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Te Whau Pathway: Photos show construction progress as milestone reached

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Source: Auckland Council

The first part of Te Whau Pathway is on track to be completed in 2026, with half of the Northwestern Cycleway to Horowai Reserve section in Te Atatū finished in late February – a major milestone for the project.

Councillor Shane Henderson has been involved in this partnership project with Te Whau Coastal Pathway Environment Trust since it began in 2014. He says the halfway point is an important target to reach.

“I’m elated that the construction of Te Whau Pathway is making steady progress and the first major section is expected to be finished early next year.

“It’s impressive to see the boardwalk connecting the cycleway and Horowai Reserve taking shape.

“Once this section of the pathway is complete it will benefit the West Auckland community.”  

Te Whau Pathway taking shape.

Last year we outlined how a major piece of machinery Te Kōwhai Nui, or the Big Yellow, was used to mitigate the environmental impact of the pathway’s construction over the Whau River.

Taryn Crewe, General Manager Parks and Community Facilities says the project team continues to tread carefully over the whenua and awa.

“A fundamental consideration of Te Whau Pathway project is limiting the impact on the environment and keeping sustainability at front of mind.

“One example is re-using the aggregate from a temporary haulage road made to construct the pathway between the Northwestern Cycleway and Bridge Avenue, on another council infrastructure project at Long Bay Regional Park. As well as being a sustainable use of resources, reusing these materials also saves ratepayers money.

“Once complete the pathway will allow for cycling and walkway – modes of transport with basically zero carbon footprint.”

A shared use pathway connection between the Northwestern Cycleway and Horowai Reserve is on track for completion in 2026.

Construction on Te Whau Pathway restarted in December 2023 and the Northwestern Cycleway to Horowai Reserve section in Te Atatū is on track for completion in 2026. It creates a shared use pathway connection between the Northwestern Cycleway and Horowai Reserve (Roberts Field).

Te Whau Pathway is a partnership between Auckland Transport (AT), Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Te Kawerau ā Maki, the Whau and Henderson-Massey local boards, the government as a major funder, and Auckland Council delivering the construction working closely with Te Whau Pathway Environment Trust.

Te Whau Pathway follows a traditional Māori taonga waka (portage). Fully delivered, all sections of the proposed pathway will connect Manukau Harbour at Green Bay to the Waitematā Harbour at Te Atatū Peninsula.

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Waitara Road roundabout construction progresses

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

The installation of stormwater pipes, signage, footpaths and landscaping is in the works as Te Ara Tutohu: Waitara to Bell Block project on State Highway 3 progresses to the next stage.

Next week, from 11 March, crews will start on the next stage of works, which will see the southbound lane of the Waitara Road roundabout constructed.

Work just completed has seen workers relocate underground services and complete pavement and stormwater work on Raleigh Street (between SH3 and Tate Road).

Access to all businesses and residential properties in the area will be maintained during this next stage of works.

Traffic management

  • From 8pm 11 March to 5.30am 12 March, the SH3/Waitara Road intersection will be reduced to one lane to allow crews to move the temporary central barrier currently in place, complete temporary line marking, and reinstall the flexible hit sticks in preparation for the latest stage of work to start. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place at the intersection during this work. Delays of up to 5 minutes are possible.
  • From 12 March to mid-April, SH3 through the Waitara Road intersection will be open to southbound traffic only. Northbound traffic will be detoured on to Raleigh Street and the newly constructed section of Tate Road, which connects directly to SH3. This detour will add less than 5 minutes to travel times.

Due to the limited amount of space available on the road, there will be no space to safely turn right into Raleigh Street from the southbound lane of SH3.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is working with the contractor to ensure construction of the roundabout causes as little disruption as possible.

Waitara Road access

  • From 12-19 March, both lanes of Waitara Road will be open however motorists turning on to SH3 from Waitara Road will only be able to travel south towards New Plymouth. Motorists who want to travel north will be detoured along Richmond Road where they will be able to turn right and head north at the SH3/Richmond Road intersection. The detour is expected to add up to 5 minutes to travel times.
  • From 19 March to mid-April, access to SH3 from Waitara Road will be closed while crews complete work in the southbound lane between Raleigh Street and Waitara Road. Access for motorists turning into Waitara Road from the southbound lane of SH3 will remain open. Motorists on Waitara Road who need to access SH3 will be detoured along Richmond Road.
  • From 12 March to mid-April, northbound traffic on SH3 will need to use the Richmond Road detour to access Waitara Road.

Future work

Planning is underway for sections of SH3 either side of the Waitara Road intersection to be rebuilt and for some line marking and rumble strips to be installed near the Princess Street roundabout. We will provide updates on these once details are confirmed.

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Resilience works SH8 the Cromwell Gorge – 15-minute delays

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Roadworks to increase the resilience and safety of SH8 between Cromwell and Clyde are due to start next week (10 March), says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

The works will result in delays for road users in both directions, as intermittent traffic stops will be in operation for up to eight weeks along the Cromwell Gorge slopes and benches*, just north of Clyde. 

Crews will work to clear debris from the benches and assess stability at the Clyde end of the Cromwell Gorge, says NZTA Project Manager John O’Neill.

“While we appreciate delays are frustrating this is an essential piece of work which will improve the resilience, as well as the safety of the network, with debris removed from above road level.  We ask road users for patience and understanding.”

Works will run from Monday, 10 March to Friday, 16 May, 8am to 5pm each weekday.

Traffic will be held in both directions intermittently as required.  Drivers need to build in delays of up to 15 minutes for the next two months, weekdays.

Cromwell Gorge slopes and benches.

For all travel updates, roadworks and road closures please visit: NZTA Journey Planner

Journey Planner(external link)

Background on the Cromwell Gorge slopes and benches

The benches on SH8 in the Cromwell Gorge, are 2km north of Clyde. They have been in existence for around 40 years and were constructed upslope as part of the development of SH8 during the creation of Lake Dunstan and the Clyde Hydro Dam.

Crews with abseilers will be using mechanical methods to remove any unstable rock, with drilling and blasting if required when there is no traffic underneath the benches.

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State Highway 2 blocked, Clareville

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Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

State Highway 2 in Clareville is blocked after a vehicle hit a power pole, resulting in the pole and lines coming down across the road just north of Carterton.

It happened about 9:15am, and fortunately no one was significantly injured.

There are diversions in place off the highway and these are likely to remain in place until the afternoon.

ENDS

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Boost for Rotorua’s youth mental health services

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Source: New Zealand Government

Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says funding from the Mental Health Innovation Fund will support an additional 560 young people in Rotorua to get mental health and addiction support and help provide a range of courses and workshops focused on upskilling people in the community to better support youth.
“Mental health and wellbeing is a prominent issue for many young people across the country, and we’re committed to helping young Kiwis get the support, they need, when they need it,’ Mr Doocey says.
“I’m pleased that this new funding for the Rotorua Community Youth Centre Trust will enable them to expand their team and scale up the valuable work it does to support young people and help them reach their full potential.
“The Trust provides free, youth-centred primary health, mental health, and social services to young people.
“The Trust is the sixth successful recipient of the first round of the Fund, with Youthline, the Sir John Kirwan Foundation, MATES in Construction, the Mental Health Foundation and Wellington City Mission already announced, I intend to announce other successful providers in the coming weeks.
“The Mental Health Innovation Fund was set up to provide $10 million over two years to support non-government organisations (NGOs) and community providers with extra funding to scale-up existing time-limited projects or initiatives that aim to improve mental health and addiction outcomes in New Zealand.
“This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in grassroots initiatives through non-governmental and community organisations that deliver mental health and addiction support.
“I expect the next round of funding for the Innovation Fund will open in about the middle of this year, which will be another opportunity for organisations to seek additional funding,” Mr Doocey says.

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Time of use charging Bill passes first reading

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Source: New Zealand Government

A Bill to reduce travel times, increase efficiency, and help boost economic growth and productivity on our busiest roads has passed its first reading in Parliament today, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. 
“Being stuck in traffic is a waste of time and money. In any given peak hour traffic jam there are people stressed about running late for work, parents trying to get the kids to school on time, couriers and truckies getting frustrated as their runs get further and further behind time, and tradies losing money because they can’t get to as many jobs on time,” Mr Bishop says.

“Congestion is a tax on time and productivity, and New Zealanders are very over having to pay it.

“A report released by Auckland Council today shows that by 2026, traffic congestion will cost Auckland $2.6 billion per year, and that Aucklanders already sit in traffic for 29 million hours per year, which averages out to 17 lost and wasted hours per Aucklander. 

“Frankly, no-one running a business or juggling work and family can afford to lose 17 hours of potentially productive time. 

“Modelling shows that successful time of use charging – charging motorists to travel on certain roads at peak times – will encourage people to change the time or mode of travel, and could reduce congestion by up to 8-12 per cent at peak times.

“Successive governments and a select committee inquiry in 2021 have all agreed that time of use charging is something we need to do to reduce congestion. This Government is getting on with it.
“The Land Transport Management (Time of Use Charging) Amendment Bill will enable the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and local authorities to develop charging schemes for our most congested roads.  
“The Bill requires NZTA to lead the design of schemes in partnership with local councils to ensure motorists benefit from the design of the schemes across their region’s roading network. 
“By enabling local solutions within a nationally consistent framework, we are tackling network productivity head-on while enhancing economic productivity and quality of life for all New Zealanders.
“The legislation is not about raising revenue but maximising the efficiency of the roading network. Any revenue that is collected will first be used to pay for the scheme’s costs and then reinvested to improve transport in the region. 
“While time of use schemes will help manage congestion and increase productivity in our cities, it is not a standalone solution. The Government will continue to prioritise investment in growing and maintaining our transport network, including through the Roads of National Significance and Regional Significance, and major public transport projects, to enable Kiwis and freight get to where they need to go, quickly and safely.”
Enabling time of use schemes is a commitment under the National-ACT Coalition Agreement, and the first reading of the Land Transport Management (Time of Use Charging) Amendment Bill was an action in the Government’s 2025 Quarter 1 Action Plan.
The Bill will be referred to the Transport and Infrastructure Committee where the public will have an opportunity to make submissions. The Government intends to pass the legislation before the end of 2025.

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School property back on track

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Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has taken decisive action to address the inequitable state of school property to ensure better outcomes for all students. 
“It is crucial that the school property portfolio is managed effectively so students can continue to benefit from safe, warm, and dry learning environments,” Education Minister Erica Stanford says.
“After a Ministerial Inquiry found the Ministry’s School Property function unfit for purpose, the Government is delivering improved efficiency and performance by prioritising warm, safe, and dry learning environments, maintaining existing school assets, and accelerating cost-effective new builds using standard designs and offsite manufacturing.”
Since the release of the Inquiry there has been:

A 35 percent increase in the number of standard or repeatable designed buildings delivered.
A 28 percent reduction in the average cost of each classroom, from $1.2m to $0.87m.
A 34 percent increase in funding for school maintenance.

The Ministry has also increased the number of new classrooms it delivered in 2024 by 140 when compared to 2023. 
“One example was Wellington Girls’ College, where 14 classrooms over four, two-storey modulars were delivered in just 12 weeks at a cost of around $550,000 per classroom. This represented a 35% saving on the current value for money cost per classroom.”
Jerome Sheppard has been appointed Chief Executive of School Property as part of the phased approach to address the recommendations of the report. 
“Mr Sheppard brings expertise in delivering infrastructure to have responsibility for all operational aspects of school property, and I look forward to working with him to ensure we can achieve better outcomes for all schools.”
The decisions on the final form of the Ministry’s School Property function will be made later this year.
“This Government is committed to delivering a world leading education in classrooms that give Kiwi kids the best chance to succeed so they can grow up and live the lives they want,” Ms Stanford says.
 
Notes for editor:
The Report of the Ministerial Inquiry into School Property: Microsoft Word – Report of the Ministerial Inquiry into School Property – Final draft.docx

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Investments – NZ SUPER FUND INVESTS FURTHER IN LOCAL COMPANIES

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Source: New Zealand Super Fund

The New Zealand Super Fund has marked its 20-year relationship with private equity investment manager Direct Capital with a commitment to invest $50 million in its latest fund, Direct Capital VII LP (DCVII).

This commitment will take the Super Fund’s total exposure to Direct Capital (including undrawn commitments) to just over $330 million, equivalent to some four percent of the Super Fund’s net asset value.

Direct Capital is New Zealand’s largest Private Capital investor.  Over more than 30 years, Direct Capital has raised over $2.2 billion to invest in successful private companies.

DCVII was raised during November and December 2024, raising $525m to invest in medium-sized New Zealand and Australian businesses looking for capital to fund growth or to support a change in ownership.

The Super Fund’s Head of External Investments and Partnerships, Del Hart, said Direct Capital had a strong track record of financial performance and a well-deserved reputation for creating value in its investee companies.

“Direct Capital gives us a way to invest in local businesses that helps those companies to grow and develop, generates good returns for our portfolio, and contributes to New Zealand’s GDP.”

At the end of the 2024 financial year, the Super Fund had $8.4 billion invested in New Zealand assets, some 11 percent of its total investments by value.

This included a 42 percent stake in Kaingaroa Timberlands, the Super Fund’s largest single investment, significant investments in agriculture and horticulture, as well as shareholdings in NZX-listed companies through various mandates and in private companies via funds such as those managed by Direct Capital.

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New population of critically endangered kākāriki established

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Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  05 March 2025

The taonga were released on the predator-free island in Fiordland’s Tamatea/Dusky Sound on Friday, after two days in acclimatisation aviaries on the island.

The manu were bred and raised at The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust and Orana Wildlife Park in Christchurch before being flown to Invercargill, where they were met by representatives from Ōraka-Aparima Rūnaka on behalf of Kaitiaki Rōpū Ki Murihiku.

Joshua Kingipotiki and Alex Taurima from Ōraka-Aparima Rūnaka accompanied the manu on their helicopter journey to the island, welcoming them with karakia and waiata.

“Being part of this release was a big learning experience and rather humbling, as it was the first time that I have been in the presence of kākāriki karaka,” Joshua Kingipotiki says.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Kākāriki Karaka Species Representative Yvette Couch-Lewis says it is exciting to have mana whenua representatives from Ōraka-Aparima leading the tikanga and kawa of welcoming the kākāriki karaka onto the motu, with assistance from a kaitiaki ranger.

“Ngāi Tahu is definitely on a journey with this manu,” Yvette Couch-Lewis says.

“Kākāriki karaka are our smallest parrots, but they have a great deal of mana and are proof that the best things can come in small packages.”

“For me it is a very emotional process seeing these manu, which have been born and raised in captivity, being released into the wild. There is a sense of amnesia associated with engaging with this manu because we haven’t had the opportunity in generations to observe them in their natural environment.

“Translocations such as this are important because they build the population up so that one day we can engage with kakariki karaka again.”

DOC Kākāriki Karaka Operations Manager Wayne Beggs says setting up a secure new wild site is a huge step forward for the recovery of the species.

“Kākāriki karaka are extremely vulnerable to introduced predators, so finding safe places for them to live and breed in the wild is vitally important for the species’ survival.

“The predator-free beech and rimu forest on Pukenui/Anchor Island should be a great site for kākāriki karaka to flourish.”

Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust (ICWT) CEO Rob Kinney says the last six months of intensive husbandry by staff at ICWT is a testament to their dedication and expertise in caring for this critically endangered bird species.

“We are proud of our partnership with DOC and our involvement in this important conservation project.”

The vision of the recently released kākāriki karaka recovery strategy, Te Ara Mōrehu, is that kākāriki karaka will be thriving independently in the wild, with ten self-sustaining populations in the Ngāi Tahu takiwā in the next 20 years.

The recovery programme thanks tourism operator RealNZ and specialist insole company Formthotics for their significant donations which made the translocation and follow-up monitoring possible.

“RealNZ’s purpose is to help the world fall in love with conservation, and one of our flagship events aligned to this purpose is our annual Conservation Ball, aligning with the Department of Conservation to identify key projects that would benefit from our support,” says RealNZ CEO Dave Beeche.

“It’s incredible to see the funds raised from the 2023 Conservation Ball in action, assisting with the translocation of these critically endangered manu to Pukenui Anchor Island.”

Wayne says a lot of planning, effort, and cost goes into a translocation like this, and its success relies on a range of people and groups working together.

“We plan to do more translocations in the future. The NZ Nature Fund is raising money for this work and the public can contribute through their website.”

The kākāriki karaka recovery programme is supported by The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust, Orana Wildlife Park, Canterbury University, Mainpower, and the NZ Nature Fund.

Related links

Background information

Kaitiaki Rōpū Ki Murihiku represent the four southern Ngāi Tahu Papatipu Rūnanga: Te Rūnanga o Hokonui, Ōraka-Aparima Rūnaka, Waihōpai Rūnaka, and Te Rūnaka o Awarua.

With about 450 left in the wild, kākāriki karaka are the rarest mainland forest bird in Aotearoa. The population naturally fluctuates based on environmental conditions.

They were once plentiful across the country but proved an easy meal for introduced predators and were affected by habitat loss, which saw their numbers dwindle.

Because they nest and roost in holes in trees, kākāriki karaka are extremely vulnerable to rats, stoats and cats.

The species was twice declared extinct in the past (in 1919 and 1965) before being rediscovered in the late 1980s.

Anchor Island/Pukenui is already home to a range of threatened bird species including kākāpō.

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

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Greater role for nurses in primary care

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Source: New Zealand Government

Boosting our nursing workforce will deliver immediate benefits to people seeking care, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.“Kiwis will get better access to primary healthcare under our Government’s plan to empower more nurses to deliver timely, quality services in local communities.“Strengthening this important workforce is vital to ensuring New Zealanders get the care they need, when they need it.“Cabinet has agreed to: 

Increase the number of training places for nurse practitioners specialising in primary care to 120 a year. 
Support advanced education for up to 120 primary care registered nurses.

“New Zealand nurses already have the expertise to provide high-quality care in local communities. By increasing their skills and qualifications, more patients can be seen sooner, and pressure on doctors is eased.“Nurse practitioners are highly skilled professionals who can diagnose conditions, prescribe medicines and develop treatment plans. They often manage more complex healthcare needs, giving New Zealanders greater choice and better access to health services.“The Government will invest $34.2 million over five years to fund 120 nurse practitioner training places in primary care each year from 2026. “An additional $21.6 million over four years will accelerate advanced tertiary education for up to 120 primary care registered nurses annually, bringing healthcare closer to home.“Registered nurses who obtain advanced qualifications can become registered nurse prescribers and may choose to continue their training to become nurse practitioners.“This allows more Kiwis to get ongoing care, including prescriptions, without needing a doctor’s appointment.“A stronger health workforce that we can retain is critical. We know that making primary care an attractive place to work for doctors and nurses keeps healthcare local for patients. “These initiatives build on our plan to attract and recruit up to 400 graduate registered nurses a year into primary care roles, and train and hire more doctors,” Mr Brown says.

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