Transport industry members are voicing their views on the New Zealand general election along with a bucket list of projects they’d like to see the incoming government get cracking on.
Road Transport Forum (RTF) chief executive Nick Leggett says he wasn’t surprised with the election result and believes it follows a trend of governments getting a boost in popularity towards the end of the first term.
Leggett says the RTF looks forward to working with the next government and one of the “contentious” issues coming up will be any changes around employment law for contractors and owner-drivers.
The RTF will also be pushing for more infrastructure work around the country to get more vehicles off the road to give better access to trucks and freight plus “a good balance of road maintenance” measures.
Leggett says the RTF would also like to see the government provide a more “realistic view of what rail can achieve” given it only carries around 10% of the national freight task.
The RTF is also working with the transport industry to train up more people through its Te ara ki tua Road to Success initiative.
This will see collaboration with the incoming government through agencies such Ministry of Social Development, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Tertiary Education Commission and Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), as well as the industry training organisation MITO, and iwi and labour supply groups.
Result sends a clear message
Motor Industry Association chief executive David Crawford says the New Zealand public has voted strategically in the general election.
Crawford says he has not yet had an opportunity to consult with the MIA members on the election outcome.
“In my view, with no real clear indication that National could get up and win this election and with the Greens desperately hanging off the coat tails of Labour, it appears National voters did two things,” Crawford says.
“Firstly some voted Act, which is what the media is mostly reporting. However, some National voters have clearly strategically given their party vote to Labour in the hope that Labour would get enough support to govern alone.
“It is a statement that most New Zealanders and businesses do not want the Greens in a formal coalition with Labour. I hope the Prime Minister understands this and forms a government solely of her own party,” he says.
Drive Electric confident of e-mobility progress
Labour’s sweeping election victory means “the handbrake that was NZ First is all but vaporised,” so let’s get on with an e-mobility action plan, Drive Electric chair Mark Gilbert says.
“I think we will get some traction now,” says Gilbert. “But what it will look like I don’t yet know.”
He says Drive Electric sent recommendations to various political parties prior to the October 17 general election and that both Labour and the Green Party talked about the Clean Car plan concept.
“They probably don’t want to roll out exactly what they did before so we’ve got to get them to engage more with the industry and stakeholders,” Gilbert says.
He says work on the plan – which included emission standards and a possible ‘feebate’ scheme – needs to progress quickly, especially in light of the United Kingdom’s plan to ban sales of new fossil fuel vehicles by 2030 and accelerate EV uptake.
“It’s an opportunity for New Zealand to crank on in this space with the Climate Change Commission due to report soon, so we’d like to see what a declaration on transport will look like.”
The commission’s first package of advice is expected to be open for public consultation between February 1 and March 16 next year.
Gilbert says it’s early days for the new government but he’s confident something around e-mobility will happen, especially as other groups like the Automobile Association chimed in before the election with requests for a clear road map for safer, greener vehicles and boosting the benefits of buying an EV.
“There still needs to be an action plan,” Gilbert insists. “One that recognises those that will be impacted, including social equity where electric car share will be part of a total e-mobility system.”
Business as usual
VIA chief executive David Vinsen says while the organisation is awaiting the confirmation of ministerial portfolios in the new Labour government, it is still business as usual.
“Regardless of whoever is in government, our attitude has always been the same around policy development … we will continue to make sure that ministry officials are properly informed on automotive industry issues so that they can give free and frank advice to their ministers,” Vinsen says.
Vinsen says he expects the incoming government to have an increased focus on reducing C02 emissions and improving fuel economy.
He also believes the government will continue to invest in infrastructure, as well as encourage a model shift to public transport including cycling and walking.
Vinsen says biosecurity remains an important government focus and he expects to see more fuel-efficient vehicle initiatives from EECA as well as the Ministry for Environment liaising with other transport departments over end of vehicle life issues including disposal of worn tyres, dead batteries, used oil and whole vehicles.
Regarding consumers, Vinsen says he expects to see the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) revise the available point of sale information around vehicles.
