Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand's road freight priorities

Date: 08.01.2024

Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting NZ has released its industry briefing to the Minister of Transport Simeon Brown

Simeon Brown

Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand has also set out eight actions that would provide practical support and reassurance to the freight sector.

TNZ interim CEO Dom Kalasih says that while the Government’s 100-day plan includs several key road transport elements, there were further actions that could improve freight efficiency.

"The Government is off to a strong start, including having pledged to end to blanket speed limit reductions, cancelling fuel tax hikes, and prioritising work on Roads of Significance and public transport improvements. Our briefing to the transport minister sets out other sector priorities and opportunities that can unleash the potential of our roading network and supply chain."

As well as substantial investment in road maintenance and road network improvements, there is some important policy and regulatory work to progress.

Current transport rules make it too hard for people to get a class 4 and 5 truck licence, and incredibly difficult to get low and zero emission trucks on the road.

At the same time, current policy settings are worsening journey times and skills shortages across the country.

Transporting New Zealand’s Immediate Priorities

Transport

1. Rewrite GPS24 to prioritise road maintenance, network resilience and strategic roading investments.
2. Confirm the commencement date and funding sources of the Government’s 13 new Roads of National Significance and four major public transport upgrades.
3. Commence an urgent review of the heavy vehicle permitting system to identify and remove barriers to uptake of more productive trucks.
4. Urgently progress amendments to Land Transport Act 1998 to fix the stalled roadside drug testing regime.
5. Accelerate Ministry of Transport’s policy work removing regulatory barriers to Zero Emission Heavy Vehicles, currently scheduled for completion in 2025.
6. Repealing or substantially amending the Land Transport Rule: Street Layouts 2023 "Reshaping Streets" regulatory changes that currently allow vehicle traffic to be unduly impeded. Transport and State-Owned Enterprises
7. Provide a briefing on the Interislander ferry service and steps necessary to provide reliable Cook Strait services.Immigration and workforce
8. Immediately amend immigration settings to allow transport companies to fill critical workforce gaps across all sectors and licence classes, while continuing to support domestic workforce development and competency assessment.

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