Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Cory, on Rails 🚂 @aitkesandpains.bsky.social · 7h

The Grey River Māwheranui is running real high today ☔

The old wooden coal wharf on the grey river, looking towards the river mouth. the water level is about 1 metre from hitting the top

The grey river hitting the river bridge to Cobden at the top of the town

1 2 13

Reposted by Cory, on Rails 🚂

NZ Transit Buzz @nztransitbuzz.bsky.social · 16h

#TrainNews: Motor Vessel Wairua has shared a video of the 1876 Steam Locomotive “Skunk” being recovered from South Beach after being lost in the sand for over a century.

The locomotive is now with Steam Rail Wanganui, who have plans for its future.

2 3

Cory, on Rails 🚂 @aitkesandpains.bsky.social · 1d

You are 100% correct! The Greymouth Floodwall is the starting point of the 133km West Coast Wilderness Trail which winds its way to Hokitika and Ross
westcoastwildernesstrail.co.nz

West Coast Wilderness Trail

This is a page about the wilderness trail

westcoastwildernesstrail.co.nz

1

Cory, on Rails 🚂 @aitkesandpains.bsky.social · 1d

The Tranzalpine was voted the 20th best train trip in the world by Condé Nast Traveler in 2025 🛤️

Now that Intercity has started a competing Chch-Greymouth bus service, I hope that Kiwirail might drop their steep ticket prices to stay competitive, and more people will get to enjoy this amazing trip!

The Tranzalpine train departing Greymouth Railway Station on the 14th of July 2025, taken by me off the Grey River Bridge. On the right you can see the river, on the centre is the floodwall, on the centre right the train crosses Mawhera Quay and the town of Greymouth is visible on the background

1 3 19

Reposted by Cory, on Rails 🚂

The Opportunities Party @top.org.nz · 1d

The Government's means testing for jobseeker benefits is is typical of their myopic, populist approach to governance. It will not build skills, create jobs or prepare youth for the impact of AI.

TOP believes Aotearoa needs a comprehensive overhaul of taxes and income support to give youth a chance.

Banner ad highlighting TOP's real support for young workers. You can read our policies here: https://www.top.org.nz/policy

2 3

Reposted by Cory, on Rails 🚂

NZ Transit Buzz @nztransitbuzz.bsky.social · 10d

#RailNews: KiwiRail has released its FY25 results.

KR delivered an operating surplus of $111m for its services business, up from $105.6m in FY24 and ahead of the Statement of Corporate Intent target of $110m.

MORE: www.kiwirail.co.nz/media/kiwira...

1 2

Reposted by Cory, on Rails 🚂

NZ Transit Buzz @nztransitbuzz.bsky.social · 2d

#TrainNews: A piece of New Zealand’s railway history is set to return to Taranaki’s tracks this Labour Weekend, offering residents a nostalgic journey back in time.

Via The Post: www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

Tokomaru railcar coming back to Taranaki for Labour Weekend

A piece of New Zealand’s railway history is set to return to Taranaki’s tracks this Labour Weekend, offering residents a nostalgic journey back in time.

www.thepost.co.nz

1 2 4

Reposted by Cory, on Rails 🚂

Patrick Reynolds for a greater Auckland @patrickreynolds.bsky.social · 3d

Here with great Auckland Mayor Sir Dove-Meyer ‘Robbie’ Robinson, in office 1968-80, famous for trying to build a Rapid Transit systems ‘Robbie’s Rail’. So overdue, but also now within reach. My top priority, and what really started my involvement in AKl policy:

1 3 26

Reposted by Cory, on Rails 🚂

NZ Transit Buzz @nztransitbuzz.bsky.social · 4d

#BusNews: An Aranui local in Christchurch said a lack of any bus routes through their suburb is leaving elderly and disabled people feeling stuck in their homes.

Via RNZ: www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

'We are all stuck': Christchurch suburb bus shortage hits elderly, disabled

With no buses since the 2011 earthquakes, the elderly and disabled are struggling to leave their homes.

www.rnz.co.nz

3 4

Reposted by Cory, on Rails 🚂

The Opportunities Party @top.org.nz · 7d

TOP backs a Land Value Tax
because-

1. it lowers incentives for speculation and encourages landowners to put property into productive use
2. taxing it's value is cheaper and easier as it can't be hidden or easily avoided
3. it discourages urban sprawl which supports the environment

#VoteTOP

The list of benefits is quite long. Here is a treasury report on Land Value Tax circa 2014

https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2017-10/uc-zbigniewdumienski.pdf

1 3 10

Reposted by Cory, on Rails 🚂

The Opportunities Party @top.org.nz · 5d

Luxon can't do maths apparently, telling school leavers to “get off the couch, stop playing PlayStation and go find a job”. Yet his own government has eliminated 9502 public service jobs* and tanked the economy causing the rise in unemployment to 5.2% and fall in our GDP.

#KiwisDeserveBetter

* Data from Stats NZ. Rotorua Daily Post article 3 October 2025.

2 2 5

Reposted by Cory, on Rails 🚂

NZ Transit Buzz @nztransitbuzz.bsky.social · 7d

#RailNews: Completion of Port Otago’s container terminal rail siding marks an important milestone for the Southern Link Logistics Park partnership.

The rail siding will enable more efficient freight movement between the two sites.

MORE: www.beehive.govt.nz/release/port...

www.beehive.govt.nz

1 4

Cory, on Rails 🚂 @aitkesandpains.bsky.social · 5d

The Māwhera Pā on Tainui Street is well worth a visit if you are visiting Māwhera Greymouth (discount prices for West Coast locals too)

A great use of light and projection to visualise the history of Poutini Ngāi Tahu 🏞️

The Māwhera pā building on Tainui Street, next to where the Railway Station platform extension comes out

A giant statue of Tūhuru Kōkare, the Ngāi Tahu Chief that defeated Ngati Wairangi and established Poutini Ngāi Taku control of The West Coast and its precious Pounamu. Made by Weta Workshop

Use of a projector to create various Moko designs on a carving of a man's face

1 3

Reposted by Cory, on Rails 🚂

RNZ News Feeds @rnzrss.bsky.social · 10d

Police making enquires, cordons in place after sudden death in Greymouth

They were notified of an incident around Tainui Street and Chapel Street at 12.15pm.

www.rnz.co.nz

1

Reposted by Cory, on Rails 🚂

NZ Transit Buzz @nztransitbuzz.bsky.social · 10d

#RailNews: The Golden Triangle is home to 40% of NZ's population with huge flows of people and freight. Electrifying its rail could make a real difference to its mobility

By @darrendavis.bsky.social via Adventures in Transitland: adventuresintransitland.substack.com/p/electrifyi...

Electrifying the Golden Triangle

The Golden Triangle of Aotearoa's Upper North Island is home to 40% of the nation's population with huge flows of people and freight. Electrifying its rail could make a real difference to its mobility

adventuresintransitland.substack.com

7 18

Reposted by Cory, on Rails 🚂

UBI Works @ubiworks.bsky.social · 16d

Ireland’s Basic Income pilot proves UBI works — and pays.
Every €1 invested returned €1.39 to society.

"The economic return on this investment in Ireland’s artists and creative arts workers is immediately having a positive impact for the sector and the economy overall."

1 50 94

Reposted by Cory, on Rails 🚂

The Opportunities Party @top.org.nz · 12d

Luxon’s worried about how fast votes are counted. Kiwis are worried about how fast the economy is crashing.
TOP’s focus is on fixing our two-speed economy with bold tax reform, income security, and housing you can actually afford.
Let’s speed up fairness. Join TOP today: www.top.org.nz/join

TOP banner skeet which highlights the anti-democratic features of the Electoral Amendment bill, currently before the Select Committee
Even Labour's justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said it was a dark day for democracy, arguing the changes would make it harder for people to vote.

"Politicians should be making it easier for people to vote, not harder. That's how we make sure that everybody's voice is heard, that everyone gets a say, and that this democracy - this Parliament - is truly representative.

Webb pointed to the Attorney-General's report that found the proposals were inconsistent with people's rights as further reason the legislation should be scrapped.

"The Attorney-General, frankly, slated this bill. I have never seen an Attorney-General's report which is so bluntly vicious and damning, saying things like 'freezing registration earlier in the voting period has the potential to harm confidence and trust'."

Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson said it was already clear the bill would not achieve what its proponents were promising.

"This bill proposes the exact opposite of a modern and robust, effective democracy, because it intentionally seeks to deny entire groups of people and communities from having easier access to be able to enrol and to be able to vote, while at the same time it is shifting the threshold for donations to be declared."

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said the changes were cynical.

"It's not a coincidence that the very communities who would be silenced are the same communities that wouldn't vote for this government, and probably the same communities that made up the netballers on the weekend.

"They say they're fixing democracy, but let's remember: this is the same government that has abolished Māori wards, introduced the Treaty Principles Bill, dismantled co-governance, Te Aka Whai Ora. And we know, again, why they do not want to see 16 year olds voting." From RNZ 29 July 2025

1 2

Reposted by Cory, on Rails 🚂

Darren Davis @darrendavis.bsky.social · 19d

It’s just over nine months until Te Huia’s five year trial comes to an end in mid-2026. There’s lots to be done to secure it as a permanent service between Auckland and Hamilton. Read on for what this involves.
open.substack.com/pub/adventur...

Making Te Huia a permanent service

Te Huia's five-year trial is fast coming towards its close on 30th June 2026. What needs to happen to make it a permanent part of Aotearoa's public transport system?

open.substack.com

11 22

Reposted by Cory, on Rails 🚂

Aus Rail Historian @ausrailhistorian.bsky.social · 12d

Friday mail call: A 1990 report by the Australian Rail Industry Council, another key document that set the parameters for the micro-economic reform of the rail industry in the 1990s (corporatisation, service contractions, reducing sizes of railway workforces).

1 6

Reposted by Cory, on Rails 🚂

NZ Transit Buzz @nztransitbuzz.bsky.social · 16d

#RailNews: KiwiRail has unveiled its plans to transition to a low carbon, climate resilient business as it prepares the network for the growing impacts of climate change.

Via Scoop: www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU25...

KiwiRail Maps Rail Industry’s Transition To A Lower Carbon Future

“As an example of how we’re ramping up our efforts, with Government support we’ve procured 66 new efficient diesel locomotives - 47 will replace our aging locomotive fleet in the South Island and 19 w...

www.scoop.co.nz

5 9

Reposted by Cory, on Rails 🚂

NZ Transit Buzz @nztransitbuzz.bsky.social · 16d

#BusNews: Nelson City Council's Regional Transport Committee met on Wednesday to look at eBus timing optimisation.

CHANGES:
*Earlier service for R1
*Timetable tweaks for R4
*Late Late bus finishes at 2 am
*Explore options for The Junction

1

Reposted by Cory, on Rails 🚂

The Opportunities Party @top.org.nz · 20d

Here is more evidence that a Universal Basic Income tends to *increase* rates of employment.

TOP will bring a UBI to Aotearoa because #KiwisDeserveBetter
#NZpol

www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12...

www.mdpi.com

2 12 29

Reposted by Cory, on Rails 🚂

Dylan Reeve @dylanreeve.com · 16d

I just learned about mapspast.org.nz

So cool. Go wherever and then use the layers control to explore what old maps are available there.

3 11 56

Reposted by Cory, on Rails 🚂

NZ Transit Buzz @nztransitbuzz.bsky.social · 16d

#RailNews: After five years of hibernation, Dunedin Railways is back with a bang as train travel becomes trendy and tourists flock to travelling on the tracks.

Paywalled via Otago Daily Times: www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin...

Dunedin Railways looking forward to bumper season

After five years of hibernation, Dunedin Railways is back with a bang as train travel becomes trendy and tourists flock to travelling on the tracks...

www.odt.co.nz

1 3 11

Reposted by Cory, on Rails 🚂

The Opportunities Party @top.org.nz · 20d

It's time for a new New Zealand, built on better ideas.
Like a Universal Basic Income to ease the cost of living. A Land Value Tax to make housing affordable and unleash productivity. Or Citizens' Assemblies to break our political gridlock. TOP will fight for the courageous reform we need.

Join us.

GDP is shrinking under the current government of unqualified opprtunists. When you have a Minister of Finance whose main qualification is a degree in English literature, do you expect? They fired thousands of government employees without knowing what those civil servants actually do. That is a sure way to tank your economy. Those people have options and they will go to Australia where they are better paid and appreciated.

1 5