Articles tagged with Chris Bishop

Showing 15 of 287 articles

New Zealand Government Establishes School Property Agency for Safe and Sustainable Learning Environments

18 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 2031 views

The Government is establishing the New Zealand School Property Agency to address issues in the school property system, including high costs, delays, and inefficiencies. The agency will be a separate entity responsible for planning, building, and maintaining school properties, allowing the Ministry of Education to focus on education policy. The new agency aims to improve project delivery, transparency, and value for money in managing the school property portfolio, with a dedicated board overseeing informed investment decisions.

Tags: Government School Property Agency Kiwi kids Education Minister Erica Stanford Ministry of Education New Zealand School Property Agency Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop Ministerial Advisory Group Murray McCully Mark Binns

Major Upgrades Begin on SH76 Brougham Street in Christchurch to Enhance Safety and Economic Growth

16 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 1845 views

Transport Minister Chris Bishop announced that major upgrades to State Highway 76 (SH76) Brougham Street in Christchurch will commence to enhance economic growth and improve safety and mobility in the city. The project, funded by the Government, aims to address congestion and safety concerns on one of Christchurch's busiest streets, accommodating over 45,000 vehicles daily and serving as a key freight route to Lyttelton Port. The first stage will focus on constructing a pedestrian and cycle bridge to improve accessibility for school children and individuals with mobility challenges, with subsequent stages including traffic signal improvements, T2 lanes, crossings, and a shared path.

Tags: Chris Bishop Christchurch SH76 Brougham Street Transport Minister Fulton Hogan Lyttelton New Zealanders NZTA Budget 2024 Crown funding

Government Acts to Streamline Planning Process in Anticipation of New System

16 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 1731 views

The Government, led by RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop, is implementing reforms to simplify New Zealand's planning system and speed up project approvals. These changes include amendments to the RMA, fast-track approval processes, and upcoming legislation to replace the RMA with two new Acts focusing on land-use planning and the natural environment. To ease the transition, councils will be relieved of mandatory plan reviews and changes, with exemptions for certain critical areas like natural hazard management and Treaty settlement agreements. Additionally, councils can seek exemptions to continue work aligned with government priorities such as housing and urban development.

Tags: Government councils officers RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop planning system New Zealand primary sector renewable energy housing supply

Minister Chris Bishop to Explore Urban Development Strategies in New York and Texas

04 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 2024 views

Infrastructure, Transport and Housing Minister Chris Bishop will travel to New York and Texas tomorrow for a range of meetings across housing, planning, urban development and transport, including a keynote speech at the Urban Design Forum’s Global Exchange Programme. “In New York I will be holding a series of meetings with city officials and other stakeholders about their introduction of congestion pricing. The early results for New York are very promising, and with legislation allowing time of use charging schemes in New Zealand soon to report back from select committee, I look forward to bringing home lessons learned to ensure our scheme is a success from the start,” Mr Bishop says.

Tags: Chris Bishop Infrastructure Transport Housing Minister New York Texas Urban Design Forum Edward Glaeser affordable housing planning

New Zealand's State Highway Road Renewal Success: Enhancing Safety and Infrastructure for Better Journeys

02 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 4147 views

The Government’s focus on improving roads across the country is well on its way, with the successful completion of one of the largest state highway road renewal programmes in New Zealand history, Transport Minister Chris Bishop confirmed today. “We are focused on ensuring government agencies are better at looking after the infrastructure assets we already have, to ensure New Zealanders get the most from their public infrastructure,” Mr Bishop says. “That’s why we’ve invested in road maintenance and renewals through the $2 billion State Highway Pothole Prevention fund, which ensures vital work is carried out to keep our roads safe and suitable for the people that use them.

Tags: Government roads infrastructure maintenance renewal Transport Minister Chris Bishop State Highway Pothole Prevention fund road rebuilding NZ Transport Agency road users

Exploring Toll Concessions for New Zealand's Road Infrastructure Development

02 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 3955 views

Market soundings with international and local toll road investors, operators and financiers will begin next week as the next step in exploring how toll concessions could help fund, build and operate important road infrastructure, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Government is focused on improving high-quality road infrastructure to boost economic growth and ensure people and freight can travel efficiently and safely. To accelerate the delivery of vital transport projects, we’re looking into alternative funding and financing methods, including the use of toll concessions.

Tags: toll concessions road infrastructure Chris Bishop toll roads private sector involvement market sounding infrastructure funding toll collection transport projects

New Zealand Government Launches City and Regional Deals to Drive Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development

02 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 2027 views

The Government has laid out its expectations for City and Regional Deals (CRDs) as long-term partnerships that will increase economic growth, create jobs, and boost productivity for New Zealanders, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Local Government Minister Simon Watts say. The Government has also signed the first Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to negotiate deals with Auckland, Otago/Central Lakes and Western Bay of Plenty. “City and Regional Deals will be strategic 10-year partnerships between local and central government to progress joint priorities including economic growth, enabling abundant housing, better management and utilisation of local assets, and closing the infrastructure deficit,” Mr Bishop says.

Tags: Government City and Regional Deals Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop Local Government Minister Simon Watts New Zealanders

New 110km/h Speed Limit on Pūhoi to Warkworth Motorway Enhances Travel Efficiency and Safety

29 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 1867 views

A new 110km/h speed limit on the Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway will come into effect first thing tomorrow morning, Transport Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Transport is a critical enabler for economic growth and productivity, and with over 20,000 vehicles travelling this motorway every day, the new higher speed will help ensure people and freight can get to where they need to go, quickly and safely,” Mr Bishop says. “Late last year, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) publicly consulted on increasing the speed limit from north of the Pūhoi interchange viaduct to south of the Warkworth roundabout to 110km/h.

Tags: “ transport Auckland Chris bishop Johnstone New zealand Northland Nz transport agency Warkworth

Government Success: Dramatic Reduction in Driver Licence Test Wait Times Benefits New Zealanders

26 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 1723 views

The Government’s work to deliver better public services for New Zealanders is paying dividends for people working to gain their driver licence, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “National average wait times are now just four days for a full licence test and seven days for a restricted licence test, down from a peak of up to 90 days in some regions,” Mr Bishop says. “At one point in 2024, we saw wait times get as high as 90 days in some regions, with a backlog of over 80,000 people applying to sit their licence tests at one point.

Tags: Chris bishop New zealand

New Sir Mark Dunajtschik Mental Health Centre Construction Begins in Lower Hutt: Transforming Mental Health Services in Wellington Region

26 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 2457 views

Health Minister Simeon Brown and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey have today marked the beginning of construction on the new Sir Mark Dunajtschik Mental Health Centre in Lower Hutt. Joined by Hutt South MP Chris Bishop, the Ministers took part in a sod-turning ceremony to celebrate the start of a project that will transform mental health services across the Wellington region. “Today, I’m proud to announce the Government is investing $38 million in the construction of this world-class facility – alongside an extraordinary $50 million donation from Sir Mark Dunajtschik, who also generously donated $50 million towards the new Wellington Children’s Hospital in 2017,” Mr Brown says.

Tags: Chris bishop Health centre Hutt south Lower hutt Mark dunajtschi Mark dunajtschik Matt doocey New zealand Simeon brown Wellington Wellington children ’ s hospital Zealand

Government Mandates Greater Housing Development Around Auckland's City Rail Link Stations for Economic Growth

25 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 3575 views

The Government will require Auckland to allow even greater housing and development around City Rail Link stations, ensuring that Auckland takes economic advantage of this transformational investment in the city, Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown say. “CRL is a massive multi-billion dollar investment for the Government and Auckland Council. It’s important that we get ‘bang for buck’ by maximising the opportunities for economic growth and increased productivity that the CRL will bring when it opens next year,” Minister Bishop says.

Tags: Auckland Auckland council Baldwin Baldwin avenue Chris bishop City rail link Committee of the whole house Government Kingsland Management Maungawhau Morningside Mount eden Mt albert Other matters Sion brown

New Zealand Infrastructure Minister Urges Public Feedback on Draft National Infrastructure Plan for Economic Growth and Better Value

24 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 2207 views

Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop encourages New Zealanders to have their say on the draft National Infrastructure Plan released today by the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission. “Improving the way we plan, fund, maintain and build our infrastructure is critical to boosting economic growth and increasing productivity and living standards, and so the Government welcomes today’s draft report by the independent Infrastructure Commission. “Contrary to many perceptions, New Zealand spends a lot on infrastructure.

Tags: Chris bishop Commission Defence Infrastructure commission National infrastructure plan New zealand New zealand infrastructure commission

Investment Summit drives strong bids for Northland Expressway

21 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 2801 views

The positive impact of the Government’s Infrastructure Investment Summit earlier this year is beginning to show, following the shortlisting of three consortia for the Warkworth to Te Hana section of the Northland Expressway, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Investment Summit, which took place in Auckland in March 2025, attracted international and local companies which collectively manage over $6 trillion in capital,” Mr Bishop says. “Ministers’ presentations at the Summit left the investors in no doubt that New Zealand is serious about attracting investment into the big infrastructure projects our country needs.

Tags: Acciona cons s And transport Auckland Chris bishop Construction Construction limited together Dome valley Engineering Express For proposals Grandjet Highways Holdings Infrastructure Infrastructure investment summit Investment summit Limited New zealand Northland expressway Northway

Taking the handbrake off productivity through transport rule reform

18 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 2108 views

The Government is progressing a bold work programme to increase productivity and efficiency through comprehensively reforming New Zealand’s land transport rules, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Land transport rules set out how different sectors of the transport industry must operate. They impact all road users - from the suburban mum or dad who has to get a Warrant of Fitness every year no matter how new or well-maintained their car, to the truckies who’ve been loaded up with compliance costs due to rules long since made redundant through advances in technology,” says Mr Bishop.

Tags: Chris bishop Land transport rules reform programme New zealand Of fitness Road user rule

Saying yes to housing growth

17 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 2042 views

New Zealanders have an opportunity to help shape the new planning system replacing the Resource Management Act (RMA) through public consultation on removing unnecessary barriers to housing growth, says Housing and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “New Zealand’s house prices are among the most expensive in the developed world – a direct result of our current planning system making it too hard for our cities to grow up and out. “Fixing our housing crisis involves fixing the fundamentals of our housing market - freeing up land for development and removing unnecessary planning barriers, improving infrastructure funding and financing to support urban growth, and providing incentives for communities and councils to support growth.

Tags: Auckland Chris bishop Christchurch Housing National New zealand Policy statement on urban development Resource management act Standards