 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 August 2008; 17 years ago (2008-08-01) |
| Preceding agencies | |
| Jurisdiction | New Zealand Government |
| Headquarters | 44 Bowen Street,Wellington |
| Employees | 2,081[1] |
| Minister responsible |
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| Agency executives |
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| Website | www |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA)[2] is a New ZealandCrown entity tasked with promoting safe and functional transport by land, including the responsibility for driver and vehicle licensing, and administering theNew Zealand state highway network.[3]Waka Kotahi means 'one vessel' and is intended to convey the concept of "travelling together as one".[2]
The agency was established on 1 August 2008 by theLand Transport Management Amendment Act 2008, mergingTransit New Zealand withLand Transport New Zealand.[4][3]
NZTA's board was criticised by theNational Party-led opposition in July 2008 as being "stacked" with political appointees of theLabour Party-led government.[5] ANational Party-led government was formed after2008 New Zealand general election, and a number of board members were reappointed or replaced.[6]
In January 2019, three members of the board of directors resigned, about six weeks after the resignation of chief executive Fergus Gammie. They were Adrienne Young-Cooper, Chris Ellis andFran Wilde. Minister of TransportPhil Twyford said the agency had been "going through a massive change process", with its compliance work in the issuing of vehicleWarrant of Fitnesses under review.[7]
Mark Ratcliffe, former head of telcoChorus, was appointed interim chief executive.[8] Nicole Rosie, former CE ofWorkSafe New Zealand, replaced him as chief executive mid-February 2020.[9]
On 26 April 2019, chairman Michael Stiassny announced his resignation.[10] On 11 June 2019,Brian Roche commenced his second term as chairman of NZTA;[11] Roche had previously been the inaugural chairman from 2008.[12]
In August 2019, Waka Kotahi changed the order of its name to emphasise itsMāori language name "Waka Kotahi." The logo was also changed to reflect this change of order.[13]
Kane Patena was appointed the first Director of Land Transport for Waka Kotahi from 1 April 2021.[14]
In early November 2023, Waka Kotahi suspended its NZ$305 million Transport Choices Programme where local councils would receive funding to encourage walking, cycling and public transportation. Waka Kotahi suspended this programme amidst coalition talks to form theNational-led coalition government following the2023 New Zealand general election.[15]
In December 2023, theNew Zealand Minister of TransportSimeon Brown ordered that the agency was to give primacy to its English name.[13][16]
In mid-December 2023, Transport Minister Brown ordered the NZTA to halt funding and work on various local council projects to promote cycling, walking and public transportation.[17] Notable projects affected by the Government's transportation policy change included the "Let's Get Wellington Moving" programme.[18]
On 11 March 2024,Simon Bridges was appointed a member and chairperson of the NZTA board for a three-year term.[19]
On 15 May,RNZ reported that NZTA had paid consultantPwC to design two new vehicle-spotting technologies at a cost of NZ$130 million only to abandon the project after the technologies were found not to work.[20]
On 16 May 2024, NZTA confirmed that it would slash over 120 jobs as part of government cutbacks. 109 of the affected roles came from the formerClean Car Discount, Climate Emergency Response Fund, and Let's Get Wellington Moving projects, which had been cancelled by the National-led coalition government. In early May 2024, NZTA also announced it would cut another 12 roles from its Customer and Services and Digital teams to meet the Government's 7.5% cost cutting target.[21]
NZTA storesregistration,licensing andwarrant of fitness details for any road-registered vehicle within New Zealand, including cars, motorbikes, trailers, trucks and earthmoving or agricultural machinery. Any member of the public can query NZTA's database by making a request using thelicence plate orVIN at anNZ Post outlet, or by using avehicle checking website.[citation needed]
Road signs in New Zealand fall under the authority of NZTA and are prescribed in the Traffic Control Devices (TCD) Manual.[citation needed]
Our name is the NZ Transport Agency. Please don't spell out New Zealand or give 'the' a capital 'T'. Waka Kotahi is the Māori name [...] NZTA is our abbreviated name., superseded by"Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Brand Manual"(PDF). 24 February 2016.Archived(PDF) from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved24 February 2016.
"Our name" section A.2 page 5
