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Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004

This rule establishes the rules under which traffic operates on roads. It applies to all road users, whether they are drivers, riders, passengers, pedestrians, or leading or droving animals.

Rule versions

  • The ‘Current rule’ will give you the most up-to-date version of the Rule and any amendments made to it. We recommend this as your reference point if you want to read the most current information.
  • The ‘Original rule and amendments’ will give you the very first version of the rule (as it was when it was first created) as well as links to all amendments made to it over time. We recommend this page as your reference page if you want to research the history of the rule.

Note: Both of these pages will also provide links to the consultation material – such as summary of submissions and FAQs (questions and answers) – for each version and amendment.

Questions and answers

Questions and answers are provided to accompany a new rule or amendment when they are signed. These and other consultation documents on this page have not been updated to take into account any later rule amendments and are retained for historic interest only.

Land Transport Rules - Questions & answers

Omnibus Amendment 2014

1. What is the Land Transport Rule: Omnibus Amendment Rule 2014?

Land Transport Rule: Omnibus Amendment 2014 (the Omnibus Amendment Rule) was prepared for public consultation and contained proposals to change requirements in a number of existing Land Transport Rules. Annual Omnibus Amendment Rules provide a means for consulting on relatively straightforward Rule changes that are mainly of a technical or editorial nature, or that originate, for example, from the need to reflect current industry best practice or changes to other legislation.

2. What are the amendment Rules resulting from Omnibus Amendment 2014?

For the purposes of consultation, proposed amendments to eleven Land Transport Rules were combined into the Omnibus Amendment Rule. Following consultation, the provisions in the Omnibus Amendment Rule were split into the following amendment Rules:

The 11th proposed rule, an amendment to the Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Rule 1999, is being progressed separately.

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

The number of relatively minor changes to several Land Transport Rules is necessary for a variety of reasons. These include:

  • clarifying or modifying current requirements to assist understanding and enforcement;
  • removing unnecessary or unintended requirements to reduce the burden of compliance (without diminishing safety standards);
  • amending requirements to accord with current practices and technology;
  • correcting errors in cross-references, descriptions and technical specifications in current Rules.

4. What changes have been made in the amendment Rules?

Road User Rule 2004

These changes will:

  • clarify that either markings or signs may be used to exclude cycles, mopeds and motorcycles from a special vehicle lane
  • amend the word ‘signal’ to ‘sign’, in a clause about lane use, to correct the current description of a traffic control device.
  • clarify that a driver may move to the left of the roadway until the road is clear of all traffic (not just right turning traffic from the centre of the road), before commencing a right hand turn.

Consultation and publication

5. When do these amendment Rules come into force?

All the amendment Rules come into force on 1 November 2014. Until the amendment Rules come into force, the current requirements continue to apply.

6. Was the public consulted on the amendments?

Yes. On 23 May 2014, the NZ Transport Agency advised about 2400 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 Omnibus Amendment Rule and a summary of the proposed changes were made available on request. The Omnibus Amendment Rule and information material were also available on the NZ Transport Agency’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 NZ Transport Agency received 25 submissions on the amendment proposals. The submissions were taken into account in preparing the amendment Rules for signing.

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

The Land Transport Act 1998 allows the Minister of Transport to make Land Transport Rules.

8. Where can I get copies of the 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.

The Rules can also be purchased from the Rule printers and distributors, Wickliffe Solutions, PO Box 932 Dunedin 9054, or by telephoning (06) 353 2700. The Road User Rule is available in bound form from Legislation Direct (telephone (04) 568 0005). Rules can also be inspected at the National Office and regional offices of the NZ Transport Agency.

9. How will the NZ Transport Agency make sure people know about the amendment Rules?

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

Page created: 14 August 2014