The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) advises motorists travelling north and south on State Highway 2 that there could be delays in the vicinity of the Melling intersection this Sunday.State Highway 2 – Melling Intersection traffic delays
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) advises motorists travelling north and south on State Highway 2 that there could be delays in the vicinity of the Melling intersection this Sunday.

Wellington Operations Manager Mark Owen says that on Sunday 14 March, weather permitting, NZTA will be replacing the electronic hardware for the traffic signals at the intersection of SH2 and Melling.

“With traffic signals needing to be turned off during the system upgrade, motorists need to be aware a pointsman will be manually directing traffic at the intersection of SH2 and Melling.

“Unfortunately, this will mean that there may be traffic delays and we ask people to allow extra time if they are travelling through this busy intersection. We expect the work on the control box to take most of the day.”

Mr Owen says that the traffic signal box at Melling controls two of the most complex intersections in New Zealand with traffic signals.

“Obviously we would prefer not to inconvenience traffic but in this instance it’s important that we upgrade the existing electronic system to improve the capability and reliability of the lights at these busy intersections.

“Electronic message signs will be used to advise motorists that the Melling traffic signals are not operational and of any traffic delays.”

“We apologise to motorists for any inconvenience while this work is done.”

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Awarding a contract for route investigation work on the so-called Puhoi to Wellsford Road of National Significance is an example of pure ‘road overkill’, say Labour’s transport spokesperson Darren Hughes and Mt Albert MP David Shearer.Uncosted Puhoi to Wellsford plan pure ‘road overkill’

Awarding a contract for route investigation work on the so-called Puhoi to Wellsford Road of National Significance is an example of pure ‘road overkill’, say Labour’s transport spokesperson Darren Hughes and Mt Albert MP David Shearer.

Darren Hughes said: “This Government is fast making a travesty of the term roads of national significance.

“Transport Minister Steven Joyce’s new definition of a road of national significance is a road of National Party significance. There’s a huge difference.”

David Shearer said: “Mr Joyce is on record as saying in Parliament that one significant reason for building this road is for people travelling to the eastern beaches.

“That does not meet the criteria of national significance. Making it easier to go for a swim is hardly justification for spending goodness knows how many tens of millions of dollars on a road that will have marginal if any impact on the country’s economy, and not for many, many years at that.

“It is significant that Mr Joyce won’t talk in detail about the cost of even this first stage of the contract,” David Shearer said.

“He knows that in the wider context of Auckland transport issues, this project doesn’t stack up. There is a whole range of public transport projects, like the CBD rail tunnel, that offer far greater benefit to Aucklanders.”

Darren Hughes said he was well aware from travelling around New Zealand that provincial areas were desperately worried about the lack of funding for maintaining local roads, let alone improving them.

“These are roads that are vitally important strategically and economically to regions around the country.

“Mr Joyce fails to grasp this reality. He can see the importance of Aucklanders being able to get to their weekend baches quickly, but when it comes to appreciating the crucial significance of local roads to people who are the backbone of this country, he’s missing in action.”

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The Puhoi to Wellsford road will help unlock economic potential North of Auckland, says the New Zealand Contractors’ Federation. Benefits of Puhoi to Wellsford road far outweigh costs

The Puhoi to Wellsford road will help unlock economic potential North of Auckland, says the New Zealand Contractors’ Federation.

Federation chief executive Jeremy Sole welcomed the NZ Transport Agency’s announcement that it had awarded a contract for formal route investigation work on the Road of National Significance.

“This will play a vital part in helping New Zealand to lift GDP,” said Mr Sole. “Bringing the road to fruition is essential to unlocking the economic potential north of Auckland and will bring both employment and tourism benefits.

“This project will maximise the potential of the Northern Toll Road so it is also very good news that the first part of the project appears to be on target for completion within ten years.”

Mr Sole said that the economic benefits of such key road projects far outweighed costs.

Ultimately the growth that this can bring means every tax payer and everyone in the country will benefit from these initiatives, regardless of whether they actually drive on the roads or not,” he said.
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Development of the Puhoi-to-Wellsford Road of National Significance has taken an important step forward with the NZ Transport Agency awarding a contract for investigation work to decide what alignment the road will follow.Investigation work gets underway on Puhoi to Wellsford

Development of the Puhoi-to-Wellsford Road of National Significance has taken an important step forward with the NZ Transport Agency awarding a contract for investigation work to decide what alignment the road will follow.

The investigation will take 15 months, and will be undertaken by Sinclair Knight Mertz (SKM), a specialists in engineering and environmental issues.

The NZTA’s acting Regional Director for Auckland and Northland, Tommy Parker, said the investigation was the first step in a process to obtain and protect land for the planned highway, and to apply for the necessary resource consents to construct it.

“A key part of the investigation work will be looking for opportunities that enable the NZTA to deliver this important piece of infrastructure as quickly as possible,” Mr Parker said. “The new highway is going to be built through some difficult and challenging country, and a lot of information and data is needed before we can decide on the best options for constructing it.”

The investigation work will look at a wide range of aspects to the project. These include:

• location and form of road
• social impacts such as noise, air quality and the effect on the local community
• tangata whenua and the cultural impacts of potential routes
• property impacts
• geotechnical and topography considerations
• ecological impacts
• affect on historic areas
• connections to the local roading network
• walking and cycling access
• potential construction staging of the work
• cost of the route
• constructability of the road
• opportunities for acceleration of the project.
“The NZTA is working as quickly as possible to ensure this road is completed on time and within budget, and this investigation work is the important first step,” Mr Parker said. “SKM consultants will help us deliver a high quality solution that will help reduce congestion, improve safety and encourage economic growth.”

In addition to the investigation works, the NZTA will begin consulting with communities between Puhoi and communities in mid-2010 for their views about the proposed highway.

“This road is important to people in the community, and their feedback will be important for us as we decide on the final alignment and form of the road we are going to construct,” said Mr Parker.

The planned corridor is approximately 38km long. It will include a bypass of both Warkworth and Wellsford. The Puhoi-to-Wellsford section is expected to be substantially completed within 10 years.

The project is one of seven Roads of National Significance which have been identified by the Government as the most urgent roading projects in or near our largest population centres.

For detailed project information go to: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/network/rons/docs/puhoi-wellsford-project-summary-statement.pdf

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It is economically irresponsible to continue to invest in new roading infrastructure while fuel prices push new heights, said the Green Party today. Govt’s $21 billion bet on cheap petrol
It is economically irresponsible to continue to invest in new roading infrastructure while fuel prices push new heights, said the Green Party today.

“Recent rises in petrol prices foreshadow a much longer-term trend of increasing oil prices. It’s simply irresponsible for this Government to be investing so heavily in new roading infrastructure instead of more resilient alternatives like light rail and bus lanes,” said Green Party Co-Leader Dr Russel Norman.

“The Key Government has outlined an additional $21 billion of investment in roads after 2012. The same National Infrastructure Plan lists only a further $0.7 billion investment in alternatives to roads.

“Such a one-sided investment approach to managing our future mobility is economic mismanagement. There is no other way to describe it.

“For the person on the street, this will mean they’ll have next to no alternative options for getting to work when oil prices become unaffordable for everyday transport,” said Dr Norman. “And this could happen very soon.”

This week, Shell CEO Peter Voser joined a growing chorus of voices announcing the end to cheap oil. When asked about whether the theory of “peak oil” was dead — the theory that oil production will no longer be able to keep up with demand — Mr Voser said “I think what is dead is cheap oil.”

“This Government is placing all their bets on electric car technology to keep us moving in the future. But the new cars are expensive, their uptake will be slow, and they don’t solve the problem of congestion or where the power will come from,” said Dr Norman.

In response to a Written Question, Transport Minister Steven Joyce has estimated that there will be 300 light electric motor vehicles in the fleet by July 2013. By 2020, this number is estimated to reach 5% of the vehicle fleet according to the New Zealand Energy Strategy.

“In the short-to-medium term, we should be investing in proven technology like light rail, busways, and better walking and cycling facilities. We need to move smarter and build resilience into our transport systems.”

“This Government is lumbering future generations with debt for an investment in a technology that’s changed little since the 1950s,” said Dr Norman.

Link to the National Infrastructure Plan:
http://www.infrastructure.govt.nz/plan/mar2010/nip-mar10.pdf

Link to the New York Times coverage of Peter Voser:
http://blogs.wsj.com/dispatch/2010/03/04/big-oil-executive-talks-about-electric-cars/

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At least two hundred and thirty-five commuters caught the morning train from Waitati and Port Chalmers to Dunedin this Wednesday morning in a one-day revival of rail commuting organised by the Dunedin City Council, Taieri Gorge Railway and rail transport …

235 commuters take the morning train

by ‘Blueskin News’ editors

At least two hundred and thirty-five commuters caught the morning
train from Waitati and Port Chalmers to Dunedin this Wednesday morning
in a one-day revival of rail commuting organised by the Dunedin City
Council, Taieri Gorge Railway and rail transport advocate group Get
the Train.

Final passenger numbers were still to be calculated from ticket sales,
train staff said.

Several children used the train to travel to Purakanui School, Port
Chalmers School and Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School (at Maia), while the
train was also popular with pupils of several Dunedin high schools.

Those arriving late to school were able to use the the train as an
excuse, because the outward empty trip from Dunedin was delayed by
Wellington train control, according to train staff.

There will be a return trip from Dunedin to the coastal towns this
evening, departing at 5.30pm.

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Transport Minister Steven Joyce has welcomed the NZ Transport Agency’s awarding today of a contract for the formal route investigation work on the Puhoi to Wellsford Road of National Significance.Puhoi to Wellsford: Getting down to business

Transport Minister Steven Joyce has welcomed the NZ Transport Agency’s awarding today of a contract for the formal route investigation work on the Puhoi to Wellsford Road of National Significance.

“This is the first major step in the process to secure the alignment for the new road. The next step is to consult with the community about the preferences for the road – this will begin in a few months.”

Puhoi to Wellsford is approximately 38kms long and will run from the northern end of the Northern Gateway Toll Road near Puhoi to north of Wellsford.

Mr Joyce says at this early stage the first half of the road from Puhoi to Warkworth will be complete within the ten year period but the second half (Warkworth to Wellsford) will be more challenging to finish in that time. However, that remains the Transport Agency’s goal.

“The government’s $10.7 billion commitment to state highway funding over the ten year period means that funding is not the big issue for this project but the reality is design, consultation and consenting processes all take time.

“No work had been done on this project prior to it being confirmed as a road of national significance last year so on our current timetable this will be the fastest ever major highway project completed in this country from start to finish.”

The government announced the Puhoi to Wellsford section of State Highway 1 as a road of national significance in March last year and work began after that to scope the project.

“One option being investigated is to build the Warkworth Bypass first to relieve congestion at that point. However, we would still need to know where the road north and south of that links into the bypass route so the full route will need to be known before we seek consents for that section.

“The new road will bring significant benefits to the Northland and Rodney districts, as well as to Auckland.

“The Puhoi to Wellsford corridor has been identified as one of our most essential state highway routes to reduce congestion, improve safety and support economic growth in the Auckland and Northland regions.”

Completing the Puhoi to Wellsford road of national significance will deliver significant benefits, including:
• enhance inter regional and national economic growth and productivity
• improve movement of freight and people between Auckland and Northland
• improve the connectivity between key growth areas in the north Rodney area
• improve reliability of the transport network through a more robust and safer route between Auckland and Northland
• provide further route security for Northland residents

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Pacific Blue continued a strong start to the year recording a domestic on-time performance result of 94.4% in February. This follows a January figure of 94.9%.Pacific Blue’s Domestic On-Time PerformanceStays At High Altitude In February

Pacific Blue continued a strong start to the year recording a domestic on-time performance result of 94.4% in February. This follows a January figure of 94.9%.

Pacific Blue CEO, Mark Pitt, said he believed the airline’s positive on-time performance record was helping to build loyalty in the competitive domestic market.

“Pacific Blue was the first airline in New Zealand to regularly publish its domestic on-time performance results and we believe the message is getting through, especially to the corporate market.

“Domestic travellers understand that good on-time performance reflects an airline’s commitment to excellent service. It shows we respect our Guests and we appreciate that their time is valuable.”

For the past six months the airline had achieved a monthly result of between 90% and 96% domestic on-time performance, with an average monthly figure of more than 93.5%.

“As a new world carrier, we focus on providing value for money and high-quality service. Everyone in our business understands the importance of on-time performance to the Guest experience,” Mr Pitt said.

Pacific Blue has been publishing its domestic on-time performance data on its website since July 2009, with data for the past 12 months.

On-time is counted as flights that depart within 15 minutes of their scheduled departure time. Pacific Blue makes no exceptions for bad weather, air traffic control, delays from suppliers, unscheduled maintenance, consequences of previous delays or anything else.

Pacific Blue’s domestic on-time performance is easily found on its website at www.flypacificblue.com via the “Flight Info” menu button, or at the URL below:

www.flypacificblue.com/Personal/Flightinfo/Ontimeperformance/OTPPB/index.htm

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LynnMall Shopping Centre is encouraging its retailers and staff to trade in their car keys for pavement-pounding sneakers in support of the annual Walk2Work Day on Wednesday 10 March. The national event, organised by Living Streets Aotearoa, offers …Media Release March 2010

Hang up the Car Keys And Throw on Your Sneakers for Walk2Work Day at Lynnmall Shopping Centre

LynnMall Shopping Centre is encouraging its retailers and staff to trade in their car keys for pavement-pounding sneakers in support of the annual Walk2Work Day on Wednesday 10 March. The national event, organised by Living Streets Aotearoa, offers free breakfasts to all who pledge to walk to work on the day.

The event is one of two community initiatives that LynnMall Shopping Centre hosts in support of walking. At least twice a week for the past 12 years, members of the New Lynn community have chosen to avoid car emissions and instead enjoy the smell of fresh coffee and muffins on their regular MallWalk at LynnMall Shopping Centre.

LynnMall Acting Centre Manager Linh Luong says the MallWalkers set a great example for staff and retailers. “The Walk2Work Day is all about getting our people thinking about using alternative methods of transport and incorporating that little bit of exercise into our everyday routines. Our MallWalkers are very supportive of this.”

LynnMall Shopping Centre was the first mall in New Zealand to offer MallWalking and over the years, walkers young and old have been showing others how it is done by coming to the mall bright and early for a brisk walk along the passageways.

“We now have over 50 members that take part in the sessions, all of varying ages,” says trainer Zoe Bond. “Occasionally we have mothers who join us, some bring their little ones for a stroll and others take it as an opportunity to have some down time. Others in the group are aged between 50 and 90 years old and we even have a regular walker in her 80’s that joins us.”

“It’s more than just a physical activity for our MallWalkers. It’s a weekly social event they all look forward to, where they often have coffee or breakfast afterwards.

“Walk2Work is a great initiative which has a close alignment with what we do. It is great to see this encouragement to get people out there and increase physical activity in the community.”

Auckland Networker for Living Streets Aotearoa Vincent Dickie says he is thrilled to have LynnMall Shopping Centre on board for the Walk2Work Day and hopes staff and retailers will opt to head to work on foot rather than reaching for the car keys. “We want to encourage people to incorporate health and fitness into their everyday life, and what simpler and better way to do this than by taking to the streets?”

The first 20 participants who pledge or register to walk to work will receive a free breakfast from Walk2Work sponsors McDonalds, One Square Meal, Cyclops Yoghurt and Sanitarium Up n Go. Breakfast will be served in the Lynnmall food court between 8am and 9am.

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There was a contrast in fortunes for the top competitors in the key categories at the combined second round of the Gen-i Kartstars 2010 Rotax Max Challenge and Mi Sedaap Pro Kart Series at Tokoroa’s new, extended Pinex Raceway over the weekend.KARTSPORT NEW ZEALAND
Media information
For immediate release

Joint Gen-i Kartstars 2010 Rotax Max Challenge of New Zealand/ Mi Sedaap Pro Kart Series round meeting
Pinex Raceway
Tokoroa
Sat/Sun
March 06/07
2010

09-03-10

RND 2 REVIEW

MIXED FORTUNES FOR TOP CONTENDERS AT JOINT KARTSPORT SERIES ROUND AT TOKOROA

There was a contrast in fortunes for the top competitors in the key categories at the combined second round of the Gen-i Kartstars 2010 Rotax Max Challenge and Mi Sedaap Pro Kart Series at Tokoroa’s new, extended Pinex Raceway over the weekend.

It was very much a matter of business as usual in the three Gen-i Kartstars Rotax Max Challenge of New Zealand classes with round one winners Matthew Hamilton (125cc Rotax Max Light), Andy Schofield (Formula Junior) and Hamish Cross (125cc Rotax Max Heavy) back on the top step of the podium in their respective classes for a second round in a row.

In the Lights class, Palmerston North-based international Josh Hart qualified quickest and won the two heats and the Pre-Final but as it turned out both Hamilton and Auckland driver Kane Taylor got the better of him in the Final.

Andy Schofield didn’t have it all his own way in the Formula Junior class either, edged out in qualifying by Auckland’s Shaun Grocock and South Islanders James Penrose and Tom Alexander and by Grocock and Penrose (as well as CJ Sinclair, Tom Alexander and Nicholas Carpenter in the first one) in Saturday’s heats.

Schofield was back on top on Sunday though, winning the Pre-Final from Penrose, Grocock and Alexander and the Final from Penrose, Grocock and CJ Sinclair.

Like Schofield, 125cc Rotax Max Heavy winner Hamish Cross found himself conceding heat wins – in his case to Aucklanders Steven Currie and Shane Hodgson – on Saturday but come Sunday he too was back in front, winning both the Pre-Final and Final from Currie and Tauranga’s Niki Urwin.

In the Mi Sedaap Pro Kart series meanwhile, former series champion Ryan Grant fought back to beat round one standout Daniel Bray in KZ2 and reigning North Island champion Bradley Hicks and Paul Blomqvist both beat round one winner Arie Hutton in KF3.

Competition was extremely tough in both classes with Bray qualifying quickest but having to share heat wins with Grant and young Auckland driver Richard Moore.

The more laps he did in his radical new Maranello RS8 kart the better Grant went, stating his intentions with a win in the Pre-Final (over Bray, Moore and teammate Graeme Smyth), then winning the Final by just over a second-and-a-half from Bray (who admitted afterwards that his kart’s rear tyres were long past their best by the time the Final came around), Moore, Smyth and Bray’s GP Kart teammate Daniel Dufty.

Last year’s class champion Mark Swetman had it a little easier in the senior Formula 125 S support class, qualifying quickest and winning the heats, Pre-Final and Final though fellow podium placegetters Keith Warwick and Daniel Samuelson certainly kept him honest.

Arguably the closest and most intense racing however was produced by the top three drivers in the KF3 class with current North Island champion Bradley Hicks qualifying quickest and winning the heats and – as it turned out – the Final.

That was only part of the story though as round one winner Arie Hutton won the Pre-Final and he and Hick’s KartSport Mt Wellington clubmate Paul Blomqvist were rarely more than a kart length or two apart in the Final with the result – Hicks first, Blomqvist second and Hutton third – in doubt until the chequered flag came out.

The weekend’s joint series’ round was the second of five with the third set to be hosted by the Bay of Plenty Kart Club at its Fagan’s Valley Raceway over the May 01-02 weekend.

Ends

Joint Gen-i Kartstars 2010 Rotax Max Challenge of New Zealand/ Mi Sedaap Pro Kart Series round meeting Pinex Raceway Tokoroa Sat/Sun March 06/07 2010

KZ2
1. Ryan Grant; 2. Daniel Bray; 3. Richard Moore; 4. Graeme Smyth; 5. Daniel Dufty; 6. Matthew Grant

F125S
1. Mark Swetman; 2. Keith Warwick; 3. Daniel Samuelson; 4. Mike Browning; 5. Kerry James

KF3
1. Bradley Hicks; 2. Paul Blomqvist; 3. Arie Hutton; 4. Callum Quinn; 5. Reid Harker; 6. Aaron Marr

125cc Rotax Max Light
1. Matthew Hamilton; 2. Kane Taylor; 3. Josh Hart; 4. Jake Pascoe; 5. Chris Cox; 6. Daniel Conner.
Points: 1. Hamilton 174; 2. Hart 169; 3. Taylor 166; 4. Cox 159; 5. Pascoe 157; 6. M. Griffin 148.

Formula Junior
1. Andy Schofield; 2. James Penrose; 3. Shaun Grocock; 4. CJ Sinclair; 5. Josh Drysdale; 6. Scott Manson.
Points: 1. Schofield 178; 2. Grocock 164; 3. Penrose 160; 4. Sinclair 158; 5. Alexander; 6. Manson 155.

125cc Rotax Max Heavy:
1. Hamish Cross; 2. Steven Currie; 3. Niki Urwin; 4. Shane Hodgson; 5. Daryl Currie; 6. Carry Claxton.
Points: 1. Cross 178; 2. Urwin 165; 3. S. Currie 160; 4. D. Currie 157; 5. Hodgson 153; 6. G. Claxton 150.

CALENDAR
Rnd 1 Feb 13/14 CIK Trophy of NZ presented by Eyede meeting Wellington (Mi Sedaap Pro Kart Series)
Rnd 1 Feb 20/21 Manawatu Toyota Raceway Palmerston North (Rotax)
Rnd 2 March 06-07 Pinex Raceway Tokoroa
Rnd 3 May 01-02 Fagan’s Valley Raceway Te Puke
Rnd 4 August 28-29 Hamilton Kart Club track Hamilton
Rnd 5 October 02-03 The Pallet Company Raceway Auckland

Prepared by FAST COMPANY on behalf of the Gen-i Kartstars 2010 Rotax Max Challenge of New Zealand and Mi Sedaap Pro Kart Series.

ENDS

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