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Planning programming and funding manual cover.

Planning, programming and funding manual

Published: 25 08 2008

The Planning, programming and funding manual sets out the NZTA's policies, procedures and guidance for the planning and management of land transport activities that can be funded from the national land transport fund.

This manual will guide the 2009/10–2011/12 regional land transport programmes (RLTPs) and the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) – the first three-year transport programmes. It sets out policy and procedures for developing and managing the RLTPs and NLTP during those cycles.

The manual was also used to manage the 2008/09 NLTP.

The procedures described in this manual have been developed to assist approved organisations to prepare and plan projects and activities for which they seek funding from the NZTA, within the framework of the NZTA’s overall funding allocation process.

The Planning, programming and funding manual is also available in PDF, either as the whole document or in parts. The PDF version is the master document.

Note: The online version and PDF section for the Planning, programming and funding manual now incorporate the changes from Amendment 1 and is effective from 1 July 2009.

Chapter A1 The planning, programming and funding process

A1.7 Role and functions of the NZTA

Introduction

This section describes the role and functions of the NZTA in the NLTF process as prescribed by legislation.

Objective of the NZTA

The statutory objective set for the NZTA is to undertake its functions in a way that contributes to a land transport system that is:

  • affordable
  • integrated
  • safe
  • responsive
  • sustainable.

Legislation: LTMA s94.

Role of the NZTA

As well as managing the state highway system and other responsibilities, the NZTA is the Crown entity responsible for allocating government funding for planning, operating, maintaining and developing the land transport system. The NZTA has broad responsibility for ensuring the land transport system (including road, rail, barging and coastal shipping) contributes to the development of New Zealand economically, socially and environmentally.

Collaborative working

The NZTA is committed to working collaboratively with local government and other organisations to develop the land transport system in a strategic manner. Accordingly, rather than taking an ‘arms-length’ approach to the development of regional strategies and RLTPs, the NZTA now takes considerable interest in the initial planning stages.

In addition, the NZTA’s role involves working effectively with the Ministry of Transport, KiwiRail, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, port and airport authorities, and other transport organisations such as passenger transport and freight transport operators.

Wherever possible, the NZTA aims to achieve its objectives by working collaboratively with, and relying on the processes of, other organisations.

The NZTA’s statutory functions relating to planning, programming and funding

The statutory functions of the NZTA relating to planning, programming and funding are to:

  • promote an affordable, integrated, safe, responsive and sustainable land transport system
  • manage the state highway system, including planning, funding, design, supervision, construction, and maintenance and operations, in accordance with the LTMA and the Government Roading Powers Act 1989
  • deliver or manage the delivery of its other activities and combinations of activities, including (but not limited to) those relating to research, education, training and coastal shipping
  • manage funding of the land transport system, including (but not limited to):
    • administration of land transport revenue and regional fuel taxes, and
    • auditing the performance of approved organisations in relation to activities approved by the NZTA and the operation of the land transport disbursement accounts of approved organisations
  • assist, advise and cooperate with approved organisations
  • cooperate with, or provide advice and assistance to, any government agency or local government agency when requested to do so by the Minister of Transport, but only if the Minister and the NZTA are satisfied that the performance of the NZTA’s functions and duties will not be compromised
  • provide the Minister with any advice relating to the NZTA’s functions that the Minister may request
  • carry out any other functions relating to land transport that the Minister directs in accordance with section 112 of the Crown Entities Act 2004
  • carry out those functions conferred on the NZTA by other provisions in the LTMA or under any other Act.

Legislation: LTMA s95(1).

Statutory independent functions relating to planning, programming and funding

The NZTA's statutory independent functions relating to planning, programming and funding are to:

  • enforce the provisions of any enactment conferring functions or duties on the NZTA
  • determine whether particular activities should be included in the NLTP
  • approve activities or combinations of activities under section 20 of the LTMA
  • approve procurement procedures.

Legislation: LTMA s95(2).

Government direction

The NZTA is required to comply with policy directions given by Ministers and must also act in accordance with its current statement of intent.

Legislation: Crown Entities Act 2004, Part 3 and Part 4.

The NZTA’s operating principles

In meeting its objective and undertaking its functions, the NZTA must:

  • exhibit a sense of social and environmental responsibility, which includes:
    • avoiding, to the extent reasonable in the circumstances, adverse effects on the environment
    • ensuring in relation to its functions, to the extent practicable, that persons or organisations preparing RLTPs take into account the views of affected communities, and give land transport options and alternatives an early and full consideration; and provide early and full opportunities to the persons and organisations who are required to be consulted in order to contribute to the development of RLTPs
    • meeting the requirements on Māori contribution to decision making
  • use its revenue in a manner that seeks value for money, and:
    • if the revenue is part of the NLTF, in accordance with section 10(3) of the LTMA, and
    • in all other cases, for the purpose for which it is collected
  • ensure that its revenue and expenditure is accounted for in a transparent manner
  • ensure that:
    • it acts in a transparent manner in its decision making under the LTMA
    • it gives, when making decisions in respect of land transport planning and funding under subpart 1 of Part 2 of the LTMA, the same level of scrutiny to its own proposed activities and combinations of activities as it would give to those proposed by approved organisations.

Legislation: LTMA s96.