Revisions
- Multi-criteria analysis guidance(external link) (July 2025) : The Multi-criteria analysis user guide has been updated to align with the decision-led approach to project development. Further guidance is now provided on using investment objectives to help guide the level of investment being sought; affordability and value for money; making trade-off decisions; and incremental analysis.
- Guide to assessing air quality impacts from state highway projects(external link) (July 2025) : This is a minor update to the previous 2019 version, to take account of recent updates to associated tools, as well as the CASANZ Good Practice Guide for the Assessment and Management of Air Pollution from Road Transport Projects, the Health and air pollution in New Zealand 2016 (HAPINZ 3.0) Volume 1: Findings and implications findings on health impacts from road transport and to reference new air quality guidelines.
- NZTA SM030: State Highway Professional Services Proforma Manual (external link)(July 2025) : The State Highway Professional Services Proforma Manual (SM030) was updated on 2 July 2025 to reflect changes to PACE and health, safety & wellbeing, and to create a more streamlined structure to increase efficiency of professional services contracts.
- NZTA M03: Specification for Sub-Base Aggregates (external link)(August 2025) : The updated document provides for standardisation, is aligned with M04 specification for basecourse aggregates and implements a statistical method for determining compliance. It also strengthens source rock quality testing and assessment of the quality of fines in the aggregate.
- NZTA Z03: Physical Works Schedule Standard(external link) (August 2025) : The standard has been formally ratified and is now ready for implementation. This newly established standard provides a unified framework for schedule management across NZTA’s capital works projects. It defines mandatory requirements for schedule development, baseline integrity, progress measurement, and reporting—ensuring alignment with industry best practices such as retained logic scheduling, DCMA integrity checks, and earned value methodology.
- NZTA SM011: L1 & L2 – Compulsory milestone update(external link) (September 2025) : Page 41 of the Project Management Guide (SM011) details the updated compulsory Level 1 (L1) and Level 2 (L2) milestones for project reporting. These changes support the shift to a Decision-Led Approach, improve clarity of language, and introduce new milestones to ensure better coverage across the project lifecycle. The updates were developed collaboratively by teams from Infrastructure Delivery, Commercial Delivery, and the Portfolio and Programme Office. RoNS and RoRS projects will adopt the new milestones immediately, while all other projects will implement them at their next phase change.
- NZTA Planning Policy Manual – Managing Effects on/from State Highway Network(external link) (September 2025) : This guide sets out NZTA's approach for managing adverse effects of third-party land use and development on the safe and efficient operation of the state highway network, managing adverse effects from the operation of the state highway network on adjacent land use activities and implementing methods to manage potential operational noise and vibration effects on new or altered sensitive activities near the state highway. The guide supersedes the existing 'Guide to the management of effects on noise sensitive land use near to the state highway network', September 2015.
- NZTA Planning Policy Manual – Access from Private Property(external link) (September 2025) : This guide sets out the NZTA assessment and process requirements for gaining direct access onto a state highway via a private accessway, slip lane or road as part of third-party land developments. It replaces the existing Transit Planning Policy Manual No: SP/M/001 204 Appendix 5B Accessway standards and guidelines 2007. The new guidance includes two technical appendices that outline the evidence base for the access considerations.
- NZTA Z05: Health, Safety and Wellbeing Contractor Expectations – HSW Requirements(external link) (September 2025) : This sets out updated health, safety, and wellbeing expectations for contractors. This new specification provides an update on the HSW requirements for contractors. The document replaces the "Health and safety contractor expectations: Guidance for supply chain partners" and the "Contractor expectations: Health and safety incident notification, investigation and reporting" documents. The changes are effective 1 October and apply to all contracts.
- NZTA T28: Test method for the determination of Dry Density & Water Content relationship of aggregates(external link) (September 2025) : A minor revision of T28 has also been developed. It amends one of the calculations in the document to reduce the chance of inadvertent error. While this is an incremental improvement it is intended to ensure the reliability of the test process and calculated outputs.
- One Network Framework (ONF) – Detailed Design Guidance(external link) (September 2025) : The One Network Framework (ONF) Detailed Design and associated Quick Reference Table documents have been amended to correct traffic volume figures in the General Traffic and Freight modal classification tables. These figures now accurately align to the previous ONRC framework.
- Guidelines for Audio Tactile Pavement Roadmarkings(external link) (September 2025) : Minor revision of sections 5 and 6 to clarify when omission of ATPM should be considered to reduce risk of causing environmental noise.
- NZTA M30: Specification & Guidelines for Road Lighting Design, M30 Accepted Luminaires List(external link) (September 2025) : The list has been updated to reflect additions/deletions of accepted LED luminaires for use on NZ roading network.
- NZTA P24: Specification for Permanent Traffic Signs - Appendix F NZTA Accepted Products and Systems(external link) (September 2025) : This has been updated to correct a change in supplier details.
- NZTA SM012 Part 5: Consolidated Emergencies, Events, Closures Section (external link)(October 2025) : The update to SM012 section 4.0 provides greater clarity and specificity of the criteria and condition's of use for consideration of approval for use of the Auckland Harbour Bridge for events / filming.
New
- NZTA T24: Determination of Plateau Maximum Dry Density & Related Notes (external link)(August 2025) : The NZTA T24: 2025 specification, a new technical specification just released, outlines procedures to determine the plateau dry density of pavement layers. It details a collaborative arrangement for how contractors and accredited labs determine the Target Dry Density by comparing in-field densities to laboratory MDD values, to be used for compliance in the B-series specifications. The aim of the new procedure is to develop rolling patterns to ensure efficient, compliant pavement compaction.
- Guide to Using the Decision-led Approach to Project Development (Draft)(external link) (August 2025) : The first edition draft of the DLA guidance is now available. The decision-led approach is about project teams doing the right work at the right time to enable the right decisions to be made. As of July 2025, the decision led approach is now the way NZTA develops its state highway infrastructure projects. This guidance provides practical advice on how to apply the approach.
- Landslide Hazard Rating System(external link) (September 2025) : This is a screening tool that complements its equivalent for rockfall (RHRS). Together, LHRS and RHRS allow a relative assessment of rockfall and landslip hazards to be made consistently across the country and enable remedial actions to be prioritised and funded in a more standardised way.
- NZTA Z01 D: Professional Services Contract Quality Management Specification (external link)(September 2025) : The NZTA Z/1 - Standard for Quality Management Plans has been split into 6 contract specific quality management specifications, forming the Z01 series (Z01A to Z01 F).
- NZTA Z01F: Independent Quality Monitoring and Assurance Services Specification(external link) (September 2025) : The NZTA Z/1 - Standard for Quality Management Plans has been split into 6 contract specific quality management specifications, forming the Z01 series (Z01A to Z01 F)
- Environmental Assurance Procedure(external link) (September 2025) : This procedure outlines how to implement NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi environmental assurance activities, focusing on the practical steps to identify, plan, conduct and report site-based environmental audits. It describes the actions and considerations taken to identify projects and contracts that require targeted audits, as well as the process to communicate audit approaches, including outcomes, to individuals and groups responsible for addressing actions and opportunities. (NEW)
- Transport Services Strategy and Framework for ITS Roadside Assets(external link) (September 2025) : This outlines the approach for applying and leveraging Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) across the State Highway network in New Zealand. It establishes a clear vision, guiding principles, and a flexible framework to ensure ITS remains relevant and effective in meeting the evolving needs of the transportation landscape.
- Uninterruptable power systems (UPS) Delivery Specification (external link)(September 2025) : This document specifies the requirements for the procurement of the UPS.
- Fonts, Graphics and Legibility for Electronic Message Signage (external link)(September 2025) : This document specifies the requirements for the fonts, graphics and legibility of messages on the electronic signage.
- Intersection Speed Zone Design Standard(external link) (September 2025) : This document specifies the design requirement of the ISZ sites.
Withdrawn
For consultation
- NZTA B02_Construction of unbound granular pavement layers. The B02 draft has been sent out for consultation & comment. Consultation closes 26 September 2025.For more information, please contact Pavements@nzta.govt.nz
- NZTA T19_Procedures for design and indirect tensile strength testing of modified and bound pavement materials. Th working group for the update of this standard has been established and revision is starting soon. For more information, lease contact Pavements@nzta.govt.nz.
- Climate change projections specification for infrastructure planning, development, delivery and management. A sub-committee for the development of this specification has been established and consultation will be undertaken over the next three months. For more information, please contact Environment@nzta.govt.nz
- Decision-led approach to project development. The draft guidance for NZTA‘s Decision-led approach to project development was published on 9 September 2025. We’re inviting feedback from consultants who’ve already piloted the approach on recent investment cases for infrastructure projects so that we can further refine the document before the updated final guidance is published. Consultation closes 16 October 2025. For more information, please contact Decisionledpdinfo@nzta.govt.nz.
Further information
If you have any questions or feedback, please contact standards@nzta.govt.nz
Visit our Highways Information Portal website: www.nzta.govt.nz/hip
