Articles tagged with Chris Bishop
Prime Minister Luxon Announces New Cabinet Lineup to Strengthen NZ’s Future
2 days ago | 52 viewsPrime Minister Christopher Luxon announced a refreshed ministerial lineup to address economic challenges and enhance New Zealand's future, including key appointments such as Chris Penk to Defence and Penny Simmonds to Tertiary Education and Science. The reshuffle elevates the Energy portfolio due to recent security concerns and assigns new responsibilities to ministers like Chris Bishop as Attorney-General and Simon Watts as Minister for Auckland. Luxon also acknowledged the long service of Judith Collins and Shane Reti, who are leaving Parliament, and expressed gratitude for their contributions.
Tags: Christopher Luxon Chris Penk Penny Simmonds Simeon Brown Chris Bishop Paul Goldsmith Louise Upston Simon Watts Nicola Grigg Shane RetiCyclone Gabrielle Recovery Complete: SH2 Devil’s Elbow Road Repairs Finished
4 days ago | 75 viewsThe repair work at Devil’s Elbow on State Highway 2, a critical section between Napier and Wairoa, has been completed, marking the end of Cyclone Gabrielle recovery efforts in the area. The project involved extensive repairs including road rebuilding, culvert replacements, and a new retaining wall to improve resilience against future storm damage. Transport Minister Chris Bishop highlighted the improved safety and reliability of the route, acknowledging the efforts of local contractors and the support from the community throughout the recovery process.
Tags: Cyclone Gabrielle Devil’s Elbow State Highway 2 Chris Bishop Transport Rebuild East Coast Hawke’s Bay Napier Wairoa SH38 Rail Bridge 217Government Lowers Auckland Housing Capacity Target to 1.4 Million Homes
4 days ago | 127 viewsThe Government will introduce legislation to amend the Resource Management Act, reducing Auckland Council’s Plan Change 120 minimum housing capacity from 2 million to 1.4 million homes while still supporting significant growth through upzoning and infrastructure-aligned development. The legislation also resolves transitional issues for developers affected by previous rule changes and aims to enable further housing opportunities, particularly around transit corridors and the City Rail Link. Auckland Council will revise the plan based on guiding principles, and the updated process will allow public input before final decisions are made.
Tags: Chris Bishop Auckland Council Plan Change 120 Resource Management Act Housing and RMA Reform Auckland housing National Policy Statement on Urban Development City Rail Link Medium Density Residential Standards Auckland Unitary PlanNew Pāpāmoa East Interchange Boosts Access to Tauranga Eastern Link by Easter
5 days ago | 92 viewsA new interchange in Pāpāmoa East is now complete and will open by Easter, enhancing access to the Tauranga Eastern Link and supporting the development of thousands of new homes in the area. The $98 million project, co-funded by the National Land Transport Fund and Tauranga City Council, aims to reduce congestion, improve travel times, and provide a second route in and out of Pāpāmoa East. Construction began in April 2022, with the eastbound off-ramp opening early in August 2025, marking a significant milestone for regional growth and transport capacity.
Tags: Chris Bishop Tom Rutherford Tauranga City Council NZTA Pāpāmoa East Tauranga Eastern Link Golden Sands Wairākei Te Tumu Bloxam Burnett & OlliverNew Taupō Commercial Vehicle Safety Centre Boosts Road Safety on NZ Freight Routes
1 week ago | 169 viewsA new commercial vehicle safety centre has opened in Taupō to enhance road safety by monitoring heavy vehicles on busy freight routes using advanced technology like in-road scales and number plate recognition. This centre is part of a $200 million national network of 12 upgraded and new safety centres aimed at targeting high-risk operators, reducing serious crashes, and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. Once completed, these centres will cover 46% of the heavy vehicle network, allowing NZ Police and NZTA to efficiently address unsafe driving practices and improve overall road safety.
Tags: Chris Bishop NZ Transport Agency NZ Police Taupō Commercial Vehicle Safety Centres SH1 SH5 Bombay CVSC heavy vehicles road safetyGovernment Approves Infrastructure Levy to Build 1,500 New Homes at Te Awa Lakes
1 week ago | 167 viewsThe Government has approved the use of an Infrastructure Funding and Financing (IFF) Act Levy to support the construction of around 1,500 new homes in the Te Awa Lakes development near Hamilton by funding up to $50 million in water and roading infrastructure. The IFF Act enables infrastructure costs to be financed through a Special Purpose Vehicle that charges levies to benefiting homeowners, bypassing local government borrowing constraints and allowing growth to pay for growth. Additionally, the Government is enhancing the IFF Act and supporting developments like Te Awa Lakes with the Greenfield Model to reduce financing costs and promote affordable housing growth.
Tags: Chris Bishop Te Awa Lakes Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act Hamilton City Council New Zealand Government Housing Minister IFF Act Levy Greenfield Model National Infrastructure Funding and Financing Limited Coalition GovernmentNew Zealand to Double EV Public Chargers with $52.7M Zero-Interest Government Loans
1 week ago | 141 viewsNew Zealand's government is investing $52.7 million in zero-interest loans, alongside $60 million from ChargeNet and Meridian, to more than double the country's public EV chargers to around 4,550, aiming for 10,000 by 2030. This initiative addresses the current shortage of public chargers, a key barrier to EV adoption, by easing private sector investment and streamlining planning rules to accelerate infrastructure rollout. Expanding the charging network supports growing EV uptake, reduces emissions, and helps households save on fuel costs amid volatile global markets.
Tags: Chris Bishop Simon Watts ChargeNet Meridian Energy New Zealand EV chargers electric vehicles government loans EECA National Infrastructure Funding and FinancingFast-Track Approval Granted for Takitimu North Link Stage 2 in Bay of Plenty
2 weeks ago | 155 viewsThe Takitimu North Link – Stage 2, a 7.7-kilometre four-lane highway between Te Puna and Ōmokoroa in the Western Bay of Plenty, has received Fast-track approval, aiming to improve safety, reliability, and regional growth. This project is part of the Government’s broader infrastructure plan to address New Zealand’s infrastructure deficit, create jobs, and stimulate economic output, with the Takitimu North Link expected to generate around $610 million and over 4,800 jobs. It is the 14th project approved through the Fast-track process, which expedites infrastructure development across various sectors nationwide.
Tags: Chris Bishop NZTA Takitimu North Link Bay of Plenty Infrastructure Minister New Zealand Government Te Puna Ōmokoroa Transport infrastructureWaihoehoe Road Upgrade Begins to Boost Auckland’s Transport Network by 2028
2 weeks ago | 243 viewsConstruction has begun on the Waihoehoe Road Upgrade, a key project aimed at enhancing transport connections and supporting long-term growth in Auckland’s rapidly expanding South Auckland area. The upgrade will widen a 400-metre section of Waihoehoe Road, add new lanes and signalised intersections, and improve access to the new Drury train station and nearby housing developments, forming part of a major east-west arterial route. Scheduled for completion by mid-2028 at a cost of $136 to $148 million, the project integrates roads and rail to support future public transport, safety, and community connectivity.
Tags: Chris Bishop Waihoehoe Road Auckland Drury Ngākōroa Paerātā SH1 Papakura SH22 Drury KiwiRail Transport MinisterGovernment Introduces Bill to Strengthen Police Powers on Surveillance and Area Closures
2 weeks ago | 137 viewsThe Government has introduced a Bill to amend the Policing Act 2008, reaffirming Police's ability to record images and sounds in public and some private places for lawful purposes, addressing constraints from a recent Supreme Court decision. The Bill also expands Police's temporary area closure powers to include parks, reserves, beaches, and carparks, allowing them to manage non-compliance more effectively. These changes aim to strengthen Police capabilities in crime prevention, intelligence gathering, and enforcing law and order, ultimately enhancing public safety.
Tags: Mark Mitchell Chris Bishop Policing Act 2008 Police Supreme Court Tamiefuna case Antisocial Road Use Legislation Amendment Bill Government Law and Order temporary road closure powersSH35 East Coast Reopens 24/7 After Severe Weather Repairs
2 weeks ago | 139 viewsTransport Minister Chris Bishop announced the end of night closures on State Highway 35, restoring 24-hour access after severe weather caused extensive damage earlier this year. Crews have removed around 25,000 cubic metres of material, installed drainage, and laid new road surfaces, though ongoing work and caution while driving remain necessary. Additionally, work has begun on a retaining wall at the Waikura slip to improve road resilience, with continued efforts expected to ensure safety and access.
Tags: Chris Bishop Transport Minister State Highway 35 SH35 East Coast route NZTA Waikura Punaruku Hicks Bay Te AraroaNew Neonatal Unit at Hutt Hospital to Expand Specialist Newborn Care
1 month ago | 262 viewsConstruction of a new neonatal unit at Hutt Hospital will begin in April 2026, expanding specialist newborn care capacity from 12 to 14 cots and increasing the floor area by 61 percent. The $10.5 million facility is designed to improve infection control, clinical workflows, and family comfort, allowing more babies to receive care locally without needing transfer to Wellington Hospital. Local leaders emphasize that this upgrade supports the growing community by providing quality neonatal care close to home, with the unit expected to open in mid-2027.
Tags: Simeon Brown Chris Bishop Hutt Hospital neonatal unit Hutt Valley newborn care Wellington Hospital health infrastructure specialist care hospital constructionNew Roundabout on SH5 and SH28 Improves Safety and Traffic Flow Near Tīrau
1 month ago | 262 viewsTransport Minister Chris Bishop announced the completion of a $6 million roundabout at the SH5/SH28 Harwoods Road intersection near Tīrau, aiming to improve safety on a corridor with a history of serious crashes, including 18 deaths and 64 serious injuries from 2014 to 2024. This project is part of broader safety upgrades along SH5, including road widening, right-turn bays, and planned future roundabouts, to enhance the route's efficiency for locals, tourists, freight, and agricultural vehicles. The improvements, delivered on budget and ahead of schedule, reflect ongoing collaboration with community leaders and support regional growth, tourism, and freight reliability.
Tags: Chris Bishop Tim van de Molen Transport Minister SH5 SH28 Harwoods Road Tīrau NZTA Mamaku Range Waimakariri RoadGovernment’s Flexible Fund Opens Applications for 770 New Social Homes in NZ
1 month ago | 238 viewsThe New Zealand Government has launched the first round of applications for the Flexible Fund, aiming to create up to 770 new social homes and affordable rentals in high-need areas by supporting community and iwi Māori housing providers. This fund replaces previous fragmented programs with a targeted, data-driven approach to deliver the right homes in priority locations, emphasizing value for money, local demand, and timely delivery. It forms part of a broader Housing Investment Plan and reforms to boost social housing, reduce emergency housing reliance, and ensure stable, affordable housing options for vulnerable families.
Tags: Chris Bishop Tama Potaka New Zealand Flexible Fund social housing affordable rentals Kāinga Ora Housing Investment Plan iwi Māori Ministry of Housing and Urban DevelopmentTemporary Steel Bridge to Reopen State Highway 39 by Mid-March After Floods
1 month ago | 572 viewsA temporary 40-meter steel-framed bridge with a 50-tonne weight limit is planned to be operational by mid-March to restore access south of Pirongia after the Mangati Bridge was destroyed in floods. Crews have cleared debris and begun work on both the temporary and permanent bridge, with the permanent two-lane bridge construction set to start later this year. The project has strong support from council partners and landowners, prioritizing safe and rapid reconnection of the community.
Tags: Mangati Bridge State Highway 39 temporary bridge Chris Bishop NZ Transport Agency Pirongia Acrow bridge flood damage bridge reconstruction transport infrastructure