NZTD News

There has been unprecedented feedback following my article last week “Systemic failure killed Johnathon Walters” which explored a needless death of a roadworker by an unroadworthy truck. And rightly so, this issue strikes at the heart of safety and compliance in our industry. 

The NRC Board convened a special session this week to review the feedback and discuss what NRC as ind...

UD Truck Distributors (NZ) Ltd (UD Trucks) has appointed Zane Erwee as its new General Manager from the 1st of August 2025. 

Zane was previously UD Trucks Retail Sales Manager leading the UD Trucks sales team and working alongside the strong dealer network in Wellington region and across the South Island, which he will now lead in his new role. 

Michael Doeg, General Manager Commercial Sales for Sime Motors said, “Zane’s leadership, deep industry knowledge, and strong alignment with our company’s values...

Interest in road funding continues

It has been a big fortnight for transport funding announcements. A week on from Minister Bishop’s update about the transition to universal RUC, NZTA announced its tolling proposal for Canterbury’s new Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass (B2P).

B2P is one of the Government’s Roads of National Significance (RoNS), providing a 10km four-lane motorway extension north of Christchurch, and a bypass that reduces the heavy traffic burden on SH1 through Wooden...

A new report commissioned by rail safety charity TrackSAFE has found that almost half of New Zealanders admit to walking on railway tracks without using a legal crossing.

Forty-five per cent of those surveyed by AK Research said they had walked on or across railway tracks without using a designated railway level crossing, which is considered trespassing. 

Crossing railway tracks anywhere other than a level crossing, where the railway and road intersect, is unsafe and illegal. Under the Railways Act 2005, the...

Autonomous Hino 700 Series vehicles will be part of full-scale road surface durability tests with road construction company Taisei Rotec. Hino Motors, Ltd. and road construction company Taisei Rotec have commenced the use of unmanned autonomous vehicles in full-scale road surface durability tests.

The initiative will see five heavy-duty Hino Profia (700 Series) prime mover and trailer combinations continuously operating without a driver on Taisei Rotec’s new 909-metre road surface testing track in Japan’s Fukushima pre...

Lyttelton port workers are disappointed with an Employment Court ruling that allows Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) to proceed with a restructure that will remove highly experienced foremen from the waterfront.

The Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) and the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) are considering their response to the judgment from the Employment Court in Christchurch released on Friday 8 August.

The decision follows an interim injunction granted by the Court in early July, which halted the restru...