Our legal responsibilities
Under legislation - the Land Transport Management Act 2003 (amended 2008) – we have the following responsibilities:
- promote an affordable, integrated, safe, responsive and sustainable land transport system
- investigate and review accidents and incidents involving transport on land
- manage the state highway system, including planning, funding, design, supervision, construction and maintenance operations
- manage funding of the land transport system, including auditing the performance of organisations receiving land transport funding
- manage regulatory requirements for transport on land
- cooperate with, provide advice and assist any government agency or local government agency at the Minister’ request
- provide the Minister with advice on our functions
- carry out any other land transport functions directed by the Minister under the Crown Entities Act 2004
- carry out the functions required by the Land Transport Management Act or under any other Act.
Our governing legislation
There are many Acts, regulations and rules that govern what we do and how we do it.
Listed below are just some of the main pieces of legislation that shape our business and activities.
You can read and download New Zealand Acts, bills, and regulations free of charge from the New Zealand Legislation website.
Acts of Parliament
Land Transport Management Act 2003 sets out the requirements and processes for local authorities to obtain funding for roading construction and maintenance, and for the funding of Police on-road enforcement. As amended in 2008 it is also the Act that establishes the NZ Transport Agency.
Land Transport Act 1998 promotes safe road user behaviour and vehicle safety; provides for a system of Rules governing road user behaviour, the licensing of drivers and technical aspects of land transport; recognises reciprocal obligations of persons involved; consolidates and amends various enactments relating to road safety and land transport; enables New Zealand to implement international agreements relating to road safety and land transport. It now includes the registration and licensing of motor vehicles and the regulation of commercial transport services and the limits on driving hours.
Railways Act 2005 sets out the requirements for the licensing of rail operations in New Zealand. It covers monorails, and both light and heavy railways. It also includes basic safety obligations of operators and the general public when near a railway, as well as the powers the railway operators have to protect and manage the railway corridor.
Public Transport Management Act 2008 sets out the requirements for registration of commercial public transport services and empowers regional councils to set standards for these services.
Government Roading Powers Act 1989 provides the necessary powers for the NZ Transport Agency and Ministers to build, maintain and manage roads. Originally passed as the Transit New Zealand Act 1989.
Road User Charges Act 1977 imposes charges for road use by heavy and other vehicles, such as diesel powered vehicles.
Regulations
Land Transport Management (Apportionment and Refund of Excise Duty and Excise-Equivalent duty) Regulations 2004 provides for the refund in certain circumstances of a proportion of the fuel tax paid on motor spirits and lists types of vehicles for which a refund may be available.
Land Transport Management (Road Tolling Scheme for ALPURT B2) Order 2005 authorises the establishment of the toll road on State Highway 1A north of Auckland.
Land Transport (Offences and Penalties) Regulations 1999 details the offences for breaching land transport rules and the penalties for those offences.
Traffic Regulations 1976. Land transport rules now cover nearly all of these requirements. A few obligations, such as requirements on towing trailers by passenger service vehicles, power to require inspection of motor vehicles after accidents, and restrictions on motor vehicle reliability trials, still remain in these regulations.
Transport Services Licensing Regulations 1989 provides for fees payable for transport service licences (except rail services), and a few exemptions from operator licensing.
Heavy Motor Vehicle Regulations 1974 allows road controlling authorities to restrict the movement of heavy vehicles to prevent damage to roads and bridges of limited strength.
Land Transport (Infringement and Reminder Notices) Regulations 1998 sets out the format for infringement offence notices and reminder notices from traffic law enforcement.
Land Transport (Administration Fees for Recovery of Unpaid Tolls) Regulations 2008 authorises a toll operator to recover the administrative costs of collecting unpaid tolls.
Land Transport (Certification and Other Fees) Regulations 1999 sets the fees payable by organisations wishing to be authorised to inspect motor vehicles and a standards development levy payable by owners of heavy motor vehicles.
Land Transport (Motor Vehicle Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2011 sets out vehicle registration and licensing requirements; including requirements for motor vehicle registration plates (number plates), such as colour and character combinations, and the way they must be displayed. Also includes specific offences and penalties.
Land Transport (Ordering a Vehicle off the Road) Notice 1999 prescribes the format for notices issued to vehicles too unsafe to be on the road or not complying with vehicle standards. It also specifies who may inspect the vehicle and issue a new warrant of fitness or certificate of fitness.
Railways Regulations 2008 sets the fees applying to licensed railway operations, declares which narrow gauge railways the Act covers, and specifies exemptions.
Road User Charges Regulations 1978 details the information required for applications for road user charges licences, approves types of hub odometers, and provides for some exemptions from road user charges.
Rules
These two rules are available on the Legislation website. Other rules are available in the Resources & manuals section of this website.
Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Rule 1999 sets out the requirements for which class of driver licence is needed for each type of vehicle, the restrictions for novice drivers, and the steps for obtaining a driver licence.
Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 establishes the rules under which traffic operates on roads. The rule applies to all road users, whether they are drivers, riders, passengers, pedestrians, or leading or droving animals.
