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ECONOMY REPORT - NEW ZEALAND
NEW ZEALAND

ECONOMY REPORT - NEW ZEALAND

The following is a summary of significant transport policy and regulatory activities in New Zealand since the 15th TPT-WG meeting:

LAND TRANSPORT

Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Rule 1999

Within the framework of the major driver licensing policy changes brought about by the Land Transport Act 1998, this Rule introduces:

• A new graduated classification system of licensing drivers so they have the necessary skills and experience to drive different types of vehicle.
• New testing requirements for obtaining a licence that emphasise skills, such as hazard perception, that are equally as important as vehicle-control skills for safe driving.
• Ten-yearly licence renewal and relaxes the renewal regime for older drivers.
• A new system for driver licence endorsements and rationalises and updates the requirements for the medical and "fit and proper person" checking of drivers who drive for a living and drivers of specific classes or types of vehicle.
• New requirements governing driver licensing course providers, driving instructors and testing officers.

In the first six months of operation of the new licensing regime, one million photographic licences were issued; 2,500 licences were suspended for excessive speeding or drink-driving; and more than 5,000 vehicles were impounded for driving while disqualified or unlicensed.

"Better Transport Better Roads"

The Government released its proposal for road management and funding in the document Better Transport Better Roads (BTBR) in December 1998. Submissions closed on the document on 30 April 1999. Nearly 8,000 copies of BTBR were distributed and the Ministry of Transport received over 1,000 submissions on the document.

Submissions from stakeholder organisations show large areas of agreement, including:

• There are major problems facing the roading system, which is in need of change;
• Better pricing is one of the key goals of a new roading system; and
• Some structural change is necessary.

There is also widespread agreement on the broad policy for future road policy. These include:

• Roads must not be privatised;
• The current roading network must be retained;
• Communities must be closely involved; and
• Safety and environmental problems must be solved.

The Ministry is analysing the submissions carefully, and will be meeting with key stakeholders to discuss their submissions. This process of analysis and consultation will take some time.

Vehicle Emissions

Excessively smoky vehicles are to be targeted as part of a package of Government initiatives to tackle vehicle exhaust emissions. The initiatives are detailed in a new report by the Ministry of Transport, Vehicle Fleet Emissions Control Strategy (VFECS) – Summary of Submissions.

VFECS shows that emissions of carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen in some areas are above national air quality guidelines, or close to it.

The research has broken new ground. For the first time in New Zealand we have identified the true nature of the problem, and as a result we now have solid research to use for tackling the problem. This real problem is on some particularly busy urban streets, particularly where traffic gets backed up. Congested traffic produces a higher level of vehicle emissions than free flowing traffic.

Another key finding is that while vehicles often are perceived to be the source of all air pollutants, the truth is more complex. While vehicles can be a major source of some pollutants, other sources such as domestic fossil fuel heating and industrial emissions are the major contributors of other pollutants.

In addition to the smoky vehicle initiatives, the Government will:

• Review the Ambient Air Quality Guidelines and air quality monitoring methods;
• Develop a rule to formalise an emissions standards regime for vehicles entering the national fleet;
• Review the automotive fuel specifications;
• Assist the vehicle service industry to improve its knowledge of modern engine technologies; and
• Provide the information and tools necessary to enable the use of environmental capacity analysis and local traffic management to tackle local air quality problems.

AIR TRANSPORT

Cockpit Voice Recorders

The Transport Accident Investigation Act 1990 was recently amended by Parliament.

The amendments to the Act will enable aviation accident investigators to have access to the best possible information for the purposes of preventing future accidents. Certain sensitive information, such as witness statements and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) information gathered by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) as part of its investigations into an accident, is now protected from use for any other purpose.

The rationale for the legislative change was that accident information should primarily be for safety investigation and should not be used as evidence for the purpose of blame or prosecution.

The amendments bring New Zealand legislation closely into line with Australia, and would reflect the provisions of Annex 13 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (the Chicago Convention).

Airport Regulations

Regulations to give airport users greater protection against potential monopoly abuse have been approved by the Minister of Transport.

The regulations cover information disclosure requirements for airport companies. They are part of a package of measures developed under the Airport Authorities Amendment Act 1997 to deter airports from engaging in monopoly pricing.

That Act established a two-part regime to control potential monopoly abuse and is an extension of earlier legislation requiring airports to consult prior to setting charges. The first is a requirement that airport companies consult on capital expenditure plans and airside charges (such as landing charges paid by airlines and passenger departure charges).

The second part is a requirement that the companies disclose information. The regulations:

• Set specific disclosure requirements for the charges, rate of return, asset valuations, and reliability statistics; and
• Require the disclosure of the statement of performance (profit and loss statement) and statement of position (balance sheet) for the non-contestable side of airport companies.

The regulations came into force on 1 September 1999.

MARITIME TRANSPORT

Safety Regulation

The Maritime Safety Authority is working towards a deadline of 1 February 2001 to complete maritime rules, which at that date will replace all regulations made under earlier maritime legislation.

Rules completed recently include those dealing with:

• Qualification of Seafarers
• Training and Examinations
• Design, Construction and Equipment – Fishing Ships
• Appointments of Pilots and Pilotage Exemptions

OPRC Convention

New Zealand acceded to the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC) on 2 July 1999 and the Convention entered into force for New Zealand on 2 October 1999.

STCW Convention

New Zealand lodged its application to the IMO for ‘white list’ status under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping in July 1998. The panel of experts considering New Zealand’s application has sought clarification on several points before making a recommendation to the Secretary-General of the IMO.

This page was last updated on 1 Feb, 2008