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Thomas Nash

@thomasnash.bsky.social
2K followers 247 following 385 posts

Cities, transport and economic and climate transitions

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Reposted by Thomas Nash
1News NZ (Unofficial) @1newsnz.nzcow.com · 15/06/2026
📢 Massey University researcher Thomas Nash has visited UK cities to see what NZ can learn from building communities with trains at the centre.
1news.co.nz
Why New Zealand should build cities around train stations - report
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
Thanks - have done so!
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
Thanks to the New Zealand Geographic Society who inspired me to do this research with their 2025 Honorary Geographer award and to Massey University for supporting this project, which I’m doing in my role as Social Entrepreneur in Residence for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. 10/
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
The plan is to present my findings in New Zealand in June and to have some more columns over the next few months introducing some of the case studies along the way. Really interested to hear thoughts, comments, feedback, examples of projects and any people to interview in the UK. 9/
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
The Wellington region also has examples - at its own scale - around stations like Waterloo, Porirua and Johnsonville. The same could be true for Canterbury with the right investment decisions. My next UK research visits will be to Birmingham, Bristol and Cambridge in February. 8/
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
City Rail Link will give New Zealand its premier transit-oriented development with the 21-storey Symphony Centre above the new Te Waihorotiu station - part of the country’s first underground railway and set to be its busiest station. There are many more opportunities for such developments. 7/
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
The UK is different to New Zealand in a number of ways: bigger economy, more inward investment, much more extensive rail network, etc. Nevertheless, plenty of its towns, cities, local authorities and public agencies face similar challenges to New Zealand in transport, housing and infrastructure. 6/
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
King’s Cross is the obvious UK example and London has many more good examples, but my hunch is that examples from smaller cities and towns outside London will be more comprehensible to New Zealand decision makers. Mainly because they avoid the “New Zealand isn’t London, is it?” objection. 5/
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
I’m keen to hear of any good examples people have of projects in the UK where public transport hubs have been built or upgraded in an integrated way with residential and commercial buildings incorporated into the project. Drop any examples into the comments or send me a message. 4/
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
So far the case studies I’m looking at are Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge and Stockport in Greater Manchester. These places all have compelling stories to tell about past and ongoing developments around upgraded or new railway stations. 3/
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
I wrote this piece for the latest Sunday Star Times explaining the purpose of this research, which is to use relevant UK experience to generate public debate and help decision makers advance projects like this in New Zealand. 2/ www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3609...
thepost.co.nz
The Post
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
Building communities in our most connected places makes sense, but often seems harder than it should be. So I’ve been working on a research project for Massey University documenting new or improved communities built up around public transport hubs in the UK - transit-oriented developments. 1/
Image of the Symphony Centre which will be built above the new Te Waihorotiu station in Auckland.
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Reposted by Thomas Nash
Geordie Rogers @geordierogers.co.nz · 15/09/2025
It's not a coincidence that our bus patronage numbers are hitting all time highs. This term we've delivered more bus lanes than the seven previous councils combined
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
Very grateful to the Greater Wellington staff who led this procurement and to Horizons Regional Council and the other partner organisations and legal / technical advisors. The support of various Ministers over the years, including current Transport Minister Chris Bishop, has been critical. 4/
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
Yeah same - my family in Palmy too and this will be absolutely brilliant for day trips and also more flexible overnight trips. So good!
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 07/09/2025
The new trains, named Tūhono for their role in connecting and uniting people in the lower North Island, will be the first battery electric trains in the Southern Hemisphere. Alstom will also support local jobs and local business and help develop capacity for NZ’s rail industry. 3/
Artist’s impression of the new Tūhono train for the lower North Island to be manufactured by Alstom.
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 07/09/2025
There’s a bright future for passenger rail in NZ and, once we get past some of the unfortunate preconceived ideas about road vs rail and allow reason and economics do the talking, we will be able to offer more and better transport options for people that greatly improve their everyday lives. 2/
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 07/09/2025
Big moment this morning to help sign the contract with Alstom for 18 new five-car trains to serve people in the lower North Island from 2029. This will allow us to quadruple rail services to Palmerston North, double services to Masterton and open up for more development around railway stations. 1/
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 06/09/2025
Precisely - we need to keep pointing out that anybody who promotes residential development that expands linear infrastructure ahead of residential development that uses existing infrastructure is actively putting upwards pressure on council rates.
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
Yes, it’s very simple and just as politicians like to ask their opponents “how are you going to pay for it?” the same question needs to be answered by politicians calling for more sprawling residential developments where the cost of infrastructure per dwelling is so much higher than the alternative.
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
Bringing bus depots in the Wellington region under public control is already helping attract interest from a range of bus companies looking to operate buses for Metlink. Public ownership of critical assets can help secure public services, drive competition and get a better deal for the public.
thepost.co.nz
Fresh contenders line up for bus contracts
With Wellington’s next round of bus contracts less than a year from being put to tender, the competition is already heating up. Alongside the four current operators, another four “serious” new players...
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
We can only do that if the government owned rail tracks are open for us to run trains on.
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
We just had the busiest July on record for Wellington’s Metlink bus network, with 2,326,413 bus passenger trips. This is driven by our reliability being steadily over 99% across the network. Once the government brings its rail tracks up to standard, rail patronage will see the same increase.
Graph showing July monthly bus passenger trips in the Wellington region from 2019-2025.
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
You can’t vote for me because I’m not standing again and also I don’t live in Wairarapa (if that’s where you live). Nobody has done more to advocate for fixing the Wairarapa line than current councillor Adrienne Staples, who is very much worthy of votes and campaign support in Wairarapa.
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
Here is the most detailed recent update with quite a lot of facts about the situation. We (Metlink, which is the Regional Council) asked Transdev (the company that operates the trains and employs train staff) to prepare this plan. This was an unacceptable failure of workforce planning in our view.
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
Expecting some news on this in the next few weeks. Things tracking well and obviously significant purchase with lots of elements including KiwiRail upgrades, so plenty of scrutiny and due diligence being applied.
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
Here’s a write up of the survey from Ellen O’Dwyer at RNZ. We want to deliver top notch service in the AM and PM peaks. We’d like to do more, but nailing the peaks is achievable, so that’s our focus: www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa.... 5/
rnz.co.nz
Wellington train satisfaction falls, record-high bus passengers
Metlink says bus services have been more than 99 percent reliable this year.
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
We have a lot of work to do on the Metlink side too, as the public transport authority. In particular providing much better bus replacement services (we now have a detailed plan in place for this), continually improving our operational communications and ensuring strong workforce planning. 4/
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
We do need to improve asset management for rail in NZ. Decades of imbalanced transport investment favouring gold plated motorways over basic passenger rail means results take time to flow through, but rail users should expect more from the major public investment in recent years. 3/
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
Once the government brings its tracks up to a standard that will allow us as the public transport agency to run punctual, reliable passenger rail services, patronage will go up, just like it has with buses, and everyone will benefit, including drivers enjoying fewer cars on the road. 2/
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
Our annual public transport satisfaction survey is out, with bus network satisfaction and bus patronage at record highs, as a result of record high reliability. Satisfaction with rail is down, with the state of the government’s ageing rail assets driving lower reliability and lower patronage. 1/
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Reposted by Thomas Nash
Geordie Rogers @geordierogers.co.nz · 24/07/2025
Stopping people from being able to update their electoral details on the spot just further disenfranchises voters who move often (renters, seasonal workers etc.). A bad move that’ll only harm people’s democratic right to vote www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
thepost.co.nz
No more enrolling on voting day, new offence for handing out treats
The Government has overhauled New Zealand’s electoral law, including closing enrolment before advance voting begins.
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Reposted by Thomas Nash
Louise Hutt @saycheeselouise.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
For local government nerds - if you haven't seen Policy for Public Good from WEALL, it's a really, really great document that summarises so many great ideas for local government. This is the kind of stuff I wish was platformed more. www.weall.org.nz/local-govt
weall.org.nz
Local Govt — WEAll Aotearoa - Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa NZ
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Reposted by Thomas Nash
Tory Whanau @misswhanau.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
Back in Pōneke after a fab few days in Ōtautahi/Christchurch for LGNZ. It was great to connect with other local government leaders from across the motu, discussing the obstacles we face and asking what kind of future we want to create. Here are my takeaways:
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
Thank you!!
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
Thank you! Your support has meant a lot over the years Jackie. I am not standing this time, but the best way to support my work in Wellington on the regional council is to support @yadana.bsky.social and @henrypeach.bsky.social who are both brilliant in all the ways.
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Reposted by Thomas Nash
Hayden Donnell @haydendonnell.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
in what will be remembered as an innovative and possibly foolhardy move, I have tried to include numbers and even a graph in this piece of commentary about local government rates
Spinoff text: The primary culprit for Wellington’s rates rise is less wasteful spending and more a long-shirked repair bill. Politicians put off investment in Wellington’s pipe network for decades, until eventually it started alternating between leaking and spraying human excrement on passersby. Thanks to her tightwad predecessors, the current mayor Tory Whanau has had to spend tens of millions of dollars to stop the citizens of our nation’s capital being drowned in a huge poonami.
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
We undertook a monitoring survey for air quality on buses in 2022 and have been advocating to central government for increased standards and funding to help improve air quality. We have also been looking at improving ventilation and I have asked for an update on progress on that. Will report back.
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Reposted by Thomas Nash
Bill Manhire @pacificraft.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
pmn.co.nz/read/arts/se...
pmn.co.nz
Selina Tusitala Marsh becomes first Poet Laureate for the Commonwealth
The New Zealand academic is embracing her new role to share histories and promote understanding through the power of poetry.
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
There was a public briefing on Tuesday at WCC and a press release filling it here and I’m sure both our councils would be happy to share publicly available documentation. Would be good to get some coverage. It’s hugely significant. wellington.govt.nz/news-and-eve...
wellington.govt.nz
Next steps towards more and quicker bus trips
Plans for a long-awaited second Wellington city centre bus route running along the waterfront quays are beginning to take shape, and the Capital’s two councils will decide in August whether to progres...
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Reposted by Thomas Nash
Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
In the words of Nelson Mandela: it always seems impossible until it’s done. My friends, it is done. And you are the ones who did it. I am honored to be your Democratic nominee for the Mayor of New York City.
Zohran looking out on a victory night crowd.
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
This new Harbour Quays bus route is big. Speeding up bus trips through the city makes daily life better for people, gets more bus frequency for the same cost and services more destinations. I hope the government will reconsider its decision not to help fund this very high value infrastructure.
Map showing the proposed Harbour Quays bus route with existing Golden Mile stops and proposed future Harbour Quays stops.
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Reposted by Thomas Nash
Tory Whanau @misswhanau.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
As we head into Matariki, I was reminded how important the arts are to Wellington's cultural and economic wellbeing. It's super important we support creatives - you can read more about this in my op-ed! www.thepost.co.nz/culture/3607...
thepost.co.nz
Matariki and the value of art
OPINION: We need to continue investing in the arts if we want jobs, economic benefits and strong communities ‒ and yes, that means central government, too.
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
Councils can deliver bus lanes now without being held back by central government so we need to just do it. Wellington also needs to get moving, by ourselves if need be, on debit card payment, better transfers between bus and rail and sensible fare caps that we can afford and can actually deliver. 3/
rnz.co.nz
Wellington's Green Party council candidates promote transport proposals
They say their proposal to give buses priority on key routes would cut some commuter's trips by 10-15 minutes.
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
The Harbour Quays bus route will give Wellingtonians back 700,000 minutes a day overall, that’s 11,600 hours a day at a cost of $10m. This is why the benefit cost ratio will be so high. I wouldn’t be surprised if it works out 10 times better value than any of the proposed urban motorway tunnels. 2/
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
Wellington needs council candidates to focus on serious, affordable, high value for money projects they can actually deliver. Bus lanes, especially on the Harbour Quays, are a good example. Saving 10 mins for each of the 70,000 bus trips people take each day through the city is a very big deal. 1/
Map of the proposed faster buses route through the city noir to the eastern suburbs.Fact sheet on the faster buses proposal
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Reposted by Thomas Nash
Geordie Rogers @geordierogers.co.nz · 17/06/2025
Your Wellington Greens are committing to delivering a faster and more efficient bus network with bus lanes, stop improvements, and priority lights all the way from Seatoun to the Railway station
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Henry Peach @henrypeach.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
The only thing standing in the way of real change...is a few car parks. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
rnz.co.nz
Wellington's Green Party council candidates promote transport proposals
They say their proposal to give buses priority on key routes would cut some commuter's trips by 10-15 minutes.
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
Excellent
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Thomas Nash @thomasnash.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
Have we had reporting on the impact of the proposed weakening of environmental standards on freshwater in relation to these trade agreement provisions? And for that matter proposed weakening of biodiversity protections?
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