Displaying 1 - 24 of 117 results.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is encouraging road users to do the right thing and travel safely over the summer holidays.

“The Kiwi road trip, a great holiday tradition, often involves travelling long distances on unfamiliar roads. Anyone getting behind the wheel can help keep themselves, their loved ones and other road users safe by following the rules and applying common sense,” Mr Foss says.

Do the right thing:

  • Craig Foss
  • Transport

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is urging Kiwis to stay safe on the water this festive season.

“Heading to the beach, river or lake is all part of a Kiwi summer and great fun for the whole family, but it’s important to remember that keeping yourself and your loved ones safe requires a little preparation,” Mr Foss says.

Skippers, every time you take a boat out:

  • Craig Foss
  • Transport

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is welcoming the completion of additional road safety measures on the West Coast ahead of the busy summer holiday period.

NZ Transport agency contractors this week completed the installation of 55 kilometres of rumble strips on State Highway 6 between Hokitika and Haast and 12 road safety billboards throughout the region.

  • Craig Foss
  • Transport

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today cut the ribbon opening the Cambridge section of the $2.1 billion Waikato Expressway.

“This is the country’s newest stretch of road and it has been two years in the making. I’m excited it is open six months ahead of schedule and in time for the upcoming holiday period,” Mr Bridges says.

The $250 million Cambridge section is one of seven that make up the 102 kilometre Waikato Expressway, a Road of National Significance identified early by the Government for progression.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

Transport Ministers today released a consultation paper that looks at options for new rules for passenger services such as taxis, private hires, shuttles, and ridesharing.

Earlier this year the Government initiated the small passenger services review to ensure regulations for the sector were both fit for purpose and flexible enough to accommodate new technologies.

  • Craig Foss
  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss welcomes a new civil aviation rule, enabling New Zealand aircraft maintenance training organisations to more easily train overseas aircraft engineers.

“This Rule will ensure New Zealand aligns with international best practice in certification and operation of aviation maintenance training organisations,” says Mr Foss.

”It will allow international business opportunities for New Zealand aircraft maintenance training organisations.”

  • Craig Foss
  • Transport

Changes to a Transport Rule regulating the size and weight of vehicles could allow truck and bus companies to import newer, safer, more innovative and environmental responsible vehicles, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.

A consultation document released today proposes amending the Vehicle Dimensions and Mass (VDAM) Rule 2002 to increase some axle and total vehicle mass limits.

Other proposals include:

  • Craig Foss
  • Transport

Students are to be given the chance to earn NCEA credits by obtaining driver licences, Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss announced today.

“Too many young people are missing out on jobs because they don’t have a licence and too many others are entering the courts system because they are driving without licences,” says Ms Parata.

  • Craig Foss
  • Hekia Parata
  • Transport
  • Education

Associate Climate Change Issues Minister Simon Bridges will tomorrow travel to Paris, France to take part in the Paris Climate Change Conference.

“For the first time leaders will seek to agree a new binding climate change agreement that includes contributions from all major emitting countries.

“Ensuring maximum participation will be essential for putting the world on a path to keeping global temperature rise below two degrees.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport
  • Energy and Resources
  • Climate Change Issues

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today opened the Nelson Street Cycleway in Auckland, which is the city’s newest and most anticipated urban cycleway.

“This is a great day for Auckland’s inner city cycling network. The cycleway is a new and exciting urban space, creating a city centre where people feel more safe and confident to ride a bike,” Mr Bridges says.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is welcoming the NZ Transport Agency’s $25 million boost to visiting driver safety initiatives.

“For more than six months the Government and Visiting Driver Signature Project (VDSP) partners have been continuously rolling out initiatives to help visiting drivers keep themselves and others safe on New Zealand roads,” Mr Foss says.

“This significant funding boost is yet another demonstration of the Government’s commitment to improving safety for all road users.”

  • Craig Foss
  • Transport

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today turned the first sod on construction of the new $22 million Kawarau Falls Bridge on State highway 6 at Frankton near Queenstown.

The bridge will replace the existing, historic 90 year-old single lane bridge and will be one of the biggest roading infrastructure projects seen in the Queenstown area in a number of years.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today opened the second and final stage of the Government’s $45 million Caversham Highway Improvement project in Dunedin.

About 25,000 vehicles a day use the stretch of highway that has been the focus of the Caversham Highway Improvement project, making it the busiest highway corridor south of Christchurch. The highway forms part of the main southern arterial serving Dunedin, Central Otago, Southland and Port Otago

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today welcomed news that work is set to start on the multi-million dollar Baypark to Bayfair roading project in Tauranga that will boost the Bay of Plenty’s economy and improve road safety.

The $102 million Baypark to Bayfair Link Upgrade includes two flyovers, one which will take State highway 2 over the Maunganui-Girven intersection and a second taking State highway 29A over the railway line and the Te Maunga intersection.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

Transport Minister Simon Bridges welcomes news that work on the final Hamilton section of the $2.1 billion Waikato Expressway will start in 2016, following the announcement of the successful tenderer today.

This section, a 21 kilometre stretch of road, will be the biggest single roading project in Waikato’s history and cost $973 million.

“This is one of seven sections of highway that make up the 102 kilometre Waikato Expressway, a Road of National Significance identified early by the Government for progression,” Mr Bridges says.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

Proposed changes to a Land Transport Rule will allow buses to carry more passengers between New Zealand’s main centres and pave the way for hybrid diesel-electric buses, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.

A consultation document released today proposes amending the Vehicle Dimensions and Mass (VDAM) Rule 2002, which regulates the size and weight of vehicles, to extend axle mass limits of high-capacity urban buses.

  • Craig Foss
  • Transport

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is welcoming the completion of important safety work on state highways 6 and 94 between Queenstown and Milford Sound.

NZ Transport Agency contractors have completed more than 50 kilometres of rumble strips in the area as part of the Visiting Driver Signature Project (VDSP) — a partnership between central government, local government and the private sector.

In addition to the rumble strips, yellow and white centrelines have also been re-sprayed. 

  • Craig Foss
  • Transport

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is welcoming a new report exploring New Zealanders’ daily travel patterns.

The report, 25 years of New Zealand Travel: New Zealand Household Travel 1989-2014, celebrates two and half decades of the NZ Household Travel Survey and collates its results.

Mr Foss, who is speaking at the Transport Knowledge Conference in Wellington this morning, says the survey provides a better understanding of transport in people’s daily lives.

  • Craig Foss
  • Transport

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is welcoming an Automobile Association (AA) initiative to help visiting drivers keep themselves and others safe on New Zealand roads.

The AA launched its Visiting Drivers Training Programme — an online driving simulator — at Parliament today.

“This programme puts visitors in the driver’s seat of a car and asks them questions about New Zealand road rules and conditions. It will help inform visiting drivers, improve safety and save lives,” Mr Foss says.

  • Craig Foss
  • Transport

Transport Minister Simon Bridges says a major upgrade of the Otahuhu Station will provide better bus and rail connections to support the roll-out of a new public transport network for south Auckland.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is welcoming progress on the Low Volume Vehicle (LVV) certification review, with some changes already underway.

“This review is about making the certification process for scratch-built or modified vehicles more responsive to innovation, while ensuring it is run as effectively and transparently as possible,” Mr Foss says.

As part of the review, the NZ Transport Agency commissioned an independent survey of LVV system users. 

  • Craig Foss
  • Transport

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today announced the reappointment of members to the boards of the NZ Transport Agency and Maritime New Zealand.

Chris Moller has been reappointed as Chair and Mark Oldfield as a member of the Board of the NZ Transport Agency.

“Mr Moller is a professional director, with experience in finance, accounting and general management. He has successfully led the Board since being appointed Chair in March 2010.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today announced he has authorised an alliance between Qantas and American Airlines, which is expected to result in lower fares and more choice for passengers travelling between New Zealand and the USA.

The alliance has enabled Qantas and American Airlines to create a new direct service between Los Angeles and Auckland, which will start in June 2016.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport

Transport Minister Simon Bridges says the start of construction of the Haywards Interchange project is an important milestone for the Wellington region.

Mr Bridges joined Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy and NZ Transport Agency officials to turn the first sod to mark the start of construction for the $43 million interchange, which will separate State Highway traffic from local traffic at the intersection of State Highway 2 and State Highway 58.

  • Simon Bridges
  • Transport