Articles tagged with Tauranga
New SH29/Takitimu Drive Flyover Boosts Bay of Plenty Transport Efficiency
1 week ago | 184 viewsThe opening of the SH29/Takitimu Drive Toll Road flyover bridge marks a key milestone in the Takitimu North Link Stage 1 project, enhancing connectivity between Tauranga and Te Puna with a 6.8km four-lane expressway. This complex infrastructure, built in a sensitive urban wetland environment, includes major earthworks and advanced construction techniques, supporting improved traffic flow and safety. As one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing regions, the Bay of Plenty will benefit from this project’s goal to boost economic growth and freight efficiency, with completion expected in 2028.
Tags: Chris Bishop Takitimu North Link SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road Tauranga Bay of Plenty Kōpūrererua Valley Reserve Tauriko New Zealand Transport MinisterGovernment Invests $15.5M in Bay of Plenty Marina and Geothermal Projects
3 weeks ago | 253 viewsThe Government is investing $12.5 million through the Regional Infrastructure Fund to develop Ōpōtiki Marina, supporting aquaculture growth and creating up to 87 construction jobs. Additionally, a $3 million grant will fund the Gas to Geoheat – Tauranga Geothermal System Project, exploring geothermal energy potential to support future renewable energy initiatives and create 15-20 jobs. These investments aim to unlock the Bay of Plenty’s natural resource potential, boost regional economic growth, job creation, and energy security.
Tags: Shane Jones Bay of Plenty Ōpōtiki Marina Regional Infrastructure Fund aquaculture GeoExchange NZ Limited Tauranga Geothermal System geothermal energy Te Kaha Mount MaunganuiBay of Plenty Aquaculture Settlement Boosts Growth and Jobs for Te Moana-a-Toi Iwi
3 weeks ago | 249 viewsA major aquaculture settlement between the Crown and Te Moana-a-Toi iwi, involving 5000 hectares of new aquaculture space, aims to drive significant economic growth and workforce development in the Bay of Plenty. The region, known for open ocean mussel farming, has the potential to generate $200 million in annual revenue by 2035, contributing to the Government’s goal of $3 billion in aquaculture revenue nationwide. Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones highlighted the settlement as a milestone that supports iwi leadership and strengthens local communities through stable jobs and export opportunities.
Tags: Shane Jones Crown Bay of Plenty Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act Tauranga New Zealand Aquaculture Development Plan mussel farming aquaculture settlementNew Zealand Adopts Risk-Based Traffic Management to Cut Cone Overuse and Costs
1 month ago | 322 viewsThe New Zealand Government is requiring councils to adopt a risk-based, common-sense approach to temporary traffic management, moving away from an outdated, overly-prescriptive Code of Practice to reduce unnecessary road cone usage and improve efficiency. This new approach, already successful on state highways with significant cost savings and maintained safety, will be mandatory for councils seeking National Land Transport Funding from today. The transition to the New Zealand guide to temporary traffic management (NZGTTM) is underway, with full implementation required by mid-2027, aiming to ensure safer worksites and proportionate traffic management across the country.
Tags: Chris Bishop NZTA New Zealand National Land Transport Fund Whangarei District Council Auckland Transport Hamilton City Council Tauranga City Council New Plymouth District Council Porirua City CouncilWaste Minimisation Fund Boosts Concrete Recycling in Bay of Plenty and Canterbury
1 month ago | 379 viewsEnvirocon has received nearly $700,000 from New Zealand's Waste Minimisation Fund to process an additional 38,000 tonnes of construction and demolition concrete waste annually in Bay of Plenty and Canterbury. This funding supports increased recycling efforts, reducing landfill volumes, which are significantly contributed to by construction waste making up about 70% of landfill material. The project aligns with the Fund’s goal to enhance reuse, recovery, and recycling, building on Envirocon’s previous infrastructure developments supported by the Fund since 2015.
Tags: Waste Minimisation Fund Nicola Grigg Envirocon concrete recycling construction waste demolition waste Tauranga Christchurch Waste Minimisation Act 2008 New ZealandUniversity of Waikato Medical School Clinical Training Regions Confirmed for 2028
1 month ago | 488 viewsThe University of Waikato's new medical school, starting in 2028, will train 120 graduate-entry students annually, with clinical placements across five regional areas to encourage doctors to practice in underserved communities. A nationwide distributed clinical placement network is being established to coordinate training across New Zealand’s three medical schools, including new Community Clinical Learning Centres in smaller towns to support rural healthcare workforce growth. This initiative aims to build a stronger, regionally connected health workforce by embedding students in their home regions, addressing long-term shortages in primary care and rural health services.
Tags: Simeon Brown Matt Doocey University of Waikato New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine Waikato Hospital Tauranga Hospital Taranaki Base Hospital Hawke's Bay Hospital Nelson Hospital Health New ZealandWaikato Medical School Clinical Training Regions Confirmed for 2028 Launch
1 month ago | 511 viewsThe University of Waikato's new medical school, starting in 2028, will train 120 graduate-entry students annually with clinical placements across five regional areas to encourage doctors to practice in underserved communities. A new national distributed clinical placement network, developed with Health New Zealand and other universities, will coordinate opportunities and establish Community Clinical Learning Centres in smaller towns to support rural training and retention. This initiative aims to strengthen New Zealand's domestic medical workforce by embedding students in regional and rural settings, addressing long-term shortages, and building a more regionally connected health system.
Tags: Simeon Brown Matt Doocey University of Waikato New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine Waikato Hospital Tauranga Hospital Taranaki Base Hospital Hawke's Bay Hospital Nelson Hospital Health New ZealandNew Tauranga Mental Health Co-Response Team Enhances Crisis Support
2 months ago | 500 viewsTauranga has launched a new mental health co-response team combining Police and mental health workers to better support people in crisis, replacing the traditional criminal justice response to 111 calls. This initiative, part of a $28 million Budget 2025 investment, aims to reduce distress caused by Police-only responses and improve outcomes by providing specialized mental health support. The program builds on successful models like Wellington’s, addressing high regional demand and correcting previous funding cuts under the former government.
Tags: Matt Doocey Tauranga Mental Health Minister New Zealand Police Mental Health Act Bay of Plenty Wellington Labour Government National PartyOnly Elected Councillors to Vote on Committees for Greater Accountability
2 months ago | 484 viewsThe Local Government Minister Simon Watts announced that only elected councillors will have voting rights on council committees to enhance democratic accountability, amending the Local Government Act 2002 accordingly. Non-elected members, such as iwi representatives and youth appointees, can still provide advice but will not have voting rights or count towards quorums, except for statutory committees and appointments under other Acts. These changes, included in the Local Government (System Improvements) Bill, will take effect after councils review their delegations within six months of the law’s passage.
Tags: Simon Watts Local Government Act 2002 Local Government Minister council committees democratic accountability elected councillors Treaty settlement Local Government (System Improvements) Bill Far North TaurangaNew Social Homes in Tauranga Designed for Autistic Adults Opened
2 months ago | 578 viewsHousing Minister Chris Bishop announced the opening of seven new social homes in Tauranga specifically designed for autistic adults, developed by Autism NZ’s provider Equity House and funded through Budget 2024. These homes address the shortage of one-bedroom social housing and feature sensory-friendly designs like dimmer switches and neutral colors to support residents' independence and comfort. Each resident has a self-contained unit within a supportive community, with access to pastoral care for daily needs, ensuring safety, dignity, and confidence.
Tags: Chris Bishop Equity House Autism NZ Housing Minister Tauranga Budget 2024 social homes autistic community New Zealand social housingWaikato Expressway Extension Approved with $1.77B Budget for Safer Travel
2 months ago | 516 viewsThe Budget 2026 allocates $1.773 billion to extend the Waikato Expressway from Cambridge to Piarere, a critical freight and economic corridor connecting Auckland, Waikato, and the Bay of Plenty. This 16-kilometre four-lane expressway aims to improve safety, reduce serious injuries by around 70%, enhance resilience, and support economic growth in one of New Zealand’s most important transport routes. Early works are underway following consents granted in September 2025, as part of the Government’s broader Roads of National Significance programme to boost infrastructure, jobs, and productivity nationwide.
Tags: Chris Bishop Waikato Expressway Cambridge to Piarere State Highway 1 Roads of National Significance New Zealand Auckland Tauranga NZTA Warkworth to Te HanaMajor Hospital Upgrades and $680M Investment to Boost NZ Health Infrastructure
2 months ago | 638 viewsBudget 2026 allocates over $680 million for major hospital upgrades in Whangārei, Tauranga, Hawke’s Bay, Palmerston North, and other facilities across New Zealand, aiming to strengthen health infrastructure and improve patient care. Key projects include a new 158-bed ward tower at Whangārei Hospital, redevelopment planning for regional hospitals, land acquisition for a new hospital south of Auckland, and upgrades to Auckland’s Mason Clinic. Additionally, Health New Zealand will invest $930 million in clinical equipment, technology, and facility improvements nationwide to support health targets, reduce waiting times, and future-proof services.
Tags: Simeon Brown Health Minister Health New Zealand Whangārei Hospital Tauranga Hospital Hawke’s Bay Hospital Palmerston North Hospital University of Waikato Mason Clinic Budget 2026$2.1B Mahere Pūtea 2026: Whakawhanake Mātauranga Kura Tuarua Aotearoa
2 months ago | 522 viewsThe 2026 Budget allocates $2.1 billion to continue building a world-leading education system in New Zealand, focusing on enhancing secondary curriculum development, professional learning for teachers, and expanding industry-aligned vocational pathways. Significant investments include $90 million for updating national qualifications through NZQA, $559 million for school infrastructure, and targeted funding for supporting diverse learner needs such as health, language, and special education. These initiatives build on prior reforms to improve literacy and numeracy, aiming to raise achievement, close equity gaps, and prepare students with skills aligned to the future workforce.
Tags: Erica Stanford Mahere Pūtea 2026 Mātauranga NZQA Poari Pūmanawa Ahumahi Kura Ringarehe Kiwisaver Whakaako Kairangi Te Marautanga o Aotearoa KāwanatangaFast-Track Approval Granted for Kaimai Hydro-Electric Power Scheme Renewal
2 months ago | 557 viewsThe Kaimai Hydro-Electric Power Scheme in the Bay of Plenty has received Fast-track approval for re-consenting, enabling its continued operation and supporting New Zealand’s renewable energy goals by generating 169 GWh annually and avoiding 26,693 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. This approval, the 23rd under the Fast-track process, took five and a half months following an independent expert panel review and highlights the scheme’s critical role in supplying electricity to approximately 24,600 households and contributing significantly to Tauranga's demand. The Fast-track process aims to expedite important infrastructure projects efficiently, with 46 projects currently progressing and 149 eligible under the Fast-track Approvals Act.
Tags: Chris Bishop Shane Jones Manawa Energy Limited Tauranga Bay of Plenty New Zealand Infrastructure Minister Regional Development MinisterGovernment Signs City and Regional Deal to Boost Growth in Western Bay of Plenty
2 months ago | 474 viewsThe Government has signed a City and Regional Deal with Western Bay of Plenty councils to establish a long-term partnership aimed at boosting economic growth, improving living standards, and supporting well-planned regional development. The Deal focuses on six pillars including transport infrastructure, housing development, social infrastructure, export growth, and economic diversification, with coordinated investment and planning aligned with the SmartGrowth partnership. Key projects like the Takitimu North Link and Tauriko West Roads, alongside joint funding mechanisms and strong governance, will support the region’s rapid growth and its role as a critical export gateway.
Tags: Chris Bishop Simon Watts Western Bay of Plenty Tauranga Bay of Plenty Regional Council SmartGrowth Takitimu North Link Tauriko West Auckland New Zealand