Road freight peak body Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand has welcomed the Coalition Government’s draft Government Policy Statement on land transport (GPS), praising its focus on road repair and maintenance, building Roads of National Significance, and lifting growth and productivity. 

Interim CEO Dom Kalasih says that this back-to-basics approach will be well received by road freight operators. 

"We’re pleased to see the Government following through on their election commitments to re-start the road building pipeline, focus on the dangerous and potholed condition of our streets and highways, and avoid road user charges and fuel excise increases in their first term."

Kalasih says that prioritising investments in roading activity classes is a necessity, given increasing pressure on the National Land Transport Fund.

"Over the past few years, our members were disappointed to see revenue from vehicle users diverted into unproductive investments in rail, coastal shipping and walking and cycling, while the condition of the roads continued to decline. It’s great to see Minister Brown committing to turning this around, despite challenging fiscal constraints."

"Transporting New Zealand will be going through the draft GPS carefully over the coming weeks, consulting with our members, and providing constructive feedback. The road freight industry remains committed to improving efficiency, safety and sustainability across the transport network".