West Coast speed limit work ‘wasted exercise’
By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon
The Government's plans to scrap the blanket speed reduction policy has been cautiously welcomed by West Coast leaders.
The blanket speed limit reduction policy will be reversed by July 1, 2025, under the draft new Land Transport Rule, which was released this week for public consultation.
The Government has previously announced the draft rule would take into account economic impacts, travel times, and community views alongside safety when deciding speed limits.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown said the untargeted approach of the previous policy slowed drivers and the economy rather than targeting high crash areas.
Under the proposed changes, speed limits reductions made since January 2020 will be reversed on local streets, arterial roads, and state highways.
"It will also require variable speed limits outside schools during pick up and drop off times to keep young New Zealanders safe," Brown said.
Greymouth mayor Tania Gibson said she welcomed the policy.
In March, Gibson questioned the extent of the proposed 30kph speed limits put forward by her council's transport department for the draft West Coast Regional Speed Management Plan.
"I never agreed with what we were looking at with speed."
Gibson said the speed review was probably "a bit of a wasted exercise" now, but the need for better safety around schools was widely acknowledged.
West Coast Regional Transport chairperson Peter Ewen said proposals under the previous policy had seen some communities "up in arms" about various speed limit plans.
But it was good to see school zones better targeted under the new proposal, Ewen said.
He did not foresee much change to the current draft West Coast plan as a result of the latest Government announcement but it would be a case of "wait and see".
"The process we went through, we will have to review.
"A lot of the process we went through is probably a waste of time now - it's irrelevant if those are the changes that are going to come," Ewen said.
Buller mayor Jamie Cleine said he agreed with the speed limit roll back intent but believed it would have little impact on the current West Coast proposals.
Regardless of higher or lower speeds, "people should drive to the conditions," he said.
However, there had been suggestions under the blanket policy to slash speeds for "long sections" of West Coast state highways to 80km.
That had needed "a reality check".
Cleine said he was pleased variable speed limits around school zones were being "reinforced".
Buller had also proposed low speed areas in some rural settlement/new subdivision areas under the draft regional policy which he believed should stay - although his council was split.
It recently voted against the introducing the lower speeds in a six to five decision, "which was bizzare".
Cleine said the council had already been funded for that work and its decision meant it would now have to give it back.
"I'm going to be bringing that back to the June 26 meeting because it is in line with the new Government's policy.
"(The Government) actually stated quite clearly that they are going to reinforce reduction of speeds around schools. I just want councillors to have a wee think about that."
Brown encouraged feedback on the proposed rule online at www.transport.govt.nz...
Kalle
"Sports and travelling run in the family, and that's kind of what's led me to come to New Zealand."
"I grew up in a small town in Finland. My dad was involved with sports all his life, he was a shot putter, discus thrower, powerlifter, we traveled quite a bit when I was a kid. He never mentioned much of the rugby days. He just said he broke both of his shin bones playing rugby, so he said, ‘never play the sport, It's crazy.’
I started playing when I was 18. I played my first cap for the Finnish national team in 2014, we won the Finnish championship with my club. Rugby is not a big thing in Finland.
I moved here to play rugby in 2017. The club that wanted me to come over was Methven Rugby Club. They got me here and they were like, ‘what do you do for work? I’d just finished chef school in Finland. ‘We'll get you a job at Mount Hutt as a chef, you can do that while you play rugby with us.’ I said, ‘Perfect. Yeah, I'm in’.
I've always loved food. My mum was an amazing cook, and still is. When I was studying tourism I worked in some hotels in Finland, and I saw how the chef's worked. I just loved the kitchen vibe and I was like, Yeah, that’d be something I'd love to do.
I've had more of a culinary journey In New Zealand than in Finland. I started at Mount Hutt, after that I worked at The Dubliner in Methven. I worked as a senior pizza chef at Sal’s for maybe six months then worked as chef de partie at Cellar Door. At Eliza's Manor, I worked myself up to a junior sous chef. Then the opportunity came to work my first head chef job at Moon Under Water.
We're privileged to have a busy atmosphere, we can try new things and get a bit creative. There are no TV’s, just come here with your family or with your mates, play board games, to socialise.
I really want to drive the local food and ingredients through the menu. We don't mind spending more for quality ingredients as long as it's supporting New Zealand businesses. We just love to use local. And it's pub food, but I feel like it's elevated.
I play club rugby here for the Christchurch Football Club, the oldest club in New Zealand and I still play regularly for the Finnish national team, whenever they can fly me over to play."
- Kalle
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
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Have your say on Canterbury’s public transport
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Canterbury residents are being encouraged to have their say on public transport in the region.
Environment Canterbury has released its draft public transport plan and is seeking submissions.
The draft plan outlines a vision for public transport in the region and notes key priorities such as improving the environment, growing patronage, accessibility, innovation and technology, and affordability.
‘‘Public transport takes many forms with communities across our region,’’ councillor Peter Scott said.
‘‘With limited funding available, we need to make sure we make the best decisions to deliver a public transport network that is integrated with urban development, innovative and meets the needs of new and existing customers.
‘‘Effective public transport is the lifeline that connects us to work, school, recreation and our friends and family, so it is important we get this right.’’
The Canterbury’s population is growing and by 2050, it is projected 700,000 people will be living in Greater Christchurch.
The draft plan covers public transport for the region, which includes the Metro service (Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri), MyWay by Metro in Timaru, Total Mobility and Community Vehicle Trusts.
It was developed in partnership with local councils and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
Environment Canterbury has been planning to step up its public transport efforts by increasing the frequency of existing services and introducing mass rapid transport in Greater Christchurch.
But these plans have been stalled by a lack of public transport funding in the Government’s 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme.
A proposal to allow people to travel with domestic pets is also included in the draft plan.
Having pets on buses has been successfully trial in other parts of New Zealand, councillor Joe Davies said.
‘‘We’re keen to understand what controls are needed for our bus users in Greater Christchurch and Timaru to be comfortable with pets on public transport.
It is proposed to allow adult passengers to bring a single pet on board, as long it is in an approved carrier at off-peak times, weekdays between 9am and 3pm or after 6pm, and during weekends.
Another proposal would loosen those restrictions in future to allow for leashed and muzzled dogs and increasing the limit to two pets per passenger.
‘‘We want to gauge how people feel about these proposals. Now is the time to have your say,’’ Davies said.
Submissions close on Thursday, October 24.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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