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Managing the network

Updated: 28 January 2010

Network management is about making the best use of New Zealand’s roading networks so that people and freight can move efficiently. We do this through efficient management of:

  • assets - the physical road itself and infrastructure such as bridges, tunnels, culverts, median barriers, signs, signals, etc
  • the different ways people use the network - through vehicles, public transport, walking and cycling activities.

Here, you can learn about the key components we manage to achieve a safe and seamless national network for road users.

Managing the network safely

Safety is a high priority for us and we aim to ensure that the design, construction, maintenance and use of New Zealand’s networks minimise road trauma. We do this work in partnership with road controlling authorities (city and district councils), equipment suppliers and educational and enforcement organisations like ACC (external link) and the New Zealand Police (external link).

Safe system

Under the safe system approach we’re working to develop a road transport system that reduces the impact of human error, and where no road user is exposed to crash forces likely to result in death or serious injury. This work includes road network improvements, setting speeds that match the level of protection offered by the road infrastructure, and improved vehicle design.

Safety management systems

Safety management systems encourage road controlling authorities to adopt safety management systems. These systems ensure that decisions about construction, maintenance and management of road networks, consider safety and help achieve targets and goals identified in national and local road safety strategies. 

Learn more about safety management systems.

Managing public transport

Public transport, including buses, trains and ferries, is a key mode of transport for thousands of New Zealanders. We’re working to ensure that New Zealand’s public transport networks are managed efficiently, are safe, and provide best value for money on investment. Our key management activities include:

  • providing guidance for the development of regional public transport plans
  • promoting best practice public transport network design
  • developing and implementing urban bus quality standards.

Learn more about how we’re working to improve the effectiveness of public transport.

Managing walking and cycling networks

Our objectives in managing walking and cycling networks are to:

  • alleviate congestion
  • help improve travel times for all road users
  • provide a health, economic and environmentally friendly travel option for New Zealanders.

Learn more about how we’re providing for these facilities.

Managing through standards, guidelines and rules

We develop standards, guidelines and rules to ensure that all the country’s road controlling authorities have the framework and guidance needed to manage the assets and activities on their transport networks consistently. This achieves a safe and seamless national network for road users. 

A cross-sector steering group - Register of Standards and Guidelines & Traffic Control Devices Steering Group - oversees this work.

Information and resources include:

Managing procurement

We’re working with roading and passenger transport agencies to introduce a new procurement environment that will help the land transport sector obtain added value for money from long-term strategic thinking in contracting for projects and services.

We’ve developed this environment to:

  • respond to the government’s direction for the sector
  • meet changing legislative requirements
  • ensure the sector has access to up-to-date best practice
  • reduce the bureaucratic demands of the process.

Learn more about the new procurement environment and the steps roading and passenger transport agencies need to take to make the transition.

Managing assets

We use a strategic and systematic process of operating, maintaining, upgrading and expanding physical assets to manage the effectiveness of transportation assets throughout their life cycle. This work involves applying business and engineering practices to resource allocation and use, to ensure our decisions are based on quality information and well-defined objective, as defined by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' Subcommittee on Asset Management.

Activity management plans

Activity management plans are expected to identify the assets required for current and future land transport activities and demonstrate:

  • how transport demand will be assessed and managed
  • how asset condition will be monitored
  • what levels of service are being provided
  • what standards have to be met
  • how asset maintenance, renewal and replacement will be undertaken (including procurement)
  • the estimated future costs associated with providing any identified extra capacity needs and replacement and maintenance of existing assets
  • how these land transport activity costs will be met.

Related links

We're planning for safer roads (external link)

Related links