Latest news with #Southerner
Otago Daily Times
30-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Connecting the south by rail
Passengers prepare to take a return journey to Christchurch on the Southerner earlier this month. Photo: Linda Robertson The rhythmic sway of the train moving through our stunning Otago countryside is a special part of the Southerner experience. As Robert Louis Stevenson famously said, "All of the sights of the hill and the plain; Fly as thick as driving rain". The last time I rode the Southerner was in 2001 — I recall the pleasure of the landscape, the book I was reading (Pig Earth by John Berger) not to mention the coffee and sandwich I enjoyed along the way. Inexplicably, the following year this great train service was put to bed. We look forward to the day when a trip to Christchurch by train is the normal way to travel, a journey that can be as productive as we need or as relaxing as we want. And there is an appetite for it. When Great Journeys recently announced a limited return of the Southerner for several days this year, people were enthusiastic. Tickets were sold out within days of going on sale. Demand for the return of a regular service is strong. On a recent Sunday, I joined other MPs, councillors and members of the public at a "Save Our Trains" forum in Dunedin to discuss steps we will need to take to restore passenger rail in the South, to restore the Southerner. Also that weekend, there was an announcement at the Regional Development Summit of funding for an "inland port" and the reopening of the Hillside Workshops maintenance facilities. The time is ripe for a restoration of passenger rail alongside an increase in freight by rail. A train trip is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to travel and produces about 80-90% fewer CO₂ emissions compared to the same trip with a flight. With the rising costs and general inconvenience of flying between regional centres, passenger rail stacks up both financially and environmentally. This matters. Recently I attended a presentation by Antarctica New Zealand where we heard about the scientific research under way in Antarctica, including all important climate science. Antarctica's ice plays a crucial role in regulating global climate while its melting ice also raises sea levels. The Thwaites Glacier, also known as the "Doomsday Glacier" is now at risk of catastrophic failure, and when it slides into the sea and melts, it will raise sea-levels by about 80cm and trigger more ice loss, more sea-level rise. We should be urgently taking every action we can to reduce emissions in order to slow global heating (and reduce the risk from the collapse of the Doomsday Glacier). One of the most sensible things to do is to reduce emissions from transport. Clearly passenger rail has a critical role to play here. We already have the tracks, and Hillside Workshops is now back up and running. Let's not forget that Aotearoa was once linked up by passenger rail between regions and main centres — including from Christchurch to Dunedin — and to a myriad of small towns in between. By the turn of the century this once thriving rail network was pared back to a mere skeleton of its former self. The 2025 government Budget revealed some funding for rail, but it is all for the North Island, and much more is being spent on urban highways, again leaving us in the Deep South out in the cold. This could change if our southern voice is heard loudly enough in Wellington and when southern MPs from both government and opposition do the mahi to support a restoration of passenger rail. Already there appears to be a consensus among most southern MPs that the restoration of the Southerner is desirable, and the question then turns to how. The Green Party Budget launched in May sets out a clear budget for the return of several inter-regional rail connections including our Southerner. Save Our Trains has prepared a handy factsheet about the feasibility of this rail link on their website. We can have a transport network that works for everyone, giving people real choice. Travelling by train through ever-changing landscapes is a special pleasure we should all be able to enjoy, "[as] ever again, in the wink of an eye; Painted stations whistle by". Time to leave the station, let the rhythm of rail do its thing, and embrace the journey! Scott Willis is an Ōtepoti-based Green Party MP. Each week in this column writers address issues of sustainability.
Economic Times
25-05-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Gisborne: How New Zealand's most isolated spot became its priciest rental market, costing a fortune
TIL Creatives Once affordable and remote, this east coast city now leads New Zealand with the highest rents, as housing shortages and disaster recovery push prices sky-high Gisborne, a remote city on New Zealand's east coast, has unexpectedly become the nation's most expensive place to rent, with median weekly rents reaching $680 in April 2025, surpassing Auckland and the Bay of Plenty. The cheapest property is a one-bedroom rural cottage, located 15 minutes from town, for $350 a week. It is the highest median rate in the country, bucking the trend of falling rents in the rest of the motu, according to the latest data from Trade Me. This surge is attributed to a combination of factors. The city's housing stock suffered significant damage from Cyclone Gabrielle, which left over 170 homes uninhabitable. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted construction and development, further limiting housing availability. Also read: New Zealand's favorite, the 'Southerner,' returns this October Seven hours from Auckland and three hours to an urban centre, Gisborne's one of the most remote places in New Zealand. It used to be seen as an inexpensive place to live, with the Government choosing it for a campaign to attract remote workers and digital nomads. The shortage has been exacerbated by an influx of workers involved in recovery efforts and the region's primary industries, increasing demand for rentals. Property investors, facing high insurance premiums and rates, have been hesitant to invest, limiting the growth of rental are underway to address the crisis. A partnership between the government and Ngāti Porou aims to build 48 affordable rental homes in Gisborne's Kaiti suburb, with rents capped at 80 percent of the market rate. However, these homes are not expected to be completed until August situation has left many residents struggling. A local property manager noted that smaller units are in high demand, particularly among first-time renters and older tenants seeking affordable options. With limited supply and high demand, rental prices continue to rise, placing additional strain on the experience highlights the challenges faced by regional areas in the wake of natural disasters and economic disruptions.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Gisborne: How New Zealand's most isolated spot became its priciest rental market, costing a fortune
Gisborne , a remote city on New Zealand's east coast, has unexpectedly become the nation's most expensive place to rent, with median weekly rents reaching $680 in April 2025, surpassing Auckland and the Bay of Plenty. The cheapest property is a one-bedroom rural cottage, located 15 minutes from town, for $350 a week. It is the highest median rate in the country, bucking the trend of falling rents in the rest of the motu, according to the latest data from Trade Me . This surge is attributed to a combination of factors. The city's housing stock suffered significant damage from Cyclone Gabrielle, which left over 170 homes uninhabitable. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted construction and development, further limiting housing availability. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like War Thunder - Register now for free and play against over 75 Million real Players War Thunder Play Now Undo Also read: New Zealand's favorite, the 'Southerner,' returns this October Seven hours from Auckland and three hours to an urban centre, Gisborne's one of the most remote places in New Zealand. It used to be seen as an inexpensive place to live, with the Government choosing it for a campaign to attract remote workers and digital nomads. Live Events The shortage has been exacerbated by an influx of workers involved in recovery efforts and the region's primary industries, increasing demand for rentals. Property investors, facing high insurance premiums and rates, have been hesitant to invest, limiting the growth of rental stock. Efforts are underway to address the crisis. A partnership between the government and Ngāti Porou aims to build 48 affordable rental homes in Gisborne's Kaiti suburb, with rents capped at 80 percent of the market rate. However, these homes are not expected to be completed until August 2026. The situation has left many residents struggling. A local property manager noted that smaller units are in high demand, particularly among first-time renters and older tenants seeking affordable options. With limited supply and high demand, rental prices continue to rise, placing additional strain on the community. Gisborne's experience highlights the challenges faced by regional areas in the wake of natural disasters and economic disruptions.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Time of India
New Zealand's favorite, the 'Southerner,' returns this October: Packages, prices, route, and starting dates announced
Trips and packages Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel New Zealand's popular rail journey, 'The Southerner', is making a grand return this October due to overwhelming public demand. Great Journeys New Zealand announced that the scenic train will operate daily return trips between Christchurch and Dunedin on October 25, 26, and 27, 2025. The service had previously been revived for a limited four-day run in May, which sold out rapidly, prompting the addition of these new Southerner, originally launched on December 1, 1970, was a premier passenger express train connecting Christchurch and Invercargill via Dunedin, traveling along the Main South operated until February 10, 2002, and was renowned for offering a comfortable and scenic journey, making Invercargill the southernmost passenger station in the the upcoming October revival, passengers will have the opportunity to experience the journey in either Scenic Class or the more luxurious Scenic Plus. Ticket prices start at NZ$259 per person for Scenic Class and NZ$519 for Scenic PlusGreat Journeys New Zealand offers package deals that include a one-night stay in a central Dunedin hotel and a guided city tour covering iconic sights such as Baldwin Street, the Botanical Gardens, and the the 'Southerner and Taieri Gorge Rail Experience' package, priced from NZ$1599, combines the Christchurch to Dunedin journey with a scenic ride on the Taieri Gorge the October revival offers a glimpse into the past, it's important to note that the full route to Invercargill will not be operational at this time. Upgrades to the Invercargill station are necessary before passenger services can resume there.
Otago Daily Times
19-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
All aboard for Christchurch
Passengers were milling around the platform at the Dunedin Railway Station yesterday before a return journey to Christchurch aboard the Southerner. Photo: Linda Robertson The tourism division of KiwiRail brought back the passenger rail experience between Dunedin and Christchurch for four days this year, with the first trip taking place on Saturday. Photo: Linda Robertson Two more trips are scheduled for today and tomorrow. In its day, the Southerner was a premier passenger express train that connected Christchurch and Invercargill, travelling along the Main South Line, said Great Journeys New Zealand and commuter rail general manager Tracey Goodall when the trips were announced late last year.
