| Submissions for this consultation have now closed |
Consultation on considering new safety features for vehicles imported into New Zealand closed on 17 December 2025.
What we sought feedback on
We sought feedback on introducing any or all the following safety features for imported vehicles.
For new and used, light and heavy vehicles:
- Automatic Emergency Braking.
- Lane Keep Support systems.
- Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (for ‘quiet’ - electric and hybrid – vehicles).
For new and used heavy vehicles:
- Electronic Stability Control.
- Anti-lock Braking Systems.
Why they’re important
- Automatic Emergency Braking for light and heavy vehicles: this feature can detect a potential hazard in front of a vehicle, warn the driver of a potential forward collision and activate the brakes if the driver doesn’t react in time.
- Lane Keep Support systems for light and heavy vehicles: this feature includes Lane Departure Warning, and Lane Keep Assist. Lane Departure Warnings warn a driver when their vehicle is about to leave its lane. Lane Keep Assist actively steers the vehicle back into its lane.
- Electronic Stability Control for heavy vehicles: this feature can control the braking of each wheel to correct a vehicle that is skidding or has lost traction. It’s been required for light vehicles entering New Zealand since 2015.
- Anti-lock Braking Systems for heavy vehicles: this feature can reduce wheel locking and aid the driver in unexpected or emergency events by making it easier to steer and slow the vehicle down.
- Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System for ‘quiet’ (electric and hybrid) light and heavy vehicles: this feature makes a sound outside of the vehicle to alert pedestrians and other road users to its presence.
If these safety features become mandatory, more vehicles in New Zealand will have them sooner. This could help lower the number and the seriousness of crashes causing most deaths and serious injuries on our roads.
Supporting documents during consultation
What’s next
All feedback is being considered before the Associate Minister of Transport makes a decision. Any Land Transport Rule amendments would likely be signed in mid-2026.
Note there was no draft amendment Rule accompanying this consultation. Making these features compulsory would require changes to four Land Transport Rules:
- Land Transport Rule: Heavy Vehicle Brakes 2006
- Land Transport Rule: Light-vehicle Brakes 2002
- Land Transport Rule: Steering Systems 2001
- Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Equipment 2004.
If a decision to change any of these Rules is made, the Associate Minister of Transport is likely to use the Order in Council process. Rules made by Order in Council are signed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the relevant Minister.
The Executive Council Role in the regulations process(external link)
If you have a question about this consultation, send it to:
rules@nzta.govt.nz
This work is part of the Government’s Land Transport Rules Reform Programme:
Land Transport Rules Reform Programme (external link)
