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Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says proposed driver licensing changes will improve the system while maintaining high safety standards.

The Driver Licensing Review discussion document, released by the Ministry of Transport today, proposes moving the driver licence renewal process online and streamlining heavy vehicle and specialist driving endorsements.

Statistics and Small Business Minister Craig Foss is welcoming a new online data tool that will help businesses grow and thrive by providing easily accessible and understandable data.

Officially launched today, Business Figures is the result of an innovative public-private partnership between Figure.NZ, ASB Bank and Statistics NZ.

Veterans’ Affairs Minister Craig Foss will travel to South Korea tomorrow to mark the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Gapyeong.

The 16th Field Regiment of the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery played a significant role in defeating the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army during the Battle of Gapyeong on 24 April 1951.  The Regiment was awarded the Republic of Korea’s Presidential Citation.

Small Business Minister Craig Foss says changing the provisional tax system is yet another way the Government is helping small businesses grow and thrive.

“The tax system is a key issue for New Zealand’s small businesses — it’s consistently raised with me by business owners, local chambers and business associations up and down the country,” Mr Foss says.

“The changes announced today show the Government is focused on helping small businesses get ahead by saving them even more time and money.” 

Small business owners are now able to quickly and easily create employment agreements online with the launch of a refreshed Employment Agreement Builder tool, Minister for Small Business Craig Foss says.

“Hiring an employee can be stressful for a small business but, with the updated Employment Agreement Builder, we’re making the process easy. This means less time working on contracts and more time working on your business,” Mr Foss says.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is urging drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists to be extra vigilant on the roads this Easter long weekend as heavy traffic is expected.

“Every death or serious injury on our roads is one too many. So far this year 83 people have needlessly lost their lives on our roads,” Mr Foss says.

“This number is a stark reminder that we must remain focused on road safety at all times, and remember not only the victims, but the families, friends and communities left behind.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says changes to a transport rule will encourage modern, safer buses, able to carry more passengers between regions.

The Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass amendments expand on changes that came into force in urban areas on 1 October 2015.

“Transport operators will now have more choices when purchasing vehicles, and high-capacity buses already operating between our towns and cities will be able to increase their capacity,” Mr Foss says.

New Zealand has ratified the International Labour Organisation’s Maritime Labour Convention to ensure fair treatment of seafarers and protect the reputation of New Zealand exports, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse and Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss announced today.

The Maritime Labour Convention is an international treaty adopted by the International Labour Organisation.  It sets minimum standards to address the health, safety and welfare of seafarers on commercial vessels.

A report into the social cost of road crashes reinforces the high price society pays for road trauma, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.

The Ministry of Transport’s annual Social Cost of Road Crashes and Injuries report estimated the total social cost of fatal and injury crashes in 2014 was $3.47 billion (in June 2015 prices).

The estimated social cost of each fatality was $4.09 million, while the estimated cost of each serious and minor injury was $430,000 and $23,000 respectively.

The overall safety of New Zealand’s vehicle fleet will improve from today as Electronic Stability Control (ESC) becomes mandatory for a range of imported used vehicles, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.

“Used class MC vehicles — four-wheel drives, off-road and sports utility vehicles — imported into the country from today will need to have ESC,” Mr Foss says.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is welcoming a new Ministry of Transport report showing the number of drivers travelling over the speed limit on both urban and open roads continues to fall.

“The Ministry’s annual speed survey shows drivers are choosing to travel slower, especially in urban areas where there are more vulnerable road users, including cyclists and pedestrians,” Mr Foss says.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says an additional 125 kilometres of centreline rumble strips on key tourist routes in Southland and Queenstown Lakes Districts will help keep all road users safe.

Mr Foss is visiting Invercargill today to meet the Southern Road Safety Influencing Group and local partners in the Visiting Drivers Signature Project (VDSP) — a partnership between central government, local government and the private sector.

Statistics Minister Craig Foss is welcoming a new website that enables New Zealanders to easily find and use government data.

“Data that is, and will be, available from across government is incredibly valuable. The new Statistics NZ innovation website is about creating more opportunities for New Zealanders to find and benefit from information held by the Government,” Mr Foss says.

“The website is a test bed for users to look at information, play with it and provide feedback on how it can be improved.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss today announced the introduction of random testing in the commercial aviation and maritime sectors to help tackle drug and alcohol impairment.

By 2017, it will be mandatory for all commercial aviation and maritime operators to have drug and alcohol management plans, which must include random testing. The plans will have to be approved by either the Civil Aviation Authority or Maritime New Zealand.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is urging all motorists to consider the road toll and its impact before getting behind the wheel this long weekend.

“The road toll is so much more than a number, it represents the lives of parents, wives, husbands, children, brothers, sisters and friends,” Mr Foss says.

“The 2016 road toll stands at 33. We’ve needlessly lost almost as many people as we’ve had days in the year — that’s unacceptable to me and, I’m sure, every other New Zealander.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is urging drivers to remain focussed and vigilant as they head home these holidays.

The provisional holiday road toll for 2015/16 is 12. 

“While it’s encouraging to see the holiday road toll is lower than last year’s 16, 12 deaths is still 12 too many,” Mr Foss says.

“My deepest sympathies go out to anyone who lost a friend or loved one this holiday season.

The provisional road toll for 2015 is 321, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.

“It’s incredibly sad and disappointing to have lost so many lives on our roads in 2015.  The road toll is not just a number — every figure represents not only the life lost but also grieving families, friends and communities,” Mr Foss says.

“While it’s too early to say why the toll increased in 2015, data from 2012-2014 shows drivers continue to make the same mistakes.”

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is encouraging road users to do the right thing and travel safely over the summer holidays.

“The Kiwi road trip, a great holiday tradition, often involves travelling long distances on unfamiliar roads. Anyone getting behind the wheel can help keep themselves, their loved ones and other road users safe by following the rules and applying common sense,” Mr Foss says.

Do the right thing:

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is urging Kiwis to stay safe on the water this festive season.

“Heading to the beach, river or lake is all part of a Kiwi summer and great fun for the whole family, but it’s important to remember that keeping yourself and your loved ones safe requires a little preparation,” Mr Foss says.

Skippers, every time you take a boat out:

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss is welcoming the completion of additional road safety measures on the West Coast ahead of the busy summer holiday period.

NZ Transport agency contractors this week completed the installation of 55 kilometres of rumble strips on State Highway 6 between Hokitika and Haast and 12 road safety billboards throughout the region.

The Government has committed to a further five and a half years of support to help small businesses grow through its Regional Business Partner programme, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Small Business Minister Craig Foss announced today.

Regional Business Partners are local hubs of business development know-how and research and development (R&D) expertise for companies.

Transport Ministers today released a consultation paper that looks at options for new rules for passenger services such as taxis, private hires, shuttles, and ridesharing.

Earlier this year the Government initiated the small passenger services review to ensure regulations for the sector were both fit for purpose and flexible enough to accommodate new technologies.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss welcomes a new civil aviation rule, enabling New Zealand aircraft maintenance training organisations to more easily train overseas aircraft engineers.

“This Rule will ensure New Zealand aligns with international best practice in certification and operation of aviation maintenance training organisations,” says Mr Foss.

”It will allow international business opportunities for New Zealand aircraft maintenance training organisations.”

New Zealand businesses with good cyber security practices could receive a “cyber security tick”, as part of a suite of initiatives to help protect small businesses against cyber attacks.

The cyber credentials scheme is just one initiative proposed in the Government’s new Cyber Security Strategy and Action Plan.