NZ Engine

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Work to make one of Nelson’s main arterial links safer for road users will begin next month.

Starting in November, contractors will undertake important recovery work on State Highway 6, Rocks Road.

This will help protect one of the region’s most heavily used routes – including the 22,000 road users who use it every day – by ensuring it is more resistant to weather events, slips and rockfalls in the future. 

Rob Service, System Manager Nelson-Tasman, says this will be an extensive programme of work, which is why it has been broken up into several phases. 

“The first phase will run from Sunday, 2 November, and is expected to conclude in March 2026”.

“It will include completing critical rock scaling work and removing vegetation and old netting along the southern section of the cliff face, closest to Tāhunanui Beach. This will be followed by the installation of new mesh netting that will be anchored to the cliff face,” Mr Service says. 

Other methods such as shotcrete or matting will be used in other locations to prevent further erosion of cliff face material while encouraging natural revegetation. 

Mr Service says previous winter storms show how vital this work is. 

“During June and July this year, soil and rock, primarily from the top of the cliffs, fell and closed the road, creating significant disruption for road users in Nelson. It also highlighted additional instability along sections of the cliff.”

“The investment we are making is about improving safety, and maintaining and protecting a critical regional transport link,” Mr Service says. 

Because contractors will be working above the road, Mr Service says steps must be taken to keep the public safe from the risk of falling debris.

“Traffic management will be in place throughout this project and may, at times, include temporary lane and road closures.” 

“Our contractors will do their best to keep traffic delays to a minimum but, unfortunately, we cannot do projects like this without affecting traffic. Drivers should expect disruption and travel delays as work takes place.”

“Please bear with us as we complete this critical investment into creating safer and more reliable roads,” Mr Service says. 

Businesses along Rocks Road will also remain open during these works, and access to them will be retained. Locals are encouraged to continue supporting them while the project is underway.

Upcoming works

• Sunday, 2 November to Friday, 21 November. Sunday to Thursday, 8 pm – 5:30 am
• Stop/Go traffic management.
• At times, Stop/Stop traffic management will be used during the installation of new mesh netting on the cliff face. Traffic will be stopped in both directions for temporary periods of time.
• We will try to communicate any changes in traffic management set up before they occur.

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Interested in what’s happening in Tauriko West? Join us for a community information day to learn about key transport and infrastructure projects shaping the future of your neighbourhood.

Where: Tauriko School, 768 State Highway 29 (SH29) Tauriko, Tauranga 

When: Saturday 8 November 2025, between 11am and 2pm 

The community information day is a chance to connect directly with the teams behind: 

• SH29/SH29A Tauriko West Road of National Significance (RoNS).

• SH29 Tauriko Enabling Works.

• SH29 Ōmanawa Bridge replacement.

• Upcoming maintenance on SH29.

• The evolving Tauriko West community and other local developments.

“We’re looking forward to sharing updates and hearing from the community,” says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) Regional Manager System Design, Susan Collins. 

“A lot has changed in Tauriko West over the last 2 years and with construction underway at 3 major sites on SH29, this is a great opportunity to connect and share what’s happening.” 

People travelling along SH29 will shortly see the first steps to build the new Ōmanawa Bridge getting underway. 

The new bridge, the first phase in the SH29/SH29A Tauriko West RoNS project, will be built alongside the existing one, on an alignment that fits with the future design for Tauriko West. 

“The team is now making a start on preparing the site, with trees clear and work about to start on access roads. By November main construction will be underway,” says Ms Collins. 

NZTA has recently awarded the contract to protect the route and seek consents for the  SH29 Tauriko West (RoNS) and upgrades to SH29A – important steps in supporting growth, improving safety and building a more resilient roading network. 

“The future new SH29 will feature 4 lanes between the Redwood Lane Interchange and Takitimu North Link Interchange, widening SH29A to 4 lanes between the Takitimu Drive Toll Road roundabout and Barkes Corner Interchange. 

“The designation and consenting work is being supported by BBO, including identifying the land required, technical and environmental assessments, relocating utilities and working with landowners,” says Ms Collins. 

Whether you’re a resident, business owner, or simply interested in the future of Tauriko West, we’d love to see you there. 

For more information and to sign up for updates visit:

nzta.govt.nz/tauriko-west

Source: New Zealand Police

Motorists are advised to take care following a crash caused by strong winds in Pukeatua this morning.

Police were called to the single-vehicle crash on Arapuni Road at around 11:40am.

A strong gust of wind appears to have blown the vehicle off the road and into a powerpole.

Thankfully, no one was injured.

The road does not appear to be blocked.

Road users are urged to take care and drive to the conditions. Where possible it is advised to delay travel.

ENDS

Source: New Zealand Government

Good evening

It’s a pleasure to be here tonight to celebrate the 13th annual KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards.

Thank you to Dr James Hutchinson and KiwiNet Chair Katherine Sandford for the invitation to join you. And a huge congratulations to all the winners and finalists – your achievements are a testament to your hard work, creativity, and determination.

Looking around the room, I see a significant part of New Zealand’s innovation ecosystem – researchers turning ideas into impact, entrepreneurs building companies from the ground up, and investors backing our bold visionaries.

I want to give a special acknowledgment to the commercialisation teams within our universities and public research organisations. Your work often happens behind the scenes, but tonight is a celebration of your skill, ingenuity, and contribution to New Zealand’s future. Thank you.

One of the 5 pillars of the Going for Growth strategy is science, innovation and technology.
And you – the people who turn research into real-world solutions – are at the heart of that plan.

We know that world-class research is only the first step. To truly unlock its value, we need to turn discoveries into products, services, and companies that benefit New Zealanders. That’s why we’re reshaping the science, innovation and technology system to better support commercialisation.

Here’s a brief precis of changes that simplify that pathway

We’ve set up the Prime Minister’s Science, Innovation and Technology Advisory Council – bringing together respected leaders from science, business and industry to advise Government on where investment can have the greatest impact.

We’ve also merged the Crown Research Institutes into three new Public Research Organisations – to encourage collaboration, reduce duplication, and create clearer pathways from research to market, as well as creating some of the biggest research organisations in the world.

For the commercialisation community, that means stronger partnerships, better alignment with industry needs, and a simpler more connected platform for scaling innovation.

The new Bioeconomy Institute tell me they already have around 55 commercialisation projects in the pipeline.

Through a fourth organisation – the New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology – we’re accelerating our mission to grow a high-tech, high-value economy. This institute will connect researchers, industry and investors to turn cutting-edge discoveries into real-world impact and economic growth.

Our recent $70 million investment in AI research shows our commitment to building a resilient, globally competitive innovation system. And we’re exploring future opportunities in areas like quantum technologies and synthetic biology.

I acknowledge that public good, stewardship and some humanities and social sciences research are just that, public goods and may be less easy to monetise. I however am also interested funding research that more clearly leads to real commercial outcomes and helps create highly productive, knowledge-intensive firms, and we’ll
be looking to work with you to help us achieve that.

Here’s what one third of a billion in funding I have announced in the past 6 months looks like.

In the past 6 months I have announced:

$70 million for AI,
$71 million for new materials and magnets,
$46 million worth of Endeavour Smart Ideas grants,
$183 million for Endeavour Research Programmes, and
$42 million for a biodiscovery science platform, and there is more to come.

International connections are also vital to our success. Through Invest NZ, we’re attracting global talent, capital and partnerships to strengthen our innovation ecosystem.

The success of the Active Investor Plus visa is already bringing new investment into New Zealand businesses – creating jobs, opening global markets, and helping our companies scale faster. 

As of 30 September, there were 359 applications for the visa, including 1,154 people, amounting to a total investment of $2.155 billion. That direct investment can also include technology, manufacturing and renewable energy, and they are hungry to invest in your ideas.

A key part of commercialisation is intellectual property and in the coming weeks, I look forward to announcing the Intellectual Property Management Policy – a real game-changer for commercialisation in New Zealand, particularly for universities.

It will aim to remove long-standing roadblocks and puts researchers with great ideas firmly in the driver’s seat – creating stronger incentives and clearer pathways to bring ideas to market. We want to cut red tape and help brilliant ideas from our labs reach New Zealanders – and the world. 

These new intellectual property changes will encourage researchers to think big – to see commercialisation not as an afterthought, but as a natural part of their research journey – just like you do. More specifically, the advice to me is that the sooner we get ideas out of universities and into the commercialisations sector, the better outcomes we will get. 

To emphasise this, I announced $20 million earlier this year for applied PhDs where students will be required to complete project management, finance and entrepreneurship courses. 

In closing, I want to reaffirm this Government’s commitment to you. We see your work. We value your expertise. And we believe that your vision and ingenuity will continue to shape New Zealand’s future and I will back that.

Let’s keep building that future – together.

 Congratulations to tonight’s award winners. We all want to look back in the next 10 years and remember that we were here tonight, and witnessed the next unicorns and venerated clever people doing clever things. Congratulations.

Source: New Zealand Government

The financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal will soon double, making civil cases quicker and more affordable for thousands of New Zealanders, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.

“Legislation which doubles the jurisdiction from $30,000 to $60,000 passed its final reading in Parliament today.

“Ministry of Justice modelling indicates around 2,000 claims per year will benefit, including new claimants and people who would have abandoned part of their claim to fit within the jurisdiction.

“The tribunal is a quick and inexpensive way for New Zealanders to settle civil disputes, without facing expensive legal fees. This comes at a time when low-cost dispute resolution is increasingly important for many.

“We need to improve access to justice so New Zealanders can get on with their lives. Court delays affect everyone, the profession included. It just takes one thing to be out of place and everything grinds to a halt. Another adjournment. Justice delayed once more.

“To build on this, we’re also planning to pass legislation which will order a respondent to pay the cost of the filing fee back to a successful applicant.

“Giving referees the power to order respondents to repay the cost will help ensure these costs do not fall on those who have been wronged.

“Currently, filing fees vary from $61 to $468 depending on the size of the claim, and this can often be a cost barrier for people, particularly when an applicant isn’t seeking money.”

Source: New Zealand Government

Farmers, growers, and foresters are encouraged to not take unnecessary risks and to heed weather warnings today, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay says.

“A state of local emergency is in place for the Canterbury region. Canterbury, Wellington and Wairarapa south of Carterton are under a rare red level strong wind warning,” Mr McClay says.

“Flying items, falling trees, and toppled powerlines could pose a threat to life. I encourage farmers, growers, and foresters not to take any unnecessary risks and to put human safety first.

“Farmers should wait until wind warnings have been lifted before attempting to repair or move damaged farm irrigators, or to clear toppled trees.

“People in affected areas are being encouraged to stay indoors or seek shelter away from trees, to avoid travel, and prepare for power cuts. My thoughts are with everyone hunkering down until the winds ease.

“The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has staff who are monitoring the weather situation and are working closely with civil defence emergency management teams across the country and providing support where required.”

Farmers and growers who require support are encouraged to contact their local Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 254.

Source: New Zealand Government

Just-passed legislation will soon allow Kiwis to build granny flats up to 70 square metres in their backyards without a building consent, unlocking more housing choices and delivering on a key Coalition Government commitment in the Q4 Action Plan. 

“It’s currently far too hard to build the homes New Zealanders need, with even the simplest dwellings requiring complicated and costly consent processes,” RMA Reform and Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. 

“We know increasing housing availability directly translates to lower living costs for our communities. That’s why the coalition Government is making it faster and more affordable to build granny flats up to 70 square metres. 

“These simple dwellings have the potential to be part of the solution for providing families with more housing options. This will be great for grandparents, people with disabilities, young adults, and workers in the rural sector. 

“To support this change to the Building Act, updated National Direction under the Resource Management Act (RMA) will remove the need for resource consents for granny flats and is expected to be in place by the end of the year.”

“I have been working on these changes for two decades and I am delighted the New Zealand First-National Coalition agreement has delivered a commonsense housing solution,” Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says.

“For whanau who live in extended family situations, this is an affordable option. 

“Companies that provide accommodation for their staff, and for small communities such as the Chatham Islands, this legislation will have many practical applications.”

Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says it’s also a positive step for boosting productivity in New Zealand’s construction sector. 

“The exemption is expected to deliver roughly 13,000 more granny flats over the next decade, meaning we’ll see more work for builders in the pipeline without local councils managing unnecessary consenting burdens for simple building work,” Mr Penk says.

“Local councils will be freed up to focus their attention on more complex building work where the need for an inspection and thorough consenting processes is much greater.

“Even with the building consent exemption in place, it’s important Kiwis remember that they will only be eligible for the exemption if their granny flats are simple in design, meet the Building Code and building work is carried out by authorised building professionals. 

“Homeowners will also need to notify their local council before they begin building and once the granny flat is completed.

“I know that many homeowners have been following this work with interest over the past year and may be wondering what comes next.

“The new exemption will come into effect in Q1 2026, but New Zealanders can start planning now and over their summer breaks. A good place to start is having conversations with designers and builders to understand what’s possible on your property under the exemption.

“Meanwhile, the Government is working quickly to ensure that councils, homeowners and building professionals have access to the necessary forms, templates, and guidance before the exemption comes into effect early next year. We’ll have more to say on this soon.”

Note to editors:

The building consent exemption for granny flats up to 70 square metres will be given effect by the Building and Construction (Small Standalone Dwellings) Bill and associated regulations.
Any building work on a granny flat that is either in progress now or starts before the exemption comes into effect in Q1 2026 will continue to require a building consent.
Most of the specific design requirements for a ‘simple design’ of a granny flat can be found on the Government’s Building Performance website.
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

We are gathered to give thanks for the life of Jim Bolger, but, first, I thank  the Bolger family for the privilege of speaking here today on behalf of New Zealand, and on behalf of the National Party. 

Jim Bolger dedicated most of his working life to serving this country through politics. 

Today, I acknowledge and give thanks for that service and for his achievements. 

And I say to Joan, thank you, too. Apart from their own family and work commitments, a Prime Minister’s partner is an unpaid diplomat, advisor, confidante, and so much more. Jim was a better politician for having you by his side.

To Dan, Paul, Brian, Stephen, Bernadette, Fiona, Rachael, Matthew and Aidan, individually and together, you and your mother lost precious family time with Jim over many years, in order for him to be the dedicated Parliamentarian, Cabinet Minister and Prime Minister he was.  Thank you for that sacrifice.

In the week since Jim died, there have been many reflections on his political legacy. 

For all his family here today, I hope you have taken great pride in the recognition, from across the nation, for the man you knew best as a loving husband, father and family man.

New Zealanders knew him best as the King Country farmer who represented that electorate for 25 years and rose to become Prime Minister, gathering around him a formidable team who accomplished much and helped shape the confident country we are today. 

Jim’s parents came from Ireland, from County Wexford, and while he was strong in his Catholic faith, and in his Irish sensibilities, Jim was also very much a son of “County Taranaki”.

The characteristics of an Irish immigrant son and a Taranaki farmer melded easily. He liked to talk. He liked a dram – maybe two. And he was true to his values. 

But it’s his leadership as Prime Minister that created Jim’s enduring political legacy. 

Winston Churchill once said:

“Everyone can recognize history when it happens. Everyone can recognize history after it has happened. But it is only the wise person who knows at the moment what is vital and permanent, what is lasting and memorable.”

Jim was such a person.

The tributes that have flowed are mostly for the important, foresighted, and principled decisions made by the Government that Jim led as Prime Minister for seven years. 

New Zealand’s 35^th Prime Minister took office after two tumultuous terms of a Labour government that took on reforms that were necessary and overdue. But, gradually, New Zealanders were alienated by the pace and scale of change, the fractures in the government, and the faltering economy. National roared in in 1990 with a record majority.  Jim’s grounded, quintessentially Kiwi manner was part of the appeal of National after those hectic years. 

But it would be wrong to think that reforms ended in 1990. 

Jim himself was a reformer. He said it was his Irish heritage that helped him understand Māori grievance over Treaty breaches. Sir Geoffrey Palmer had put the Treaty settlement process in place, but someone needed to implement it and make it work. Māori had waited too long already.

It was groundbreaking work and it was not always easy – politics rarely is! First came the settlement with Tainui. Then in 1996, an election year with public pushback against the Treaty process, Ngai Tahu’s settlement pending, and with polling tight, National began to waver. 

Jim held firm. He knew the settlements were the right thing to do. The heads of agreement with Ngai Tahu was signed. 

New Zealand is a better place for it, and for Jim’s moral certainty. And every Government since has walked in the footprints that Jim, Sir Doug Graham, and their team left behind.

Fixing the economy is another task that isn’t easy. Jim’s government administered harsh medicine – too harsh for the electorate and so, to extend the metaphor, the Government reduced the dosage under Sir Bill Birch’s astute stewardship and got the country growing again. 

With Sir Don McKinnon as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jim turned New Zealand’s face towards Asia. Twenty-five years on, we’re still going, building on relationships forged and maintained by Jim, Don and their colleagues. 

One of my last encounters with Jim was here on the Kapiti Coast, which he and Joan had come to call home. I was campaigning and visited a bar with Jim at my side. He was nearing his 88^th birthday, keenly interested in politics, and still with the ability to hold a room. He was not born a politician, but he became one and remained one till the end and of his life. All of us who had the benefit of a call from him, appreciated his interest and advice. 

And so, we say farewell.

Joan, may I say to you, the loss of Jim must feel immeasurable. The Government extends to you and the family our deepest sympathy. I thought it might be apt to conclude with some lines from an Irish poet but, Joan, as I was reading up on Seamus Heaney, I saw his last words to his wife and they seemed most apt: Noli timere. Don’t be afraid.

To Jim, from a grateful nation, thank you.

And as you meet your maker we take can comfort that you can declare with great pride “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” And he will say in reply “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Source: New Zealand Government

More than 210 new social homes will be delivered in Waikato by Community Housing Providers (CHPs), Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka say.

“Our Government backs social housing, and we’re determined to deliver it better. That means building the right homes, in the right places, with the right support, for the people most in need,” Mr Bishop says.

“Across New Zealand, CHPs and Kāinga Ora have delivered over 6,800 net new social homes since November 2023, with 879 of those being in Waikato.

“On top of that, the Government has committed funding for more than 2,000 additional homes to be delivered by CHPs across New Zealand over the next two years. Waikato is one of the regions benefiting from this pipeline.”

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has allocated social homes based on regional need, which has been assessed using a range of factors including the housing register and emergency housing use. 

In the Waikato region:

• At least 210 new social homes will be delivered by providers including Te Rūnanga o Kirikiriroa, The Salvation Army and Emerge Aotearoa.
• Homes located in places such as Hamilton City, Te Awamutu, and  Waharoa.    
• Over 90 per cent of places are one or two-bedrooms which will help address the greatest gap in social housing supply in Waikato. 

“Half of those waiting for a home nationally need a one-bedroom property, yet only 12 percent of Kāinga Ora stock meets that need. In Waikato, 80 per cent of the housing register demand is for one- and two-bedroom places, so these new homes will make a real difference,” Mr Bishop says.

“Every set of keys handed over is another person or family in a warm, dry social home. We’re focused not just on delivering more homes, but on delivering the right homes that match the needs of people and communities.

“This commitment will bring a great boost in affordable social housing numbers across the Waikato for those who need them most,” Mr Potaka says.

“Locals have different needs, and we’re committed to ensuring tailored housing options rather than one-size-fits-all approach. This includes affordable homes for individuals and couples to larger ones for whānau, supporting those priced out of the private rental market.”

“The Government’s wider reset of the social housing system is already showing results. Recently the Community Housing Funding Agency achieved an A+ credit rating from S&P Global, and recently we announced the introduction of a new loan guarantee scheme, reducing borrowing costs for CHPs and enabling them to deliver more homes,” Mr Bishop says. 

“We’re simplifying the funding system so providers can get on with building homes, instead of navigating a confusing web of overlapping funds. These Waikato projects are a good example of the progress being made.

14 of the homes have already been delivered by Te Rūnanga o Kirikiriroa in Huntington. Over 190 further homes have been approved to be delivered by providers including Habitat for Humanity, The Salvation Army and Emerge Aotearoa in conjunction with construction partners of their choice between now and 2027.    

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries

Biosecurity New Zealand is urging Aucklanders to be on the lookout for yellow-legged hornets (Vespa velutina) following the discovery of a queen hornet in the early stages of building a nest in the suburb of Glenfield.

The nest was removed swiftly by biosecurity officers on 17 October, addressing the immediate threat of a colony establishing, says Mike Inglis, North commissioner, Biosecurity New Zealand.

However, with summer approaching, any undetected nests could be a biosecurity risk. 

“This is the first time we’ve found a queen yellow-legged hornet in New Zealand,” Mr Inglis says.

“We responded quickly to this threat, but we need the public’s help to eliminate any further risk.”

Two male yellow-legged hornets were spotted earlier this year in the Auckland suburbs of Grafton and Albany.  

“New Zealand is fortunate to be free of hornet populations, and we want it to stay that way,” Mr Inglis says. 

The yellow-legged hornet is a biosecurity concern due to its potential impact on honeybee and wild bee populations. 

“It is a highly adaptable predator with a broad diet, primarily feeding on bees, wasps, and flies, but also ripe fruit and flower nectar, posing a risk to growers. It may compete with native insects and birds for food, and it has a painful sting.”

Members of the public are asked to report any sightings of suspected hornets or hornet nests online at report.mpi.govt.nz or by calling Biosecurity New Zealand’s exotic pest and disease hotline on 0800 809 966.

Report pests online

Fact sheet: Keep an eye out for yellow-legged hornets [PDF, 431 KB]

For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 008 333 or email info@mpi.govt.nz

For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328