Transport Minister Simon Bridges has made a series of appointments and reappointments to transport sector statutory bodies.

Chris Moller has been reappointed as Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and Nick Rogers as an NZTA Board member.

“Reappointing Mr Moller and Mr Rogers will maintain continuity and strong leadership for the new NZTA chief executive and board members, who commenced their roles earlier this year,” Mr Bridges says.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has introduced the Maritime Transport Amendment Bill to Parliament today.

The Bill addresses the risks associated with alcohol and drug use in the commercial maritime sector and takes steps to protect New Zealand’s coastline.

“Under the proposed changes, commercial maritime operators will be required to have drug and alcohol management plans, including random testing for staff carrying out safety sensitive activities,” Mr Bridges says.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says a new Speed Management Guide released today will modernise New Zealand’s approach to managing speed and enable a limit of 110km/h on some roads.

“The Speed Management Guide combines a wide range of information to help councils, the New Zealand Transport Agency and other road controlling authorities decide where and when to make safety improvements or changes to speed limits,” Mr Foss says.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has welcomed the NZ Transport Agency’s announcement that it has awarded the contract for construction of the West Coast’s new $25.8 million Taramakau Bridge to Fulton Hogan.

Prime Minister John Key and Transport Minister Simon Bridges today marked the start of the final two Christchurch Motorway projects to be built under the Government’s Roads of National Significance programme.

The new Christchurch Northern Corridor project and Stage 2 of the Christchurch Southern Motorway extension both start this month.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today welcomed a significant step towards completing a key section of the Government’s Pūhoi to Wellsford Road of National Significance.

The NZ Transport Agency has awarded a contract to the Northern Express Group which will finance, build, manage and maintain a new motorway between Pūhoi and Warkworth as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) at a net present cost of $709.5 million.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges turned the sod on a long awaited transport project in Queenstown today along with recently elected Mayor of the Queenstown Lakes District, Jim Boult.

The Eastern Access Road, to be known as Hawthorne Drive, will allow traffic not needing to travel into central Queenstown to bypass the busy BP roundabout at the junction of SH6 and 6A.

The $21.8 million project is being jointly funded by Queenstown Lakes District Council and the Government through the New Zealand Transport Agency. It will be completed by the end of 2017.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today officially opened the newly upgraded Ōtāhuhu Station train and bus interchange in Auckland with Mayor Phil Goff.

The new $28.7 million facility will incorporate the existing train station, linking the rail platform with two new bus platforms and a terminal building via an elevated concourse.

“The upgraded Ōtāhuhu Station is a shining example of integrated public transport at its best. We know that to keep the city of Auckland moving we need to give people great public transport choices,” Mr Bridges says.

Energy and Resources and Transport Minister Simon Bridges has introduced the Energy Innovation (Electric Vehicles and Other Matters) Amendment Bill to Parliament today.

The Bill implements parts of the Government’s Electric Vehicles Programme, makes changes to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority’s (EECA) levy funding, and clarifies how electricity industry legislation applies to secondary networks.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has declared the International Naval Review a Major Maritime Event.

The event will take place in Auckland between 10 and 22 November.

Vessels not participating in the Naval Review will be required to stay clear of restricted zones in the Waitemata Harbour, Rangitoto Channel and sections of the Inner Hauraki Gulf. A 12 knot speed restriction will be in place in the Auckland Harbour, and diving or swimming within the permit area will be prohibited.

More than 2000 electric vehicles are now registered in New Zealand, surpassing the Government’s aim to double the fleet this year.

In May, the Government set a target to double EV registrations each year to reach 64,000 by 2021.

To date in 2016 there have been 1003 registrations, compared to 500 in 2015. This brings the total number of EVs in New Zealand to 2029.

Public attitudes to road safety have been put under the spotlight, revealing some encouraging trends as well as some worrying behaviour, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.

The 2016 Public Attitudes to Road Safety survey, released on the Ministry of Transport website today, shows public support for road safety advertising and police enforcement remains high but it doesn’t always translate into safe driving behaviour.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has welcomed today’s announcement that funding has been approved for the construction of Queenstown’s $21.8 million Eastern Access Road.

The Eastern Access Road is a critical link in Queenstown’s transport network which will help to relieve congestion through the Frankton Flats area, bypassing the airport and connecting Remarkables Park to Frankton-Ladies Mile.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today turned the sod on the seventh and final section of the Government’s $2.1 billion Waikato Expressway.

The $115 million Longswamp Section involves widening and upgrading State Highway 1 between Hampton Downs and the Rangiriri Interchange to four lanes, with improved local road connections and a new local road overbridge.

“This marks a major milestone for the Waikato Expressway with all the remaining sections now under construction,” Mr Bridges says.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is encouraging boaties to get on board this Safer Boating Week.

“The theme for the week is Prep, Check, Know — prep your boat, check your gear and know the rules before you get on the water,” Mr Foss says.

“Labour Weekend, the traditional start of the recreational boating season, is right around the corner so now is the perfect time to make sure you’re prepared.

Prime Minister John Key and Transport Minister Simon Bridges have officially opened the new St Lukes to Great North Road Interchange, another step to improve congestion on Auckland’s Northwestern Motorway.

The section of State Highway 16 has been widened from three lanes to four in each direction, with upgrades to on and off ramps and the St Lukes Road overbridge. The Northwestern Cycleway has also been widened and resurfaced.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has made a series of appointments and reappointments to transport sector statutory bodies.

Nigel Gould has been reappointed Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Peter Griffiths as the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) Deputy Chair and Jim Boult as a CAA board member.

“Mr Boult, Mr Gould and Mr Griffiths are high performing members of a strong team. They are involved in overseeing regulatory changes at CAA, and their reappointments will maintain continuity on the Board,” Mr Bridges says.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges will leave for Melbourne today to attend the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress to promote New Zealand as a test bed for new technologies.

The Minister will attend from 10 to 12 October and participate in technology demonstrations and bilateral meetings with transport leaders and groups from around the world.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has confirmed New Zealand will voluntarily join an international agreement addressing emissions from air travel when it comes into effect in 2021.

“New Zealand is one of 64 States, representing more than 83.8 per cent of international aviation activity, that intend to voluntarily participate in the global measure from its outset,” Mr Bridges says.

A $15 million road safety engineering programme designed to help keep all road users safe on key tourist routes in the South Island has got the green light, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.

The funding is part of the $25 million road safety package for visiting drivers announced by the Government late last year.  

“We want all visiting drivers to experience New Zealand as a safe, attractive and accessible place,” Mr Foss says.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has marked the start of construction of the Motu Bridge replacement project near Gisborne.

The $6.5 million dollar replacement project was announced by the Prime Minister in January as part of the Government’s Accelerated Regional Roading Programme.

The current bridge, built in the 1930s, is the last remaining one-lane bridge on State Highway 2 between Gisborne and Opotiki.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has welcomed the arrival of the megaship Aotea Maersk in Tauranga, the biggest container ship to have ever visited New Zealand.

The 9500 twenty-foot equivalent units vessel offers exporters significant efficiency and environmental benefits.

“The Aotea Maersk can carry almost twice as much cargo as any other container ship that has previously docked in New Zealand, allowing us to become a more efficient export nation,” Mr Bridges says.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges says New Zealand’s first research trial of a driverless electric shuttle will provide invaluable information about the vehicle and its potential for use in New Zealand.

HMI Technologies and Christchurch International Airport Limited have today announced a two-year research trial of a French-built Navya shuttle in Christchurch, starting in 2017.

They will collaborate with the University of Canterbury, Christchurch City Council, the NZ Transport Agency and the Ministry of Transport.