NZ Urban Development news from the media | 17 Mar | New Hamilton – Auckland commuter train to begin in August

New Hamilton – Auckland commuter train to begin in August

The new Hamilton – Auckland passenger train will start running on 3 August, Transport Minister Phil Twyford announced.

The Te Huia service will consist of two morning trains from Hamilton, with two return evening trains each week day and a single return train on Saturday.

“As the Waikato and Auckland grow closer together, this new passenger train will become a crucial connection between these two major centres.

“It will allow up to 300 people to get to and from Auckland each day, helping reduce congestion on our highways and transport emissions."

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-hamilton-%E2%80%93-auckland-commuter-train-begin-august

139 Greys Ave blessed with a karakia before site works begin

Early this week, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei held a whakawātea karakia (site blessing) at 139 Greys Ave. This karakia blessed the central Auckland site in preparation for the civil works that are due to start on-site this week.

Ngāti Whātua have been integral to shaping the design of the new building and this relationship and partnership was praised and celebrated by the speakers during the blessing.

Kāinga Ora is redeveloping our well-known inner city site in central Auckland. We will be housing more people in a supportive housing environment, which will include wrap-around services and opportunities to learn and develop skills on site, which will create a great place to live.

https://kaingaora.govt.nz/news/139-greys-ave-blessed-with-a-karakia-before-site-works-begin/

Te Awa Lakes development to transform gateway into Hamilton

A proposed billion-dollar development in Hamilton's north looks set to become a reality after clearing a major planning hurdle.

Independent commissioners have approved a private plan change application by the Perry Group, paving the way for a major housing and tourism development at the group's Horotiu site.

The group's vision is for a water park along with cafes, restaurants and hotels, and a residential development with more than 1000 homes.

The commissioner's decision, allowing the riverside site to be rezoned from industrial to residential, relates to the 50 hectares inside the city's boundary. Te Awa Lakes also includes 12ha inside the neighbouring Waikato District Council. 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/residential/120247095/te-awa-lakes-development-to-transform-gateway-into-hamilton

State house builder Kāinga Ora is testing its first factory-made bathroom pods

Government mega-builder Kāinga Ora is testing bathroom pods built by Canterbury offsite manufacturing company Concision for its massive building programme.

They are the first offsite manufactured bathroom pods to be used by Kāinga Ora, in charge of building both state houses and Kiwibuild, and they are intended for its three-storey, "walk-up", one and two bedroom apartment complex in Busby Street in Auckland.

Kāinga Ora business innovation, research and design director Tim Campbell and members of the maintenance team were in Christchurch to inspect the pods this week.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/property/120181087/state-house-builder-kinga-ora-is-testing-its-first-factorymade-bathroom-pods-prefabricated-in-canterbury