Latest news with #ThomasNash
RNZ News
7 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Buses replace trains all long weekend in Wellington
Passengers in Wellington should expect more travel time this weekend as busses replace trains across all rail lines. Greater Wellington Transport Committee Thomas Nash spoke to Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Road Safety Week 2025: Press Pause And Pay Attention When Crossing The Road
Press Release – Greater Wellington Te Pane Matua Taiao Greater Wellington transport committee chair Thomas Nash stresses the importance of road users paying attention when driving and looking out for people, especially young people who may step out on the road. Metlink is reminding road users to pay attention to pedestrians and asking young people to 'press pause' before crossing the road this Road Safety Week (12-18 May), after a car hit a high school student who was crossing the road in front of a school bus earlier this year. Greater Wellington transport committee chair Thomas Nash stresses the importance of road users paying attention when driving and looking out for people, especially young people who may step out on the road. 'Wellington roads can be busy, especially around schools at pick up and drop off,' Cr Thomas Nash says. 'Cars are dangerous, and almost all road incidents are preventable. Avoid distractions when driving – put your phone away and be hyper aware of children and older people. 'When you're walking, look up from your phone and make sure you can anticipate what a distracted driver might do on the road. By looking up from your phone and being alert you help keep everyone safe on the road.' This year, Metlink is working with schools across the region to raise awareness of road safety. Aotea College principal, Kate Gainsford, says the road incident in February was frightening when a student was injured on the road. 'It was awful to have one of our students involved in a road incident on their way home from school, not just for the student who was hurt and their family, but the whole community. 'We do our best to keep our students safe both inside and outside the school gates. The conversation about safety on and near roads is important and everyone has a part to play in reinforcing the messages about safety. 'Learning road safety is lifesaving education that needs to be instilled in our young people.' Managing director for Metlink operator Kinetic, Calum Haslop, wants to drive home the message of slowing down around school buses. 'Slowing down around buses isn't just courteous, it's critical. Passengers often need to cross the road after getting off the bus, and reducing speed is a key safety measure to prevent serious incidents. 'We want to remind drivers of the 20km/h speed limit when passing a stationary school bus. Even near misses can have serious consequences for everyone involved.' Metlink encourages everyone to pay attention when travelling and sharing the road with public transport.
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Road Safety Week 2025: Press Pause And Pay Attention When Crossing The Road
Metlink is reminding road users to pay attention to pedestrians and asking young people to 'press pause' before crossing the road this Road Safety Week (12-18 May), after a car hit a high school student who was crossing the road in front of a school bus earlier this year. Greater Wellington transport committee chair Thomas Nash stresses the importance of road users paying attention when driving and looking out for people, especially young people who may step out on the road. 'Wellington roads can be busy, especially around schools at pick up and drop off,' Cr Thomas Nash says. 'Cars are dangerous, and almost all road incidents are preventable. Avoid distractions when driving – put your phone away and be hyper aware of children and older people. "When you're walking, look up from your phone and make sure you can anticipate what a distracted driver might do on the road. By looking up from your phone and being alert you help keep everyone safe on the road.' This year, Metlink is working with schools across the region to raise awareness of road safety. Aotea College principal, Kate Gainsford, says the road incident in February was frightening when a student was injured on the road. 'It was awful to have one of our students involved in a road incident on their way home from school, not just for the student who was hurt and their family, but the whole community. 'We do our best to keep our students safe both inside and outside the school gates. The conversation about safety on and near roads is important and everyone has a part to play in reinforcing the messages about safety. 'Learning road safety is lifesaving education that needs to be instilled in our young people.' Managing director for Metlink operator Kinetic, Calum Haslop, wants to drive home the message of slowing down around school buses. 'Slowing down around buses isn't just courteous, it's critical. Passengers often need to cross the road after getting off the bus, and reducing speed is a key safety measure to prevent serious incidents. 'We want to remind drivers of the 20km/h speed limit when passing a stationary school bus. Even near misses can have serious consequences for everyone involved.' Metlink encourages everyone to pay attention when travelling and sharing the road with public transport.
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
New Strategy To Align Wellington Public Transport And Urban Development
A new strategy that aligns public transport improvements with urban development is a key feature of the Regional Public Transport Plan 2025-35, recommended by the Greater Wellington Transport Committee. After hearing submissions for two-days, committee chair Thomas Nash says there is clear demand to expand Metlink services in growth areas, an aspiration not supported by current government funding. 'Bus patronage continues to surpass record levels while train patronage is being driven down by underinvestment in the rail network,' Cr Nash says. 'With fast-tracked housing projects accelerating population growth projections, it's essential public transport receives appropriate investment to meet forecast demand. 'Regional development requires sustained funding. Without this certainty, and under the government's new constrained public transport settings, it's nearly impossible to increase affordable Metlink services within council means and without cutting other services. 'The new strategy will empower Greater Wellington to explore additional funding mechanisms with partners, including a development levy and congestion charging, with the goal of securing sustained investment in public transport infrastructure, while incentivising cost-effective land use and urban development that lowers the overall cost of infrastructure, housing and transport.' The committee supported exploring service improvements, including increasing the frequency of buses to Hutt Hospital from Wainuiomata, extending bus routes into Aotea and Grenada, and boosting inter-regional bus services to Levin, subject to available funding. Also recommended was a programme to study the feasibility of new railway stations and infrastructure upgrades in Kāpiti, Horowhenua and the Hutt Valley. Wairarapa councillor Adrienne Staples says urgent action is required to improve Wairarapa Rail Line operations and assets which was acknowledged by the committee, echoing the immense frustration expressed in submissions on the performance of the line. Council chair Daran Ponter says feedback shows it's not the right time for paid parking at railway station Park and Rides, and that on balance, current rules about pets on Metlink services are adequate. 'We'll keep working on the Park and Ride demand management proposal and look to align it with the introduction of fully integrated ticketing and congestion charging, once rail patronage stabilises,' says Cr Ponter. 'Small pets will continue to be welcome onboard Metlink services, but our operators and the disability community have expressed concerns about the potential for animals not in pet carriers to disrupt services and guide dogs.' Progressing a regional network of bus corridors and the redevelopment of Waterloo Station were supported by the committee, which also recommended accessibility improvements and an investigation into accelerating the phasing out of onboard cash payments. The regional council will consider the committee's recommendations on 26 June 2025.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Yahoo
Police seek help to identify body found in river
Police are seeking information after a man's body was found in a river. A member of the public called Hertfordshire Police after finding the body in the River Stort in Bishop's Stortford at about 11:45 GMT on 23 March. Officers have been unable to identify the man, who was in his 20s. "This is a very sad case because we still do not know who this man is, or what his story was," said Det Sgt Thomas Nash. "We believe his body may have been in the undergrowth for a considerable period of time and our main priority is to trace this man's family so they can lay him to rest." The death is being treated as non-suspicious but unexplained. Police described the man as being of medium build, with facial hair and about 5ft 10in (1.78m) tall. He was wearing a black Adidas hoodie, dark grey Nike Air tracksuit bottoms and black Adidas trainers. Anyone with information has been urged to contact Hertfordshire Police. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Hertfordshire Police
