The National Road Carriers Association (NRC) has farewelled two of its longest-serving leaders while welcoming three new members to its board.
After decades of service, Calven Bonney and Don Wilson have stepped down. Both played key roles in guiding the association through growth and change while representing members nationwide.
Wilson joined the board in 2014, serving as chair from 2016 to 2021 and as a Road Transport Forum director from 2019 to 2021. Since 2010, he has represented NRC on the National Livestock & Safety Group, chairing it from 2016 until early this year, and was instrumental in its transformation into the National Livestock Safety Council.
Bonney retires after 51 years on the NRC board. With family roots in transport dating back to the 1920s, he founded CD Bonney Ltd in the 1970s before acquiring L.W. Bonney & Sons Ltd in 1984. He held leadership roles across the sector, including as NRC president and founding director of the Road Transport Forum New Zealand, later serving as its chair. He is a life member of both organisations and was recognised in 2018 with induction into the Transport Hall of Fame and as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to transport and motorsport.
NRC chair Ian Newey paid tribute to both leaders.
“As Don and Calven retire from the NRC Board, I want to personally thank them for their extraordinary contribution, not just to their individual sectors but to the transport industry as a whole.
“NRC has greatly appreciated their time, passion, knowledge, and unwavering commitment. Their guidance and leadership have been a cornerstone for the Association, and we wish them both every success in the future,” Newey says.
New appointments
The board has welcomed Kieran Carr, Nikki Ellis, and Kyle Wilson, each bringing industry knowledge and a strong commitment to advancing the interests of NRC members.
Carr, chief financial officer for Carr & Haslam, is a chartered accountant who joined the board after the 2024/25 NRC Secondee Programme.
“I have seen the benefits of NRC to the industry of having a voice in government that understands the day-to-day realities of the transport industry and can fight on our behalf,” he says.
“As a chartered accountant, I bring a strong financial lens to the table, complementing the expertise of the existing board. Together, we bring a balanced approach with a well-rounded skill set.”
Ellis, logistics and distribution manager at Marlin Transport, also came through the Secondee Programme.
“The hands-on experience I gained working on behalf of the board to help redesign access gates and the truck park at the Port of Auckland along with contributing to the development of the new NRC constitution has greatly strengthened my knowledge of NRC as an organisation,” she says.
“I look forward to continuing to help drive positive change for the industry as a member of the board.”
Wilson, who runs Northern Rural Haulage, brings a rural transport perspective.
“Through my role on the NRC board, I’d like to see regulations shaped so they are fit for purpose,” he says.
“There needs to be a fairer and more consistent approach to compliance across the industry. Too often enforcement focuses on particular pockets, but it must be a whole-of-industry approach. I want to contribute to building that fairness while ensuring our industry is sustainable.”
Advocacy ahead
Newey says the appointments reflect NRC’s focus on strengthening governance and preparing for future challenges.
“This is an important moment for NRC. We are farewelling two members whose wisdom and experience have been a cornerstone of our governance, while welcoming three individuals who bring fresh energy, passion, and vision.
“This mix of continuity and renewal will keep NRC at the forefront of advocating for our members.”
Advocacy remains the association’s priority for the year ahead, with engagement planned with the Minister of Transport, senior officials, and industry leaders. Key issues include investment in roading and infrastructure, stronger safety and compliance, fair competition, and lifting freight productivity.
“With these new board appointments, NRC is in a strong position to continue advocating effectively on behalf of its members,” Newey says.
“Our mission is to ensure the transport sector has the conditions it needs to succeed – safe, fair, and productive. Kieran, Nikki, and Kyle will each play an important role in that journey.”
The NRC board elected for 2025 comprises Ian Newey (chair), Glen Mackay (vice-chair), John Baillie, Corey Burnett, Pamela Bonney, Adam Norman, Nikki Ellis, Kieran Carr and Kyle Wilson.
