Rail tunnel important for South Island coal exports to reopen

Rail tunnel important for South Island coal exports to reopen
The Stockton coal mine. (Image: Bathurst Resources)
Oliver Lewis
A damaged rail tunnel that disrupted coal exports in the South Island when it was closed last year will reopen next week, KiwiRail says.According to the state-owned rail operator, the 370-metre tunnel, which was built near Reefton in the 1890s, was closed last June after a digger operator carrying out track renewals noticed crumbling in the tunnel lining.Further inspections revealed three sections had structural issues.On Tuesday, the South Island regional infrastructure manager at KiwiRail, Gary Ikin, said the tunnel was scheduled to reopen on...

More Infrastructure

Expressway bidder faces scrutiny amid Sydney rail allegations
Infrastructure

Expressway bidder faces scrutiny amid Sydney rail allegations

NZTA is monitoring the situation as it assesses a local bid involving Webuild.

Oliver Lewis 11 Sep 2025
Rates capping could hit council credit ratings
Finance

Rates capping could hit council credit ratings

Treasury warns rates are ‘significantly below’ sustainable levels.

Oliver Lewis 11 Sep 2025
Average home insurance tops $2,000
Infrastructure Risky Business

Average home insurance tops $2,000

Insurance premiums in New Zealand have increased dramatically in recent years.

Michael Neilson 11 Sep 2025
Transpower to spend $1.1b on Cook Strait link upgrade
Infrastructure

Transpower to spend $1.1b on Cook Strait link upgrade

Transpower plans to spend $1.1 billion on upgrading the electricity link between the North and South Islands.The state-owned power grid operator said it had applied to the Commerce Commission for approval to invest in the High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) link.The proposal inclu...

Staff reporters 09 Sep 2025