Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand
Transporting New Zealand today launched its Election Platform 2026 in Wellington, calling on all political parties to back practical transport policies to improve supply chain resilience and support economic growth.
The platform identifies five priority areas for action: fuel and supply chain resilience, infrastructure, safer roads, workforce development, and lower-emission freight.
Road freight moves approximately 93 percent of New Zealand’s freight by tonnage and employs around 33,000 people, making a reliable and efficient freight network essential to the country’s economic success.
Transporting New Zealand Chief Executive Dom Kalasih said there is a significant opportunity to lift economic performance by focusing on transport infrastructure and freight.
“If we want a more productive and competitive economy, we need a transport system that is reliable and efficient.”
“Our platform is not about favouring one transport mode over another. It is about ensuring investment decisions are evidence-based, deliver value for taxpayers and support a resilient freight network that keeps New Zealand moving.”
Key recommendations include increased investment and prioritisation of road maintenance, improving fuel security, accelerated driver licensing pathways, and policies to support fleet renewal, freight productivity and uptake of lower-emission vehicles.
Improving road safety is fundamental priority for the sector and Transporting NZ is seeking stronger enforcement against drug driving and mobile phone use, as well as targeted action against transport operators who flout the rules. To match roadside enforcement across the ditch, we need to triple roadside drug testing and expand camera-based enforcement for mobile phone use and seatbelt non-compliance.
“Our members see dangerous driving every day, and too often there are few real consequences. If we’re serious about reducing deaths and serious injuries, enforcement and penalties need to send a much stronger message.”
The full Election Platform 2026 is available on the Transporting New Zealand website and outlines detailed policy recommendations intended to inform political parties, policymakers and voters ahead of the 2026 General Election.
About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand
Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is the peak national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Our members operate urban, rural and inter-regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country.
Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 93% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4,700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion.