Latest news with #Swiggs
Otago Daily Times
09-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
New public transport ticketing system delayed again
Fresh delays have hit the roll-out of the national public transport ticketing system. The 'Motu Move' project will replace all transit cards used on buses, trains and ferries around New Zealand with a single national card. Transport users will also be able to use contactless cards and other devices to tag on and off. The first phase was due to be rolled out in Timaru and Temuka by mid-2025, but that has been delayed, with no revised date offered by NZTA. Environment Canterbury councillor Deon Swiggs said another delay was "definitely frustrating" as it was a promising project. "The principle of it is going to be absolutely fantastic ... you just tap on with your phone, tap off with your phone and it's seamless, it should be very easy the same way you use your public transport right across the country," he told Morning Report . "We've got ferries in Canterbury, we've got trains in Wellington and buses anywhere in the country. So, it is really frustrating. It's an exciting project, but it's delayed." Swiggs said there had been some challenges with the functionality. He said his understanding was that the base functionality was working fine, but it was the extra functionality that had been causing some of the issues. "Imagine you've got so many different pricing structures across the country, that's one of the issues from what I understand. They're having an issue trying to roll out," he said. "But let's see what we can do in Canterbury to roll it out because we've been promising our communities this for nearly two or three years. "I know the programme's been in the woodworks for about seven years. "Let's get it out there." Swiggs said it was really up to the technology provider behind the project to get it across the finish line. "They need to deliver a product that is robust enough for us to be able to roll out. The base functionality, from what I understand, is pretty robust. It is working." He said a trial was already under way for the region's airport bus and hoped other features will be rolled out soon. Swiggs said those involved in the project needed to be on the same page. "I just think there needs to be better communication going on between all the parties involved so that we can get a really clear line of communication, know what's going on (and) tell people this is what's happening and get this thing off the ground."
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
‘One-stop Shop': How RMA Reforms Could Shake Up Local Government
Article – David Hill – Local Democracy Reporter Change is in store for local government, amid RMA reform. Proposed legislation to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA) could bring sweeping changes for local councils. Amid speculation the Government is looking at local government amalgamation as part of the legislation, some believe many council functions could be stripped from them leaving them wondering what functions would be left at a local level. But Environment Canterbury chairperson Craig Pauling firmly believes there is a future for separate district and regional councils. ''There needs to be a partnership between local, regional and central government and we (ECan) are good at bringing people together. ''If you are in Kaikōura, your main focus is Kaikōura, but at a regional level my focus is Canterbury.'' Among the proposed changes is compliance, monitoring and enforcement (CME) functions to go to ''an Environment Protection Authority-type regulator''. A single regional plan is proposed, which would bring together ECan's seven regional plans, four river plans, the 10 District Plans and the various spatial plans developed by local councils. Mr Pauling believes there needs to be something at a regional level for planning and consenting, ''but you can still have delivery of services done at a local level''. He says the proposed changes could lead to a ''one-stop shop'' for consents, instead of developers having to apply to ECan and local councils for different consents for the same development, but is not convinced a unitary authority is the answer. ''You shouldn't have a student marking their own exams.'' A single spatial plan chapter for the region is expected to have legislative clout. But whether this will prevent housing developments, such as the proposed Ohoka sub-division, near Kaiapoi, appearing outside of a designated urban area remains uncertain. ''I suspect not because of the premise in the RMA reforms for private property rights,'' ECan deputy chairperson Deon Swiggs says. ECan is continuing preparation work for a new Canterbury Regional Coastal Environment Plan and a single regional plan. Former ECan chairperson Peter Scott blasted his colleagues last month for ''wasting money'' in allowing staff to continue planning work in the face of change. But Mr Swiggs said staff were conducting research and analysis which will help to inform future plans, regardless of the planning framework. ''We still have work to do and we need to get on and do it,'' Mr Swiggs said. ''The work of our staff will endure regardless of what planning frameworks we have in place in the future.'' In November, ECan voted to delay notifying the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement until January 2026, while it awaits more certainty with RMA reform. The council is also waiting for advice from the Environment Minister on whether it can notify a plan change to the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan designed to resolve issues arising from a Supreme Court ruling in 2023. Local Government Minister Simon Watts said amalgamation is a local decision and the Government will not force councils to amalgamate. He said the RMA replacement legislation will include provisions relating to the roles, responsibilities and processes of local government. 'I have asked my officials to work with the sector on what that could mean for councils.' RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop said the new legislation 'will provide a radical transition to a far more liberal planning system with less red tape' and an emphasis on property rights. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
‘One-stop Shop': How RMA Reforms Could Shake Up Local Government
Proposed legislation to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA) could bring sweeping changes for local councils. Amid speculation the Government is looking at local government amalgamation as part of the legislation, some believe many council functions could be stripped from them leaving them wondering what functions would be left at a local level. But Environment Canterbury chairperson Craig Pauling firmly believes there is a future for separate district and regional councils. ''There needs to be a partnership between local, regional and central government and we (ECan) are good at bringing people together. ''If you are in Kaikōura, your main focus is Kaikōura, but at a regional level my focus is Canterbury.'' Among the proposed changes is compliance, monitoring and enforcement (CME) functions to go to ''an Environment Protection Authority-type regulator''. A single regional plan is proposed, which would bring together ECan's seven regional plans, four river plans, the 10 District Plans and the various spatial plans developed by local councils. Mr Pauling believes there needs to be something at a regional level for planning and consenting, ''but you can still have delivery of services done at a local level''. He says the proposed changes could lead to a ''one-stop shop'' for consents, instead of developers having to apply to ECan and local councils for different consents for the same development, but is not convinced a unitary authority is the answer. ''You shouldn't have a student marking their own exams.'' A single spatial plan chapter for the region is expected to have legislative clout. But whether this will prevent housing developments, such as the proposed Ohoka sub-division, near Kaiapoi, appearing outside of a designated urban area remains uncertain. ''I suspect not because of the premise in the RMA reforms for private property rights,'' ECan deputy chairperson Deon Swiggs says. ECan is continuing preparation work for a new Canterbury Regional Coastal Environment Plan and a single regional plan. Former ECan chairperson Peter Scott blasted his colleagues last month for ''wasting money'' in allowing staff to continue planning work in the face of change. But Mr Swiggs said staff were conducting research and analysis which will help to inform future plans, regardless of the planning framework. ''We still have work to do and we need to get on and do it,'' Mr Swiggs said. ''The work of our staff will endure regardless of what planning frameworks we have in place in the future.'' In November, ECan voted to delay notifying the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement until January 2026, while it awaits more certainty with RMA reform. The council is also waiting for advice from the Environment Minister on whether it can notify a plan change to the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan designed to resolve issues arising from a Supreme Court ruling in 2023. Local Government Minister Simon Watts said amalgamation is a local decision and the Government will not force councils to amalgamate. He said the RMA replacement legislation will include provisions relating to the roles, responsibilities and processes of local government. "I have asked my officials to work with the sector on what that could mean for councils." RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop said the new legislation "will provide a radical transition to a far more liberal planning system with less red tape" and an emphasis on property rights.
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
'One-stop shop': How RMA reforms could shake up local government
Proposed legislation to replace the Resource Management Act could bring sweeping changes for Canterbury councils. Amid speculation the Government is looking at local government amalgamation as part of the legislation, some believe many council functions could be stripped from them, leaving them wondering what functions would be left at a local level. But Environment Canterbury chairperson Craig Pauling firmly believes there is a future for separate district and regional councils. ''There needs to be a partnership between local, regional and central government and we (ECan) are good at bringing people together. ''If you are in Kaikōura, your main focus is Kaikōura, but at a regional level my focus is Canterbury.'' Among the proposed changes is compliance, monitoring and enforcement (CME) functions to go to ''an Environment Protection Authority-type regulator''. A single regional plan is proposed, which would bring together ECan's seven regional plans, four river plans, the 10 District Plans and the various spatial plans developed by local councils. Pauling believes there needs to be something at a regional level for planning and consenting, ''but you can still have delivery of services done at a local level''. He says the proposed changes could lead to a ''one-stop shop'' for consents, instead of developers having to apply to ECan and local councils for different consents for the same development, but is not convinced a unitary authority is the answer. ''You shouldn't have a student marking their own exams.'' A single spatial plan chapter for the region is expected to have legislative clout. But whether this will prevent housing developments, such as the proposed Ohoka sub-division, near Kaiapoi, appearing outside of a designated urban area remains uncertain. ''I suspect not because of the premise in the RMA reforms for private property rights,'' ECan deputy chairperson Deon Swiggs says. ECan is continuing preparation work for a new Canterbury Regional Coastal Environment Plan and a single regional plan. Former ECan chairperson Peter Scott blasted his colleagues last month for ''wasting money'' in allowing staff to continue planning work in the face of change. But Swiggs said staff were conducting research and analysis which will help to inform future plans, regardless of the planning framework. ''We still have work to do and we need to get on and do it,'' Swiggs said. ''The work of our staff will endure regardless of what planning frameworks we have in place in the future.'' In November, ECan voted to delay notifying the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement until January 2026, while it awaits more certainty with RMA reform. The council is also waiting for advice from the Environment Minister on whether it can notify a plan change to the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan designed to resolve issues arising from a Supreme Court ruling in 2023. Local Government Minister Simon Watts said amalgamation is a local decision and the Government will not force councils to amalgamate. He said the RMA replacement legislation will include provisions relating to the roles, responsibilities and processes of local government. "I have asked my officials to work with the sector on what that could mean for councils." RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop said the new legislation "will provide a radical transition to a far more liberal planning system with less red tape" and an emphasis on property rights. By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
