Infrastructure

The first stage of the $20m Queenstown Marina will officially open this week, offering 85 berths for use complemented by 17 floating buildings.

Auckland’s much-debated second harbour crossing is up for debate once again, and businesses in the city are calling for a clear roadmap.

Auckland Light Rail and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency have named preferred bidders for Auckland Light Rail and the additional Waitematā Harbour connections.

A new analysis outlines the benefits and the risks involved.

Tourism Minister Stuart Nash has cut the ribbon for the renovated Whakatāne wharf and broken ground on work to construct the new Commercial Boat Harbour.

The tourism minister says the industry should apply for the new $54m innovation fund and suggests a project he would be happy to support.

The Tourism Infrastructure Fund has awarded $306,000 to Waitomo District Council for three infrastructure projects.

An upcoming project to rebuild the Picton ferry terminal has been celebrated with a public information day, held on Saturday.

Significant progress” is being made on restoring 460km of Marlborough’s road network following floods that affected the region last year.

Meridian Energy will install 10 electric vehicle chargers along popular tourist routes in the South Island,.

Funding for projects supporting the delivery of Matariki were considered for the first time.

A successful effort to bring fibre broadband connectivity to the West Coast will enable the Rural Connectivity Group to build 16 new mobile cell sites across the region.

Construction work on the main phase of the Department of Conservation’s Dolomite Point Redevelopment Project at Punakaiki will start next month.

The sector needs better infrastructure and increased investment, not misguided criticism, says NZSki’s CEO.

The government is providing $16.5m in funding to support local communities build up tourism facilities, with a special focus on Matariki commemorations.

Making the project work financially would have required a significant scaling back, which would have undermined the attraction’s purpose.

Tourism has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the $3bn three-year fund.

Construction has started on a new $290m archive repository in Wellington expected to attract educational visits from those seeking to connect with New Zealand stories and heritage.

The Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre is holding its opening ceremony today.

The value of building consents issued for hotels, motels and other short term accommodation for the month of October 2021 was $4m, a decline of 93.3% from the same month last year.

As part of the larger project to upgrade State Highway 20B near Auckland Airport, mass transit bus lanes will shortly be completed at the George Bolt entrance to the facility, increasing the speed and frequency of access possible.

New Zealand needs to get ready for the age of electric planes, says a key Crown entity tasked with mapping out the country’s future infrastructure needs.

Architectural concept designs for a $19m – $21m revamp of the Kaikōura waterfront have been approved.

Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre has confirmed it will now open in late December rather than October as planned because of Delta lockdown delays. 

The pandemic has been hard on aviation but it has also brought benefits for NZ’s largest privately-owned airline.

Parts of the plan to merge the international and domestic terminals at Auckland International Airport have been delayed due to the current Delta outbreak.

Fletcher Building is continuing to forecast a 2024 completion date for the New Zealand International Convention Centre in its latest annual report, despite contractual leeway for a later delivery.

Hinahina Bridge in the Catlins has reopened following a $3.6m upgrade jointly funded by Clutha District Council and Waka Kotahi.

Auckland Airport is integrating a new domestic terminal into its existing international terminal.

The Takarau Gorge road in Wellington, linking Johnsonville and Mākara, will be closed for several weeks while $1.5m worth of repairs is carried out.

Revenue collected in the first year to June 2020 was $57.3m, approximately 30% lower than the forecasted revenue of $82m.

Additional improvements are being made to the Naval Point area in preparation for the SailGP event at Lyttelton Harbour on 29-30 January 2022.

About $10m of the latest deployment is going to five regions hit hard by the lack of international tourists.

SkyCity says it is “prudent to have a buffer” between Fletcher’s current delivery date of late 2024 and the project’s deadline.

The government will invest $1.3bn in KiwiRail over three years as part of the Rail Network Investment Programme.

Public space on Quay Street and new ferry berths part of $350m investment.

Development work on Te Uruhi, previously known as the Kāpiti Gateway, is set to start in September.

The new visitor centre project dovetails with plans to promote Whanganui River Road as a tourism driving route.

Nelson Airport has appointed a new chief executive with port experience as the local councils move to merge the region’s major air and sea port operations.

Bridge supports Climate Change Commission target of reducing emissions by making walking and cycling easier.

A new walking and cycling bridge is expected to become tourist attraction for the city.

Delivery of the beleaguered NZICC has been pushed back again, this time to 2024.

Endemic speed violations factor into decision to make area pedestrian-only.

Further funding is tipped for one of country’s most vulnerable regions.

A project to significantly improve transport links in Queenstown and reduce congestion for locals and visitors in the tourism hotspot has secured government approval.

Round five of Tourism Infrastructrure Fund is now open for applications with five South Island regions hit hardest by the lack of international tourists given priority.

Tourism minister Stuart Nash outlines his vision for tourism once international visitors returns which would include policy and sectoral changes.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency will close a main arterial route to Auckland Airport for safety improvements and road widening.

“As a tourism operator, we had no city,” recalls Christchurch Attractions’ Michael Esposito.

CEO Malcolm Johns says the airport operator went on a drive to diversify and outsource to help it cope with crises.