Displaying 73 - 96 of 179 results.

Associate Transport Minister Michael Woodhouse is thanking all road users for playing a strong hand in the zero road toll for Queen’s Birthday weekend.

“This is the first zero road toll for Queen’s Birthday since records began in 1956, and it’s down to road users who drove to the conditions and took their time to get to and from their destinations safely,” says Mr Woodhouse.

The previous lowest Queen’s Birthday road toll was 1 in 2011 and the first ever zero road toll for any holiday period was Easter 2012.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Transport

Associate Transport Minister Michael Woodhouse is urging everyone to take care on the roads this Queen’s Birthday weekend.

“Long weekends are traditionally busier on the roads as people take the opportunity to travel, so extra care needs to be taken.”

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Transport

Work towards the National War Memorial Park is progressing well and is on target for the opening to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings on 25 April 2015, Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee and Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson said today.

“The trench, above which the National War Memorial Park will be developed, is now visible along Buckle Street.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage
  • Transport

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee has today welcomed the completion – on schedule and on budget – of the first section of Christchurch’s Western Corridor upgrade.

“As of today motorists travelling along State Highway 1 to the west of Christchurch are enjoying better travel times on a safer road – this is good for productivity and good for the environment,” Mr Brownlee says.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Transport

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says the formal start of construction today of the NZ Transport Agency’s Causeway Upgrade Project on Auckland’s Northwestern Motorway marks a significant milestone in completing the Western Ring Route Road of National Significance (RoNS).

The project is a critical part of the RoNS and the Government’s strategy to improve transport connections for both Auckland and neighbouring regions to the north and south of the city.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Transport

Associate Minister of Transport Michael Woodhouse departs today to represent New Zealand at the Annual Summit of the OECD’s International Transport Forum, to be held this week in Leipzig, Germany.

“The Summit is attended by Ministers from the Forum’s 54 member countries and is a good opportunity to be part of a global conversation on strategies for transport, as well as engaging in debates with international decision-makers including business leaders and leading academics,” Mr Woodhouse says.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Transport

Contrary to Green Party claptrap that more and better roads don’t reduce congestion, Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee today welcomed further evidence they do.

“And what’s more, private and commercial vehicle operating costs are falling along with emissions,” Mr Brownlee says.

He was commenting following the release of NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) evidence that commuters travelling on the new Christchurch Southern Motorway Stage 1 are saving almost 20 minutes travel time a day.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Transport

KiwiRail will receive $94 million in 2013/14 as part of the Government’s investment in KiwiRail’s Turnaround Plan to help make the rail freight business self-sustaining, Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Transport
  • Budget 2013

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee has authorised a Master Coordination Agreement between Qantas and Emirates, opening the way to shared services between the airlines on trans-Tasman routes.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Transport

Road Safety Week starts today and runs until 12 May, and Associate Transport Minister Michael Woodhouse is encouraging all road users to think about safe driving and to take extra care around cyclists and pedestrians.

Road Safety Week NZ is promoted by the road safety charity BRAKE with the support of government agencies, and coincides with United Nations Global Road Safety Week that this year is dedicated to pedestrian safety.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Transport

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee is inviting people to comment on changes to the warrant of fitness (WoF) and certificate of fitness (CoF) inspection frequency requirements.

“The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has released for consultation a proposed amendment Rule, Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance Amendment (No 2) 2013, that implements the frequency changes to warrant of fitness and certificate of fitness vehicle inspections,” Mr Brownlee says.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Transport

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee is welcoming today's announcement that the NZ Transport Agency has shortlisted two consortiums to deliver the long-awaited Transmission Gully project.

The successful consortia are:

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Transport

New rules for agricultural vehicles will reduce compliance costs while maintaining safety standards, says Associate Transport Minister Michael Woodhouse.

Mr Woodhouse has signed changes to Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Rule 1999 and seven other Land Transport Rules that will offer agricultural vehicle owners improved compliance and greater operational flexibility from 1 June 2013.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Transport

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee is welcoming the creation of a new planning alliance which marks another step forward in the process to construct the 18km Puhoi to Warkworth section of the 38km Ara Tuhono – Puhoi to Wellsford Road of National Significance.

“The value, innovation and flexibility of the alliance approach, bringing together companies with different engineering and other skills working together as one team, has already been demonstrated in the construction of large projects which this Government has prioritised and progressed,” Mr Brownlee says.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Transport

Associate Transport Minister Michael Woodhouse is urging everyone to drive safely during the Easter holidays.

“Last Easter we all showed we can make a difference when for the first time since records began in 1956 no-one was killed on our roads. We want another zero road toll this Easter.

“Holiday driving requires extra care and patience – we want every journey to be a safe journey.

“Plan your trip, check your vehicle, turn off your mobile phone and make sure everyone is wearing their seatbelt. Then you can better enjoy the drive.”

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Transport

Associate Transport Minister Michael Woodhouse launched the Safer Journeys Action Plan 2013-15 at Parliament today.

The Safer Journeys Action Plan 2013-15 will address the most complex and multi-dimensional road safety problems and represents a transformative approach to the Safer Journeys goal of a safe road system increasingly free of death and serious injury.

“Under this action plan, the National Road Safety Committee will champion cross-agency plans and wider partnerships to achieve successful outcomes.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Transport

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee is calling on the Green Party to embrace the Government’s Roads of National Significance programme following the most recent survey of their impact on congestion and the ensuing benefits to the environment.

“It’s early days, but already New Zealanders are getting great value for money from the Government’s investment in the seven Roads of National Significance,” Mr Brownlee says.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Transport

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says the formal completion today of the Newmarket Viaduct Replacement Project marks a key milestone in the Government’s long-term strategy to improve transport connections in Auckland and grow the region’s economy.

“We recognise Auckland’s pivotal role as the economic powerhouse of New Zealand and our transport investment is helping us meet some of our key economic objectives to make it easier for freight and people to travel with more reliability and with greater safety,” Mr Brownlee said.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Transport

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee today welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement in Brazil of a new open skies air services agreement between New Zealand and Brazil.

“Brazil is touted to become one of the world’s most powerful emerging economies,” Mr Brownlee says.

“It will also host the next FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games.

“Travel between New Zealand and Brazil is increasing, with around 10,000 Brazilians visiting New Zealand each year and over 3000 coming here to study.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Transport

Thank for inviting me here today; it is a pleasure to be in Blenheim.

The strong export focus in this region means you are well placed as the global economy recovers from the worst economic conditions since the Second World War.

Your regional economy is currently estimated at $2 billion dollars.

The recent ANZ regional trends survey recorded 3.5 per cent annual growth in Nelson/Marlborough, one of the fastest rates in the country.

Over the past four years the Government has embarked on a wide-ranging programme of sensible economic and fiscal management.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Transport

Associate Transport Minister Michael Woodhouse today turned the first sod to begin construction on the 4.8km Rangiriri section of the Waikato Expressway.

"This is a project that will improve safety and travel times for motorists between the Waikato, Auckland and Bay of Plenty, while helping preserve the cultural heritage of the area,” Mr Woodhouse says.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Transport

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee today welcomed the draft decision approving regulatory and resource consent applications for the SH1 MacKays to Peka Peka Expressway by an independent Board of Inquiry under the Government’s national consenting process with the Environmental Protection Authority.

“The Government welcomes the Board of Inquiry's draft decision to approve the regulatory and resource consent applications for the Mackays to Peka Peka Expressway and we look forward to the Board's final decision in April,” Mr Brownlee says.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Transport

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee today announced the appointment of Russell Watson, Maxine Moana-Tuwhangai and Belinda Vernon to the Maritime New Zealand board, and the appointment of Howard Broad as a Commissioner of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission.

“The calibre of the appointees’ skills and experience means their respective organisations will be well served over the next few years,” Mr Brownlee says.

Mr Watson and Ms Moana-Tuwhangai begin their terms on 28 February while Ms Vernon begins her term on 1 May.

  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Transport

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee and Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce have today announced the Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) will join forces with the local authorities of the Tairawhiti Region – Gisborne, Wairoa and Napier and Hastings – to deliver a broad and deep study of the region’s economic potential over the next 30 years and appropriate transport infrastructure that would service that.

  • Steven Joyce
  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Economic Development
  • Transport