News from MetLink
Due to urgent mechanical work some train services today are cancelled or have reduced seating, and a half hourly timetable is operating on the Johnsonville line. This will affect the afternoon peak. Read more »

News from Association of Salaried Medical Specialists
Efforts to avert a full-day Christmas Eve strike have failed, and further strikes are now likely, after Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira again refused to engage with the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS). Read more »

News from PSA
It was confirmed today that after one of the most drawn-out industrial disputes of 2018, a new collective agreement will be signed between the PSA and Ministry of Justice. Read more »

by Barrie Saunders
Education Minister Chris Hipkins made the right decision to reject the Victoria University of Wellington’s Council request to change its name to the University of Wellington. Read more »

News from Regional Council
Passengers will be able to travel free on Christmas Day on the Wellington region’s buses and trains. Greater Wellington Regional Council’s Sustainable Transport Committee approved the proposal from Chief Executive Greg Campbell for trains and buses to operate free all day on 25 December. Read more »

Media release from Wellington Regional Council
Improvements in Wellington’s new bus services are “ongoing and sustained,” an independent review into implementation challenges of the Wellington City and Hutt Valley network has found. Read more »

News from WREDA
Experienced businesswoman and professional director Tracey Bridges has been named as the new chair of the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (WREDA). A proud Wellingtonian who has lived and worked in the region for 27 years, Tracey is a professional director with experience leading and growing private businesses from start-up. Read more »

Press Release – Upper Hutt City Council
The Upper Hutt City Council has resolved to reoccupy the Central Library building once work is finished in late-February/early-March.

Upper Hutt’s much-loved Library service will be returning to its original location after seismic strengthening works are complete.

The decision to move back seeks to re-establish the full suite of services back into Upper Hutt City Libraries’ portfolio.

The Central Library building was vacated in early 2018 after an engineer’s report found the building was not up to appropriate structural standard for its designated public use. Works originally sought to rectify the issues discovered, bringing the building up to IL3 standard by mid December 2018. The scope of the work was extended to increase the rating to IL4 and upgrade the building’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system which in turn is expected to extend the period of work to late-February 2019. Once work is complete, the building will be one of the strongest and most resilient in Upper Hutt. The higher seismic rating also means that the building can now be used for a lager variety of activities going forward, such as a civil defence emergency operations centre.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the Library back to full-capacity at the newly upgraded space,” says Council’s Chief Executive, Peter Kelly. ”I want to commend our library staff who have been extremely dedicated to the services they have continued to provide throughout this whole process. The move back in will enable staff to continue their great work for library customers and the wider Upper Hutt community.”

Council is also exploring the option of relocating the Central Library in the future, to Main Street. Relocating to Main Street will increase foot traffic around Upper Hutt’s citycentre retail precinct and contribute to the revitalisation of the area. There may be an opportunity to trial a location in Main Street later in 2019, but from late-February/early-March Council will have its current library facility available for use, so the decision to move back has been made. This will enable the library to restore its full services and save ratepayer money on renting a ‘pop-up’ space elsewhere.

Another upcoming resilience project will be the strengthening of Council’s Civic Centre building. This building is not under the same time-pressure as the Central Library was, and a trial move of the Central Library to Main Street may afford Council some office space in the newly upgraded building while work on the Civic Centre takes place.

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Press Release – Kapiti Coast District Council
The Kāpiti Coast District Council will open a weekday pop-up library in Mahara Place on Friday, following the closure of the Waikanae Library after the discovery of toxic mould. Read more »

News from NZ Government
Education Minister Chris Hipkins has declined Victoria University of Wellington Council’s application for a legal name change. Read more »