NZTD News

Illegal tyre dumping in Palmy cut in half after Tyrewise launch
Posted on 05-Mar-2026

The Palmerston North City Council has reported a sharp decline in illegal tyre dumping and illegal dumping which includes tyres since the Tyrewise scheme launched.

Before Tyrewise, Palmerston North spent $200,000 to $300,000 annually on dealing with illegal dumping, some of which was related to tyres. Tyre reports arrived weekly, ranging from single tyres to some incidents of hundreds of tyres dumped at once.

The council had proactively established its own user-pays collection point, providing residents with a si...

.. Read More  

Road Freight Sector Watching Oil Prices As Middle East Conflict Continues
Posted on 05-Mar-2026

Transporting New Zealand says the road freight industry will be monitoring the risk of fuel supply issues and rising oil prices closely, as conflict in the Middle East pushes up the global price of crude. 

Chief Executive Dom Kalasih said diesel is typically the second-largest cost for road freight operators after wages, meaning sustained increases put pressure on transport rates.

"With around 93 per cent of New Zealand’s freight moved by road, changes in diesel prices flow through the supply chain and can u...

.. Read More  

The Mount Victoria Tunnel is about to have its annual Building Warrant of Fitness (BWOF) inspection.
Posted on 05-Mar-2026

It will be subject to a week of night closures from Monday 16 March to Thursday 19 March, between 9pm and 5am.

As with work undertaken for the Terrace Tunnel in February, contractors will make the most of the closure to complete road resurfacing work around the Basin Reserve.

Informally described as one of the country’s largest roundabouts, SH1 around the Basin Reserve carries around 20,000 vehicles daily. So, it is important the road surface be maintained regularly. 

Contractors will be improving the ...

.. Read More  

The Patchell Group expands options through Australian joint venture
Posted on 05-Mar-2026

With decades of experience designing and building transport solutions for New Zealand conditions, The Patchell Group continues to focus on what it does best — producing robust, New Zealand-built trailers engineered to last. 

The Patchell Group has always been at the forefront of design and technology but recognises the benefits of aligning with other like-minded companies to be able to offer products that suit a range of transport solutions, which is why the Patchell Group has entered into a joint venture with res...

.. Read More  

90 Years On — Staying on Track in a Year of Change
Posted on 27-Feb-2026

Last week National Road Carriers held our first full Board meeting of the year — a fitting moment as we enter our 90th year representing New Zealand’s road freight industry.

For nine decades, NRC has operated through change — economic cycles, regulatory reform, fuel shocks, infrastructure rebuilds, workforce shortages and political transitions. 2026 is shaping up to be another pivotal year.

By the end of the year:

- There will have been an election.

- The Ministry of Transport will have merged into th...

.. Read More  

Policy stagnation and strange mergers
Posted on 27-Feb-2026

My Friday blog this week shares a colleague’s view. Mark Stockdale, who joined our Policy and Advocacy team, is hugely experienced in policy which is why we have him on board. He brings fresh policy thinking, as do Billy and Rowan.  

With him well settled in he has provided this unfettered opinion and insight on NZTA. – Dom  

I’ve had foreboding feeling for a while that the NZTA has lost its way. When I’ve been dealing with people at NZTA I get a sense that they are not exactly sure wh...

.. Read More  

Search Articles

NZ Truck & Driver Magazine
Read Now