Latest news with #CoalitionGovernment
Scoop
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Nelson Parent's Relief As NZTA Keeps Lower Speed Limit
State Highway 6 through Marybank in northern Nelson will remain at 60km/h after the community rallied to keep the lower speed limit, much to the relief of locals. The New Zealand Transport Agency confirmed the decision on Thursday afternoon. The 1.8km section of SH6/Atawhai Drive was slated to return to a mix of 80 and 100km/h speeds as part of the Coalition Government's automatic reversals of Labour-era speed limit reductions. The change would have saved 13 seconds of travel time. But a massive grassroots campaign, led by local parents, opposed the changes and eventually prompted Transport Minister Chris Bishop to backpedal, asking NZTA to engage with the community. NZTA subsequently undertook a targeted review of that specific stretch of highway which has now resulted in the speed limit remaining unchanged from 60km/h. Parents for Active Transport Atawhai member Femke Meinderts has been driving the 'Keep it 60' campaign. She said she was 'very relieved' after hearing the announcement. 'We're really happy for the kids, I feel like this is partly their victory as much as it is the community's, and we know this is the right thing for them. But relief is the word, because we just didn't really know what was going to happen.' Keeping the existing speed limit achieved widespread support, with 76% of submitters saying the lower speed had positive impacts. 'The community actually really does care about kids getting to school safely and actively. That's been awesome, but it's also been a lot of hard work,' Meinderts said. Nelson's Labour MP Rachel Boyack was 'delighted and relieved' the road was staying at 60km/h. 'This is a good decision today, but we shouldn't even have been put in this position. It has led to a lot of frustration and a lot of wasted money.' She echoed previous comments from Mayor Nick Smith that speed limits had become too politicised. 'We have to make good decisions based on good evidence, not people's reckons. I think there are lessons to be learned for everybody about how these reviews are conducted.' Smith said the Atawhai community should 'take a bow' for their effective campaign. 'It's not easy to reverse a government decision, but they have been successful. I'm pleased that the government has listened.' He added that speed limits were a 'localised issue' and the 'right decisions' could only be made by looking at each section of highway's unique circumstances. That was echoed by Nelson's Atawhai liaison councillor James Hodgson, a self-professed advocate of taking a 'thoughtful and bespoke approach' to policy. He said the issue was the result of two successive governments making 'big blanket' changes to speed limits but was pleased to see a 'common sense' decision had been made. 'I'm stoked to see that a community had a concern, and they raised it, and a good outcome was achieved. That's the best you can hope for.' Chair of the region's joint transport committee, Tasman's deputy mayor Stuart Bryant was 'pleased' by the result for Marybank and acknowledged the efforts of the community. 'Their voices have well and truly been heard.' But Marybank wasn't the only section of SH6 in the region that had been facing an increase in speed. An 800-metre stretch of Whitby Road in northern Wakefield, about 20km south of Nelson, will also stay at 60km/h after it had been slated to return to 70km/h. That change would have saved 3 seconds of time. Feedback on retaining that 60km/h speed was mixed, with 49% of submitters saying the lower speed had positive impacts, but NZTA opted to keep the lower speed. The agency noted that the lower speed made it easier for residents to cross the road, and that a 60km/h limit mitigated safety hazards well in an area that had shifted from rural to residential. Bryant, who lives in Wakefield, additionally said he had 'no issues' with the retention of the slower speed. 'People are well used to that … people can feel confident coming in and out of their driveways.' Wakefield Community Council chair Julian Eggers said NZTA had made the 'right decision'. 'The community is going to start growing soon, so there'll be more cars on the road. It's more of a safety concern.' He added that the work involved to make the change didn't match the small effects for a short stretch of road. 'To put the speed up for that and change the signs and all … the costs that are involved for that – it doesn't make sense.' But even though the speed limits won't change, Nelson parent Femke Meinderts and Parents for Active Transport Atawhai will continue campaigning for safety improvements in their area. 'We're not done. This was never really a fight we wanted to fight anyway; we're glad that we won, but we want to keep going with what we originally really were trying to fight for, which was just overall improvements in safety for the pedestrians and cyclists,' she said. 'We'd hate to see the Government and our local authorities sort of sitting back now and thinking they've done all they can, because they really haven't.' Like the two sections in Marybank and Wakefield, NZTA undertook targeted consultations and reviews for 14 other sections of state highway around the country that were otherwise slated to automatically increase in speed. Only three of the 16 sections will increase in speed. NZTA's announcement comes after SH6 between Nelson and Blenheim reverted to 100kmh on Monday, including sections in Nelson where local leaders and the community had preferred retaining lower speed limits.
Bloomberg
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Thai Leader's Fate Hangs in Balance as Allies Weigh Future
The political fate of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra remained uncertain Thursday after mounting opposition calls and street protests for her to resign following a leaked phone call in which she criticized her army. The government was at risk of collapse after the exit of the second-largest party in the coalition, the conservative Bhumjaithai Party, on Wednesday. Three parties in the 10-member alliance, on whom the fate of the coalition hung, met on Thursday, with two of them saying they would stick with Paetongtarn's administration. The other one didn't disclose its decision.
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Thai PM's Fate Hangs in Balance as Coalition Allies Weigh Future
The political fate of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra remained uncertain Thursday after mounting opposition calls and street protests for her to resign following a leaked phone call in which she criticized her army. The government was at risk of collapse after the exit of the second-largest party in the coalition, the conservative Bhumjaithai Party, on Wednesday. Three parties in the 10-member alliance, on whom the fate of the coalition hung, met on Thursday, but only one said it would stick with Paetongtarn's administration. The other two parties didn't disclose their decisions.
Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Plea to develop Rajahmundry as a beacon of knowledge
Rajamahendravaram: Rajahmundry Rural MLA Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary met Minister Nara Lokeshin Amaravati and appealed to him to transform the historic city of Rajamahendravaram, known as the cradle of Telugu culture and traditions, into a beacon of knowledge and excellence. During an hour-long discussion, Butchaiah explained the need to restore the Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, often regarded as the brainchild of the late NT Rama Rao, to its past glory. He requested the minister to allocate the necessary funds to improve the academic standards and vocational skill development for students in the region. He also brought to Lokesh's attention the urgent need to modernise drainage systems at various junctions in both Rural and City limits of Rajahmundry. Special mention was made of the Rs 3 crore pumping house project currently progressing rapidly near Sai Baba temple in Dowleswaram. As a token of the massive public response received during the 'Yuvagalam Padayatra', Nara Lokesh presented a souvenir featuring photo highlights of the campaign to Butchaiah Chowdary. The minister reportedly stated that the Coalition Government is committed to transforming Rajamahendravaram into a spectacular venue for the upcoming 2027 Godavari Pushkaralu, ensuring it becomes a model of cultural and infrastructural excellence. Lokesh also assured that efforts will be intensified to establish new universities and skill development centres to lay a strong foundation for the future of students. Expressing his joy, Butchaiah shared that Lokesh affectionately greeted him as 'Taata' (Grandpa), reflecting their warm camaraderie.
Scoop
a day ago
- Business
- Scoop
Biggest Threat To Financial Recovery Is Mad Opposition Parties
"New Zealand just posted the best quarter of economic growth in two years, and it's a tribute New Zealanders," says ACT Leader David Seymour. "Hard working people have knuckled down through a very challenging period and today's figure summarises that. The biggest threat to a recovery is now the destabilising threats of a mad opposition. "New Zealand firms, farms and families are beating the slump induced by Labour's six-year spending, inflation and interest rate nightmare. By contrast, the Coalition Government's approach of managing its own finances carefully mirrors what everyone else in New Zealand had to do while Labour went wild. "I hear every day that the Coalition Government's disciplined approach to its own finances is working. The government is taking a smaller slice of the pie each year, meaning there is more for everyone else to provide for their needs. Employers have more to pay wages, wage earners have more to feed their families, and businesses get the benefit of more spending. In other words, there's a virtuous circle when government gets out of the way. "I also hear real concern that the mad Opposition could upset the apple cart. The Green' so-called alternative Budget, and fiscal plan, are only the latest examples. The Greens suggest the government should take on half a trillion worth of debt. The interest on that debt would be more than we currently spend on education, but they smile on unhinged as if money doesn't matter. "The Greens are a paragon of sanity, though, when compared with Te Pāti Māori, who believe a new tax could raise $200 billion, or about half of all the money made in the New Zealand economy each year. Labour were pretty irresponsible, racking up $150 billion of extra debt in their time. Combined with the other fiscal terrorist outriders, though, they would be catastrophic. "ACT is committed to keeping this Government right where it is, and making it better by pushing harder for more savings every year. Our goal is that growth figures like today are only the beginning and the New Zealand economy gives financial room to breathe for all our futures in this beautiful land."
