📢 Massey University researcher Thomas Nash has visited UK cities to see what NZ can learn from building communities with trains at the centre.
Why New Zealand should build cities around train stations - report
1news.co.nz
Thomas Nash
@thomasnash.bsky.social
Cities, transport and economic and climate transitions
Building communities in our most connected places makes sense, but often seems harder than it should be. So I’ve been working on a research project for Massey University documenting new or improved communities built up around public transport hubs in the UK - transit-oriented developments. 1/
It's not a coincidence that our bus patronage numbers are hitting all time highs. This term we've delivered more bus lanes than the seven previous councils combined
Big moment this morning to help sign the contract with Alstom for 18 new five-car trains to serve people in the lower North Island from 2029. This will allow us to quadruple rail services to Palmerston North, double services to Masterton and open up for more development around railway stations. 1/
Bringing bus depots in the Wellington region under public control is already helping attract interest from a range of bus companies looking to operate buses for Metlink. Public ownership of critical assets can help secure public services, drive competition and get a better deal for the public.
Fresh contenders line up for bus contracts
With Wellington’s next round of bus contracts less than a year from being put to tender, the competition is already heating up. Alongside the four current operators, another four “serious” new players...
thepost.co.nz
We just had the busiest July on record for Wellington’s Metlink bus network, with 2,326,413 bus passenger trips. This is driven by our reliability being steadily over 99% across the network. Once the government brings its rail tracks up to standard, rail patronage will see the same increase.
Our annual public transport satisfaction survey is out, with bus network satisfaction and bus patronage at record highs, as a result of record high reliability. Satisfaction with rail is down, with the state of the government’s ageing rail assets driving lower reliability and lower patronage. 1/
Stopping people from being able to update their electoral details on the spot just further disenfranchises voters who move often (renters, seasonal workers etc.). A bad move that’ll only harm people’s democratic right to vote www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
No more enrolling on voting day, new offence for handing out treats
The Government has overhauled New Zealand’s electoral law, including closing enrolment before advance voting begins.
thepost.co.nz
For local government nerds - if you haven't seen Policy for Public Good from WEALL, it's a really, really great document that summarises so many great ideas for local government. This is the kind of stuff I wish was platformed more. www.weall.org.nz/local-govt
Local Govt — WEAll Aotearoa - Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa NZ
weall.org.nz
Back in Pōneke after a fab few days in Ōtautahi/Christchurch for LGNZ. It was great to connect with other local government leaders from across the motu, discussing the obstacles we face and asking what kind of future we want to create. Here are my takeaways:
in what will be remembered as an innovative and possibly foolhardy move, I have tried to include numbers and even a graph in this piece of commentary about local government rates
In the words of Nelson Mandela: it always seems impossible until it’s done. My friends, it is done. And you are the ones who did it. I am honored to be your Democratic nominee for the Mayor of New York City.
This new Harbour Quays bus route is big. Speeding up bus trips through the city makes daily life better for people, gets more bus frequency for the same cost and services more destinations. I hope the government will reconsider its decision not to help fund this very high value infrastructure.
As we head into Matariki, I was reminded how important the arts are to Wellington's cultural and economic wellbeing. It's super important we support creatives - you can read more about this in my op-ed! www.thepost.co.nz/culture/3607...
Matariki and the value of art
OPINION: We need to continue investing in the arts if we want jobs, economic benefits and strong communities ‒ and yes, that means central government, too.
thepost.co.nz
Wellington needs council candidates to focus on serious, affordable, high value for money projects they can actually deliver. Bus lanes, especially on the Harbour Quays, are a good example. Saving 10 mins for each of the 70,000 bus trips people take each day through the city is a very big deal. 1/
Your Wellington Greens are committing to delivering a faster and more efficient bus network with bus lanes, stop improvements, and priority lights all the way from Seatoun to the Railway station
The only thing standing in the way of real change...is a few car parks. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Wellington's Green Party council candidates promote transport proposals
They say their proposal to give buses priority on key routes would cut some commuter's trips by 10-15 minutes.
rnz.co.nz
Study on London 20 mph limits shows: - collisions ⬇️ 35% - casualties ⬇️ 36% - fatal/serious injuries ⬇️ 34% - child casualties ⬇️ 46% - child deaths ⬇️ 75% - walkers, cyclists, motorcyclists killed/seriously injured ⬇️ 28% etsc.eu/20mph-limits...
20mph limits in London linked to sharp fall in road injuries and deaths, new report finds
A new study published by Transport for London (TfL) has shown that the introduction of 20mph speed limits and zones on local authority-managed roads in London between 1989 and 2013 led to significant…
etsc.eu
I can’t wait until we unlock the potential of PT for Saturday morning sport. It’s time for our transport networks to break out of 20th century patterns of work and play
Thomas Nash@thomasnash.bsky.social · last yr.The increase in Wellington’s weekend bus use is remarkable. Saturday is up 31% from 2019. Sunday is up 45%. In this period we increased our off peak discount and boosted off peak frequency, reducing drivers’ inconvenient split shifts. Still loads of untapped potential for off peak travel I reckon.
The increase in Wellington’s weekend bus use is remarkable. Saturday is up 31% from 2019. Sunday is up 45%. In this period we increased our off peak discount and boosted off peak frequency, reducing drivers’ inconvenient split shifts. Still loads of untapped potential for off peak travel I reckon.
Very good to have more support for the Regional Council’s existing policy on fare capping. If central government’s ticketing project is delayed any further we should look to deliver this in Wellington now, as Auckland has already done. For now we need the city council to finish the bus lanes job. 1/
Our regional council has already approved fare capping, integrated ticketing and debit card payment - this isn’t new PT policy. It’s just that we’re at the behest of the govts national ticketing system. Wellington deserves what Auckland PT users already have. We shouldn’t have to wait longer
"The Government knows there’s nothing similar between household borrowing and government borrowing. But it also knows that you don’t know that. (Because no one ever explains this properly.) So why use this metaphor if it’s so misleading?" www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...
Verity Johnson: ‘Running the country like a household’ is a political con
OPINION: Government knows there’s nothing similar between household borrowing and government borrowing. But it also knows that you don’t know that.
stuff.co.nz
Turns out objections to Te Reo signage was never about legibility or safety .... Distracting, unreadable and dangerous signage on the right coming to over 150 school communities across Auckland to replace the sign on the left.
that infrastructure commission report that said we’re rapidly running down our *pre-war* infrastructure is one of those clarifying moments: politicians should probably be falling over themselves to address this etc
Some thoughts on the newly announced maintenance and renewal funding for the government’s rail assets. This new funding needs to be part of a wider shift towards a new and fit for purpose rail model in New Zealand that properly recognises the full value of rail for our cities and our economy.
The Post
thepost.co.nz
This new $143m covers the next two years of maintenance and renewals of the Crown’s rail assets. Having two years of certainty should help lift some of the speed restrictions KiwiRail has put on the network due to the state of its assets while giving rail partners time to agree a new funding model.
Budget 2025: $600m for upgrading rail network
Wellington and Auckland will see $140 million to replace and upgrade their metropolitan rail.
rnz.co.nz
Our bus lanes have cut travel times by a third between Newtown and Courtenay Place, yet candidates are hesitant to support more of them. Bus lanes have been transformational for the city and you won’t catch me hesitating to back building more! www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3606...
Bus fight brewing as Thomas Nash hints at new mayoral challenger
The regional councillor turns up the heat in Wellington’s mayoral race, using bus lane data to call out a perceived lack of commitment to public transport.
thepost.co.nz
Wellington has doubled the length of bus lanes and bus priority over this council term. One result is afternoon peak travel times from Newtown to Courtenay Pl are a third faster. But the full benefits of these bus lane time savings rely on doing the Golden Mile and Harbour Quays projects ASAP. 1/
