Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

There’s an old Chinese saying, or curse: “May you live in interesting times.”

We’re lucky not to have war or civil unrest here, but we live in a time of global economic uncertainty and unprecedented trade volatility. At this time, Transporting New Zealand needs to be delivering for our members and the wider industry.

I have spelt out some of the things we’ve been doing for members in a video which is on the Friday Blog section of the Transporting News website. We will be making these regular features, and you will also hear from Cam Bagrie, our Board Chair, and others.

My key message is that if we can move freight smarter and more efficiently, then ou...

One of the more sobering findings in the 2025 National Road Freight Industry Survey has to do with the people in our industry.

Almost half the businesses who did the survey said that within the next five years, up to a quarter of their drivers will retire or leave the industry.

In an industry already struggling to find new drivers, this is a looming issue we need to fix.

The survey, which is the largest survey done in more than a decade,  also showed 78% of operators want more purpose-designed rest stops, and 72% highlighted the importance of drivers being able to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

The survey, which was run by Research...

The movement of freight largely happens on public roads so there are lots of risks and impacts to manage.

That means we operate in a heavily regulated environment and our recent activities are a demonstration of helping with this process.

A key example is our engaging with NZTA on two major issues that will shape the industry.

One is the shift in NZTA’s regulatory compliance strategy, and the other is the need for greater freight productivity through updated transport rules. (And any other way that works!)

As NZTA takes on more direct enforcement – especially of behaviours highlighted on social media – we’re seeking clarity on how this will di...

I recently had a meeting with new Transport Minister Chris Bishop and I was impressed by his attitude.

It was at the transport industry forum which as a quarterly meeting started by the former minister Simeon Brown. The forum also includes representation from AA, MTA and other similar groups.

For me, it was a chance to see what level of continuity Mr. Bishop would bring and he didn’t disappoint. While only three weeks into the role he’d read a solid briefing the night before so he had a grasp of the major issues. We’ve also shared our 2025 sector briefing with him and Associate Minister James Meager.

Minister Bishop also holds the Infrastructure portf...

Whatever else was happening around the country last year, it was a much better year for road safety.

The road toll was down below 300 for the first time since 2013 with the Ministry of Transport provisional data showing there were 292 deaths from 250 fatal crashes in 2024. That is still 292 tragedies for those peoples’ families and friends, but that is 49 deaths fewer than last year and fewer will always be better.

According to the AA, the 2024 figure is the lowest per capita roads deaths since 1923. Back then New Zealand’s population was under 1.4 million, and it had a road toll of 59, which worked out as less than 4.5 deaths per 100,000 people. The 2024 fi...