Articles tagged with Ruc
South Canterbury to Replace Century-Old Bridges for Safer, Reliable Travel
1 day ago | 54 viewsTwo century-old bridges on State Highway 82 in South Canterbury will be replaced over 12 months to improve safety, reliability, and freight productivity on this key inland route. The new bridges, costing $14 million and $5.7 million respectively, will have no load restrictions and maintain traffic flow via temporary structures during construction. This project, part of NZTA’s End of Life Bridge Replacement Programme, reflects the government’s commitment to upgrading critical infrastructure by prioritizing cost-effective replacements over ongoing maintenance.
Tags: James Meager Miles Anderson South Canterbury Waihao North River Bridge Elephant Hill Stream Bridge State Highway 82 NZTA HEB Construction Waitaki River Canterbury LakesGovernment Invests $4M for Bisset Road Social Housing Infrastructure in Kaikohe
3 days ago | 73 viewsThe Government is investing $4 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to support essential infrastructure for the Bisset Road social housing project in Kaikohe, which will provide up to 100 affordable rental homes with rents capped at 80 percent of market rates for 25 years. The project, led by Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi Limited, aims to create local jobs, apprenticeships, and strengthen regional supply chains by using local timber and contractors. Additional funding includes a $29.7 million grant from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and a $13.6 million loan from Community Finance, with infrastructure work underway and the entire development expected to finish by 2027.
Tags: Shane Jones Tama Potaka Ngāpuhi Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi Te Runanga a Iwi o Ngāpuhi Regional Infrastructure Fund Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Community Finance Kaikohe Bisset RoadNew Zealand Invests $35M in OpenStar Fusion Energy Breakthrough Project
5 days ago | 92 viewsThe New Zealand Government is investing up to $35 million through the Regional Infrastructure Fund to support OpenStar Technologies in developing a specialised fusion energy research facility. OpenStar is pursuing a unique fusion design with potential advantages in stability, cost, and scalability, aiming to position New Zealand as a leader in this emerging, carbon-free energy technology. This investment aims to boost innovation, attract international funding, create high-value jobs, and generate potential benefits for sectors like aerospace and medical technology.
Tags: Shane Jones Ratu Mataira Ernest Rutherford OpenStar Technologies New Zealand Regional Infrastructure Fund fusion energy Government Regional Development Minister fusion researchWaitangi Treaty Grounds Road Upgrade Enhances Access Ahead of Waitangi Day
5 days ago | 65 viewsRoad access to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in New Zealand has been improved with a $1.57 million upgrade to Haruru Falls Road, sealing the remaining 3.7 km to ensure safer and more resilient access for visitors. The project, completed just before Waitangi Day, included drainage, paving, earthworks, and guardrails, with contributions from the Regional Infrastructure Fund and Far North District Council. Additionally, a larger $10.2 million infrastructure upgrade is underway at the Treaty Grounds to protect historic buildings and enhance facilities, expected to finish by the end of 2026.
Tags: Waitangi Treaty Grounds Shane Jones Haruru Falls Rd Waitangi Day Regional Infrastructure Fund Te Rau Aroha Māori Battalion Museum Moko Tepania Far North District Council Waitangi National TrustBudget 2025 Boosts Learning Support with $746M Investment for NZ Schools
5 days ago | 95 viewsThe Government is implementing its Budget 2025 plan by investing $746.7 million to enhance learning support in schools, benefiting hundreds of thousands of students nationwide. Key initiatives include hiring Learning Support Coordinators, expanding the Ongoing Resourcing Scheme, increasing Early Intervention Services, and funding additional Teacher Aide hours, alongside structured literacy and maths intervention programs. To ensure effectiveness, an induction program for Learning Support Coordinators is being launched to provide consistent training and maximize their impact on student achievement.
Tags: Erica Stanford Budget 2025 Learning Support Coordinators Early Intervention Services Teacher Aide Hours Ongoing Resourcing Scheme Ministry of Education Structured Literacy Maths Intervention Education MinisterGovernment Invests $6.25M to Boost Māori Horticulture Projects in Northland and Waikato
6 days ago | 158 viewsThe Government is investing $6.25 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to develop two horticulture projects on underutilised Māori land in Northland and Waikato, aiming to boost local supply chains and economic benefits. The Ngā Pūriri Pūmau kiwifruit project in Te Tai Tokerau and the Ngāti Hauā horticulture project in Waikato will create jobs, build essential infrastructure, and support sustainable commercial production of crops like asparagus, strawberries, and blueberries. These initiatives exemplify successful collaboration between iwi leadership and government, promoting productive land use and long-term regional growth for Māori communities.
Tags: Shane Jones Tama Potaka Ngā Pūriri Pūmau Ngāti Hauā Regional Infrastructure Fund Ngāpuhi Investment Fund Oromahoe Trust Rangihamama Omapere Trust Peria LP Ngāti Hauā Iwi TrustNew National Reporting System Gives Parents Clearer Insight Into Student Progress
6 days ago | 146 viewsIn 2026, New Zealand will implement a nationally consistent assessment and reporting system in primary and intermediate schools to provide parents with clearer, comparable information on their children's progress in reading, writing, and maths. This new framework includes twice-yearly progress check-ins supported by the SMART monitoring tool and replaces a system over 20 years old, addressing long-standing concerns from educational experts about inconsistent reporting. Alongside these changes, the government is enhancing support services such as structured literacy and maths interventions to help students early and improve overall achievement.
Tags: Erica Stanford Education Review Office New Zealand Assessment Institute SMART tool Ministry of Education principals’ associations teachers structured literacy learning support coordinators teacher aideGovernment $950K Loan Boosts Māori Farmland Productivity and Regional Growth
1 week ago | 146 viewsThe Government is providing a $950,000 loan through the Regional Infrastructure Fund to the Omuturangi 6E & 7A Ahu Whenua Trust to upgrade farmland infrastructure near Hāwera, enabling increased milking capacity and a 25% boost in milk production. This investment aims to create jobs, support regional growth, and help the trust transition from passive leasing to active farm management while training its people in commercial farming. Without the loan, the land would have reverted to less-productive grazing, but the project will benefit both the trust’s owners and the wider local economy, with construction starting soon.
Tags: Mark Patterson Tama Potaka Omuturangi 6E & 7A Ahu Whenua Trust Māori trust Regional Infrastructure Fund Hāwera Māori Development Minister Rural Communities Minister farmland productivity dairy farmingNelson Marina Expansion Secures $12.89M Loan to Boost Economy and Jobs
1 week ago | 104 viewsNelson Marina has received a $12.89 million loan from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to expand its facilities, including installing a 110-tonne vessel hoist and increasing hardstand capacity from 14 to 54 bays. The project, co-funded by Nelson Marina Management Ltd with a matching $12.89 million, aims to create up to 110 construction jobs and 180 ongoing roles, boosting the region's $350 million blue economy. Construction is set to begin in May and is expected to be completed by mid-2028, supporting the government's goal of regional economic growth through improved infrastructure.
Tags: Nelson marina expansion Shane Jones Regional Development Minister Nelson Marina Management Ltd Regional Infrastructure Fund marine services economic growth blue economy marine engineeringNelson Marina Expansion Secures $12.89M Loan to Boost Economy and Jobs
1 week ago | 113 viewsNelson’s marina expansion has received a $12.89 million loan to upgrade infrastructure, including a 110-tonne vessel hoist and expanded maintenance capacity, aiming to boost the regional economy and create up to 180 ongoing jobs. The project, co-funded by Nelson Marina Management Ltd and owned by Nelson City Council, will also feature a new marine service centre with office, retail, and workshop spaces. Construction is set to begin in May and finish by mid-2028, supporting Nelson’s significant blue economy, which contributes over $350 million annually and employs more than 3,700 people.
Tags: Nelson marina expansion Shane Jones Regional Development Minister Nelson Marina Management Ltd Regional Infrastructure Fund marine services economic growth blue economy marine engineeringWairoa Airport to Get $4.2M Upgrade Boosting Runway and Emergency Services
2 weeks ago | 150 viewsWairoa Airport will receive a $4.2 million upgrade, including runway extension and improved infrastructure, to enhance its operational capacity and support the region’s growing needs. The airport plays a crucial role in commercial flights, emergency health transport, and logistics during extreme weather, as demonstrated during Cyclone Gabrielle. Funded by the Regional Infrastructure Fund and North Island Weather Event fund, construction will begin in late 2026, with local employment prioritized.
Tags: Wairoa Airport Shane Jones New Zealand Air Ambulance Service Hawke’s Bay Airport Cyclone Gabrielle Wairoa District Council Regional Development Minister Regional Infrastructure Fund North Island Weather Event fund Wairoa communityGovernment Invests $10M to Upgrade National Ringatū Marae Complex in Bay of Plenty
2 weeks ago | 224 viewsThe Government is investing over $10 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to upgrade the National Ringatū Marae Complex in Bay of Plenty, enhancing infrastructure resilience and creating 71 jobs, particularly for Māori youth. The new complex will serve as a cultural, educational, and civil defence hub, preserving the heritage of the Ringatū faith founded by Te Kooti and supporting the broader Māori community. This initiative follows similar investments in other significant marae and aims to strengthen rural marae as vital community assets.
Tags: Shane Jones Tama Potaka Te Kooti Ringatū Rātana Bay of Plenty Wainui Marae Māori Development Regional Infrastructure Fund Ringatū Church IncorporatedSouthland’s $13.6M Industrial Hub Boosts Gore Economy and Creates Jobs
2 weeks ago | 664 viewsThe Government is providing a $3.1 million loan to support a $13.6 million industrial subdivision near Gore, a joint venture between Ngāi Tahu’s Hokonui Rūnanga and Robertson Transport Limited, addressing the shortage of large industrial lots in the area. The 43-hectare project, located on State Highway 1, will create up to 50 construction jobs and attract various industries while generating sustainable income for Hokonui Rūnanga to fund community services. This development is the first phase of a 90-hectare master plan aimed at diversifying Southland’s economy and includes future plans for marae relocation, housing, and childcare facilities.
Tags: Mark Patterson Hokonui Rūnanga Ngāi Tahu Robertson Transport Limited Southland Gore District Regional Infrastructure Fund Associate Minister for Regional Development New Zealand Eastern SouthlandGovernment Eases Mining and Quarry Consents to Boost Infrastructure and Economy
3 weeks ago | 216 viewsThe New Zealand Government has enacted amendments to five major National Direction instruments under the Resource Management Act to simplify consenting for mines, quarries, and coastal activities, aiming to support infrastructure development and economic growth. These changes streamline the planning system by reducing duplication and conflicting language, enabling more efficient resource development while maintaining environmental safeguards and supporting sectors like renewable energy and aquaculture. The reforms, effective January 2026, represent the first tranche of RMA national direction updates designed to integrate smoothly with the forthcoming new planning system, with further instruments planned for future consideration.
Tags: Chris Bishop Shane Jones Tama Potaka RMA Reform National Policy Statement New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement aquaculture Resource Management Act infrastructure Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement ActNew Zealand Boosts Infrastructure and Renewables with Key RMA Reforms 2026
3 weeks ago | 228 viewsThe New Zealand Government has introduced a new National Policy Statement for Infrastructure and amended two others to streamline resource consenting, reduce costs, and accelerate renewable energy and infrastructure projects under the Resource Management Act (RMA). These changes aim to address the infrastructure deficit by providing clear, consistent direction to councils and developers, cutting red tape, and supporting the country’s economic growth, climate adaptation, and energy security goals. The updated national direction instruments, effective from January 2026, will integrate with the forthcoming modern planning system to ensure smoother implementation and continued progress.
Tags: Chris Bishop Simon Watts Simon Court RMA Reform National Policy Statement Infrastructure Renewable Electricity Generation Electricity Networks New Zealand Government Infrastructure Commission