Ruakura Eastern Transport Corridor endorsed for $4.1m design stage funding
A four-lane roading project for Hamilton's Ruakura Inland Port and Superhub has been given the nod to proceed to a $4.1 million design stage, Transport Minister Chris Bishop announced on Wednesday.
The $4.1m for the Ruakura Eastern Transport Corridor project's design and consenting phase is cost-shared between Hamilton City Council
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RNZ News
6 hours ago
- RNZ News
What will the changes to Sport New Zealand actually mean?
Photo: Explainer: The news landed with a thud within, and outside, the walls of Sport New Zealand. When the then-minister for sport and recreation, Chris Bishop, ordered an independent rapid review of the crown agency in November last year , the nervous rumblings were felt immediately across the sector. The purpose of the review, according to a statement from the minister's office, was to "provide assurance and visibility… that the use of public funding by the Sport NZ Group is efficient and effective". One sports official with knowledge of the review told RNZ there were concerns that Sport NZ's funding strategy had become a "cash free-for-all". The move was interpreted by many as a signal from the government that fundamental changes were coming for the way Sport NZ operates and funds both elite and community level sport. Last week, the long-awaited findings of the review landed with barely a whimper. Mark Mitchell, who took over as minister for sport and recreation in the cabinet reshuffle at the beginning of the year, said the findings of the independent review highlighted the "effectiveness and efficiency" of Sport NZ . Far from the brutal overhaul many had feared, the report's recommendations focused on potential changes to the institutional and governance arrangements of the agency. The review, led by senior public sector leader Brendan Boyle, gave Sport NZ a tick of approval when it comes to the agency's operations and performance. The findings also dispelled concerns over Sport NZ's financial performance. Boyle found Sport NZ's corporate and operating costs were in line with public sector benchmarks. Sport NZ chief executive Raelene Castle said the findings of the review reinforced the work her agency does. "The biggest thing is that all of the measures of how we're performing as an agency - the headcount we have versus our revenue profile, the number of contractors we have - all of those things that are really big for a government organisation came out very positively and at the lower end of the guidelines," Castle said. "So, the sector and our partners can be assured that we are always wanting to make sure we have the right headcount to support the sector. But also we're always thinking about what we can do to cost save, so we can invest as much as we can into the people that are doing the work on the ground." Minister for Sport and Recreation Mark Mitchell. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi The key action Mitchell is taking following the review is to move the strategic policy function to the Ministry of Culture and Heritage (MCH). The review highlighted an anomaly with Sport NZ's set-up in that the agency serves as both the policy advisor to the government and a decision-maker on funding. Boyle pointed out there were potential conflicts of interest in this arrangement. "As a Crown entity, the operations of Sport NZ are at arm's length from the minister. However, Sport NZ is unusual in that it also includes the policy function that is typically included in the monitoring agency, providing independent policy advice and line of sight to the minister," the report reads. "The current arrangements create a potential conflict of interest for Sport NZ in being both policy advisor as well as the decision-maker for funding." The report also noted that this arrangement means that Sport NZ is not as well-integrated into the wider government policy network and agenda as it should be. The minister is also advancing "minor amendments" to the appointments process for the High Performance Sport NZ and Taumata Māori boards. Sport New Zealand chief executive Raelene Castle was pleased with the findings of the review. Photo: Photosport Castle said Sport NZ's partners and wider stakeholders won't see much of a difference in how the organisation operates. "There won't be a significant difference. It's more back house operational policy and relationships between government departments is where that change in responsibility will sit, but actually the implementation on the ground won't change," she says. "It means that going forward, the big pieces of strategic policy that get developed will be led by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage. They will hold the pen, if you like, but they will work with [Sport NZ] to seek our input to understand the impacts for the sector. So, we'll still support and contribute to those processes, we just won't be the lead agency. "Then, once the high level policy stuff is determined, that then comes to deliver that piece of policy and put in place the operational things around it." A working group of Sport NZ, MCH, Treasury and Public Service Commission officials has been established to work through how the final structure will look. Castle says it is likely some staff from Sport NZ will move over to MCH. The strategic policy function is intended to move to MCH by 1 October this year. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
7 hours ago
- RNZ News
Chris Bishop rejects Christchurch City Council's intensification rules
Chris Bishop. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The government has issued its final decision on Christchurch City Council's bid to carve its own path out of national housing intensification rules. Minister Chris Bishop rejected 14 of the council's 17 recommendations and deferred his decision on three more, after the council refused to accept all of the recommendations of an independent panel. The minister's decision will mean some parts of the city will be zoned higher-density housing, and the council won't be allowed to refuse consents based on sunlight access. Mayor Phil Mauger says the decision feels like a kick in the guts. The council has until the end of the year to decide on density rules for the rest of the city.
Scoop
7 hours ago
- Scoop
Decisions On Christchurch Intensification Plan
Press Release – New Zealand Government In December 2024, the Council accepted the majority of the Independent Hearings Panels (IHP) recommendations on those parts of Plan Change 14 subject to Policies 3 and 4 of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD), Minister … Minister for RMA Reform The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, has today released his decisions on 17 recommendations referred to him by Christchurch City Council on its Intensification Planning Instrument (Plan Change 14). 'In December 2024, the Council accepted the majority of the Independent Hearings Panel's (IHP) recommendations on those parts of Plan Change 14 subject to Policies 3 and 4 of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD),' Minister Bishop says. 'These recommendations were incorporated into its district plan. The Council rejected 20 of the IHP's recommendations and referred them, along with its own alternative recommendations, to me for a final decision in early 2025. 'I have carefully considered this matter and taken extensive advice from officials. The law requires that I only consider matters that the IHP could have taken into account when making its recommendations. 'I have made decisions on 17 of the 20 recommendations referred to me by the Council, which relate to a range of issues including qualifying matters, zoning and built form standards. 'Together, these decisions will enable a greater level of development in and around Christchurch City's urban centres as required by Policies 3 and 4 of the NPS-UD. 'I have not made decisions on three recommendations relating to Daresbury House, Antonio Hall and the Piko Residential Character Area. 'I intend to consider these recommendations once the Council has decided on the zoning of these areas. The Council may refer these decisions to me again ahead of deciding on the balance of Plan Change 14. 'I thank the Councillors, the Independent Hearings Panel and Council staff for the work undertaken on the Intensification Streamlined Planning Process so far.' Minister Bishop's decisions, made under Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act 1991, are final and cannot be appealed to the Environment Court. .
