It is a pleasure to be here this evening to present the Road Safety Innovation Achievement Awards.

As many of you know, I took up the role of Associate Minister of Transport about three months ago.  I can tell you that I am really enjoying the role.  There is a lot going on in the transport sector and I am finding it very interesting.

I know that road safety is very important to Trafinz and to the Government.

Road safety is one of this Government's top transport priorities, and for good reason.

While 2008 saw New Zealand achieve a record low road toll of 366 deaths, the decline in road safety deaths and injuries has stalled. In fact, in recent years the number of serious injury crashes has been increasing.

The emotional impact of each of these roads deaths on the victim's family and friends is immense. Added to this is the estimated social cost of road crashes in New Zealand.  This amounts to $3.8 billion each year. It is staggering and tragic.

Safer Journeys

Late last month, we released a new road safety discussion document called Safer Journeys.

It outlines what research tells us are the key road safety issues facing New Zealand, and it contains a number of suggestions for addressing those issues.

I want to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Government, to ask you to work with us on the solutions.

We want to hear what you have to say on the proposals in Safer Journeys.

Have we got the issues right? Have we proposed some sensible solutions? Have you got any better ideas?

It's important that you have your say.

The awards

Now that I have put in a plug for Safer Journeys, I would like to turn to the highlight of the evening and that is to present the Road Safety Innovation Achievement Awards and the Trafinz Leadership and  Stewardship Transport Awards.

These awards recognise outstanding contributions to road safety in New Zealand. While there can only be a few award winners tonight, I would like to acknowledge all of you who are doing the right things across the transport sector to improve road safety.

Without this ongoing and joint effort, the task would be much more difficult to achieve. Thank you, to you all.

First announcement

So, that brings me to the first of tonight's awards.  I have great pleasure in announcing that the winner in the  Education Category for their ‘Share the Road' project is....  Hancock Forest Management New Zealand.

In December 2006 Hancock Forestry Management (or HFM) took over management of the Taumata Plantation in Northland.

A combination of increased harvesting, trucking on new routes and community feedback motivated HFM to take steps to address safety on rural roads.

‘Share The Road' was developed to educate local communities, particularly Northland students and their families in rural areas, to be better able to share public roads with heavy vehicles.

The programme used schools to educate and raise the awareness about road safety and heavy vehicle safety.

The judges felt that this project would have long term safety benefits. To date, 1,100 students have now sat behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler logging truck, providing students with a comprehensive experience.

Coming from a rural background and being the father of young children, I can certainly appreciate the effect an experience like that would have on a child.

The judges also noted the proactive inclusion of stakeholders and the ease with which the project could be transported elsewhere within the forest industry.

HFM have been innovative, and taken responsibility for developing safer communities. I congratulate you on your initiative and I would now like to invite Peter Houston from HFM to come up and receive this award.

Second announcement

Ladies and gentlemen, I would now like to announce the winner in the Organisation Category.  And this goes to ... the Kupe Gas Project for the Road Safety Program.  

Technip, together with Origin Energy, formed the Kupe Gas Project Alliance for the construction and commissioning of the Kupe Gas Project in Taranaki, from October 2006 to December 2009. The project consisted of the construction of an onshore Production Station, pipelines, power cables, as well as associated offshore facilities.

To execute the project, the Alliance had to bring in a considerable number of local and overseas companies, employees and contractors.

Very early in the project development, it was identified that moving up to 950 people a day around Taranaki, would present a major risk that had to be managed effectively throughout the entire project.

With the daily stream of Taranaki milk tankers, tourists and regional traffic, as well as the irregular presence of ‘black ice', road safety for Alliance employees and contractors was a major concern.

The Alliance implemented a road safety programme at the start of the project. The programme consisted of, among other things, Hazard Registers for recording safety issues, a project ban on employees driving after an overnight flight, defensive driver training, project buses and cars, and speed limits for project members.

The judges were impressed that extra training was given to overseas workers before they arrived and noted there were good rules as well as a framework for driver selection. 

There was good evidence of working with the community to address road safety issues such as speed and fatigue, and the project went beyond standard health and safety practice.

Again, we see an organisation going the extra mile for the community. Congratulations to Kupe Gas. I would now like to invite Les Cropley to receive their award.

Highly commended

I would also like to congratulate those who have received Highly Commended certificates, which were delivered by NZTA's regional staff last week.

The winners in the Community Category were:

• Bronte Davenport - for Walk this Way


• the Traffic Design Group for the Belmont School and Community Travel Plan.

And in the Organisation Category:

• Red Busfor the establishment of a Driver Development Centre.

TRAFINZ Stewardship & Leadership Award

The final award I have the privilege of presenting tonight is the Trafinz Stewardship and Leadership Award which recognises exceptional achievements in transport.  I am very pleased to announce that the award for 2009 goes to...  the Christchurch City Council.

Under the leadership of the late Mike Gadd the council has led New Zealand over the last 25 years in the area of transport and community safety.  The Council can proudly claim a number of firsts.  They were the first to employ a Road Safety Co-ordinator, the first city in New Zealand to monitor traffic with CCTV and the first to instal red light safety cameras. 

Along with Manukau City Council, they were also the first to establish Safety Audit Procedures for all transportation projects.

These achievements and a number of other innovations have now been adopted throughout New Zealand.  I would like to congratulate the council on its contribution to road safety, public health and the economy. 

I would now like to call forward a Council representative to receive this award

Finally, I would like to thank each and everyone of you for your commitment to road safety and safe sustainable transport. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on our Safer Journeys document and working with you to finalise the Government's 2020 road safety strategy.

Thank you.