Articles tagged with Dana Kirkpatrick
Waioweka Gorge SH2 Recovery Accelerates with $33M Investment in Resilience Works
2 weeks ago | 206 viewsRecovery efforts on State Highway 2’s Waioweka Gorge are accelerating following severe weather damage in January 2026, with contracts awarded for design, project management, and physical works to restore full road access and improve resilience. Key works include stabilizing the Goldsmith slip—where over 20,000 cubic meters of debris closed the route for weeks—installing rockfall barriers, upgrading culverts, and enhancing drainage to reduce future disruptions. The government has committed around $75 million in Budget 2026 for further resilience improvements along the corridor, targeting critical and high-risk sites identified through NZTA’s National Resilience Assessment Tool.
Tags: Chris Bishop Dana Kirkpatrick NZ Transport Agency Stellar Projects Beca Geovert Waiotahi Contractors Ltd Goldsmith slip Waioweka Gorge NZTA BoardNew Roundabout at SH2/Wainui Road Boosts Safety and Traffic Flow Near Ōpōtiki
2 months ago | 500 viewsTransport Minister Chris Bishop announced the completion of a new roundabout at the SH2 and Wainui Road intersection near Ōpōtiki, enhancing safety and efficiency on a busy corridor with a history of crashes. This upgrade is part of a $37.5 million SH2 safety improvement project, which includes two additional tear-drop roundabouts near Waiōtahe River Bridge, expected to be finished by April 2027. The project also features road widening, new barriers, and improved markings, aiming to reduce accidents and support local communities and freight traffic.
Tags: Chris Bishop Dana Kirkpatrick Transport Minister SH2 Wainui Road Ōpōtiki Waiōtahe River Bridge Tauranga Gisborne New Zealand GovernmentSH35 Reopens Tomorrow Connecting Tairāwhiti to Bay of Plenty After Floods
4 months ago | 809 viewsState Highway 35, closed for three weeks due to heavy rainfall and significant slips, will reopen daily from 7am to 7pm tomorrow, restoring vital access between Tairāwhiti and the eastern Bay of Plenty. Major repair efforts focused on clearing large slips, especially the Punaruku slip, with crews working around the clock to ensure safety despite ongoing fragility and single-lane traffic. Transport Minister Chris Bishop emphasized the importance of the reopening for local communities and thanked workers and residents for their patience and support during the restoration process.
Tags: Chris Bishop Dana Kirkpatrick State Highway 35 Tairāwhiti Bay of Plenty Pōtaka Te Araroa Waikura slip Punaruku slip Cyclone GabrielleNew Two-Lane Pekatahi Bridge Planned for SH2 in Eastern Bay of Plenty
6 months ago | 774 viewsTransport Minister Chris Bishop announced the construction of a new two-lane bridge on SH2 near Tāneatua to replace the inadequate one-lane Pekatahi Bridge, with design and consenting funded at $5 million and construction expected to start in mid-2027 at a total cost of $64-69 million. The new bridge will be built adjacent to the existing one to minimize disruption, feature earthquake-resilient foundations, flood protection, and accommodate High Productivity Motor Vehicles, thereby supporting regional economic growth and improving freight reliability. Meanwhile, NZTA will maintain the current bridge with steel plate installations and ongoing monitoring until the new bridge is completed, addressing safety and community concerns in the interim.
Tags: Chris Bishop Dana Kirkpatrick NZ Transport Agency Pekatahi Bridge State Highway 2 Tāneatua Eastern Bay of Plenty Tairāwhiti Bay of Plenty Port of TaurangaGovernment Invests $5M in Eastland Port to Boost Gisborne's Economy
7 months ago | 860 viewsAssociate Transport Minister James Meager announced a $5 million Government investment in new container-handling equipment for Gisborne’s Eastland Port to boost economic opportunities and regional connectivity. This funding, from the Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund, aims to support local businesses, improve freight resilience, and enhance the region’s ability to handle disruptions like those caused by Cyclone Gabrielle. The investment is expected to attract new trade, create jobs, and help double the value of exports from Tairāwhiti over the next decade.
Tags: James Meager Dana Kirkpatrick Eastland Port Gisborne Tairāwhiti Cyclone Gabrielle Associate Transport Minister Government Policy Statement Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund New Zealand freight systemRaukūmara Pae Maunga: $6 Million Investment Boosts Indigenous Conservation Efforts
9 months ago | 1689 viewsA $6 million investment in the Raukūmara Pae Maunga restoration project aims to strengthen local employment and iwi-led conservation efforts against destructive pests, supported by Conservation Minister Tama Potaka. The project, a collaboration between Ngāti Porou, Te-Whānau-ā-Apanui, and the Department of Conservation, focuses on large-scale pest control, forest regeneration, community engagement, and species protection in the Raukūmara Range. Through innovative approaches like DNA surveying and aerial hunting, the project is enhancing conservation efforts and developing a new generation of indigenous conservation leaders, with funding secured until 2028 from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.
Tags: Tama Potaka Ngāti Porou Department of Conservation Raukūmara Pae Maunga Conservation Minister Dana Kirkpatrick Caleb Wharepapa Te Papa Atawhai Raukūmara Range