Latest news with #ProjectK
Scoop
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Project K Decision A Triumph For The Community Voice
City Vision elected members and candidates are proud to have played a crucial role in ensuring that Auckland Transport restores the people-focused outcomes of the Karangahape Precinct Integration Project (known as Project K). In April, community backlash erupted after backroom lobbying by a small number of people resulted in a large number of changes to the widely supported project which would have undermined the goal of a safe, inviting street environment for thousands of passengers using the new Karanga-a-Hape CRL station. These changes included removing a cycleway, leaving Cross Street with a deep trench on one side and only one footpath, and opening up the area to a steady stream of traffic outside the new station entrance. Today, the Waitematā Local Board endorsed plans that largely reinstate the original designs, while providing for loading zone access on Cross Street. Waitematā Local Board candidate Connor Sharp, who has been working in recent months to bring attention to the issue, is pleased Auckland Transport has done the right thing and fixed the project. 'While a vocal minority of people almost succeeded in destroying the core goals of the project, it's heartening to see Auckland Transport listen to the wider community. They've done a great job returning the project to deliver what was promised and, in the end, Aucklanders will get a pretty decent result,' Mr Sharp says. Waitematā Local Board member Alex Bonham has been fighting for a great, people-friendly public space around Karanga-a-Hape Station since 2021. She says, 'The original proposals for the streetscape on Mercury Lane and Pitt St were pretty dreary and I knew we could do better to leverage the investment in the CRL, and staff recognised that too. With the increased foot traffic coming, we needed to improve pedestrian safety and experience, boost local business while also celebrating the culture and spirit of Karangahape Road. It was great to see Project K evolve and be supported by the local board and the whole community. It was a shock to see AT's changes appear without widespread consultation, and it is great to be able to approve today's scope of works.' Patrick Reynolds, Waitematā and Gulf candidate for City Vision, sees this result as fantastic for getting the area ready for the CRL's opening. 'Project K, like the CRL itself, is a change programme. Both are intended to lead and support improvements to land use in the whole area by uplifting its accessibility, functionality, safety, and appeal for people. To help repair the decades of decline brought on by treating these streets as nothing more than official rat-runs for drivers to other places. It's great to see Auckland Transport's plans realigned to this valuable higher strategy.' A good result here was no accident. Thankful for the many people who made an effort to reach out to Auckland Transport, Connor Sharp says, 'This demonstrates the power we all have to prevent plans from being watered down or cancelled—if we speak up.' City Vision candidates look forward to the project's completion, and to working hard to ensure all projects are delivered as promised for Aucklanders.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Deepika Padukone is not making an exit from Nag Ashwin's 'Kalki 2' with Prabhas amid Sandeep Reddy Vanga's 'Spirit' controversy: Report
Reports have been circulating online about being removed from the cast of 's much-awaited film 'Kalki 2', amid the recent alleged cold war with over Spirit. However, insiders have strongly refuted the claims, calling them entirely unfounded. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Deepika is not leaving Kalki 2 behind Social media has been abuzz with speculation about a supposed fallout between Deepika and the team behind Kalki 2898 AD, including co-star . But those close to the production have dismissed the theory, stating there is no truth to the idea that she was ousted. According to NDTV, an insider reacted to the rumours saying, 'Completely baseless.' Kalki 2, the sequel to the much-talked-about 'Kalki 2898 AD', has not even entered production. According to sources, the film remains in its early planning stages. The makers have not even begun approaching actors, as it is still in development. 'There's been no shoot, no interaction, and therefore, no fallout,' the source revealed. Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Deepika Padukone's cold war Kamal Haasan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone to launch 'Project K' at San Diego Comic-Con; Amitabh Bachchan calls it 'a proud moment' The confusion may have stemmed from earlier controversies surrounding Deepika's reported departure from director Sandeep Reddy Vanga's upcoming film Spirit. Reports claimed the actress had requested shorter shooting hours, higher pay, and a share in the film's profits. The demands reportedly did not go down well with the filmmaker, leading to Deepika's alleged exit. Following the incident, Sandeep Reddy Vanga welcomed actress Triptii Dimri on board and shared a cryptic note on his social media handles. 'When I narrate a story to an actor, I place 100% faith. There is an unsaid NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) between us. But by doing this, you've 'DISCLOSED' the person that you are... Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Putting down a younger actor and ousting my story? Is this what your feminism stands for? As a filmmaker, I put years of hard work behind my craft, and for me, filmmaking is everything. You didn't get it. You won't get it. You will never get it. Aisa karo... Agli baar poori kahani bolna... kyunki mujhe zara bhi farak nahi padta. #dirtyPRgames I like this kahawat very much :-) खुंदक में बिल्ली खंबा नोचे!' he wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) handle. About Kalki 2 'Kalki 2' remains one of the most eagerly anticipated films from Nag Ashwin, especially as the first instalment—starring Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, and Deepika Padukone—became a major hit.
1News
04-05-2025
- 1News
Chch students discover resilience, strength after wilderness adventure
Twelve Year 10 students from Christchurch's Hornby High School have just finished a two-week wilderness adventure as part of Project K. The Graeme Dingle Foundation runs the 14-month programme which is designed to help young people deal with the challenges of life. 1News were there as the group returned on mountain bikes, in torrential rain, from the final leg of their journey. They were given a rousing guard of honour by fellow students, and showered in love and hugs by their families. The tears flowed freely. Tania Mulholland greeted her son Toby McLeish with a tight hug. "It's been a really long two weeks without him," she said, becoming emotional. "Very glad he's home. Very proud. Very proud." Kayla Davison was given a similar welcome. Her grandmother, Heather Davison, expressed her pride. "I think it's like more resilience, getting them to achieve things that they've never done before so I think it's great," she said. The teenagers are proud of themselves too. Kayla said she has learnt "to never give up and to keep trying". Toby echoed her words. "The tramping was kind of wet, cold. Felt like I just wanted to go home but I just pushed through. It was really worth it." The teens trekked through native bush and arduous terrain near Otira, in the central South Island, kayaking, abseiling and camping as well. One student said the tasks brought out the best in each of them. "You'll feel scared and lonely and down and you just need to push through because you can do this," they said. The students were nominated by their teachers to take part. Hornby High School principal Ian Murray said those who were chosen had the "best opportunity to grow resilience and character, to help them through the challenges that some of them may have been facing at the time". Their final task was to deliver a speech about what they've learnt. 'On Project K, I pushed myself beyond my limits and realised I had more to me than I thought," Kayla told the audience. The Graeme Dingle Foundation's general manager for the Canterbury region, Sian Neary, said they've seen students flourish after going through the programme. 'We've seen them from students that have got their shoulders down and their heads down, looking at the ground, to shoulders up, chin up and just beaming that they've overcome some amazing obstacles," she said. The Graeme Dingle Foundation supports 27,000 young people to undertake a similar journey of discovery each year.
The Spinoff
30-04-2025
- Business
- The Spinoff
The changes to plans for the streets around the Karanga-a-Hape CRL station, explained
In 2023, Auckland Transport shared and consulted on plans for the streets surrounding the Karanga-a-Hape CRL station. They were well received, yet they've since been subject to major changes. What happened? Many Aucklanders have a dream. A dream that one day they will be able to get from point A to point B without pissing themselves in their car due to being gridlocked in traffic. A dream that one day, cars won't be our overloads, and roads our masters. This would require proper public transport, of course. The City Rail Link – New Zealand's largest transport infrastructure project ever – is expected to open next year. The 3.45km-long tunnels are being billed as ' transformational ' for travel, housing, productivity and revenue. Residents and passersby have either been staring longingly through the peepholes in the fences at the rising stations or getting pissed off by closed roads and road cones. It's happening, but details, like a design of the streetscapes around the stations, are still being debated. Finalising plans around the Karanga-a-Hape Station is proving difficult. They were first revealed in 2023, and though they received wide support at the time, they are still being updated in response to feedback. The plans, which once featured a pedestrian mall (a street or area where using vehicles is prohibited or restricted), shared areas, planter boxes, speed bumps and more footpaths around Mercury Lane and Cross Street, have changed to preserve parking and vehicle thoroughfares. Urbanist commentator Connor Sharp is calling the new proposal a 'disgraceful switcheroo' and councillor Richard Hills says that 'sudden, dramatic' changes to the well-supported plans have prompted 'extreme shock and frustration'. Auckland Transport's director of infrastructure and place, Murray Burt, says that AT is continuing to receive feedback. The agency is 'very conscious' that the CRL construction and economic climate have made it challenging for nearby businesses, so 'we seriously consider feedback that our proposals may further impact businesses' ability to operate'. Though plans were meant to be finalised in November 2023, designs are still being 'refined'. What was in the original proposal? The Karanga-a-Hape Station has two entrances – one in Beresford Square near Pitt Street and another on Mercury Lane. Auckland Transport expects that up to 40,000 people will pass through these entrances every day, mostly arriving by foot or bike. The Karanga-a-Hape Station precinct integration project – often referred to as Project K – began with a proposal from AT to make changes that would improve walking and cycling through the neighbourhood (pedestrian mall, crossings, widening footpaths, cycleways) and adjusted the number of on-street parking and loading zones. In the original plan a pedestrian mall would have stretched from Cross Street to Karangahape Road along Mercury Lane. Renders show planted areas, seats and string lights criss-crossing from posts. The plan for the lower end of Mercury Lane had wider footpaths and a two-directional cycleway. On Cross Street, a wide footpath ran all along the southern side and most on-street parking was removed, though there were options for some loading zones, car share and short stay areas. On East Street, it was proposed that the two-way cycleway that was initially built to be temporary during construction would stay. Near the other entrance of the station, the plan for Pitt Street included another pedestrian and cycle crossing, new bus stops, cycle lanes, and new trees and landscaping. To make way, on-street car parking and loading zones were to be removed. How was Project K received? AT consulted the public from April to May 2023, met stakeholder groups like business associations and received more than a thousand items of feedback. A majority – 73% – of participants agreed or strongly agreed that the proposed changes would ' improve the area for me ', and 76% agreed or strongly agreed that the changes would 'improve the area for the neighbourhood'. People were overwhelmingly positive towards changes to support walking and cycling. Responses to changes in parking were mixed, but still a majority was in support – 53% backed the proposed changes and 17% opposed them. Support for pedestrianising the upper part of Mercury Lane was also mixed but positive, with 67% in support and 20% opposed. Another 10% had mixed feedback, and 3% of responses were 'not relevant to the survey question'. The engagement feedback report also notes that the George Court Body Corporate, from the 1926 George Court apartment building on the eastern corner of Karangahape Road and Mercury Lane, opposed the proposed pedestrian mall on Mercury Lane because it believed it would have a negative impact on the community, negatively impact property owners and business operators and was inconsistent with the Resource Management Act. The ADIO Trust needle exchange on East Street was concerned about it too, saying that many of its visitors come by car. They said that if Mercury Lane must be closed, then there should be a right-hand turn at the Karangahape Road/Upper Queen Street intersection. The report noted that some aspects of the project required further engagement to agree on the best outcomes, and that final decisions were anticipated to be made by November 2023. What happened next? When November 2023 rolled around, AT held three community workshops, inviting locals to join the conversation to shape plans for the spaces. The first focus area was Cross Street and then Mercury Lane, Canada Street and Beresford Street. Participants agreed with widening the footpath on the southern side of Cross Street, and removing on-street car parking there to make space. Suggestions of making Cross Street an even more pedestrian-friendly 'shared space' with surface painting were supported too. Workshop participants liked the idea of large planted pots and seating on lower Mercury Lane, and a slew of other measures to slow down cars and make the area more inviting to pedestrians and cyclists. Meanwhile, the George Court Body Corporate was presenting a case against the pedestrian mall at the top of Mercury Lane. Connor Sharp has dug into their activities, which included attending Auckland Transport board meetings and approaching Auckland Council's transport committee and even the mayor. While the group threatened legal action, AT's legal team reviewed their concerns and noted they were wrong. Sharp has called the George Court group a 'vocal minority' and 'never-satisfied grumblers'. In his view the original designs, which were well-supported and refined by community feedback, were ' quietly chipped away by a vocal, litigious, oppositional minority, in a series of small rooms '. What are the plans now? The most recent version of the plans was shared with the Waitematā Local Board in early April, 16 months after they were supposed to be finalised. The top of Mercury Lane is no longer a pedestrian mall, it is now a 'shared space'. Burt says pedestrians will have priority but residents and service vehicles can use the area at low speed. The notes on the plans say that a 'low number of vehicles' are expected and 'safety and space for pedestrians will be paramount'. There are retractable bollards that could be used to control traffic if monitoring indicates they're necessary. At the bottom of Mercury Lane, green areas have been adjusted to accommodate a roundabout for two-way traffic. Nearby on East Street, the new plans now remove the two-way cycleway – which was added as an interim measure during CRL construction – in order to reinstate two-way vehicle traffic. On Cross Street, where the southern side was once planned to be a wide footpath, there is instead preserved on-street car parking, a new loading zone and a relocated car share space. 'Businesses have told us they rely on loading on both sides,' says Burt. Proposed planter boxes, speed humps and speed cushions have been removed. Burt says that due to feedback, AT is now investigating an option that would create a footpath on the south side by bridging over the trench next to the carpark building. Burt wants people to know that for Cross Street, 'this project is not a final outcome'. He says it's an interim approach to allow for future projects because there are private developments expected on the street and nearby which will lead to changes in the way the street is used. The area near the station's other entrance on Pitt Street has not had the same attention, though local businesses have asked for a loading zone that is now planned on the western side but only available outside bus lane hours. What will happen next? Councillor Richard Hills is not happy that this proposal is 'suddenly so different'. He says the original plans aligned with council policy and plans – now, he has 'serious concerns about accessibility and safety'. He sees the decision to allow cars through Mercury Lane as dangerous, and says that on Cross Street the plans show a lack of access for pedestrians, especially people with limited mobility, disabilities and prams. He says that while the plan should include loading space for businesses, this should not come at the detriment of all other users. Due to pushback from supporters of the original proposal, AT has promised a full review of the plan for Cross Street and potential for other changes. 'I hope we end up with a dramatic improvement for pedestrians and other users, like originally planned,' says Hills. Burt says the Karanga-a-Hape Station precinct integration project's updated plan has already received further feedback and is once again being updated as AT tries to find 'the best possible outcome'. The updates are expected to be shared with the local board and stakeholders in 'the coming weeks'.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Riot Games' League of Legends TCG is officially called Riftbound
Riot Games has unveiled new details for its upcoming tabletop game, called Riftbound - The League of Legends Trading Card Game. We first got a look at this TCG under the codename Project K in December. The latest trailer showed off new artwork for the cards, including fresh takes on the LoL characters that aren't just copies of their in-game champion portraits. The card UI has also gotten some extra polish compared with what was showed late last year. The team at Riot has been incorporating player feedback into the game's first set, called Origins. This set will have more than 300 different cards, and familiar LoL champions including Jinx, Viktor and Lee Sin will star in pre-built decks for this inaugural set. For the serious collectors, there will also be secret rare versions of the champion cards with unique art. In addition to the previously revealed multiplayer aspect, Riftbound offers a path for reaching fans who don't have experience in this card game genre. Riftbound will have a box called Proving Grounds where champions like Lux, Annie, Master Yi and Garen will help newer players to get acclimated to TCG basics. The timeline for the Riftbound is also starting to firm up, with its China launch is scheduled for summer 2025. Some English speaking countries will also see the game arrive this year, but other markets will have to wait until 2026; the devs didn't specify which regions will be on which timeline.
