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Help your friends and family stay safe on the roads this festive season with the top five gifts for drivers, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.

“These ‘gifts’ are simple yet potentially life-saving tips for anyone getting behind the wheel this summer,” Mr Foss says.

“The Kiwi road trip, a great holiday tradition, often involves travelling long distances on unfamiliar roads.  We can help ensure our loved ones are around for many more holidays to come by reminding them how to keep themselves and others safe.”

Helping your friends and family stay safe on the water this holiday season is the gift that lasts a lifetime, Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says.

“Taking the boat out for a spot of fishing or a bit of fun is a classic Kiwi summer pastime,” Mr Foss says. 

“But we need to ensure our loved ones come home safe and sound from the beach, lake or river.

“Please, tell the boaties in your life you want them around for many more holidays to come, so they need to:

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today confirmed the Government will invest $38.7 billion in New Zealand’s land transport system over the next ten years, with regional networks, public transport, cycleways and road maintenance to benefit.

The investment programme is set out in the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS 2015) released by the Minister today.

“Investment in the transport sector drives economic development and productivity, and GPS 2015 outlines the agenda for improvement programmes for the next decade,” Mr Bridges says.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss has welcomed the Cycling Safety Panel’s final report, which has 35 recommendations for central and local government.

“Over the last decade, an average of nine people a year have died while cycling on our roads,” says Mr Foss. “The Cycling Safety Panel was formed earlier this year in response to a coroner’s call for an expert panel to make recommendations on improving cycling safety.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is currently updating Civil Aviation Rules to better manage the safety risks of the use of remotely piloted aircraft (or drones), says Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss.

“New Zealanders are increasingly using remotely piloted aircraft, so it is important we have good regulation to manage the safety risks those aircraft can bring. The Government is committed to having regulation flexible enough to accommodate the growing use of the technology,” says Mr Foss.

New Zealand will ratify the 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 2006 is an international treaty adopted by the International Labour Organisation.  It sets minimum standards for the health, safety and welfare of seafarers on commercial vessels.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges was today joined by Hon Nathan Guy, MP for Ōtaki, and project staff to mark the one year anniversary of construction starting on the MacKays to Peka Peka Expressway on the Kapiti Coast, north of Wellington.

The expressway will be 4-lanes and 18 kilometres in length, and will include an end-to-end cycleway, walkway and bridleway.  It will be an important piece of infrastructure that will significantly improve the connection between the Capital and the Kapiti Coast.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss today announced a review of parts of New Zealand’s driver licensing system.

“A lot has changed since the current driver licensing system was introduced in 1999.  The review will look at modernising the system by making it more customer-focused and reducing compliance costs,” Mr Foss says.

“It will consider whether the heavy vehicle driver licensing process could be simplified by reducing the number of heavy vehicle classes and related endorsements.”

Transport Minister Simon Bridges today took one of the last opportunities to visit Alice, the world’s tenth largest tunnel boring machine, that is building the twin road tunnels at Waterview, and will soon disappear back underground to complete the second tunnel.

Mr Bridges also took an early drive through the first of the two tunnels which was completed at the end of September and got an up-close look at Alice before she makes a start building the second tunnel later this week.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says changes to the Graduated Driver Licensing System (GDLS) coming into force today will encourage drivers and motorcyclists to sit their full licence.

Changes to the Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Rule require drivers or riders sitting their learner or restricted licences to progress to the next stage of the GDLS within five years. Anyone who fails to do so will need to pass another theory test to renew their licence.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss says the lower alcohol limit for adult drivers will help make our roads safer and save lives.

The limit for motorists aged 20 years and over today lowers from 400mcg to 250mcg of alcohol per litre of breath. The blood alcohol limit lowers from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

“The lower limit will save lives and prevent about 64 injuries per year, with a reduction in social costs of about $200 million over 10 years,” Mr Foss says.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse and Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss today launched the ‘Reach the beach safely this summer’ campaign, an initiative led by New Zealand Police.

Last year’s Safer Summer campaign had a great impact with a significant decline in the proportion of people speeding on our roads and a reduction in deaths and serious injuries.

“Summer is a busy time on the road and we want to build on last year’s efforts by again enforcing speed limits and lower alcohol limits,” Mr Woodhouse says.

Flights between New Zealand and China are set to double under amended air services arrangements, says Transport Minister Simon Bridges.

“Airlines from both New Zealand and China will be able to offer 42 services per week, per country. This is up from the previous limit of 21 per week.

“The doubling of air services capacity represents another step in expanding tourism, trade and personal ties between our two countries,” Mr Bridges says.

Air links between New Zealand and the Philippines are set to improve with the signing today of an air services arrangement, says Transport Minister Simon Bridges.

The arrangement signed today by Transport Minister Simon Bridges and the Philippines Ambassador, Virginia Benavidez, amends the 2007 Air Services Agreement between New Zealand and the Philippines.

The new arrangement allows Air New Zealand to begin its plans to code-share to the Philippines with Singapore Airlines from January 2015.

Auckland Council are welcome to have a debate about future transport infrastructure investment plans, but the Government remains sceptical about the options being presented, Transport Minister Simon Bridges said today in response to the release of ‘Funding Auckland’s Transport Future’, a report commissioned by the Auckland Council.

“We agree that Auckland must have a transport system that meets the demands of its growing population and we are committed to working with the Auckland Council to help make sure Auckland succeeds. 

Transport Minister Simon Bridges is encouraging road users to keep safe as they travel on the roads over Labour Weekend.

“Many people take advantage of the long weekend to see family and friends, or to get out on their motorcycle or bike, so roads can be busier than usual,” Mr Bridges says.

“Taking the time to make sure that you and your vehicle are in good nick before you get on the road, sticking to the road rules and being considerate of other road users all combine to make journeys safer.”

Transport Minister Simon Bridges wants boat users to make safety the top priority, as New Zealand’s first Safer Boating Week begins today.

“Safer Boating Week is an excellent initiative that raises the awareness of boat safety, and what risks are out there on the water.  We have seen in the last few days the tragic consequences when something goes wrong,” Mr Bridges says.