01 May 2026
5 months ago
1519 views
The Ngauranga to Petone Shared Path (Te Ara Tupua) will officially open on 16 May, providing a safe walking and cycling route while protecting State Highway 2 and the Hutt Valley rail network from severe weather impacts. This project, costing $348.7 million, is a long-term investment in safety, resilience, and sustainable transport, developed in partnership with local communities, mana whenua, and multiple contractors. The initiative reflects collaborative efforts and aims to enhance regional connectivity and travel options for Wellington and Lower Hutt residents.
20 Jan 2026
9 months ago
1490 views
The Counties Manukau after-hours service in South and East Auckland now operates 24/7, providing urgent care at any time and reducing pressure on Middlemore Hospital's emergency department. This restoration reverses the 2020 closure and aligns with the Government's Urgent Care and After-Hours Framework, aiming to ensure 98% of New Zealanders live within an hour of urgent care. Similar expansions are planned nationwide to improve access and support rural communities.
19 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1781 views
South and East Auckland will soon have extended urgent care services, with Local Doctors Ōtara offering care from 7:30am to midnight starting 17 December and moving to 24/7 from 19 January 2026, while Eastcare will extend hours to 1am from 1 March. These improvements aim to provide timely, accessible, and affordable care close to home, reducing pressure on hospital emergency departments. The changes are part of the Government’s national Urgent Care and After Hours Framework, which seeks to ensure 98% of New Zealanders live within an hour of in-person urgent care and introduces a consistent approach to fees and subsidies.
19 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1540 views
Construction has commenced on the State Highway 2 (SH2) Melling Transport Improvements Road of Regional Significance in Lower Hutt to enhance safety, accessibility, and resilience, according to Transport Minister Chris Bishop. The project, including a new interchange and bridge over the Hutt River, aims to alleviate congestion, enhance safety, and promote economic growth by improving public transport and active transport options. Led by the NZ Transport Agency, AECOM, and Fletcher Construction, the initiative is part of a broader $1.5 billion RiverLink program to boost economic growth, resilience, and flood protection in Lower Hutt, with completion expected by 2031.
05 Aug 2025
1 year ago
1943 views
Health Minister Simeon Brown and Hutt South MP Chris Bishop inaugurated the new Lower Hutt After Hours Medical Centre on Connolly Street, emphasizing its importance for urgent healthcare in the area. The facility aims to alleviate pressure on hospital emergency departments by offering faster access to essential treatments like diagnostics and urgent medicines. The center, set to begin daytime urgent care services in December 2025, will provide expanded care with consulting rooms, triage rooms, radiology services, and pharmacy access, enhancing healthcare accessibility for the Hutt community.
27 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2763 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.
23 Jun 2025
1 year ago
2857 views
The Government is enabling more tāmariki access to full immersion learning in safe, warm and dry classrooms. A $28 million investment will deliver 20 new classrooms across four Māori Medium and Kaupapa Māori Education kura and the commencement of a permanent site for a kura north of Auckland – Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngāringaomatariki. The announcement was made at Takaparawhau, Bastion Point, during Matariki Hautapu celebrations with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.