Buzz from the Beehive
Transport Minister Simeon Brown dutifully issued advice to all road users to keep safe on our roads during the Easter weekend. He encouraged them to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend.
But how many road users got the message?
It was posted on the government website, sure enough.
Beyond that, our Google check (no, not exhaustive) found it had been published on the Devdiscourse website, but not by mainstream media.
Brown’s name was dropped into a New Zealand Herald report headed Speed limit reversal likely to affect hundreds of South Auckland roads.
This report was triggered by a South Auckland councillor who wants safe alternatives to be provided if the Government goes ahead with plans to reverse speed limit reductions on roads around the country.
The report recalled that Transport Minister Simeon Brown recently announced plans to reverse the previous Government’s blanket approach to speed reduction across the country, with a new Land Transport Rule expected by the end of 2024.
But with regard to Easter motoring, the mainstream news media seemed more interested in Brown’s news that the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter.
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.
Here’s how he fared according to our Google news search:
Devdiscourse
Simeon Brown encouraging all road users to stay safe ahead of Easter
NZ Herald
Speed limit reversal likely to affect hundreds of South Auckland roads
Faharas NET
Brynderwyns Open For Six Days During Easter Holidays – Faharas Net
RNZ
Brynderwyn Hills motorway section to reopen for Easter weekend
Mirage News
Safety wasn’t Simeon Brown’s only concern before the long weekend. He issued a statement, too, to welcome the passing of legislation to move light elecrocvehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles into te road user charges system from 1 April.
Latest from the Beehive
28 MARCH 2024
EV road user charges bill passes
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.
Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today.
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today.
Stronger protections for apartment owners
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says.
Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.
Keep safe on our roads this Easter
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend.
Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
Over a quarter of New Zealanders will get help to ease the cost of living from Monday, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says.
Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says.
Point of Order 