543 days ago

No time frame to have Christchurch bus exchange back up and running

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By reporter Poppy Clark:

Christchurch’s intercity bus exchange is closed for a second day, and Environment Canterbury says it has “no time frame” for when it will be back up and running.

On Monday morning passengers were advised to get up earlier to catch their bus in time for the start of the working week.

Buses were using the Manchester St Super Stop as a temporary interchange location after technical difficulties caused the bus exchange in town to close.

With different routes having to be taken and times not being displayed, Watford said the Manchester St Super Stop was like waiting for a connecting flight at the airport, bus rider Kayleigh Watford said.

“If you miss your first one it means your second one is messed up."

Regular commuter Mina Morgan was confused and frustrated by the Manchester St Super Stop.

“Everybody is rushing, everybody is running, everybody is trying to get to work and on time without getting late.”


Morgan said he wanted more structure and organisation if the closure of the interchange was going to continue.


On its Facebook page, Metro Canterbury said the building had been “impacted by a technology outage”.

Environment Canterbury public transport general manager Stewart Gibbon said some scheduled maintenance by their supplier had caused an unexpected outage which affected the interchange.

“The technology system that manages bay allocation and bay door operations at the interchange is not functioning, meaning we are currently unable to operate the interchange effectively and safely,” he said.


“Our normal contingency for interchange unavailability has been put in place, meaning the Manchester St super stops are the designated central city bus stop until this issue is resolved. Route 17 customers should use the route’s stops on Hereford St.”

When asked when the bus exchange would reopen, regional council Environment Canterbury refused to be interviewed and instead said the Metro Canterbury Facebook page would be updated as news came to hand.

It said there was no time frame for the bus exchange to be operating again as normal.

City councillor for Central Ward Jake McLellan said the closure was “frustrating and disappointing”.

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More messages from your neighbours
9 days ago

Latest scams to look out for 👀

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Neighbourly hopes to keep you safe by keeping you informed of the latest scams circulating. This week, we are sharing two common text message scams:

NZTA / Waka Kotahi scam:
- The scam is a text message saying it's from New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, and it encourages the recipient to pay an overdue road toll by visiting a fake website, threatening to take the matter to court within 15 days if they don’t pay up.
- The aim is to trick people into giving away their personal details or pay them money.
- While it is not the first time toll payments have been utilised by scammers, the threat of court action could see more people fall victim.
- The sender will either be a unknown phone number or unknown email address.
Want to report one of these scams? Do so, on Netsafe

NZ Post scam:
- This scam arrives by test message and says it's from NZ Post.
- The premise is that delivery of your parcel was unsuccessful so in order to rearrange delivery. you must click on a link to give your correct address.
- The aim is to trick people into giving away their personal details or pay them money.
- NZ Post advises people not to click the link, but to report the message to the Department of Internal Affairs by forwarding it to 7726.
Think you may have fallen prey to a scam? Get in touch with Netsafe or contact your bank if it involved your bank details.

Remember, if you didn't expect the message and you are now asked to share personal details or money, then stop contact and seek advice elsewhere.

Feel free to share any below that you've encountered recently. This may help others across the country be aware.

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5 hours ago

Happy Rāmere neighbours! Here's a riddle to start your weekend off right.

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

People make me, save me, change me, raise me. What am I?

Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.

Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.

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1 day ago

It's almost the weekend neighbours, here's a riddle to get you going!

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

What goes through cities and fields, but never moves?

Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.

Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.

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