Govt Launches Major Transport Rule Overhaul to Boost Safety and Efficiency

The Government has launched a sweeping review of New Zealand's land transport rules, kicking off public consultation on a set of reforms aimed at cutting red tape, modernising vehicle regulations, and improving both safety and productivity across the transport sector.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Transport Minister James Meager announced that consultation begins today on three major workstreams, as part of the Government's wider plan to modernise outdated laws and make the system more efficient for motorists, businesses, and regulators.

Modernising Outdated Transport Rules

"These changes are about increasing our transport system's productivity and safety," said Minister Bishop. "The current rules are riddled with outdated or nonsensical requirements which create unnecessary burdens for Kiwis. It's time to bring them into the 21st century."

The consultation will focus on three key areas:

1. Reviewing Warrant of Fitness (WoF) and Certificate of Fitness A (CoF A) frequency and inspection requirements for light vehicles

2. Simplifying the heavy vehicle permitting system

3. Considering additional safety features for vehicles entering the fleet

Together, these reviews form part of the Government's Land Transport Rule Modernisation Programme, which aims to deliver a more consistent, predictable, and innovation-friendly regulatory environment.

Reviewing WoF and CoF A: A "Commonsense" Approach

Associate Minister James Meager described the review of the Warrant of Fitness (WoF) and Certificate of Fitness (CoF A) regimes as a "commonsense opportunity" to modernise how New Zealand ensures vehicle safety.

"New Zealand currently has one of the most frequent inspection regimes in the world," Meager said. "We want to make sure we're not placing unnecessary costs or time pressures on Kiwis, while still keeping everyone safe on the road."

Currently, most light vehicles in New Zealand require a WoF every 12 months once they are more than three years old. In comparison:

• In Europe, light vehicles are typically inspected every two years.

• In Australia and Canada, many jurisdictions only require inspections when a vehicle changes ownership or a defect is reported.

"These are sensible comparisons," Meager said. "If other advanced economies can maintain safety with less frequent checks, then it's worth asking whether New Zealanders are paying for a system that's more stringent than it needs to be."

The review will also look at how to better align inspection requirements with vehicle technology improvements — such as modern cars' advanced diagnostics systems, which can alert drivers to faults long before a scheduled inspection.

Cutting Red Tape for Heavy Vehicle Operators

Simplifying heavy vehicle permitting is another major focus of the reforms. Minister Bishop said the review will assess whether some long-standing requirements, such as 50MAX truck permits and "H" sign displays, are still necessary or whether they have become outdated.

"We're also looking at more efficient ways to update the log truck code of practice and other operational standards to make compliance easier for industry," Bishop said.

The aim, he explained, is to reduce administrative delays, lower compliance costs, and help transport operators get on with their work. "The freight sector is essential to our economy. If we can remove unnecessary bureaucracy while maintaining safety, that's a win for everyone."

The heavy vehicle industry has long called for greater consistency in permitting processes, arguing that the current system slows down productivity and adds avoidable costs to logistics operations.

Stronger Safety Standards for New Vehicles

In parallel, the Government is investigating whether to mandate modern safety technologies for most vehicles entering the fleet — including Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Keep Support (LKS), and Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS).

"These features are now standard in many markets overseas," Bishop noted. "We're considering how to bring our standards in line with international best practice to further protect road users, including pedestrians and cyclists."

Automatic Emergency Braking can detect collisions and apply the brakes if the driver doesn't react in time, while Lane Keep Support helps prevent vehicles from drifting. Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems, meanwhile, emit sound from quiet electric vehicles to make them more noticeable to pedestrians.

"These technologies save lives," said Bishop. "But right now, not every car entering New Zealand's fleet includes them. We're investigating how we can change that without placing unnecessary costs on consumers."

Public Consultation and Next Steps

The public consultation process will invite submissions from motorists, industry groups, and safety advocates to ensure that all perspectives are considered before changes are finalised.

The Ministry of Transport and Waka Kotahi – NZ Transport Agency will oversee the consultations and prepare recommendations for Cabinet consideration in 2026.

"We want this process to be open and evidence-based," Bishop said. "It's not about deregulation for its own sake — it's about smarter regulation. We want a transport system that is efficient, safe, and responsive to new technology."

Driving Productivity and Savings

Minister Bishop said the review is part of the Government's broader economic growth agenda, which focuses on cutting red tape, restoring regulatory certainty, and enabling private sector innovation.

"These reforms are about bringing our land transport regulation into the 21st century," he said. "We're removing costly inefficiencies, reducing compliance burdens, and putting money back into the pockets of Kiwis — all while improving road safety."

The changes are also expected to benefit small transport operators and fleet owners who often bear the brunt of regulatory complexity and inspection costs.

"This is about balancing practicality with safety," said Meager. "By updating outdated rules and using data and technology smarter, we can keep roads safe and businesses productive."

The consultation will run for several weeks, with submissions available online through the Ministry of Transport's website. Final policy decisions will be made following detailed analysis and feedback from the public and stakeholders.