Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

A reminder that overnight work to rebuild SH30A Amohau Street between Hinemaru Street and Te Ngae Road, begins next Monday 19 January.

The road will be closed from 7pm to 6am, Sunday to Thursday (open Friday and Saturday nights). The attached flier has more details about the work and includes a map showing the detour routes.

All 4 lanes will be open to traffic during the day, with access to the footpath maintained for pedestrians and cyclists. Please drive with care as the road surface will be uneven and have steep ramps with speed restrictions in place. 

NZTA thanks Rotorua motorists in advance for their patience and cooperation ahead of these nightworks. 

Please allow extra time for your journeys and plan ahead during the works.

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19 December 2025 – Nightworks to improve SH30A, Rotorua from mid-January:

The work will start on the eastbound lanes of SH30A between Te Ngae Road and Hinemaru Street, before moving to the westbound lanes. The work is expected to take up to three months, depending on weather conditions.

“We’ve listened to feedback and adjusted our plans to keep Rotorua moving while we complete these vital repairs,” says Sandra King, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) System Manager for the Bay of Plenty.

“Starting in mid-January and focusing first on the eastbound lanes helps reduce impacts on morning commuters and gives the community time to get used to the works before the school year starts.”

During the day, the road will remain open with a temporary speed limit. Drivers should expect an uneven surface with ramps at each end of the worksite. Overnight closures will run from 7pm to 6am, allowing crews to work safely while minimising delays to people’s daily travel.

The pavement on SH30A has been patched for many years now and requires a full asphalt rebuild. As a key urban route, these repairs are a priority to prevent pavement failures next winter.

This approach, using partial closures from 7pm until 6am will mean the overall timeframe will take longer but does minimise delays to people’s daily travel.

The road also sits within an active geothermal zone, which affects the foundations and adds complexity to the job. Before work begins, the team will carry out investigations to identify any potential issues, such as tomos, so these can be addressed before digging out the road.

“We acknowledge that our earlier plan to deliver these works using a full road closure didn’t fully consider the impact on traffic flows and the people of Rotorua.

“Over the past 3 weeks our team has worked closely with our contractor Higgins and Rotorua Lakes Council to develop a new approach that balances keeping traffic moving while completing the work safely and efficiently,” says Ms King.

NZTA thanks Rotorua motorists in advance for their patience and cooperation ahead of these nightworks.

Please allow extra time for your journeys and plan ahead during the works.

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are currently at the scene of a traffic incident involving a truck which has spilled its load on SH24, east of Matamata.

The truck has spilled contents onto Mangawhero Road and the road surface is now slippery.

The road is not closed, however it is partially blocked.

Motorists are asked to avoid the area until the road has been cleared.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre
 

Source: New Zealand Government

Canterbury and the West Coast’s regional tourism organisations will receive  $1million to launch a new campaign Discover Different, showcasing the best of what Canterbury and the West Coast have to offer this autumn, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston has announced.

“This campaign builds on the success of this year’s ‘Winter Different’ initiative and now extends the invitation to Australians to experience everything the regions have to offer during the cooler months,” Louise Upston says.

“This investment is about celebrating what Kiwis already know: Canterbury and the West Coast are places of immense beauty – where you can enjoy the alpine vistas of Aoraki Mount Cook, whale watch in Kaikoura, enjoy a hot pool in Hanmer, discover Christchurch’s vibrant laneways, or experience the wild rainforests and rugged beaches of the West Coast.

“New Zealand’s food and drink scene is first class, and the West Coast and Canterbury is no different– think whitebait fritters, artisan cheeses, and a tasting flight from one of the region’s award-winning distilleries, craft breweries, or wineries. There’s a flavour to suit every palate.

“These campaigns will help local businesses thrive and show visitors what makes Canterbury and the West Coast truly special. It’s about backing your region and sharing the experiences you’re proud of.”

Discover Different is being delivered through a regional collaboration led by ChristchurchNZ, working alongside Destination Kaikōura, Visit Hurunui, Venture Timaru, Mackenzie Tourism, and Development West Coast. Together, these organisations are creating new travel deals, themed itineraries, and bookable packages to make it easier for visitors, particularly Australians to experience the best of the region.

“This is a great example of what we can achieve when we work together. Supporting local businesses, keeping our communities thriving, and showing visitors what makes Canterbury and the West Coast truly special – that’s what this campaign is all about,” Louise Upston says.

The campaign is one of five initiatives supported in the latest round of Regional Tourism Boost funding, which totals $3.69 million and aims to bring more international visitors to regional New Zealand during autumn and early winter 2026.

Source: New Zealand Government

More international visitors will be exploring regional New Zealand this year, thanks to a $3.69 million investment from the second round of the Government’s Regional Tourism Boost, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston has announced.

“We want visitors to experience more of what New Zealand has to offer. Whether it’s cycling the Great Lake Trails in Taupō, tasting pinot noir in Waipara Valley, enjoying speciality cheese in Ōamaru or admiring Southland’s fiords, our visitors really can do it all,” Louise Upston says.

“We’re investing in five campaigns to help our regions shine, support local businesses, and encourage visitors to explore beyond the usual hotspots. By highlighting time-limited travel and accommodation deals, and regionally distinctive hospitality experiences, we’re making it easier for international travellers to enjoy New Zealand during the quieter autumn and early winter months.

“Tourism across the country stands to gain from these campaigns. They will encourage visitors to venture further, discover new places, and share the benefits across New Zealand. Tourism is a powerhouse for our economy, supporting jobs, businesses, and vibrant communities. This funding is about growth, building for the future and making sure all our regions benefit from international tourism.”

The latest round of the Regional Tourism Boost is supporting five new initiatives:

A $1.2 million national campaign will encourage visitors from the USA and Canada to discover all corners of New Zealand, coordinated by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.
 
A $1 million campaign to attract Australians from the eastern seaboard to our alpine and coastal regions within the central South Island, led by ChristchurchNZ.
 
A $600,000 cycling initiative will encourage more Australian holidaymakers to experience New Zealand’s Great Rides, led by Destination Great Lake Taupō.
 
A $459,000 project will entice Australians from the Gold Coast to explore the lower South Island, delivered by Great South and seven associated Regional Tourism Organisations.
 
A $459,000 initiative will welcome Australians from Sydney and the Gold Coast to the heart of the North Island via direct flights to Hamilton Airport, led by Hamilton & Waikato Tourism.

Source: New Zealand Government

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston has announced more than $450,000 in funding for a new international tourism campaign, helping boost the Waikato economy as autumn approaches.

The funding will support new seasonal travel deals and itineraries designed to attract international visitors, particularly from Australia, to experience the heart of the North Island during the cooler months via direct flights to Hamilton Airport.

“I’m excited visitors will be able to experience the best the Waikato region has to offer from the moment their flight touches down,” Louise Upston says.

“This campaign celebrates everything that makes this region unique. From cycling the Waikato River Trails and exploring the Hobbiton Movie Set, to marvelling at the glowworm caves of Waitomo or visiting the Len Lye centre in New Plymouth, there is something for every traveller. Autumn brings a vibrant new perspective to our landscapes, our farmers’ markets are in full swing, and our hospitality is always warm.”

Funded at $459,250, the One Flight campaign will be delivered through a regional collaboration led by Hamilton & Waikato Tourism, with Destination Great Lake Taupō, Visit Ruapehu, and Venture Taranaki. Together, these organisations are making it easier for visitors to explore the best of the central North Island, with new travel deals and themed itineraries designed for the autumn season.

“Seasonal deals and new itineraries will help support local businesses, create jobs, and share in the pride that locals feel for their home. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the spirit of the heart of the North Island,” Louise Upston says.

The One Flight campaign is one of five initiatives supported in the second stage of the Regional Tourism Boost (Round 2 ) which totals $3.69 million and aims to bring more international visitors to regional New Zealand during autumn and early winter 2026.

Source: New Zealand Government

More Australians will soon be discovering the wonders of the lower South Island, with a fresh boost of Government funding for the Southern Way campaign, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston announced today.

“We’re backing the South to shine,” Louise Upston says.

“With direct flights from the Gold Coast into both Dunedin and Queenstown, it’s never been easier for Australians to explore everything the lower South Island has to offer.

“This campaign is about sharing what makes the South truly special – Oamaru’s iconic cheese, Central Otago wines, wilderness walks in the West Coast and Dunedin’s vibrant arts scene. 

Even when it’s crisp outside, our southern hospitality is always warm. By working together, we’re showing the world there’s nowhere quite like the lower South, and we’re proud to welcome visitors to experience it for themselves,” Louise Upston says.

The Southern Way campaign will receive $459,250 from the second stage of the Regional Tourism Boost Fund (Round 2), to build on the momentum of the first campaign, which is helping to put the region’s unique experiences on the map for Australian visitors looking to travel outside of the peak season.

“This is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when our regions work together,” Louise Upston said.

“The Southern Way campaign brings together Great South, Tourism Waitaki, Enterprise Dunedin, Clutha Development, Tourism Central Otago, Destination Queenstown, and Lake Wanaka Tourism. By joining forces, these organisations are showcasing the very best of the South and delivering real benefits for local communities.”

Running from April to June 2026, the campaign will encourage visitors to take advantage of time-limited travel and accommodation deals, and to enjoy the South’s legendary hospitality. New themed itineraries and bookable packages will make it simple for travellers to experience the region’s best.

“This is about supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and sharing the benefits of tourism across the South,” Louise Upston says. 

“By working together, our regions can offer visitors something truly special, while boosting our economy and strengthening our communities.”

The Southern Way campaign is one of five initiatives supported in this second stage of funding, which totals $3.69 million and aims to bring more international visitors to regional New Zealand during autumn and early winter 2026.

Source: New Zealand Police

Two people have died following a serious crash in Tikitere early this morning. 

Emergency services were called to the two vehicle crash on State Highway 30 at around 4.20am. 

Sadly, two people were located deceased at the scene. 

One other person received moderate injuries. 

Road closures remain in place while the Serious Crash Unit conducts a scene examination. 

Diversions are in place at the intersections of State Highway 30/State Highway 33 and State Highway 30/Matahi Road. 

Motorists are asked to follow diversions and expect delays. 

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government’s important changes to boost infrastructure delivery, including our supply of renewable energy come into effect today, say RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop, Energy Minister Simon Watts, and Infrastructure and RMA Reform Under-Secretary Simon Court.

The Government has introduced one new piece of National Direction under the RMA and amended two others to boost the delivery of infrastructure and renewables:

A National Policy Statement for Infrastructure (new)
The National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Generation (amended)
The National Policy Statement for Electricity Networks (amended)

“The RMA is a direct contributor to New Zealand’s infrastructure deficit. It drives up costs, slows projects down, and has become a complicated nightmare for councils and developers alike,” Mr Bishop says.

“A 2022 study for the Infrastructure Commission by Sapere found that developers collectively spend $1.29 billion each year getting projects consented and consenting costs have risen 70 per cent since 2014. Paperwork has taken priority over progress.

“The new National Policy Statement for Infrastructure introduces a set of policies designed to support the development, operation, and upgrading of infrastructure throughout New Zealand. 

“It is staggering that despite infrastructure’s importance to the economy, New Zealand has not had a NPS for Infrastructure until now. We are focused on fixing the basics and building the future, laying the foundations to grow the economy and create jobs.

“The new NPS puts into force the crucial role infrastructure plays in the nation’s economy, resilience, and climate adaptation, helping to ensure that these assets are protected and effectively managed for the long term.

“Making these changes now mean that New Zealanders can see some of the benefits from a more enabling, simpler planning system now, rather than waiting until our new planning system fully takes effect. The changes were extensively consulted on last year.”

“The absence of national direction to promote the delivery of infrastructure through our planning system has left infrastructure suffocated beneath the excesses of other matters the RMA has regulated,” Mr Court says.

“The horror stories I experienced from my civil engineering days have only been getting worse and more frequent. Good projects are consistently being cut off at the knees.

“The NPS for Infrastructure will restore proportionality and give councils, communities, and investors clear and consistent direction that roads, pipes, and power lines are essential.”

“These new and updated National Policy Statements will form the first tranche of revised National Direction under the new planning system and have been designed to integrate into the new system as cleanly as possible,” Mr Bishop says.

Mr Watts says these changes will cut red tape holding back renewable electricity generation, and electricity transmission and distribution.

“To give a practical example of how the RMA currently operates, in 2003 the Te Apiti windfarm site took 77 days to consent and had 20 conditions attached to that consent. In contrast, the Mill Creek windfarm site, completed in 2014, took 1,437 days, and had 90 conditions attached. This is unacceptable if we want to take renewables seriously.

“The updated National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Generation has been strengthened to make the consenting of renewable electricity projects easier, including those that are small-scale and community led. 

“We’ve expanded the previous transmission-only focus to now include both transmission and distribution networks. It provides clearer and more consistent direction for planning and consenting new network proposals, supports routine maintenance and upgrades, and strengthens protections against incompatible neighbouring activities.

“New Zealand has an exciting future powered by renewable electricity. Through electrification, we will supercharge our economy, tackle climate change, and strengthen our energy security. The changes coming into force today brings us closer to this future.”

Notes to editor: 

National Direction refers to the rules and policies under the RMA that guide how councils develop and implement local plans and make consent decisions.
Ten new or amended national direction instruments come into force today, forming the first tranche of significant national direction package after being consulted on in 2025. 
The new and amended instruments were formally gazetted on 18 December 2025 and take legal effect on 15 January 2026.
More guidance and information about the changes can be found here.
A second tranche of RMA national direction instruments, including five further National Environmental Standards, will be considered by Cabinet in the coming months.

Integration With the New Planning System

All amended and new RMA national direction instruments will continue to operate under the RMA and will be integrated into the new planning system.
The Planning Bill and the Natural Environment Bill, introduced in December 2025, will establish a modern framework for national direction, ensuring councils, iwi, and applicants experience a smooth transition and continued clarity.

Source: New Zealand Government

New Zealanders can now build granny flats in their backyards without needing building or resource consents, marking a milestone in the Coalition Government’s effort to expand affordable and diverse housing options for Kiwis. 

“It’s an exciting day for Kiwis across the country who have been waiting for the green light to build a granny flat on their property without going through costly and time-consuming consent processes,” RMA Reform and Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. 

“For too long it has been overly difficult and expensive to provide the housing solutions New Zealanders need. Red tape has increased the workload for local councils and blocked simple, affordable dwellings that meet families’ housing needs. 

“That changes today as updates to the Building Act and the new National Direction under the Resource Management Act take effect. These updates remove the need for a building consent and a resource consent for small standalone dwellings up to 70 square metres in size, also known as granny flats. 

“After extensive public consultation last year, it is exciting to see these much-needed changes finalised following feedback from New Zealanders.” 

Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says he is pleased to see a major commitment in the New Zealand First-National Coalition Agreement become reality. 

“These exemptions from building and resource consents will save New Zealanders up to $5,650 in direct costs when building a granny flat and speed up the process by up to 14 weeks. 

“We know Kiwis have been feeling the strain of the cost of living, so it’s great to see this long-awaited change, which will provide practical housing solutions that reduce costs for extended families, small communities, and even businesses that provide staff accommodation, such as farms,” Mr Jones says. 

Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says even with the building consent exemption, Kiwis need to remember that it applies only to simple designs that meet the Building Code and where work is carried out by authorised professionals.  

“The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has published guidance and templates on its website to assist homeowners, councils, and building professionals.  
 
“This includes information on how the exemption works, the responsibilities of those involved, and what homeowners should consider before starting construction. 

“I look forward to seeing a boost in productivity in the construction sector now that the exemption is in place, with as many as 13,000 more granny flats expected over the next decade.  
 
“That means more jobs for builders, less stress for councils, money saved for homeowners, and greater choice for families and their dependents,” Mr Penk says

Note to editors:

For the building consent exemption, relevant forms, template and guidance are available on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website here: Granny flats exemption: Guidance and resources | Building Performance

Further information on the resource consent exemption is available on the Ministry for the Environment website, here: RMA National Direction updated | Ministry for the Environment

Under the RMA, the new National Environmental Standards for Detached Minor Residential Units (NES-DMRU) makes it easier to build a granny flat on your property without a resource consent. Before they start building, homeowners and builders should:

• Check the new NES-DMRU to confirm if their granny flat meets the standards.
• Look at their local council’s rules, as they may be more even more flexible than the NES-DMRU.
• Find out if they need a resource consent for the project.

To support local infrastructure in growing communities, councils can charge development contributions for granny flats when issuing a Project Information Memorandum (PIM). 

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government’s changes to improve the way productive land and natural hazard risks are managed take effect today, freeing up land for development and supporting greater resilience from natural hazards, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay.

“These changes will make it easier to enable the development that New Zealand needs while still protecting our most productive land and helping communities become more resilient to natural hazards,” Mr Bishop says.

“The National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land has been amended to provide a more flexible approach to the use of Land Use Capability Class 3 (LUC3) land. LUC3 land is moderately productive land that has some limitations but can still be used for farming.

“We want to better enable development of greenfield land while retaining protections on the best land for primary production. This change appropriately balances our need for more housing.”

Mr McClay says feedback from the consultation process was considered and the Government has decided to pause progress on a proposal to establish “Special Agricultural Areas”.

“Land Use Capability Classes 1, 2 and 3 will continue to be protected, with a more enabling pathway for urban development on LUC 3 land,” Mr McClay says.

“What this does is protect food production while offering farmers and growers flexibility with what they do with their land.”

“I’m also pleased that a new National Policy Statement for Natural Hazards is being introduced. New Zealand is particularly vulnerable to natural hazards, many of which are being intensified by climate change,” Mr Bishop says. 

“Our changes today set a consistent, risk‑based approach for how councils manage natural hazard risks, such as flooding, storms, and erosion, when planning new developments. 

“This ensures councils take a proportionate and consistent approach, so communities are safer and more resilient.

“Communities and councils have been asking for these changes for some time, so this is a good step forward.”

“Together, these changes will support more robust planning decisions, enable needed housing and infrastructure, and strengthen long‑term resilience.

“Making these changes now mean that New Zealanders can see some of the benefits from a more enabling, simpler planning system now, rather than waiting until our new planning system fully takes effect.”

Notes to editor: 

National direction refers to the rules and policies under the RMA that guide how councils develop and implement local plans and make consent decisions.
Ten new or amended national direction instruments come into force today, forming the first tranche of significant national direction package after being consulted on in 2025.
The amended instruments were formally gazetted on 18 December 2025 and will take legal effect on 15 January 2026.
More guidance and information about the changes can be found here.
A second tranche of RMA national direction instruments, including five further National Environmental Standards, will be considered by Cabinet in the coming months.

Integration With the New Planning System

All amended and new RMA national direction instruments will continue to operate under the RMA and will be integrated into the new planning system.
The Planning Bill and the Natural Environment Bill, introduced in December 2025, will establish a modern framework for national direction, ensuring councils, iwi, and applicants experience a smooth transition and continued clarity.