduce pollution, and CO2 emissions, (especially if they are electrified. PT lends itself to electrification at a speed, and a cost, that the private car fleet could never match, or catch up with.)

        People on bikes who are also reducing pollution and congestion are also indirectly providing a public service.

        The very least we could do is to give free passage to anyone who brings a bike onto the ferry.

        [Deleted a spurious “1” from user name]

  6. Herodotus 6
    17 June 2021 at 3:12 pm

    What your analysis IMO fails to take into account. Only 1 flow would be effected by a lane closure. In the afternoon the bridge is configured 3south-5 lanes north bound.so if you closed a south bound lane then the 2 lanes and approached would have to carry requirements would increase by 50%. The north bound traffic would be uneffected. Merging of traffic into 2 lanes south would increase the stacking of traffic and increase travel times.

    With the bridge requiring safety measures as lane protection for the cyclists/walkers and the bridge rails would need to improved to protect people from falling off the bridge, as it currently is about 1m in height and has a horizonital mid rail that is easily to climb(should this lane be also for walkers). From my observation the trial would have to be on the west side as that has the most immediate ramps either side of the bridge. But these Ramps are very narrow in width and I cannot see how they could me modified to accomodate walker/cyclists as well and still be safe.

    • Jenny how to get there 6.1
      18 June 2021 at 11:57 am

      Herodotus

      17 June 2021 at 3:12 p

      …..if you closed a south bound lane then the 2 lanes and approached would have to carry requirements would increase by 50%. The north bound traffic would be uneffected. Merging of traffic into 2 lanes south would increase the stacking of traffic and increase travel times.

      Hello H. How are you. Thanks for your contribution.
      To avoid south bound lane 50% increase in carry requirements, stacking of traffic and increased travel times, PT and bike use would have to compensate by more than 50%

      Bikes alone can't do it. Only free public transport has ever achieved this sort of dramatic uptake in use.

      "In Dunkirk, the percentage of people using the bus had fallen below 5%, one of the lowest rates in Europe. It was necessary to create a phychological shock at the height of the challenge to successfully change the uses."
      Patrice Vergriete, Mayor of Dunkirk

      At 7.8% Auckland PT use is not that much higher than Dunkirk, before the introduction of single-payer public transport.

      Free public transport in Dunkirk, one year later

      By Michiel Modijefsky / Updated: 10 Oct 2019

      Following the introduction of free public transport and improved services in September 2018, passenger numbers have increased dramatically in the French Urban Community of Dunkirk. Moreover, it has made a significant contribution to reducing private car use, a recent study concludes.

      In September 2018, the Urban Community of Dunkirk launched a new transport network which had been completely redesigned and improved with the added benefit of being free for both residents and visitors. A new study(link is external) on the experience finds that bus use has increased by 65% during the week and by 125% during the weekend eight months after introduction.

      https://www.eltis.org/in-brief/news/free-public-transport-dunkirk-one-year-later

      I mean, Wow!

      At this rate of uptake of PT use, we probably wouldn't need a second harbour road crossing. The estimated costs, depending on options, $1-2 billion, $10 billion, possibly 'ballooning' to $18 billion

      [Deleted a spurious “1” from user name]

    • Jenny how to get there 6.2
      18 June 2021 at 12:39 pm

      I haven't seen anyone write, 'But what about the cost?'

      A fare-free public transport system across the whole region would be cheaper than what is being proposed just for North Shore crossing infrastructure.

      According to Mayor Phil Goff, the huge sums being talked about are "eye watering".

      The cost of a single-payer fare-free service on the Northern Busway and across the Harbour Bridge would be minisucle by comparison. Who knows, if it takes off, it might free up space for a dedicated bikeway.

      The huge sums and first details of the new business case have emerged in an agenda for an upcoming meeting of Auckland Council’s planning committee…..

      ….Linking Takapuna and the central city with a tunnel, at least 6km long, will cost $5 billion.

      An additional $3 billion would be required to extend it further north to Albany, according to the business case.

      It estimates the cost of an in-line road bridge expanding the capacity of the existing bridge at $1-$2 billion.

      That figure balloons to $10 billion if a road tunnel is built instead, linking the city centre and Esmonde Rd with additional motorway lanes to Constellation Dr.

      …..Operating and maintaining the new connections would cost $100-$130 million each year, mostly spent on managing the tunnels.

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300148597/auckland-harbour-crossing-planners-want-5b-rail-tunnel-a-decade-before-any-new-road-link

      P.S. And before anyone accuses me of cheery picking, the Northern Busway upgrade will cost between $500m and $600m. But this public investment in the expansion of the Northern Busway, which has already started, will be never be able to achieve its full capacity or meet its full potential if it still meets a bottleneck at the Harbour Bridge. The Northern Busway needs to be brought across the bridge.

      And it needs to be fare free to compensate all the commuters forced out of their cars by the removal of one, or two lanes.

      [Deleted a spurious “1” from user name]

  7. DukeEll 7
    17 June 2021 at 3:17 pm

    Make Jenny a regular author.

    Makes complete sense to have an integrated system for all road users

    This race to the top of whose transport is better makes any sensible conversation impossible.

    Public transport / cycling / personal vehicles should not have the ability to believe their need is greater and more virtuous, better for the economy, health, climate, grand kids, lycra tailors or mag wheel makers.

    If i cycle down lake road to devonport from takapuna and take the ferry to town, my trip is going to be economically more viable, healthier and more direct, using less carbon as everything is existing. If it's free it's a heavy incentive to get to the densest employment region in Auckland from one of the least dense residential areas.

    It might even encourage more car users to get jealous while sitting on the one lane POS that is lake road to investigate why so many more cyclists each day head the other way.

    Same for drury and pukekohe and swanson.

    • Jenny How to get there 7.1
      17 June 2021 at 4:14 pm

      yes

    • Jenny how to get there 7.2
      18 June 2021 at 1:02 pm

      DukeEll

      17 June 2021 at 3:17 pm

      Make Jenny a regular author….

      Thanks Duke for the lovely compliment.

      But I don't think that is ever going to happen.

      In an amusing aside, and at the risk of being banned totally for mentioning it. I must be the only Guest Author in the history of The Standard whose comments on their own post are moderated.

      Jenny how to get there

      Your comment is awaiting moderation.

      18 June 2021 at 12:39 pm

      I haven't seen anyone write, 'But what about the cost?'

      A fare-free public transport system across the whole region would be cheaper than what is being proposed just for North Shore crossing infrastructure.

      According to Mayor Phil Goff, the huge sums being talked about are "eye watering"…..

      Maybe the universe is trying to tell me something.

      [Deleted a spurious “1” from user name]

      • Incognito 7.2.1
        18 June 2021 at 1:25 pm

        Not all moderation is equal. There’s automated and there’s manual moderation. Ten comments of yours over the last 2 days triggered Auto-Moderation because of a typo. Often, this is nothing to worry about and certainly not the stuff of ban nightmares.

        This is how it works. Any approved commenter (AKA “user”) can make a typo in their username and/or e-mail address. To the systems this shows up as a new user. To approve/release this comment requires manual intervention by a Moderator. It is not the stuff of ban nightmares either unless the culprit fails to correct it and it becomes a pain. One mistyped username is the Blacklist because Moderators had enough of that particular commenter not paying attention to the automated messages generated by system to warn them and not paying attention to the many messages from Moderators to get their attention. FYI, this commenter is free to comment here under their approved username and continues to do so.

        HTH

        • Jenny how to get there 7.2.1.1
          18 June 2021 at 3:19 pm

          Thank you again, for taking the time to help me get a proper handle on this.

          Hopefully, I won't be making the same mistake too much in future.

          I have no idea, how that spurious 1 got there.

          And hadn’t even noticed it.

          • Incognito 7.2.1.1.1
            18 June 2021 at 3:26 pm

            The spurious “1” is still there, even in this comment, but I deleted it, again, and released your comment. 12 times now; I didn’t want this to become embarrassing.

            Each time it happens, you’ll get this message:

            Your comment is awaiting moderation.

            It means something went wrong and triggered Auto-Moderation.

            • weka 7.2.1.1.1.1
              18 June 2021 at 4:09 pm

              how long as that message been appearing? I've never seen it before. Just tested it, and see it stays only as long as the page isn't refreshed.

  8. RedBaronCV 8
    17 June 2021 at 5:37 pm

    Lovely ideas Jenny and the bike trailer Weka. Now if you two were in a meeting any minute now some bloke would repeat all this at which point it would be seen as a great idea lets do it and give him a raise. Apparently this is a well known phenomena.

    And the best thing about this is that you can trial it in stages meaning that you may never have to go the full free fare road.

    Like put in a rush hour only bus lane in the peak hours and see how much this upped bus travellers as they get there a little quicker and bus density on the bridge increases. If you don't get a big enough increase then maybe make the fares cheaper with the bridge section free, still not enough use some other financial measures. And best of all apart from a few pots of paint and maybe some different coloured signal lights it's could be pretty much cost freeeeee!!!!

    Given the Minister of Transport is probably coping a fair bit of flack I can see changes coming. Or he has done one of the better "bait and switch" policies for quite some time – getting everyone to support public mass transport. Hat tip.

    Lets face it aggressive middle aged males in those areas that are going to bike regardless of any greater common good probably don't vote labour. Sorry Lprent.

  9. RedBaronCV 9
    17 June 2021 at 7:47 pm

    And isn't interesting how a spirited discussion aka as crowd sourcing has highlighted issues and interest groups that current decisions have failed to take into account at any level and thanks to Jenny who has made a great synthesis producing a pretty viable and definitely much more cost efficient solution.

  10. Foreign Waka 10
    18 June 2021 at 10:18 am

    It is somewhat astounding that one can see in this forum more ideas to the how and ideas that could make up a blue print then comes from the office of the ministers, their advisors and hanger-on's, city council. This illustrious group should give up a large portion of income to contribute to any project that is a sensible solution because their constituency have taken the job into their own hands.

  11. Jenny how to get there 11
    18 June 2021 at 3:22 pm

    '

    Don't throw those old buses away.

    “The ultimate recycling”,
    Jay Leno

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVXWGBgYj3M

  12. Jenny how to get there 12
    18 June 2021 at 6:02 pm

    '

    OK, so this is the final list.

    Free passage on the ferries for cyclists,
    Busway buses converted to electric drive chain.
    Two lanes on the Eastern side of the Habour Bridge to bring the busway into the city.
    Fare-Free to compensate drivers forced out of their cars by the busway.
    Buses return to the main carriageway during low peak times, holidays, week ends.
    For those who want the experience of crossing the bridge on foot or bike and to admire the magnificent views of the harbour and city, busway converts to a bike and pedestrian crossing on the weekend.
    No concrete poured, Hundreds of tons of emissions and $billions of dollars saved

    Have I got everything?

    Is there anything else?

  13. KJT 13
    19 June 2021 at 7:51 pm

    I find the alternatives proposed here as "cheaper" than a cycle pedestrian bridge rather comic.

    Ferries, buses, floating bike propelled barges are all many times more expensive than a cycle pedestrian bridge over the total usage and time in the life of a bridge.

    When you consider the bridge will be usable for up to a century, and the number of bus, car and ferry trips, all of which are more expensive long term and more energy intensive than a bridge. The bridge is cheap

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  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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