AM Edition: Top 10 Politics Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for November 2, 2026 – Full Text

Source: New Zealand Government

A grant of $1.11 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund will support a Māori-led initiative to install solar power, battery storage and back-up generators in community facilities in the Far North, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka say.

Mr Jones says the investment will strengthen local energy resilience and help maintain essential services in some of Northland’s remote communities when power is disrupted.

“This is what energy resilience looks like in practical terms – trusted local facilities  supporting their communities when severe weather cuts power and closes roads.”

“Tai Tokerau gets more than its fair share of severe weather, and our remote communities need the right equipment that can support them until help arrives.

“This investment will harness renewable energy for everyday use while helping keep the lights on, water flowing and communications open when conditions are at their worst.”

The funding to deliver the programme will go to Tū Mai Rā Energy, an iwi-owned renewable energy company with experience installing solar systems for marae and remote communities.

Mr Potaka says marae are community anchors, particularly in remote areas.

“Marae play a critical role for whānau and the wider population when hardship or emergencies strike. Equipping them and other community facilities with renewable and back-up power will help them meet everyday energy needs and continue support when normal services are disrupted.”

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/11/01/rif-grant-to-support-energy-resilience-in-far-north/

Source: New Zealand Government

The Regional Infrastructure Fund will invest in supporting Mainland Rail to return passenger rail services to Christchurch for a 12-month trial and establish the Christchurch-Dunedin-Invercargill Mainlander as a regular service, Rail Minister Winston Peters and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones say.

“New Zealand’s railways began in Christchurch in 1863, and it is time we put them back to use again for passenger rail, not just freight and tourism,” Mr Peters says.

Mainland Rail, which owns rail carriages, intends to provide a 12-month trial service to test Canterbury’s appetite for rail as a public transport service and run more frequent trains from Christchurch-Dunedin-Invercargill. The Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) will provide a loan of $3.4 million to support these initiatives.

The trains will run morning and evening commuter services on the main lines from Rangiora in the north and Rolleston in the south into central Christchurch starting in mid-2027. The Rolleston trip is expected to take less than 20 minutes by rail instead of 50 minutes by road, taking commuter traffic off are already busy roads.

“New Zealanders are sick of transport proposals costing hundreds of millions or billions when pragmatic solutions such as using what we already have are staring us in the face, as is the case in Christchurch and its rail system,” Mr Peters says.

“The fares will be announced closer to the start date, but we are talking about a public transport trial and would expect affordable fares similar to those paid by rail commuters in Wellington and Auckland.

“There’s a saying, ‘it works in practice but will it work in theory,’ and here is an opportunity for Cantabrians to prove their support for rail as public transport in practice.

“The service proceeding is subject to the local councils confirming their combined half of costs, and letters of support from the Mayors of Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri, and we look forward to engaging further with Environment Canterbury,” Mr Peters says.

The $3.4 million RIF funding will also support Mainland Rail to shift its Mainlander train from monthly excursions to a regular timetable between Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, Gore and Invercargill.

“The South Island’s rail corridors are regional infrastructure assets, and this funding is about putting them back to work for communities, tourism and local economies,” Mr Jones says.

“This is the type of commonsense investment people want to see – using what we already have, reinstating what we once had, and giving people choices in their lives once again.

“The economic development benefits are obvious: railing people into Canterbury, Otago and Southland towns to spend in the local economies, strengthening tourism in the South Island, creating employment, and putting assets New Zealanders already own to better use for the benefit of our economy,” Mr Jones says.

Mainland Rail will now start necessary planning processes with councils, the rail regulator, and KiwiRail – with start dates to be announced by Mainland Rail closer to the time.

“We look forward to the restored Mataura Railway Station reopening in late 2027 thanks to our commitment to fund its restoration in 2025, and we are confident the Mainlander will return to Mataura then too,” Mr Peters says.

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/11/01/christchurch-commuter-rail-pilot-to-be-funded/