NZTD News

According to the latest Truckometer report, the Light Traffic Index (LTI) fell 2.2% m/m in June, while the Heavy Traffic Index (HTI) fell a sharp 5.2% m/m on top of a fall in May.  

Light traffic (motorbikes, cars and vans) is generally a good indicator of the state of demand, as opposed to production. It typically provides a 6-month lead on momentum in the economy – variation in it reflects discretionary spending on outings, movement of couriers and tradespeople etc. 

The trend in light traffic remains...

The water cooler chat this week has centred once again around speed limits, a polarising topic that divides regulators, communities and individuals. For every person with a seemingly valid argument to drop a road speed there is another with an equally valid argument not to. A big part of the reason for the angst is complexity. Everyone wants safer roads. We just can't agree on the best way to achieve this.
.. Read More  

A new board has been formed for Eastland Port and Gisborne Airport, aimed at unlocking opportunities and enhancing the economic potential of Tairāwhiti. 

Wendie Harvey and Hamish Bell, both experienced directors from the Eastland Group board, are joined by Andre Lovatt, a seasoned infrastructure executive, and Brodie Stevens, a logistics and transport consultant with extensive maritime experience.

Wendie Harvey, who will serve as the Eastland Port and Gisborne Airport Chairperson said, “It’s an exciting new ...

Independent commissioners have declined an application for a multimillion dollar expansion of Northport due to the scale and extent of a 11.7 hectare reclamation currently proposed. 

Applicant Northport had applied to the Northland Regional and Whangarei District Councils in late 2022 for a raft of resource consents needed for the project which would have increased its freight storage and handling capacity and supported its transition into a high-density container terminal.

The application was heard over mul...

First, a shout out about crossing the Cook Strait.

KiwiRail’s Interislander ferry Kaiarahi was back in service on time after its planned maintenance outage, and this week the Aratere was cleared by Maritime NZ to return to service. Many people will have been involved in getting these ferries back and I suspect they will have been working under considerable added pressure, so well done to all those people and organisations.

I use both ferry operators, KiwiRail and Bluebridge, and happened to be on the Strait Feron...

People travelling through the Tāngarākau Gorge on State Highway 43 should plan for possible delays of up to 45 minutes from Monday 22 July to Friday 26 July.

Crews working on SH43 / Forgotten World Highway will be installing and repairing 7 culverts in the unsealed section of the road. 

The focus will then shift to sealing the final 5 kilometres through the Tāngarākau Gorge in the summer. 

Culverts are pipes that are installed under the road to carry water from the gutters. This work is crucial to...