Road freight body Transporting New Zealand has delivered a mid-term scorecard on the Coalition Government’s performance in the transport portfolio, giving it a pass mark – but warning that critical issues like Cook Strait ferry delays and rising roading costs remain unresolved.
Six months into Chris Bishop’s appointment as Transport Minister, the road freight lobby says the Government is “making good progress” on a number of key initiatives, but it is falling short on others.
Policy and advocacy head Billy Clemens says that of the eight “quick-win” priorities laid out in its February 2025 Briefing to the Incoming Minister, the Government had “achieved or progressed half, two were ongoing, and two had earned fail grades.”
“Upon Minister Bishop’s appointment we identified eight quick-win commitments, across transport and other portfolios, that would provide practical support and reassurance to our road freight members,” Clemens said.
“This followed a similar list of priorities in our Briefing to Minister Brown in December 2023.”
Progress has been welcomed on initiatives such as random roadside drug testing, tax incentives for business investment in efficient vehicles, vocational training reform, and road maintenance funding.
But delays in ferry procurement and a lack of firm progress on roading infrastructure funding are drawing increasing concern.
“You’re starting to see the delay in ferry procurement start to bite, with the Awatere’s retirement leaving KiwiRail with only two vessels for the next four years,” Clemens says.
“NZTA’s proposed downgrades to the tolled Ōtaki to North of Levin new highway also demonstrate the need for the Government stump up with additional funding to deliver their roading promises.”
Transporting New Zealand sees untapped opportunities to improve both safety and productivity through reforms to the driver licensing system and High Productivity Motor Vehicle (HPMV) access.
Transporting New Zealand’s Scorecard – Mid-2025
1. Additional roading investment in Budget 2025 – Partially Achieved
While the Budget included important funding boosts for cyclone-hit regions like Hawke’s Bay and the East Coast, it fell short of expectations for projects such as the Roads of Regional and National Significance. “NZTA are now under pressure to downgrade, with serious implications for efficiency and safety,” the organisation warned.
2. Random roadside drug testing – Achieved
Legislation passed in March with cross-party support. The roadside testing regime is due to launch by December, with police expected to conduct 50,000 tests annually.
3. Freight exemptions to time-of-use congestion charging – Ongoing
Transporting New Zealand continues to push for freight exemptions as congestion charging legislation moves through the select committee process. “Transporting New Zealand’s suggested amendments would prevent congestion charges acting as a de facto goods tax.”
4. Tax incentives for efficient heavy vehicles – Achieved
The Investment Boost tax incentive was praised for helping “get more productive, efficient heavy vehicles on the road” and supporting wider business investment.
5. Incentivising fleet renewal through emissions regulations – Ongoing
Work is underway on easing regulatory barriers to importing cleaner heavy vehicles.
6. Prompt delivery of Cook Strait ferries – Not Achieved
“It has been 539 days since Cabinet advised KiwiRail that the Government was pulling the plug on the iReX Project following repeated cost blowouts,” Transporting New Zealand said. Despite contrary advice, “the Government is proceeding with rail-enabled vessels, that have still not been procured”.
7. Support for vocational training and migrant drivers – Partially Achieved
The organisation welcomed tertiary education reform but expressed disappointment over the removal of the temporary residence pathway for overseas truck drivers. “Businesses in hard-to-staff regions [are] facing recruitment challenges.”
8. Preserve ACC’s Fleet Saver levy discount – Not Achieved
With ACC phasing out its fleet safety incentive scheme, Transporting New Zealand says “the Minister for ACC still has the opportunity to defer this decision until an effective alternative can be developed.”
