Transport

The Ministry of Transport is still encouraging physical distancing on public transport even though it is no longer mandatory.

Wearing a face covering on public transport and planes will be compulsory at Covid-19 alert level 2 and above.

Auckland Transport is advising public transport users in the region to follow alert level 3 guidance and only use public transport when essential. 

Wellington’s Cable Car will be back in service from this Saturday 8 August after its annual maintenance shutdown.

NZ Bus has resumed its Wellington Airport Flyer service.

Queuing for a carpark will become ‘a thing of the past’ at Mt Ruapehu’s Turoa and Whakapapa Ski Fields, says Ruapehu Alpine Lifts.

Auckland will receive around $1.4m in new funding from the Government’s Innovating Streets for People programme.

The first regional transport projects of the $12bn New Zealand Upgrade Programme are underway.

Avis and Budget Car Rentals have removed cancellation fees for booking made before 31 August 2020. 

Physical distancing measures meant there would be reduced seating capacity, and services might run at a loss.

Wellington-based Rover Tours Group says the Government’s wage subsidy has enabled it to keep operating, and it is now offering a free service.

Airlines will still be required to severely restrict their capacity to meet physical distancing requirements at Covid-19 alert level 2, according to the Ministry of Transport.

A passenger ferry service between Kawau Island and Auckland’s mainland will continue so residents can replenish supplies and access essential services.

Legislative changes to driver licensing and vehicle certification requirements will help drivers safely navigate the Covid-19 lockdown.

Auckland Transport has updated its AT Mobile app to show users how many people are on a train in real time.

The Bus and Coach Association says it is “dumbfounded” by the suggestion of one union organisation that bus companies are ‘double dipping’ on the Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme.

The Government will invest a record $54b in its balanced transport policy over the next decade.

Metlink is rolling out new precautionary cleaning measures across rail, bus, and ferry today to give passengers further peace of mind.

A further $13.4m will be spent on improving State Highway 43 the Forgotten World Highway.

Convoys in and out of Milford Sound Piopiotahi are set to be ongoing as work continues on repairing the road following adverse weather that closed the highway in February.

Convoys of buses for visitors and essential services vehicles to Milford Sound Piopiotahi are continuing this week, with a small change in frequency and timing from Thursday.

The first convoys, including visitor buses into Milford Sound Piopiotahi since the torrential rain of just over a fortnight ago, have gone smoothly.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is reconnecting Milford Sound Piopiotahi for tourist bus travellers alongside essential service vehicles from this Friday.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is warning motorists of a busy week in Dunedin as international entertainers take to the stage.

The new investment will help Queenstown cope with a growing number of tourists and residents.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is urging people to prepare for the unexpected when travelling on roads in the South Island this summer. 

NZ Transport Agency has confirmed that it is aiming to fully reopen State Highway 6 south of Hokitika to Makarora in Otago in time for Christmas.

A section of the Forgotten World Highway at Tunnel Hill, Aukopae, which has been closed since 15 October due to a large underslip, has reopened to one lane of traffic.

West Coast tourism operators have welcomed the announcement that State Highway 6 from Whataroa – located north of Franz Josef – right through to Wanaka will re-open tomorrow.

Operators returning to ‘business as usual’ as police convoy escorts visitors from Fox, Franz air evacuations continue and timeline for re-opening of southern portion of SH6 emerges.

Work has begun on a second Park & Ride facility at Auckland Airport that aims to boost options for access to the terminals and reduce the number of vehicles on the precinct’s busy road network.

The Southwest Gateway programme is officially open for public feedback.

Construction of the new $29m Rotokauri Transport Hub in Hamilton will commence before Christmas.

Queenstown’s Skipper Road is set for a number of road closures starting next week as Queenstown Lakes District Council commences work to address a heightened rock fall risk near Blue Slip.

Construction has begun on the $60m Puhinui Station Interchange near Papatoetoe at Auckland.

A police and NZ Transport Agency check of Queenstown ski field transport operators over the weekend found a dozen operators were not complying with the rules.

Scottish entrepreneur Sir Brian Souter is selling Howick and Eastern Buses and Mana Coach Services to France’s Transdev for an undisclosed sum.

The NZ Transport Agency has asked for more public feedback as it develops the design of a mooted walking and cycling path across the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Adventures activity group Go Orange has gifted two buses to kiwi social enterprise Got To Get Out, which helps people get active and outdoors.

The Crown Range between Queenstown and Wanaka will be closed again today to allow for blasting works.

InterCity has moved to fill the gap left by the demise of Nakedbus and Manabus.

More than 2,500 e-scooters are set to hit Auckland streets as part of an expansion of the city’s bike-sharing scheme.

The West Coast’s flourishing tourism economy is set to benefit from a $177m package of transport investments that will improve year-round connectivity to the South Island region.

Auckland Museum has won the top prize in Auckland Transport’s annual Travelwise Choices Awards 2018.

The operator rejects claims the bus involved in Saturday’s crash had shown decreased odometer readings.

RAL says it has no issue with Mitsubishi Fuso buses in general but had decided to suspend the use of the only other vehicle of that type in its shuttle fleet while it tried to figure out what caused Saturday’s crash.

Maritime NZ is to review the current requirements for crotch straps on lifejackets in a move that could hit operators.

The sale of the two coach services came after eight months of effort trying to integrate them into Fullers, says Mike Horne.

Fullers is selling its ManaBus and Nakedbus coach operations to concentrate on its ferry services.