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Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed today’s green-lighting of the Transmission Gully project, saying the project is an exciting and important milestone not only for the Wellington region but also for New Zealand’s national state highway network.

“An alternative state highway route into the capital through Transmission Gully has been talked about for decades, and the Board of Inquiry’s final decision to approve the regulatory consent applications will allow the NZ Transport Agency to take the project to the next stage,” Mr Brownlee says.

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed progress on the Vehicle Licensing Reform project that aims to deliver a simpler and more efficient vehicle licensing system.

The Vehicle Licensing Reform project announced in March and jointly led by the Ministry of Transport and the NZ Transport Agency is looking at ways to refine the following systems:

The cost to motorists of licensing and registering their vehicles is set to come down slightly this year, Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee has announced.

Administration fees applied to licensing or registering vehicles and road user charges have not changed since the 1990s.  A review conducted by the NZ Transport Agency found the fees no longer reflected the cost of administering the service and recommended changes to the way administration fees were structured and charged.

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee has today confirmed increases in petrol excise duty of two cents a litre and an equivalent increase in road user charges of an average of 4.1 per cent.

The increases will take effect from 1 August and the additional revenue will go into the National Land Transport Fund to assist investment in transport projects throughout the country.

Changes to the road user charges system set to take effect from 1 August will simplify the process for everyone who uses it, Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

Regulations have been developed  to enable:

Associate Minister of Transport Simon Bridges is urging drivers to take care this Queen’s Birthday weekend.

“Holiday weekends can be a dangerous time on New Zealand roads. There is more traffic, people drive longer distances and there are real dangers from fatigue.

“As people try to pack a lot into their weekend, drivers often do not take proper breaks or get enough sleep.”

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee has applauded the hard work done over the past nine months which has seen the Manawatu Gorge reopen today, albeit with a limited one way service.

“I very much appreciate the efforts of lead contractor Higgins and all their sub-contractors who have been working day and night to clear the largest road slip we’ve ever seen in the country’s history,” Mr Brownlee said.

“Today’s re-opening is good news for motorists, especially coming in time for Queen’s Birthday weekend.

The latest report on the impact of high risk drivers shows these drivers remain a major worry on our roads, Associate Transport Minister Simon Bridges says at the launch of a ‘Ghost Chips’ billboard at Western Heights High School in Rotorua today.

KiwiRail will receive $250 million of capital in 2012/13 for its Turnaround Plan to help the rail freight business become sustainable, Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

The Budget 2012 appropriation is the final round of a three-year $750 million Government funding package supporting the objectives of KiwiRail’s Turnaround Plan.

“The plan is designed to help the rail freight business become sustainable by 2020 so it can fund its business solely from customer revenue.

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the release today of an interim report from the cross-sector Road Maintenance Task Force.

The Government set up the task force in July last year to drive value for money and seek opportunities to reduce costs for road controlling authorities around the country.

Task force membership is drawn from the NZ Transport Agency, Local Government New Zealand, Roading New Zealand, road controlling authorities, the NZ Contractors’ Federation and the Association of Consulting Engineers NZ.

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee has released a discussion document on New Zealand’s International Air Transport Policy, proposing changes to benefit the New Zealand economy.

“New Zealand’s international air transport policy sets out the overall framework for how we negotiate and implement air services agreements with other countries and is a vital part of enabling economic growth,” Mr Brownlee said.

The completion of the SH2 Muldoon’s corner easing project near the summit of Rimutaka Hill in Wellington represents another improvement in the safety and efficiency of the country’s main transport routes, Associate Transport Minister Simon Bridges said at the completion celebration event today.

The completion of the SH2 Muldoon’s corner easing project near the summit of Rimutaka Hill in Wellington represents another improvement in the safety and efficiency of the country’s main transport routes, Associate Transport Minister Simon Bridges said at the completion celebration event today.

One year into the Decade of Action for Road Safety, there is still much to be done to reduce the rate of death and injury on our roads says Associate Transport Minister Simon Bridges.

“Last year, New Zealand was the first country in the world to mark the United Nations and World Health Organisation’s call on May 11 for a Decade of Action for Road Safety. We have made great strides in reducing deaths on our roads but we still rank below many other developed countries and there is more we can do,” says Mr Bridges.

The current drug testing regime for drivers will not be changed, Associate Transport Minster Simon Bridges has announced following a Government review of the law.  Mr Bridges says there is good evidence that the current regime is working well.

“Over 500 drivers have tested positive for at least one drug in the two years since the regime began.  The law is helping take these people off the roads, and reducing the risk they pose to themselves and other road users.”

Acting Transport Minister Steven Joyce today welcomed the draft approval of Transmission Gully by an independent Board of Inquiry under the Government’s national consenting process with the Environmental Protection Authority.

“The Board of Inquiry's draft decision to approve the regulatory consents applications for the nearly $1 billion Transmission Gully project is a very good step forward,” Mr Joyce says.

Associate Transport Minister Simon Bridges says a record low April road toll is an encouraging result, but there is still a need for progress on improving road safety.

Provisional figures show that April 2012 had a road toll of 12 road deaths, the lowest for any calendar month for any year since 1965, when monthly records started. The previous lowest monthly figure was 16 road deaths for February 2012.

“This is an encouraging result, but still too many people are being killed and injured on our roads, and it will be little comfort to their families and loved ones.

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says a new national airspace policy will give the aviation industry clarity on future development and modernisation of the country’s airspace.

“This updated policy will future proof the airspace and air navigation system to ensure the safe and efficient movement of air traffic,” Mr Brownlee says.

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee is inviting the agricultural sector to have its say on proposed changes to transport regulation for agricultural vehicles.

“Last year the government announced the need to ensure these rules were protecting safety without imposing unnecessary red tape,” Mr Brownlee said.

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee has announced plans to update the rules setting emissions standards for vehicles entering New Zealand.

Proposed changes to the 2007 Vehicle Exhaust Emissions Rule will ensure that New Zealand continues to import new vehicles built to the highest available exhaust emissions standards. Current standards for used vehicles would remain in place.

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says a new understanding between China and New Zealand triples the number of passenger flights that may be operated between the two countries. The understanding comes following a visit to New Zealand from His Excellency Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Associate Transport Minister Simon Bridges is thanking Kiwi drivers for helping to achieve an historic fatality-free Easter Weekend on New Zealand roads.

"For the first time since authorities began keeping records in 1956, the Easter weekend has finished up with no road deaths. Police have reported that by and large drivers have been patient and courteous, keeping their speeds down and just taking their time to get to and from their destinations safely.

Associate Transport Minister Simon Bridges urges everyone to drive safely during the Easter holidays.

“Easter is one of the busiest holiday weekends in terms of traffic on our roads.

“Let’s stay focused, drive to the conditions and be aware of the risks that driver fatigue and distraction can cause,” Mr Bridges said.

A new framework delivering better value for money from bus and ferry services has been approved by Cabinet, Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee has announced.

The Public Transport Operating Model will enable regional councils and public transport operators to develop a public-private partnership to improve the delivery of public transport services through collaborative planning and investment.