Infrastructure

The government is celebrating the first project to get consent under the coalition's fast-track regime.

Drones will be used to check on what is needed before linesman head up power poles.

The 198-metre stack, once the tallest structure in New Zealand, hasn't been used in two decades. Audio

National MP Ryan Hamilton hailed the legislation, saying "hello localism, and choice" while Te Pāti Māori MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi called it "an atrocious piece of work."

Explainer - More than two years after Cyclone Gabrielle, the popular main road to Auckland's Piha is opening again. Here's how they did it. Audio

Auckland's economy is falling behind that of the South Island and rural areas, and there is no government hero coming to the rescue.

Up to 100 demonstrators came despite driving rain to voice their feelings over marina and offshore sand-mining projects currently going through the fast-track consenting process.

Contractors have been working to fix more than 780 faults across the road network caused by the storms in June and July.

Labour's Chris Hipkins says it's somewhat ironic that Peters, who signed off on the iReX ferry project, was blaming other people. Audio

On Friday, independent commissioners appointed by Canterbury Regional Council granted resource consent for the EcoGas plant, which will be built in Hornby's industrial zone.

Queenstown Airport celebrated its 90th birthday on Thursday.

The bill is now more than $600 million, after another $144m was added to the scrapped iReX ferry project cost.

The Moa Point facility is now forecast to cost up to $511 million, more than double the original amount.

Phase 1 of Tasman's speed limit reductions have now been implemented, with high-risk rural roads dropping from 100km/h.