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The Rule sets out the roles and responsibilities of the NZ Transport Agency (the Agency) and road controlling authorities (RCAs) for reviewing and setting speed limits.  

About the ruleThe rule currently available is a principal rule. If it is amended in future a consolidated format (including amendments) will also be made available on this website. The electronic versions of legislation on this website, and any legislation printed from the website:

have no official status
are made available for information only and should not be relied on as the authoritative text. About the questions and answersQuestions and answers are provided to accompany a new rule or amendment rule when it is signed. These versions of the questions and answers are not updated to take into account any later amendments to the rule and are retained for historic interest only.

(Revoked: 21 September 2017)(See the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2017)

This rule establishes procedures for road controlling authorities to set enforceable speed limits on roads within their jurisdictions. About the ruleThe rule is available in consolidated format (ie, a full, up-to-date, version of the rule including all its amendments) or as the original, unamended rule with separate amendment rules. Choose the option that best suits your needs from the list below. To access the consolidated version of the rule (available only in PDF format), click on ‘Consolidation’ below. The electronic versions of legislation on this website, and any legislation printed from the website:

have no official status
are made available for information only and should not be relied on as the authoritative text. About the questions and answersQuestions and answers are provided to accompany a new rule or amendment rule when it is signed.

An introduction to land transport rules, including the status of rules currently being developed. Index of land transport rules

(Revoked)(See Land Transport Rule: Operator Licensing 2017)

This rule sets out requirements for obtaining and retaining a licence to operate a passenger, rental, vehicle recovery or goods service vehicle. Also requirements that apply to transport service drivers, ‘dial-a-driver’ service drivers, hirers of rental service vehicles and approved taxi organisations. About the ruleThe rule is available in consolidated format (ie, a full, up-to-date, version of the rule including all its amendments) or as the original, unamended rule with separate amendment rules. Choose the option that best suits your needs from the list below. To access the consolidated version of the rule (available only in PDF format), click on ‘Consolidation’ below. The electronic versions of legislation on this website, and any legislation printed from the website:

have no official status

are made available for information only and should not be relied on as the authoritative text.

This rule has been revoked.   This means it is no longer in force.   It was in force from 6 May 2019 to 6 May 2020 (and was in force on those dates). This rule provided short term measures to enable operators of scheduled passenger services to schedule the timing of 10-minute breaks and rest breaks efficiently and safely, while minimising disruption to services. About the ruleThe rule is available in Adobe PDF format. If you have any questions, please email rules@nzta. govt. nz

This rule has not yet been brought into force.   This is because no Gazette notice has been made to bring the rule into force. This rule sets out the key aspects of the operator rating system. The rating of operators will allow NZ Transport Agency compliance units, and police enforcement units, to focus on operators of vehicles covered by the rule. About the ruleThe rule is available in consolidated format (ie, a full, up-to-date, version of the rule including all its amendments) or as the original, unamended rule with separate amendment rules. Choose the option that best suits your needs from the list below. To access the consolidated version of the rule (available only in PDF format), click on ‘Consolidation’ below.

When Alert Level 4 restrictions were imposed in response to the outbreak of COVID-19, it became impractical or unreasonable for people to do tasks ordinarily required to enable vehicles to undergo periodic in-service inspection and certification, or to enable driver licences, endorsements and driver identification cards to be renewed. The objective of this Rule is to allow for vehicles to continue to be operated lawfully, and for drivers to continue to be licensed and to use endorsements and identification cards, during this time and subsequently. The Rule provides for the following documents to be extended until 10 October 2020:

Warrants of Fitness (WoFs), Certificates of Fitness (CoFs) and driver licences that expired on or after 1 January 2020.

This rule makes consequential changes to multiple Land Transport Rules as a result of the Land Transport (NZTA) Legislation Amendment Act 2020, which amends primary legislation to (among other things) establish the role of the Director of Land Transport, set out the functions, powers, and duties of the Director, and set out the functions of Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. The consequential changes align the functions, powers and duties stipulated in the land transport rules with the new changes that have been made in primary legislation. The changes primarily include the following examples:

Removing references to the “Agency” and replacing with the “Director” where this role has now changed; and
Adding “and” or “or” “Director” to roles to be carried out by both the Agency and/or the Director. If you have any further questions, please contact the Rules team by emailing rules@nzta. govt. nz

(Revoked: 1 February 2017)(See Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2016)

The rule covers requirements for dimension and mass limits to enable vehicles, in particular, heavy truck and trailer combinations, to be operated safely on New Zealand’s roads. About the ruleThe rule is available in consolidated format (ie, a full, up-to-date, version of the rule including all its amendments) or as the original, unamended rule with separate amendment rules. Choose the option that best suits your needs from the list below. To access the consolidated version of the rule (available only in PDF format), click on ‘Consolidation’ below. The electronic versions of legislation on this website, and any legislation printed from the website:

have no official status
are made available for information only and should not be relied on as the authoritative text.

Land transport rules are a form of delegated legislation similar to regulations. The Transport Agency produces rules for the Minister of Transport under an agreement made with the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Transport. If you have any questions, please contact the Rules Team by emailing rules@nzta. govt. nz

Find out more about land transport rules