Northern Pathway Confirmed on Western Side of Motorway
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) have announced that the Akoranga Drive to Constellation Drive portion of the Northern Pathway will be on the western side of the motorway, with 82% of respondants supporting this side of the motorway.
This mirrors the Kaipātiki Local Board's formal feedback of supporting the western side of the motorway with connections into the surrounding roads and reserves.
The Kaipātiki Local Board had also highlighted concern about the potential effect on Smiths Bush Scenic Reserve, and this was also reflected in public feedback. NZTA are now working with the local restoration groups and the Local Board on options in this area that will protect the bush.
NZTA announcement: www.nzta.govt.nz...
On Smiths Bush, NZTA say:
"We received a great deal of feedback highlighting the special place that Smiths Bush holds in the community as an ancient, ecologically unique urban ngahere (forest). We have listened to this and are working with relevant community groups, local boards and government agencies to consider options to mitigate any potential environmental impact as we finalise our business case. There will be further discussion with mana whenua, project partners and key stakeholders as this design detail is developed in the next phase of the project. Through our ongoing public engagement we will also consider how the wider cultural and social elements can be enhanced to deliver a project that benefits the whole community."
For more information:
* NZTA announcement: www.nzta.govt.nz...
* Download PDF with more info on the route: www.nzta.govt.nz...
* Download PDF with public engagement results: www.nzta.govt.nz...
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
-
52.7% Human-centred experience and communication
-
14.6% Critical thinking
-
30% Resilience and adaptability
-
2.7% Other - I will share below!
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
Loading…
