Articles tagged with Minister Chris Bishop
Government Launches 5 Actions to Support Rough Sleepers into Social Homes
16 hours ago | 52 viewsThe Government is taking immediate actions to address homelessness in New Zealand, focusing on expanding support for rough sleepers and providing more social housing options. These actions include funding additional social homes for the Housing First program, increasing support services for rough sleepers, improving the efficiency of transitional housing, redirecting beneficiaries' income to contribute to accommodation costs, and encouraging greater discretion in assessing emergency housing applications. The aim is to deliver the right homes, in the right places, with the right supports for rough sleepers and address the root causes of homelessness in the country.
Tags: Government Housing Minister Chris Bishop Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka homelessness social homes Housing First programme transitional housing emergency housing Ministry of Social Development (MSD) Louise UpstonMajor Transport Reforms in Auckland to Enhance Accountability and Governance
17 hours ago | 37 viewsSignificant transport reforms in Auckland since 2010 aim to enhance democratic accountability and empower Aucklanders to influence transport policies, as stated by Transport Minister Chris Bishop, Auckland Minister Simeon Brown, and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown. The reforms involve shifting most transport functions from Auckland Transport to Auckland Council, establishing the Auckland Regional Transport Committee to create a 30-year transport plan, and granting local boards new powers for local road decisions. The changes, set to be in place by September 2026, prioritize public input, efficient governance, and improved transport outcomes for Auckland.
Tags: transport reforms Auckland democratic accountability elected representatives governance Auckland Transport Auckland Council Minister Chris Bishop Minister Simeon Brown Mayor Wayne BrownNZTA Awards Contract for SH29 Tauriko West Road Phase 1 Construction
1 day ago | 65 viewsThe NZ Transport Agency has awarded a $42 million contract to HEB Construction Limited to begin construction on the Ōmanawa Bridge replacement in October, as part of the State Highway 29 Tauriko West project. This project aims to enhance safety, resilience, and freight efficiency along SH29, a crucial corridor in the Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga triangle, with a total of $7 billion already allocated for Government-funded projects nationwide. Future phases of the project will involve route protection and consenting for a new four-lane SH29, supporting growth in Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty with improved travel times and reduced accidents.
Tags: NZ Transport Agency SH29 Tauriko West Road Ōmanawa Bridge Transport Minister Chris Bishop HEB Construction Limited Port of Tauranga Redwood Interchange Takitimu North Link interchange Tauriko Business Estate.SH35 Cyclone Gabrielle Recovery: Major Works in Mangahauini Gorge
1 week ago | 138 viewsMajor works are underway in Mangahauini Gorge on State Highway 35 (SH35) north of Gisborne to address the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle. Transport Minister Chris Bishop highlights the efforts to keep one lane open during the recovery process and the long-term solutions being implemented to protect the highway. The project includes innovative measures such as constructing a 'roughened channel' in the Mangahauini River to prevent erosion and ensure the highway's stability, with completion expected by mid-2026 at a cost of around $50 million.
Tags: Mangahauini Gorge State Highway 35 Cyclone Gabrielle Tairāwhiti Transport Minister Chris Bishop Transport Rebuild East Coast riverbed roughened channel East Coast communities local contractorsAccelerated Land Acquisition Bill Boosts Infrastructure Projects
2 weeks ago | 220 viewsThe passing of the Public Works Act Amendment Bill will expedite critical infrastructure projects, aiming to address New Zealand's infrastructure deficit by streamlining land acquisition processes. The new accelerated process offers incentives and recognition payments to landowners, while also introducing a faster objections resolution mechanism. The Government plans to further modernize the Public Works Act to improve landowner engagement, disaster recovery support, and overall efficiency in delivering public infrastructure projects.
Tags: Public Works Act Amendment Bill Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop Land Information Minister Chris Penk infrastructure projects critical infrastructure accelerated land acquisition process Public Works Act landowners infrastructure deficit New Zealand.New Zealand's Transition to Electronic Road User Charges for Fairer Road Funding
1 month ago | 590 viewsThe New Zealand Cabinet has approved legislative changes to transition 3.5 million light vehicles to electronic road user charges instead of petrol tax, marking a significant shift in road funding. The move aims to ensure all vehicles, regardless of fuel type, contribute fairly based on distance and weight, replacing the outdated petrol tax system. The transition will involve modernizing the current RUC system, allowing for digital records, multiple payment options, and fostering competition among RUC providers for a user-friendly and efficient road funding mechanism.
Tags: legislative changes New Zealand road user charges petrol tax Transport Minister Chris Bishop Fuel Excise Duty Road User Charges RUC vehicle fleet electronic road user chargingNew Zealand Vintage Vehicles & Private Motorhomes Shift to Annual Inspections from Sept 1
1 month ago | 635 viewsStarting from 1 September, vintage light vehicles and private heavy motorhomes in New Zealand will transition from six-monthly to annual vehicle inspections, as announced by Transport Minister Chris Bishop. This change aims to reduce bureaucracy for the approximately 128,000 vintage vehicles and 39,000 private motorhomes registered in the country, as these vehicles are less likely to have faults contributing to serious crashes compared to modern cars. Public support for this change was overwhelmingly positive, with 89% in favor of annual inspections for private heavy motorhomes and 98% for vintage light vehicles.
Tags: Transport Minister Chris Bishop vintage vehicles motorhomes inspections New Zealand Warrant of Fitness Certificate of Fitness Land Transport Rules Reform Programme light vehicles public supportMajor Safety Improvements Coming to SH2 Moonshine Hill Road Intersection in Upper Hutt
1 month ago | 360 viewsSafety improvements, including intersection upgrades and a speed limit review, will be implemented soon at the Moonshine Hill Road intersection on State Highway 2 in Upper Hutt, following Transport Minister Chris Bishop's announcement due to the high number of crashes at the intersection. The upgrades will involve installing traffic lights, signage, and line markings to enhance safety for motorists and cyclists. NZTA will consult the public on a proposed 80km/h speed limit, with construction scheduled to start in October and be completed by the end of the year.
Tags: safety improvements State Highway 2 Moonshine Hill Road intersection upgrades speed limit review Transport Minister Chris Bishop NZTA Whakatiki Street intersection speed limit consultationNew Zealand Introduces Tough Laws to Crack Down on Boy Racers and Dangerous Driving
1 month ago | 376 viewsNew laws aim to crack down on boy racers and dirt bike riders engaging in dangerous driving, with Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Police Minister Mark Mitchell leading the initiative. The Anti-Social Road Use Legislation Amendment Bill introduces tougher penalties, including vehicle destruction or forfeiture for offenses like fleeing Police, street racing, and excessive noise. The Bill will grant Police more powers to manage illegal gatherings and is set to undergo public consultation after its first reading in August.
Tags: Boy racers Transport Minister Chris Bishop Police Minister Mark Mitchell illegal vehicle gatherings vehicle destruction street racing Police powers excessive noise Select Committee.Government Unveils Plan to Combat Rising Homelessness Crisis in New Zealand
1 month ago | 487 viewsThe Government released the latest Homelessness Insights Report, addressing the issue of homelessness in New Zealand and the increasing numbers of people without shelter. Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka emphasized the need for targeted interventions and support services to combat homelessness, highlighting the complexity of the issue and the importance of engaging with frontline organizations. The Government is committed to long-term solutions, including reforms in the housing market, infrastructure funding, and social housing systems to address the root causes of homelessness and provide stable housing for all New Zealanders.
Tags: Government Homelessness Insights Report New Zealand Housing Minister Chris Bishop Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Auckland City Mission Salvation Army Emergency Housing Transitional HousingNew Zealand's Fast-track Approvals System Boosts Economic Growth with Streamlined Project Processes
1 month ago | 648 viewsThe Fast-track Approvals system, established six months ago, aims to streamline project approvals in New Zealand for economic growth. The system allows for expedited processing of project applications through expert panels, with over 50 projects applying so far. Additional projects can be referred into the process, with decisions expected on key projects by the end of the year.
Tags: New Zealand RMA Reform Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop Regional Development Minister Shane Jones Expert Panels Panel Convenor Project referrals Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Artificial Intelligence Data Centre.New Zealand Government Establishes School Property Agency for Safe and Sustainable Learning Environments
1 month ago | 492 viewsThe 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 BinnsGovernment Acts to Streamline Planning Process in Anticipation of New System
1 month ago | 522 viewsThe 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 supplyNew Zealand's State Highway Road Renewal Success: Enhancing Safety and Infrastructure for Better Journeys
2 months ago | 1150 viewsThe 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 usersNew Zealand Government Launches City and Regional Deals to Drive Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development
2 months ago | 686 viewsThe 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