waka kotahi

Tonight on the Huddle, former National staffer Ben Thomas and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!

Waka Kotahi is under fire for spending thousands on pies for construction workers working on the Mt Messenger bypass project in Taranaki. Is this worth the outrage?

The post-election talks have turned to delegating ministerial roles, and Nicola Willis, David Seymour and Winston Peters are all vying for the role of Deputy Prime Minister. Who would we pick? Does Luxon have to pick one candidate?

National MP Cameron Brewer has copped backlash for his joke about the return of 'pale, stale males'. Is this a rookie error- or grave mistake?

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Tonight on the Huddle, former National staffer Ben Thomas and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!

Waka Kotahi is under fire for spending thousands on pies for construction workers working on the Mt Messenger bypass project in Taranaki. Is this worth the outrage?

The post-election talks have turned to delegating ministerial roles, and Nicola Willis, David Seymour and Winston Peters are all vying for the role of Deputy Prime Minister. Who would we pick? Does Luxon have to pick one candidate?

National MP Cameron Brewer has copped backlash for his joke about the return of 'pale, stale males'. Is this a rookie error- or grave mistake?

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Plymouth's mayor is hitting out at those opposing the Mount Messenger bypass project.

A decision by Waka Kotahi to give construction workers pies has been under the spotlight and deemed wasteful by the Taxpayers Union.

Waka Kotahi prices the pies at $400 a month.

But mayor Neil Holdom says the pie criticism is a storm in a teacup.

"And it's a reflection of the desperation, because most New Zealanders have moved on and realised- actually it's happening, it's a good thing and we should look after the workers that are on site."

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The Coromandel's State Highway 25A's fix has come in ahead of time and under cost.

The road between between Kōpū and Hikuai was cut in two by Cyclone Gabrielle in January, with numerous major slips blocking travel.

It'll reopen by December 20, a full three months earlier than anticipated.

Waka Kotahi's Jo Wilton says the team worked hard and planned ahead- but there were special circumstances behind this faster-than-expected repair.

"Because it was emergency work, the consenting process is retrospective. As long as we built to the standard, we could do the consenting retrospectively. Plus, we didn't need to purchase any land."

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The construction companies behind Transmission Gully are suing Waka Kotahi over the roading project, which remains unfinished.

While the road is open, the project is still incomplete after missing multiple opening dates and has exceeded its initial $850 million budget. 

Waka Kotahi claimed there's a clear disagreement about the outstanding work and standards that need to be met to complete the project- aligning with the contract.

Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett says problems and miscommunications were present throughout all the stages of this project.

"This is the lesson from Transmission Gully- we need to build more, we've got a massive $200 billion infrastructure deficit. We've got to be better at renewing the assets we've got."

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Roadworkers in Rotorua have been shot at with a BB gun, verbally abused and left traumatised in Rotorua, Waka Kotahi claims.

Police have since issued a formal warning to one person after the incident, which took place at a detour point near the Utuhina Stream Bridge.

Waka Kotahi's David Speirs says the bridge repairs have caused a spike in traffic delays during peak times, but there's no excuse for abuse and threats.

"There was quite a high level of trauma as a consequence for the workers involved, but fortunately no-one was physically hurt." 

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Waka Kotahi has given e-scooters another legal exemption for five years.

It allows them to be used without being classified as motor vehicles- meaning no need to meet vehicle standards, be registered, or have number plates.

Riders don't need driver's licenses and they can be used on footpaths.

Living Streets President Tim Jones says he's gutted.

"We think that the profit of these e-scooter companies has pushed the rights of pedestrians aside. Having this thing renewed is the worst possible outcome for pedestrians."

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One disgruntled Kiwi motorist managed to receive pothole damage compensation from Waka Kotahi- putting him in the minority of drivers.

Waka Kotahi paid out 22 compensation claims for vehicle damage from potholes and defects in state highways in the past three years.

That’s despite the transport agency receiving more than 2200 claims over that timeframe.

Scott Hearn gave Waka Kotahi an ultimatum, before filing a claim with the Disputes Tribunal.

"I guess I was a little bit threatening towards the end, I gave them an ultimatum and said- look, I'd like an answer and I'd like this resolved by a certain time. Otherwise, you don't leave me much choice."

Waka Kotahi says compensation claims relating to road condition and vehicle damage to a vehicle are assessed individually, on a case-by-case basis.

The transport agency assesses claims relating to state highways, and local authorities assess claims relating to the 94,000km of local council-controlled roads in New Zealand.

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New Zealand would have to be the undisputed health and safety champion of the world.

Which is why I’ve always found it weird that we’re quite happy for any Tom, Dick or Harry with a smartphone to jump on one of those rental e-scooters and go for it.

Lime Scooters. Flamingo scooters. You know the ones I’m talking about.

Right now, you can find one of those things, get your phone out, scan the code on the scooter, and you’re away laughing.

No previous experience required. No helmet required. There’s not even a speed limit enforced. And you can ride anywhere - on the road, on footpaths. Anywhere and everywhere.

The reason you can do that is that is because you don’t have to have a licence to use one of these things. They also don’t have to be registered to anyone. Which is why they don’t have number plates.

But that could be all about to change because Waka Kotahi needs to decide in the next month or so whether to keep things operating like this or not.

At the moment, these e-scooters aren’t subject to certain road rules. That’s because, in 2018, there was a declaration made or given to enable companies like Lime and Flamingo and all the others to set-up shop here in New Zealand.

If someone needed a licence, for example, it would defeat the purpose of these things - which is to provide a means of transport pretty much for anyone who can keep their balance.

If you start requiring people to have licences and things - well, forget it.

But, five years down the track, Waka Kotahi now needs to decide if it’s going to renew that exemption declaration or not. And, if it doesn’t, then we can effectively kiss goodbye to anywhere, anytime rental e-scooters in New Zealand.

When these things first arrived on the scene, I thought they were great because they gave the feel of being a modern, 21st-century outfit didn’t they? Well, that’s how I felt about them at the time.

There was certainly something cool about them. But I think the novelty has worn-off. That could be because more of us seem to be open to using  public transport like buses. Or maybe it’s because Uber is much more mainstream now than it was even just five years ago.

The other thing too, is that most of us have probably felt a bit at-risk from some of the idiots who use these Lime Scooters and Flamingo Scooters.

Most likely, night-time is the most risky time. But I could walk out of our building at lunchtime today and there’d be someone screaming down the street on the footpath. Not giving two hoots about me or anyone else out on the street.

Or it might not even be just one person. You see two people on the same scooter, don’t you? And they’re actually the ones I’m most weary of because it’s not like you’ve got two sets of eyes looking out for you.

No. They’re focussed on having a laugh. Until it goes all pear-shaped.

Which has well-and-truly happened since these things came to New Zealand. It’s been reported that thousands of people are injured every year using these things. Tragically, there have been deaths, as well.

Here are some numbers for you. Between October 2018 and October last year, there was $30 million worth of ACC claims for e-scooter injuries. These included rental scooters and privately-owned scooters. The number of claims was just over 10,500.

And, in the first year since e-scooters were exempt from some of the road rules that apply to other vehicles, surgeons in Auckland operated on more e-scooter riders than motorbike riders.

And the e-scooter riders they were treating were turning up with the types of traumatic injuries you’d normally see in people involved in car crashes. Chances are things have improved a bit on that front. But who knows.

Either way, Waka Kotahi has a decision to make. And needs to make it pretty soon. Because, come the end of September, if the road rules exemption continues then so will the Lime Scooters. But, if it decides not to extend the exemption, then the scooters will be gone.

And I wouldn’t be upset about that. Because, as I said before, the novelty has gone for me and I think they’ve had their day.   

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The Te Huia rail service that runs from Hamilton to Auckland has been banned from travelling north of Papakura.

This follows multiple incidents of Kiwirail train drivers failing to obey signals, putting the train at risk of collision.

 The Public Transport Users Association's Jon Reeves says this move will just encourage more commuters back into cars.

"Who wants to get on a bus in a traffic jam in peak time around Auckland to get into Parnell? This is just going to kill it."

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An investigation into an auto repair shop led to over 600 WOF's being revoked by Waka Kotahi.

Newmarket Auto Repairs has been suspended from MTA while an investigation is carried out into the company's lack of a certified inspector.

Motor Trade Association CEO Lee Marshall says a chance audit from the transport agency revealed this serious breach.

"The requirements are that warrants of fitness can only be issued by an authorised vehicle inspector and they need to be there and present and doing it. And we know from Waka Kotahi that this was not happening."

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Anyone wanting to head north out of Auckland for the school holidays will have to allow more time to get there.

State Highway 1 at Dome Valley will remain closed over the weekend, with hopes it'll reopen on Monday, as teams work to clear a slip.

The stretch of road has been closed multiple times in the past year.

Waka Kotahi spokesperson Jacqui Hori-Hoult told Heather du-Plessis Allan that they've put a retaining wall in.

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Waka Kotahi's pulling out all the stops to reconnect Coromandel Peninsula's State Highway 25A by March next year.

Cyclone Gabrielle devastated the region, and wiped out parts of the highway between Kopu and Hikuai.

Now up to 100 workers will work extended hours, seven days a week on a new bridge.

But Waka Kotahi's Jo Wilton says they can't account for all factors.

"We don't have a crystal ball, so we've worked everything out that we can get it done by March. But should we have another pandemic, or an earthquake, that will impact our progress."

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Tonight on The Huddle, former Labour Press Secretary Kaine Thompson and Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!

Are Waka Kotahi over-reacting with the Harbour Bridge closures? It seems like they close sections of the bridge every time the wind picks up- are they getting too risk-adverse?

Transpower is warning parts of the country may face short outages at times of high demand this winter- is this acceptable? Do we need to invest in new methods of energy to fill the gap left by decarbonisation? 

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins appeared on Kerre Woodham's show to answer questions- including some talkback ones about adjusting tax brackets later down the line. Could this be revisited in Labour's election manifesto?

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Transport Minister Michael Wood isn’t ruling out the delay of some major roading projects. Waka Kotahi is currently working on 19 projects, and are trying to see how to continue with them with only the money they currently have.

Amongst these projects are the Otaki to Levin expressway, Wellington’s Melling Interchange, and Auckland’s Penlink.

AA’s Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Simon Douglas said that while the Transport Minister has not explicitly rolled back any projects, the introduction of any uncertainty is unhelpful.

He said that since motorists are expecting them, firm commitments are needed to get the projects underway.

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NZ Taxpayers Union Executive Director Jordan Williams and Labour candidate for Rongotai Fleur Fitzsimons join Nick Mills for the Friday Faceoff.

Together they debate whether teachers should be going on strike, ED wait times, National's plan to cut Government consultants, and whether median barriers are affective at making our roads safer.

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The coming weather is expected to disrupt already affected roads around the North Island.

Damage to Coromandel's State Highway 25A has been particularly bad as the road at the summit has completely collapsed and closed indefinitely. 

There are also closures on State Highway 25 and 37 because of the damage from flooding, slips and debris.

Waka Kotahi Regional Maintenance Manager Jacqui Hori-Hoult says drivers need to research the risks ahead of time and several regions must avoid non-essential travel over the next few days.

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There are questions as to whether a Far North highway is ever going to be fixed.

State Highway One from Whangarei to Kaitaia through Mangamuka Gorge has been closed since August.

There is still no timeline from Waka Kotahi when it will be fixed, but it's hoping to apply for funding.

Kaitaia Business Association Chair Andrea Panther says it could take a while to find out what's going to happen.

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Former Wellington mayor Justin Lester and former MP and lawyer Stephen Franks go to head to head in one of Wellington Morning's most fiery Friday Faceoff panels yet.

Together they debate National's plan to tackle youth crime, Waka Kotahi's plan to reduce speeds across the country, Let's Get Wellington Moving and councillor salaries. 

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What really frustrates me about this debate about dropping the speed limits is that it’s not evidence-based.

This proposal doesn’t seem to be based on facts.

People have just accepted the argument at face value without looking a little deeper and asking: will dropping speed limits on 500 kilometres-worth of roading in this country really help us get road deaths down significantly?  Will it really help us get road deaths down to zero? 

So let’s look at the facts.

Only 15 percent of road deaths happen because of speed only.  Which means 85 percent of crashes happen below the speed limit or because the drivers are boozed or drugged up.   

85 percent.

So Waka Kotahi’s big solution to getting the road toll down completely ignores the fact that 85 percent of the road toll will probably be unaffected.

And as a justification for dropping speed limits, Waka Kotahi has drummed up a lot of publicity around our particularly bad road toll this year.

Come on. It’s pretty much on par with the last five years, and frankly in context, our road toll has been falling every single decade since the 70s.

Back in 1973, when we had a population of 3 million, the road toll was 843; more than double what it is now with almost half the population.

The worst thing about this is that it gives transport officials an excuse to not do the things that would actually make a difference.

They’re doing this so they don’t have to put in media barriers that would actually be effective at stopping cars crossing the centre line and smacking into other cars head on.

And that wouldn’t just stop head on crashes from speeding cars, but from everything else as well. Tired drivers, distracted drivers, drunk drivers, drugged drivers.

Logically, putting in a median barrier would probably save more lives than dropping a speed limit, but they don’t do that. They instead drop the speed limit so they can keep being lazy and not spending proper money on the roads.

What’s frustrating is that those facts are not what are being debated; instead, we’ve got an argument dictated by emotion.

Which means we’ll probably all end up having to drive more slowly, while hundreds of people still die on the roads each year because speed isn’t really the biggest problem.

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