Latest news with #Interislander
Scoop
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Poor Roads And Ferry Delays A Major Risk To Safety And The Economy
Press Release – Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand The 2025 National Road Freight Industry Survey of nearly 200 road freight businesses was conducted in March this year by Research NZ on behalf of advocacy group Transporting New Zealand. The survey was also supported by the New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association … The road freight industry is warning the poor state of New Zealand's roads are having a serious impact on the safety of road users. And there are major concerns delays over replacements for the Interislander Cook Strait ferries could have a big negative flow-on effect for the economy. Billy Clemens, the Policy and Advocacy Head at Transporting New Zealand, says the vast majority (93 per cent) of respondents in the 2025 National Road Freight Industry Survey agreed poor road maintenance is putting truck drivers and other road users at risk. As well, a significant number (84 per cent), believed that regional roads and bridges are neglected, and that delays in replacing the Cook Strait ferries pose a major risk (79 per cent). (The survey was done before the announcement that the Aratere is to be retired in August.) The 2025 National Road Freight Industry Survey of nearly 200 road freight businesses was conducted in March this year by Research NZ on behalf of advocacy group Transporting New Zealand. The survey was also supported by the New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association and Groundspread NZ. It represents the most extensive industry snapshot in over a decade. 'The survey painted a gloomy financial picture for business – only 34 per cent of those surveyed expected their financial situation to improve over the next 12 months, and only one in four respondents reported having sustainable operating margins,' Clemens says. Health, safety and wellbeing are big concerns for the industry, with 78 per cent of respondents calling for more purpose-designed rest stops for drivers, and 72 per cent saying it was important for drivers to have a good work-life balance. About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is the peak national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Our members operate urban, rural and inter- regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country. Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion.
Scoop
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Poor Roads And Ferry Delays A Major Risk To Safety And The Economy
The road freight industry is warning the poor state of New Zealand's roads are having a serious impact on the safety of road users. And there are major concerns delays over replacements for the Interislander Cook Strait ferries could have a big negative flow-on effect for the economy. Billy Clemens, the Policy and Advocacy Head at Transporting New Zealand, says the vast majority (93 per cent) of respondents in the 2025 National Road Freight Industry Survey agreed poor road maintenance is putting truck drivers and other road users at risk. As well, a significant number (84 per cent), believed that regional roads and bridges are neglected, and that delays in replacing the Cook Strait ferries pose a major risk (79 per cent). (The survey was done before the announcement that the Aratere is to be retired in August.) The 2025 National Road Freight Industry Survey of nearly 200 road freight businesses was conducted in March this year by Research NZ on behalf of advocacy group Transporting New Zealand. The survey was also supported by the New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association and Groundspread NZ. It represents the most extensive industry snapshot in over a decade. "The survey painted a gloomy financial picture for business - only 34 per cent of those surveyed expected their financial situation to improve over the next 12 months, and only one in four respondents reported having sustainable operating margins," Clemens says. Health, safety and wellbeing are big concerns for the industry, with 78 per cent of respondents calling for more purpose-designed rest stops for drivers, and 72 per cent saying it was important for drivers to have a good work-life balance. About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is the peak national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Our members operate urban, rural and inter- regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country. Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion.
Scoop
21-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Businesses Watching Closely As Budget 2025 Nears
Press Release – Business Canterbury With clear signals from the Government that this years budget has been signalled as a tight one, the focus for business will be on how the initiatives, continued or added, can support economic growth and create the right conditions for them to … With Budget 2025 being released tomorrow, businesses across Canterbury will be watching closely to see what's on the table. With clear signals from the Government that this year's budget has been signalled as a tight one, the focus for business will be on how the initiatives, continued or added, can support economic growth and create the right conditions for them to invest and grow. Business Canterbury will be releasing a response to Budget 2025 by 3:00pm tomorrow, and Leeann Watson will be available for comment following. On pre-Budget expectations, Business Canterbury Chief Executive Leeann Watson says, 'The key area businesses will be looking at is continued investment in infrastructure, careful spending to continue the downward trend in inflation and interest rates, and initiatives that enable and help boost investment in R&D and growth. 'Two key areas are top of mind for our business community, and this starts with the Government having a long-term plan that focuses on infrastructure investment. New Zealand's infrastructure deficit continues to grow, and here in the South Island, strong connections to ports, airports, and across the supply chain are essential for the connectivity of our exports, imports and people. 'Investment in critical transport links, including the Interislander replacements and roading projects, needs to remain a priority, even in a fiscally constrained environment. When the economy turns a corner, we need the infrastructure in place to support it. 'Our latest Quarterly Canterbury Business Survey results showed increasing confidence, but this optimism hasn't yet translated into investment. The right policy settings could shift that. 'Targeted business support that enables innovation and investment, especially among SMEs, will be hugely important as we look ahead at a better economy, but with intentions around investment and creating jobs remaining subdued. Practical and efficient support for research and development, such as accelerated depreciation for R&D activities, for example, would give businesses the confidence to invest now in future growth. About Business Canterbury Business Canterbury, formerly Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce, is the largest business support agency in the South Island and advocates on behalf of its members for an environment more favourable to innovation, productivity and sustainable growth.
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Businesses Watching Closely As Budget 2025 Nears
With Budget 2025 being released tomorrow, businesses across Canterbury will be watching closely to see what's on the table. With clear signals from the Government that this year's budget has been signalled as a tight one, the focus for business will be on how the initiatives, continued or added, can support economic growth and create the right conditions for them to invest and grow. Business Canterbury will be releasing a response to Budget 2025 by 3:00pm tomorrow, and Leeann Watson will be available for comment following. On pre-Budget expectations, Business Canterbury Chief Executive Leeann Watson says, "The key area businesses will be looking at is continued investment in infrastructure, careful spending to continue the downward trend in inflation and interest rates, and initiatives that enable and help boost investment in R&D and growth. "Two key areas are top of mind for our business community, and this starts with the Government having a long-term plan that focuses on infrastructure investment. New Zealand's infrastructure deficit continues to grow, and here in the South Island, strong connections to ports, airports, and across the supply chain are essential for the connectivity of our exports, imports and people. "Investment in critical transport links, including the Interislander replacements and roading projects, needs to remain a priority, even in a fiscally constrained environment. When the economy turns a corner, we need the infrastructure in place to support it. "Our latest Quarterly Canterbury Business Survey results showed increasing confidence, but this optimism hasn't yet translated into investment. The right policy settings could shift that. "Targeted business support that enables innovation and investment, especially among SMEs, will be hugely important as we look ahead at a better economy, but with intentions around investment and creating jobs remaining subdued. Practical and efficient support for research and development, such as accelerated depreciation for R&D activities, for example, would give businesses the confidence to invest now in future growth. About Business Canterbury Business Canterbury, formerly Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce, is the largest business support agency in the South Island and advocates on behalf of its members for an environment more favourable to innovation, productivity and sustainable growth.
RNZ News
20-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Lobby group members raise red flags over ferry fleet's resiliency issues
The Aratere. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Members of public and transport lobby groups are raising red flags about resiliency issues resulting in Aratere's retirement . KiwiRail has announced that the Interislander ship will retire by the end of August and has warned that it would affect capacity for the service with their fleet reduced to two ships. The Aratere is the only vessel in the Interislander's fleet which is rail enabled, which means rail freight can roll on and off it. That means it can't use another wharf in Picton, while port upgrades there and in Wellington are underway for two new ferries set to arrive in 2029. It could also reduce jobs associated with the ships. Interislander executive general manager Duncan Roy advised passengers to book their trips early, especially for peak season around Christmas time. "We don't have full ferries all the time with three [ferries], so we'd expect to have fuller ferries and, probably, people will be travelling at non-traditional times - earlier in the morning, later in the evening," he told Morning Report. Roy would not say whether prices would increase after the Aratere retires but assured there would be no price-gouging. "Nothing considerable... there could be a price increase anytime, but we watch our prices and monitor them like any good business. We work hard to keep the cost down." Interislander executive general manager Duncan Roy. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi RNZ asked Wellingtonians what they thought of the news. Jenna said that it would be annoying to have to travel at less popular times. "Nobody's going to wake up early to go on transport to get somewhere, that's just really annoying actually." She said it would make her think more about flying across Cook Strait rather than sailing. Jackie told RNZ the decision to retire the ferry was short sighted. She said the Interislander ferries were an essential link and it needed to have appropriate levels of capacity. "Really important, and really important that its rail enabled." Evan told RNZ the ferries sailed at "pretty odd times" now. "So, if they are reducing the fleet, it's only going to make things worse." He said it could make people look at other travel options and he was concerned about prices on the service going up. Transporting New Zealand chief executive Dom Kalasih told Midday Report the lower number of ships could have flow on effects if one is taken out of service suddenly. "It is almost a given that a ferry will be out for unplanned reasons and so it's what sort of disruption is caused then and how that's managed." Kalasih said it was not clear yet whether the cost of freight would go up, but that there was increased risk of price increases. New Zealand motor caravan association Bruce Lochore said the Aratere's retirement would make travelling across the Cook Strait "a little tougher". "It's going to be at capacity just about full time and the risk of one breaking down is a concern." Lochore said the fact that there was less capacity meant there was more risk of prices increasing. "We'll just have to watch that, but we haven't had any indication from Interislander that they are looking at price rises at this point." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
