Land Transport Rules - Questions & answers

Omnibus Amendment 2011

1. What is the Omnibus Amendment Rule?

Land Transport Rule: Omnibus Amendment 2011 is a public consultation document for the purposes of notifying proposals to change requirements in a number of existing Land Transport Rules. Annual Omnibus Amendment Rules provide for relatively straightforward amendments, mainly of a technical or editorial nature, and for making changes to Rules resulting, for example, from the need to reflect current industry best practice or changes to other legislation. Changes made through the Omnibus Amendment process do not impose any significant compliance requirements or costs on government, industry or the public.

2. What are the new amendment Rules?

The Minister of Transport has signed into law the following amendment Rules:

• Land Transport Rule: Dangerous Goods Amendment 2011 (Rule 45001/3);(external link)
• Land Transport Rule: Frontal Impact Amendment 2011 (Rule 32006/5);(external link)
• Land Transport Rule: Heavy Vehicles Amendment (No 2) 2011 (Rule 31002/5);(external link)
• Land Transport Rule: Light-vehicle Brakes Amendment 2011 (Rule 32014/2);(external link)
• Land Transport Rule: Operator Licensing Amendment (No 2) 2011 (Rule 81001/6);(external link)
• Land Transport Rule: Steering Systems Amendment 2011 (Rule 32003/3);(external link)
• Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices Amendment 2011 (Rule 54002/5);(external link)
• Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Exhaust Emissions Amendment 2011 (Rule 33001/5);(external link)
• Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance Amendment (No 2) 2011 (Rule 35001/9);(external link)
• Land Transport Rule: Work Time and Logbooks Amendment (No 2) 2011 (Rule 62001/4).(external link)

3. How did these amendment Rules originate?

These amendment Rules were consulted on as part of the draft Land Transport Rule: Omnibus Amendment 2011 project (the Omnibus Amendment Rule), which contained proposals for changes to 11 Land Transport Rules, including the Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Rule 1999 (the Driver Licensing Rule).

Following consultation, the provisions in the Omnibus Amendment Rule were split into 10 separate amendment Rules. The changes to the Driver Licensing Rule were included in the Driver Licensing Amendment Rule (Rule 91001/7) that was consulted on in 2010 and was due to be signed in late August 2011.

4. What are the reasons for the amendments being made?

The amendment Rules make minor changes to existing Land Transport Rules. These changes:

• clarify or modify current requirements to assist understanding and enforcement;
• amend requirements to accord with current industry needs or practices;
• update requirements relating to vehicle standards to ensure that vehicles continue to be operated safely;
• remove unnecessary restrictions and requirements (without diminishing safety standards);
• amend requirements to ensure they are in line with international recommendations for the transport of dangerous goods on land and the New Zealand hazardous substances and new organisms regulations;
• make consequential changes as a result of changes to Rules and other legislation; and
• correct minor errors and omissions, and remove anomalies in the existing Rules.

5. What changes have been made to the existing Rules?

Land Transport Rule: Frontal Impact 2001

The amendment Rule aligns the criterion for a permit to import a 'special interest vehicle' with that applying to left-hand-drive vehicle permits by specifying that a 'special interest vehicle' is one that is not manufactured annually in quantities of more that 20,000 units of the make, model and sub-model.

6. When do these amendment Rules come into force?

All the amendment Rules come into force on 1 October 2011.

7. Was the public consulted on the amendments?

Yes. On 1 June 2011, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) advised about 2200 groups and individuals registered on the Rules consultation database, by letter or email, of the proposed changes and invited them to make submissions. Printed copies of the draft Omnibus Amendment Rule and a summary of the proposed changes were made available on request. The draft Omnibus Amendment Rule and information material were also available on the NZTA's website.

Public notices seeking submissions were published in the daily newspapers in the major centres (Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin) and in the New Zealand Gazette. The NZTA received 17 submissions on the draft Omnibus Amendment Rule. The submissions were taken into account in preparing the amendment Rules for signing.

8. What is the legal basis for the amendment Rules?

The Land Transport Act 1998 allows the Minister of Transport to make Land Transport Rules. Rules are drafted in plain English and go through an extensive consultation process with interested groups and the public. This is to ensure that they are easily understood and are widely complied with. Rules are usually prepared by the NZTA under contract to the Ministry of Transport and, like regulations, have the force of law.

9. Where can I get copies of the amendment Rules?

Final rules are available on our website(external link).

Printed copies of Land Transport Rules can be purchased from selected bookshops throughout New Zealand that sell legislation. Rules can also be purchased from the Rule printers and distributors, Wickliffe Ltd, PO Box 932 Dunedin or by telephoning (06) 358 8231. Rules are also available for inspection at regional offices of the NZTA.

10. How will the NZTA make sure people know about the amendment Rules?

A newsletter outlining the Rule changes will be sent to groups and individuals who registered their interest in each of the Rules that have been amended. Where necessary, the NZTA will advise the industry of the changes. The NZTA will also update any relevant Factsheets or other information material available on its website to reflect the changes brought about by the amendment Rules.

11. How can I get more information about the amendment Rules?

Further information about the amendment Rules can be obtained by calling the NZTA's Contact Centre on 0800 699 000.