NZ Engine

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

A long-awaited step forward is confirmed for the new 4-lane state highway west of Tauranga, between Te Puna and Ōmokoroa, as applications for statutory approvals are lodged for Stage 2 of the Takitimu North Link project under the Fast-track Approvals Act, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) confirms.

This comes as contracts are being awarded for design of this Road of National Significance, and work is underway to refine the design where Stage 1 and 2 meet at Te Puna, helping align both stages and reduce re-work under Stage 2.

“This moment represents the culmination of considerable mahi and tautoko (support) by many over recent years. We acknowledge the commitment and support from our stakeholders over the project’s history, as well as the clear need for improved reliability, resilience and safety on this stretch of State Highway 2,” says Susan Collins, NZTA Regional Manager System Design.

Stage 2 extends Takitimu North Link Stage 1, currently in construction between Tauranga and Te Puna, onwards to Ōmokoroa. The project will improve reliability and resilience for those travelling through the Western Bay sub-region, particularly at Ōmokoroa, Whakamārama, Te Puna and Tauranga.

“Delivering a project of this size and scale comes with its challenges, from managing the sensitive coastal environment to landholdings and complex stormwater requirements.

“Reaching the pre-implementation phase is no small feat, with several structures and a major interchange to be designed for the proposed 7.1km 4-lane state highway to be built.

“We are looking forward to working on the design with local authorities including Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and local hapū Pirirākau and Ngāti Taka, recognising the important role this infrastructure will have in the future prosperity of the region” says Ms Collins.

People passing through the area will see a programme of ground investigations beginning later this year, with key sites near Snodgrass, Ainsworth and Te Puna Quarry, and Munro roads, and near Te Puna Stream.

Tolling has been confirmed to support construction and maintenance costs, and funding for construction will be considered following further work in consenting and detailed design, which is currently in progress.

Notes to the editor

The Stage 2 (Te Puna to Ōmokoroa) project is a Road of National Significance project and is an extension of Stage 1 between Tauranga and Te Puna. It will include: 

• a new 4-lane state highway with median and side barriers 
• overbridge for local traffic at Plummers Point Road / Barrett Road 
• overbridge for local traffic at Snodgrass Road / Te Puna Quarry Road 
• grade separated interchange at SH2 / Ōmokoroa Road 
• 4 million cubic metres of earthworks 
• ecological restoration areas
• connection to the Takitimu North Link Stage 1 (currently in construction) 
• existing SH2 highway retained as a local road.

Takitimu North Link project

Takitimu North Link Stage 2: Te Puna to Ōmokoroa

The application documents are published online at fasttrack.govt.nz(external link)

This page outlines the Fast-track approvals process(external link)

Statement provided by Ngāti Taka hapū spokesperson

“Ngāti Taka hapū representatives have been working alongside NZTA Waka Kotahi on Takitimu North Link Stage 1 and developing Stage 2 for many years. This Kaupapa acknowledges our Mana and History, strengthens the relationships we have, and recognises the contribution and values we each bring to the table.”

“Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini – Our strength is not as an individual, but as a collective. We look forward to the next steps together.”

Statement provided by Pirirākau hapū spokesperson

“Pirirākau has walked alongside NZTA Waka Kotahi for more than 2 decades in the planning of the Takitimu North Link. The corridor traverses our ancestral rohe, connecting the high-growth centres of Ōmokoroa and Tauranga, and enabling the broader western Bay of Plenty region to flourish.”

“For Pirirākau, this whenua is not just land, it is imbued with whakapapa, kōrero tuku iho, and the legacy of our tūpuna. The corridor follows traditional routes that once connected our coastal kāinga to inland settlements and strategic pathways linking Pirirākau with our whanaunga in Waikato.”

“All our lands in this area were unjustly confiscated by the Crown in 1863, following the battles of Pukehinahina and Te Ranga. Yet despite that history, we remain committed to advancing positive outcomes for our hapū and the wider community.”

“Through this project, we look forward to continuing our relationship with NZTA, building not just a road, but a future that acknowledges the past, respects our cultural identity, and supports the prosperity of all who call this place home.”

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

Source: New Zealand Police

A fleeing driver incident in Papakura last night has left one Black Power member without wheels.

At about 11.30pm, a Subaru Legacy passed a Police patrol unit at speed on Beach Road.

Counties Manukau South Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Matt Hoyes, says the Subaru entered the motorway and was signalled to stop but failed to do so.

“Police did not pursue the vehicle as it turned its lights off and drove north on State Highway 1.

“Officers on the ground worked in conjunction with Police Camera Operators as the vehicle continued on and took the State Highway 20 exit.”

Inspector Hoyes says the Subaru came to a stop just after the Puhinui Road on-ramp where officers attempted to take the driver into custody.

“The man has resisted arrest and OC spray was used.

“He was taken into custody without further incident and his vehicle has also been impounded.

“This kind of unsafe driving puts both other motorists and the occupants of the car at risk of serious injury, or worse, and we will continue to take action.”

A 36-year-old man will appear in Papakura District Court today charged with dangerous driving, failing to stop, possession of an offensive weapon, resisting Police and driving with excess breath alcohol.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Government

Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey today launched the Government’s new approach to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), bringing a significant funding boost and valuable action to further prevent FASD, improve diagnosis and support, and strengthen services for affected families.

“Today’s announcement not only increases funding in FASD but delivers more targeted community-based assessment, diagnosis and early intervention,” Mr Doocey says.

“I want New Zealand to be a country where people are supported to have alcohol free pregnancies, where FASD is better understood, where our workforce is better equipped and people living with FASD and their families are better supported.”

The Government increased the alcohol levy for the first time since 2009 from $11.5 million to $16.6 million annually. A total of $7.25 million of additional alcohol levy funding will be invested to:

•    Roll out targeted community-based assessment, diagnosis and early intervention support for children and young people with FASD.
•    Grow the nationwide “Nurture the Future Within” prevention campaign to raise awareness and support prevention efforts.
•    Continue the community-led Te Iho Tātai-ā-Rongo support programme to connect families and professionals, foster collaboration, and provide neurodiversity training.
•    Build a stronger workforce across health, justice, social services, and education to better recognise and respond to FASD.
•    Increase the number of FASD navigators, peer support, and capability building for individuals with FASD to help young people stay connected, build life skills, and achieve their goals.

“This is a direct response to people waiting far too long for FASD support. It will also help build a stronger evidence base on FASD prevalence in our communities – we need better information about FASD and which initiatives are most effective in improving lives.”

“I want to acknowledge the FASD health and advocacy community, who have worked tirelessly to gain recognition for FASD and to support families, and loved ones, affected by it.

“FASD is widespread and impacts thousands of families. Around 1,800 to 3,000 babies may be born with FASD each year in New Zealand. It significantly affects lifelong health, learning, and development.

“Whether it’s you, your child, a friend, or a family member, reaching out for support, this Government is committed to ensuring support is there.”
 

Source: New Zealand Police

To be attributed to Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers: 

Late this afternoon, specialist Police officers conducting a search within bush near Waitomo located the outstanding children of Tom Phillips.

I’m pleased to say they are unharmed, and are now safe.

They were located about 4.30pm, in bush, roughly 2km from the location where Tom Phillips died after shooting at Police.

This is an emotional development. To know the children are safe, and now receiving care after nearly four years, is an absolute relief.

Every person involved in this case has had the welfare of the children at heart.

While they are safe, this is the start of a long journey of recovery and their welfare remains our top priority. For that reason, we will not be going into details about where they are now or their mental state.

We can say the children were found alone and the scene has been locked down and will be subject to a forensic examination that we expect will last several days. A significant amount of work lies ahead of us, but we are grateful to see an end to what has been three years of torment for the children’s family.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers says “This is a result of incredible work by Police who had to contend with a high-risk situation and difficult circumstances both earlier this morning and throughout the day. I want to acknowledge our colleague who was shot and faces a long recovery. I will be arriving back in New Zealand late tonight and travelling to Waikato first thing in the morning.”

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Senior Sergeant John Stapleford, Rotorua Road Policing Coordinator:

Rotorua Police’s ongoing operation targeting illegal motorbike anti-social road users has resulted in bike seizures, as well as landing a person before the courts.

On Friday 5 September, a dirt bike was seized from a property in Tauranga, after being involved in a dangerous driving incident, and failing to stop for Police.

Police executed a search warrant on Friday morning at an address in Parkvale, where a male fled from the address on a bike. The bike travelled through Tauranga as Police maintained sight, before a report came in that a person had entered an address on Third Ave.

Police responded to that address and located the male and bike that he was seen travelling on earlier.

A 17-year-old is due to appear in the Tauranga District Court tomorrow (9 September), charged with a failing to stop, dangerous driving, escaping Police custody, resisting Police, burglary and wilful damage.

Police also seized three bikes in Rotorua this morning in relation to the ongoing operation.

A Harley Davidson was seized after it failed to stop for Police last week, as well as two Yamaha bikes which have been involved in reckless driving incidents.

Police remain committed to bringing any dangerous road user behaviour to a stop, and we continue to ask the public for their assistance.

If you witness any anti-social road user behaviour, we urge you to report it immediately by calling 111, or make a report via 105 if it is after the fact.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

A Northland man has been remanded in custody after a dangerous dash across the Far North at excessive speeds.

Police received several calls from road users who reported a white BMW driving dangerously on SH10 towards Taipa, on Friday afternoon.

“Callers estimated the BMW was travelling at excessive speeds and driving dangeorously, allegedly overtaking on double yellow lines heading south,”  Sergeant Treston Laybourn says.

The vehicle and driver were later located by Mangōnui Police near Cable Bay.

“Officers approached the driver and as they did he got back into the vehicle and drove off at speed towards Mangōnui.”

“A pursuit was initiated due to the driver’s dangerous behaviour,” Sergeant Laybourn says. 

“The vehicle and driver were located shortly afterwards with the help of members the community.”

Sergeant Laybourn says Police are appreciative of the ‘teamwork’ that led to the arrest.

“We would like to acknowledge the Mangōnui community, the Mangōnui Community Patrol, and the road users that initially reported this man’s reckless actions.

“Everyone played their part which helped led us to locating and arresting the man before anyone was seriously hurt or killed on our roads.”

A 54-year-old man has been charged with several driving offences, including dangerous driving and failing to stop.

He has since appeared in the Kaitaia District Court and has been remanded in custody until his next appearance tomorrow.

ENDS.

Nicole Bremner/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

People using the State Highway 1 and State Highway 5 roundabout at Taupō will have noticed the Commercial Vehicle Safety Centre being built is well advanced.

The administration building has been shifted to site, and most of the below-ground work at the centre and on the roads leading to it is in place.

This includes a 16.8-metre long and 5.2m wide weighbridge. The in-road weigh-in-motion scales on the 5 roads heading towards the safety centre have been installed. Work on the camera technology and Variable Message Signs (VMS) is progressing.

At the site, fences, gates and landscaping are underway. When the weather is warmer the final asphalt sealing work will be done within the main CVSC site.

The Taupō centre includes a stock effluent tank disposal facility to help stock carriers minimise spills on the highway.

The site will be operational in April 2026.

Taupō commercial vehicle safety centre

How it all works:

In-road scales and automatic number-plate readers screen passing commercial vehicles. If the vehicle is of interest to police, the number-plate recognition cameras linked to the VMS boards will alert drivers to pull into the centre.

Police officers can then check on vehicle weight, road-user charges, certificate of fitness, logbook accuracy and driver impairment.

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology

22 seconds ago

Two international students at EIT’s Auckland campus have gained an inside look at New Zealand’s tech sector through internships at cybersecurity firm Cianaa Technologies.

Master of Information Technology students Jing Su, from Tianjin, China, and Ayesh Rodrigo, from Sri Lanka, who completed their degree this year, recently undertook internships at the Auckland-based company.

Their three-month placements at Cianaa focused on cybersecurity standards and compliance and client on-site audits, giving them direct exposure to how New Zealand businesses operate.

The company specialises in quality assessment, compliance and cybersecurity and is a recognised government supplier under the New Zealand Information Security Manual.

For Jing, who moved to Auckland in September 2023, the internship was a chance to put her new knowledge into practice. Formerly an in-vehicle infotainment embedded software engineer and project manager at Panasonic in China, she said the placement broadened her skills.

“We found out why certain questions get asked, observed teams close-up in a live situation, and learned a lot about risk management frameworks in a New Zealand context. It was invaluable to interact directly with Cianaa’s clients and meet new challenges in a real-world business environment.”

Jing said her studies at EIT have given her a balance of academic and practical skills, with highlights including the cybersecurity and cloud computing courses, as well as her involvement in the Mentor Programme.

“I chose to study at EIT because it offers a welcoming and diverse learning environment, and I really value the way Māori culture is integrated into education here.”

She also works part-time as a robotics teacher at Kidwe Lab, helping young students pursue their own dreams of becoming engineers.
Ayesh, 33, who arrived in New Zealand in early 2023 after long dreaming of the country through films like The Lord of the Rings.

After more than a decade working in banking and software engineering in Sri Lanka, he said it was EIT’s affordability, reputation among international students, and strong industry focus that convinced him to enrol.

“As an international student, it’s incredibly challenging to find opportunities in fields like IT. This internship gave me exposure to companies I one day wish to work for. Although I’m not directly from a cybersecurity background, it’s teaching me practical aspects of the industry and helping me understand how IT looks in New Zealand.”

He said the support of EIT lecturers made the difference. “I personally got an internship with a recommendation from lecturers at EIT. After trying many times on my own, I understood it’s very hard to get a job without a recommendation here. I was fortunate to get this opportunity during my studies, and I’m really grateful for that.”

Balancing the internship alongside family commitments, part-time work and final research was demanding, but he said the experience was invaluable.

“I very much appreciate that Cianaa provided a unique experience for me and expressed confidence in us to successfully participate and contribute to successful business outcomes.”

Lecturer Akbar Hossain, who facilitated the placements, said Cianaa praised both students for their professionalism and work ethic and indicated interest in hosting more interns.

Both students say the internships have been an essential connector between their studies and career ambitions.

Jing hopes to combine her background in embedded systems with her new skills in cloud and cybersecurity, while Ayesh is focused on starting his IT career in New Zealand.

“These experiences not only align us with our career expectations but also make our time in New Zealand more meaningful,” Ayesh said.
EIT Head of School of Computing, Geoffrey Mather, said: “Student placements are a win for everyone”.

“Ākonga step confidently into the real world, growing their skills and shaping their future. Valued industry partners gain fresh energy, new ideas, and the chance to guide tomorrow’s talent. Together, we create pathways where learning and innovation thrive.”