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Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee and Transport Minister Simon Bridges have announced the New Zealand White Ensign will fly on the Auckland Harbour Bridge to mark the founding of the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Starting on Saturday, the flag will be flown annually on 1 October. It will also fly during the International Naval Review from 17 to 22 November this year.

Transport and Associate Climate Change Issues Minister Simon Bridges has released New Zealand’s plan to address emissions from air travel.

The New Zealand Aviation Emissions Reduction Action Plan has been lodged with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) at its annual summit today.

The plan outlines current and planned measures to address aviation emissions and covers four key parties - government, air traffic control, airports and airlines.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges says a nationwide network of fast-charging stations will help address one of the main barriers to electric vehicle (EV) uptake in New Zealand.

BMW Group New Zealand has announced it will partner with Charge Net NZ to help stimulate the installation of a network of fast-charging EV stations. More than 100 stations will be installed across New Zealand.

Prime Minister John Key and Transport Minister Simon Bridges today marked the start of work on the East-West Link roading project, one of the Government’s top priorities in Auckland.

New Zealand is set to join an international agreement addressing carbon emissions from air travel, says Transport Minister Simon Bridges.

“International aviation is not included in the recent Paris Agreement, which is why New Zealand will join the voluntary global measure being developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),” Mr Bridges says.

ICAO is responsible for the regulation of international aviation, including measures for the reduction of emissions in the sector.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has welcomed the announcement that the NZ Transport Agency has awarded the contract to build Gisborne’s new Motu Bridge.

The contract, awarded to Fulton Hogan East Coast of Gisborne, includes the construction of the new two-lane bridge as well as improving the roads leading up to the bridge.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has opened new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Nelson, Thames and Auckland as part of International Drive Electric Week.

The international event runs until 18 September and is the biggest ever celebration of EVs in New Zealand, increasing from just a few events in 2015 to more than 50 events around the country this year.

“Public charging infrastructure has an important role to help ease range anxiety and facilitate longer distance travel,” Mr Bridges.

Finance Minister Bill English and Transport Minister Simon Bridges today released a joint report with Auckland Council which sets out a clear direction for the development of Auckland’s transport system over the next 30 years.

“This report marks the culmination of the Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP) which has involved the Government and Auckland Council working closely together over the last year to develop an aligned strategic approach, including an indicative package of transport investment,” Mr English says.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Transport I move that the Land Transport Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee to consider the Bill.

It gives me great pleasure to introduce this Bill to the House. The Bill aims to promote better regulation, improved safety, and greater economic growth and productivity.

Purpose of the Bill

Mr. Speaker, this Bill is part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to create better, more effective regulation.

The Government has agreed to fund half the cost of Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL), Associate Finance Minister Steven Joyce and Transport Minister Simon Bridges have announced.

The Government and Auckland Council today signed a Heads of Agreement, under which the Crown will fund 50 per cent of the CRL. The total cost of the project is estimated to be between $2.8 billion and $3.4 billion, and the Crown will make its 50 per cent funding progressively available once a Sponsors’ Agreement is in place.

Transport and Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges today opened the Government’s Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund.

The fund is one of 14 initiatives in the Government’s electric vehicles programme, which has a target of doubling the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on New Zealand roads each year to reach 64,000 by 2021.

Up to $4 million is available in 2016/17 with up to $6 million available in future years.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has introduced the Land Transport Amendment Bill to Parliament today which will modernise regulation of small passenger services, update rules for heavy vehicles and improve road safety.

“The Land Transport Amendment Bill will overhaul key areas of transport law to modernise the sector and make travelling more efficient and safer,” Mr Bridges says.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has launched the Government’s electric vehicles information campaign to mark the start of International Drive Electric Week.

The international event has started and runs until 18 September. 

“International Drive Electric Week will be the biggest ever celebration of electric vehicles in New Zealand, increasing from just a few events in 2015 to more than 50 events around the country this year. Our EV community is hosting the most events outside of the United States,” Mr Bridges says.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today announced an extension to the road user charges (RUC) exemption for light electric vehicles (EVs) which could save drivers up to $600 a year.

Currently light EVs are exempt from paying road user charges which otherwise apply to vehicles that don’t pay for petrol at the pump. This exemption will now be extended to 2021 as part of the Government’s Electric Vehicles Programme.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says more stringent requirements for water damaged vehicles will provide additional safety assurances for vehicle owners and all road users.

From today, all electronic and pyrotechnic safety components, including airbags, sensors, pre-tensioner seatbelts and wiring, must be fully replaced on imported and domestic water damaged vehicles.  Previously, only those items below the water line were required to be replaced.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges says an announcement by Volvo and the New Zealand Traffic Institute (Trafinz) of an autonomous vehicle trial will be a first for New Zealand.

Volvo and Trafinz aim to demonstrate the technology in Tauranga in November as part of the national Trafinz transport conference.

“This is will be the first trial of its kind in New Zealand and reflects our world-leading regulation around autonomous vehicles, which encourages new technology while protecting public safety ,” Mr Bridges says.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Transport Minister Simon Bridges today announced the Government will seek to include additional electric vehicle providers in the All-of-Government (AoG) Vehicles contract to help further enhance the availability of electric vehicles in New Zealand.

“Electric vehicles are a growing industry and New Zealand should benefit from technological advances as they come onto the market,” Mr Joyce says.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today turned the sod on the multi-million Western Rail Trail, another link in Hamilton’s walking and cycling network.

The $5.82 million, 2.7km path will link Hamilton’s south western suburbs with Hamilton Girls’ High School, the Wintec City Campus and city centre.

“This new pathway will give commuters, school children and tertiary students a vital off-road link with the central city and provide them with a range of transport options,” Mr Bridges says.

The first of a series of nationwide safety projects that make up a $600 million plan to reduce New Zealand’s road toll is complete, Transport Minister Simon Bridges says.

Targeted safety improvements designed to reduce the risk of crashes have been installed on a high risk part State Highway 37 in the Waitomo District.

The $1.5 million project is the first of the Government’s $600 million Safer Roads and Roadsides Programme to be delivered.

Seafarers with most older domestic certificates will be able to continue using them without the cost of moving to a new modern ticket, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.

Maritime NZ’s new seafarer certification system, SeaCert, was introduced in 2014, creating a single cohesive framework with clear career pathways and internationally recognised certificates.

“Many seafarers with older tickets have said they simply want to carry on doing what they’ve been doing, without facing additional training and costs,” Mr Foss says.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has welcomed the announcement that New Zealand will host a world-first trial of pizza delivery using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV, commonly known as ‘drones’).

Domino’s Pizza Enterprises (Domino’s) have announced in Auckland today that they have joined forces with UAV industry leader Flirtey to launch the first commercial drone delivery service in the world.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today announced the members of the Electric Vehicles (EVs) Leadership Group as part of the Government’s programme to accelerate the uptake of EVs in New Zealand.

In May the Government launched its Electric Vehicles Programme which aims to double the number of EVs on New Zealand roads each year to reach 64,000 by 2021.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Transport Minister Simon Bridges have announced the next stage in the development of a rural ring road for Palmerston North.

The project is highlighted in the Accelerate 25 Manawatu-Whanganui Economic Action Plan which was launched today.

Transport and Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges today released details of the first round of the Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund. 

The fund is part of the Government’s ambitious electric vehicles (EVs) programme announced in May to help accelerate the uptake of EVs in New Zealand.

Up to $4 million is available in 2016/17, with up to $6 million available in future years.