Latest news with #PamelaStorey
Scoop
7 days ago
- Scoop
Critical Step Taken Towards A Sunday Service For Te Huia
Press Release – Waikato Regional Council A critical step towards a return Sunday Te Huia service has been taken, with Waikato Regional Council today approving the reallocation of reserve funds to cover the cost. Customer satisfaction surveys since the Waikato to Auckland passenger rail service started in 2021 have consistency indicated demand for a Sunday return service. However, it had not previously been possible due to engineering works across the Auckland network and budget. While some weekend works connected with the City Rail Link project will continue into 2026, as well as scheduled track maintenance, Waikato regional councillors heard at their 29 May meeting that a Sunday service time slot had been requested. Formal approval had since been received from the Auckland Timetable Committee, which comprises representatives of Auckland One Rail, KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Waikato Regional Council. However, a decision is still to be made by KiwiRail's National Timetable Committee. Until this final tick of approval is received, a date for the start of the Sunday service cannot be set, councillors heard. However, timings have been considered if the service goes ahead, with Te Huia departing from Frankton approximately 3pm and from The Strand approximately 6pm on Sundays. 'Te Huia started as a commuter service but has evolved to enable more people to enjoy leisure and tourism activities in both Waikato and Auckland. A Sunday service would not only be a gamechanger for Te Huia, but for both regions too,' said Waikato Regional Council Chair, Pamela Storey. 'We are committed to giving this service every chance of success beyond the end of the trial, because we know there are many workers and tertiary students who have come to rely on it, as well as people visiting whānau and friends.' Councillor Angela Strange, deputy chair of the Future Proof Public Transport Subcommittee, said: 'Ever since the inception of Te Huia, Sunday services are what our public and community have been calling for.' She said the subcommittee has unanimously supported Sunday services. The $456,000 service cost is expected to be offset by fare revenue of almost $100,000, with the balance of the operating costs to come from the existing Te Huia budget reserve. The reserve was accumulated due to the delayed launch of the passenger rail service and other factors, including COVID-19 lockdowns and driver shortages. In a unanimous vote, councillors approved the reallocation of reserve funds. 'Using the reserves will have no rating impact and will provide certainty for planning. The introduction of a Sunday service is also a necessary stepping stone to improved services and demonstrating the value of Te Huia to central government,' Cr Storey said. A regional council submission on the Auckland Council's annual plan for $223,000 co-funding of the service appears to have not been supported, a staff report said. 'We will continue to pursue a contribution from Auckland Council in support of the service, because there is the potential for significant economic benefits for both regions,' she said.
Scoop
7 days ago
- Scoop
Critical Step Taken Towards A Sunday Service For Te Huia
Press Release – Waikato Regional Council Te Huia started as a commuter service but has evolved to enable more people to enjoy leisure and tourism activities in both Waikato and Auckland. A critical step towards a return Sunday Te Huia service has been taken, with Waikato Regional Council today approving the reallocation of reserve funds to cover the cost. Customer satisfaction surveys since the Waikato to Auckland passenger rail service started in 2021 have consistency indicated demand for a Sunday return service. However, it had not previously been possible due to engineering works across the Auckland network and budget. While some weekend works connected with the City Rail Link project will continue into 2026, as well as scheduled track maintenance, Waikato regional councillors heard at their 29 May meeting that a Sunday service time slot had been requested. Formal approval had since been received from the Auckland Timetable Committee, which comprises representatives of Auckland One Rail, KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Waikato Regional Council. However, a decision is still to be made by KiwiRail's National Timetable Committee. Until this final tick of approval is received, a date for the start of the Sunday service cannot be set, councillors heard. However, timings have been considered if the service goes ahead, with Te Huia departing from Frankton approximately 3pm and from The Strand approximately 6pm on Sundays. 'Te Huia started as a commuter service but has evolved to enable more people to enjoy leisure and tourism activities in both Waikato and Auckland. A Sunday service would not only be a gamechanger for Te Huia, but for both regions too,' said Waikato Regional Council Chair, Pamela Storey. 'We are committed to giving this service every chance of success beyond the end of the trial, because we know there are many workers and tertiary students who have come to rely on it, as well as people visiting whānau and friends.' Councillor Angela Strange, deputy chair of the Future Proof Public Transport Subcommittee, said: 'Ever since the inception of Te Huia, Sunday services are what our public and community have been calling for.' She said the subcommittee has unanimously supported Sunday services. The $456,000 service cost is expected to be offset by fare revenue of almost $100,000, with the balance of the operating costs to come from the existing Te Huia budget reserve. The reserve was accumulated due to the delayed launch of the passenger rail service and other factors, including COVID-19 lockdowns and driver shortages. In a unanimous vote, councillors approved the reallocation of reserve funds. 'Using the reserves will have no rating impact and will provide certainty for planning. The introduction of a Sunday service is also a necessary stepping stone to improved services and demonstrating the value of Te Huia to central government,' Cr Storey said. A regional council submission on the Auckland Council's annual plan for $223,000 co-funding of the service appears to have not been supported, a staff report said. 'We will continue to pursue a contribution from Auckland Council in support of the service, because there is the potential for significant economic benefits for both regions,' she said.
Scoop
7 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Critical Step Taken Towards A Sunday Service For Te Huia
A critical step towards a return Sunday Te Huia service has been taken, with Waikato Regional Council today approving the reallocation of reserve funds to cover the cost. Customer satisfaction surveys since the Waikato to Auckland passenger rail service started in 2021 have consistency indicated demand for a Sunday return service. However, it had not previously been possible due to engineering works across the Auckland network and budget. While some weekend works connected with the City Rail Link project will continue into 2026, as well as scheduled track maintenance, Waikato regional councillors heard at their 29 May meeting that a Sunday service time slot had been requested. Formal approval had since been received from the Auckland Timetable Committee, which comprises representatives of Auckland One Rail, KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Waikato Regional Council. However, a decision is still to be made by KiwiRail's National Timetable Committee. Until this final tick of approval is received, a date for the start of the Sunday service cannot be set, councillors heard. However, timings have been considered if the service goes ahead, with Te Huia departing from Frankton approximately 3pm and from The Strand approximately 6pm on Sundays. 'Te Huia started as a commuter service but has evolved to enable more people to enjoy leisure and tourism activities in both Waikato and Auckland. A Sunday service would not only be a gamechanger for Te Huia, but for both regions too,' said Waikato Regional Council Chair, Pamela Storey. 'We are committed to giving this service every chance of success beyond the end of the trial, because we know there are many workers and tertiary students who have come to rely on it, as well as people visiting whānau and friends.' Councillor Angela Strange, deputy chair of the Future Proof Public Transport Subcommittee, said: 'Ever since the inception of Te Huia, Sunday services are what our public and community have been calling for.' She said the subcommittee has unanimously supported Sunday services. The $456,000 service cost is expected to be offset by fare revenue of almost $100,000, with the balance of the operating costs to come from the existing Te Huia budget reserve. The reserve was accumulated due to the delayed launch of the passenger rail service and other factors, including COVID-19 lockdowns and driver shortages. In a unanimous vote, councillors approved the reallocation of reserve funds. 'Using the reserves will have no rating impact and will provide certainty for planning. The introduction of a Sunday service is also a necessary stepping stone to improved services and demonstrating the value of Te Huia to central government,' Cr Storey said. A regional council submission on the Auckland Council's annual plan for $223,000 co-funding of the service appears to have not been supported, a staff report said. 'We will continue to pursue a contribution from Auckland Council in support of the service, because there is the potential for significant economic benefits for both regions,' she said.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Scoop
Meteor's Milestone Million
Friday, 23 May 2025, 11:02 am Press Release: Waikato Regional Council L-R: WRC Chair Pamela Storey, Manager Transport Policy and Programmes Bryan Sherritt, Cr Jennifer Nickle, Cr Angela Strange, Hamilton City Deputy Mayor Angela O'Leary and WRC Director of Regional Transport Connections Phil King (Photo/Supplied) Hamilton's Meteor bus service is celebrating a major milestone after completing its one millionth passenger trip in the first week of this month. Launched in September 2023, the Meteor is Hamilton's third high-frequency service and now the second most popular bus service in the Waikato after the Orbiter. The high-frequency service replaced the regular-frequency Silverdale (2) and Frankton (8) buses, which were carrying a combined weekly average of 5159 passengers at the time. The Meteor continues to outperform the old services, averaging 12,144 passengers each week. Waikato Regional Councillor and Deputy Chair of the Future Proof Public Transport Subcommittee Angela Strange says the 135 per cent increase demonstrates demand for more frequent buses or more express routes across the city. 'The numbers confirm what people have been telling us: they will take the bus when it operates frequently enough. We hope more people will see our public transport system as a convenient transport option.' The Meteor runs approximately every 15 minutes in both directions from 7am to 6pm on weekdays, and every 20 to 30 minutes at all other times. Recent service improvements include two extra stops in Hillcrest and additional bus stop infrastructure in the Baverstock Road area. To celebrate the one millionth passenger trip, BUSIT is running the Meteor 1 Million promotion from Friday 23 to Thursday 29, May 2025 on Instagram. Passengers can enter by taking a selfie on the Meteor and posting it as an Instagram story with @busitwaikato tagged in the post. Three pairs of Sony noise-cancelling headphones are up for grabs and passengers can enter as many times as they like with bonus entries for using the hashtag #1Million Note: Averages taken from the Silverdale (2) and Frankton (8) services' final 12 months (September 2022 to August 2023) and the Meteor's most recent 12 months (May 2024 to April 2025). © Scoop Media
Scoop
21-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Budget Set For 2025/26, Rates Increase Less Than Proposed
Press Release – Waikato Regional Council Waikato regional councillors have set the budget for 2025/26, landing on a 5.7 per cent increase in rates revenue which is lower than proposed in the draft annual plan. Following almost five hours of deliberations on Tuesday (20 May), councillors agreed an increase in rates revenue from current ratepayers of $152.584 million or 5.7 per cent – less than the 5.9 per cent proposed for consultation, and significantly lower than the 8.6 per cent signalled 12 months ago through the 2024-2034 Long Term Plan. 'Staff and councillors have worked hard together to deliver a fiscally responsible budget,' said Waikato Regional Council Chair, Pamela Storey. Consultation was open from 1 to 30 April 2025, with feedback being sought on two key proposals: public transport rating and a river and catchment funding model for Wharekawa Coast. The council also sought views on changes to fees and charges and a new rate remission policy. Hearings were held in Paeroa and Hamilton on Monday (19 May), with 10 of the 143 individuals and groups who made a submission on the draft annual plan providing in person feedback. 'We appreciate the time taken by submitters to share their views and have balanced what we heard against the needs of our communities,' Chair Storey said. On the topic of regional rating for public transport, councillors agreed to stick with capital value for Hamilton ratepayers and introduce a flat per property rate in four categories across the rest of the Waikato. For the Wharekawa Coast, on the Firth of Thames, funding was confirmed through a mix of targeted and general rates, with a differential between rates charged to direct and indirect beneficiaries. Additional funding of $240,000 was committed for expert work on a business case and implementation plan for Te Huia – the passenger rail service between Waikato and Auckland. Councillors heard the work was critical to providing the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Board with the best information on which to decide the future of Te Huia beyond the end of the trial in 2026. Councillors were evenly split on whether to use a prior year surplus of $2.545 million to reduce rates for 2025/26, or to hold it to be available for one-off costs that arise due to rapid changes in the council's operating environment. Operating surpluses arise from differences between budgeted and actual revenue and expenditure. This may be due to operational savings or through changes in the operating environment, such as the rapid changes to the Official Cash Rate (OCR) seen over the last two financial years. Two submissions on this matter said they wanted the council to hold onto the surplus. Staff told councillors rates for 2025/26 would drop to 4 per cent if the surplus was used to reduce rates. At a property level, returning the surplus would see a reduction in the general rate of $1.09 per $100,000 capital value. For a $1 million property, that would equate to $10.90 off the annual rates bill. There would also be consequences in the following year, staff said, with the rates increase projected in the long term plan going from 4.2 per cent to 5.9 per cent. 'Giving back the surplus now would create a gap in our finances for future years and force bigger rates increases later on. It would also leave us less prepared for unexpected events, like a major cyclone or a biosecurity threat like we've seen with Caulerpa and freshwater clams,' Chair Storey said. On the casting vote of the chair, the motion to return the surplus to ratepayers was lost.
