Glossary - New Zealand Transport Strategy

The Accessible Journey: Report of the Inquiry into Accessible Public Land Transport – Outlines the results of an inquiry undertaken by the Human Rights Commission into accessible public land transport. The Inquiry was prompted by the experiences and concerns of people with disabilities seeking enforcement of their right not to be discriminated against in the provision of public transport services. The report makes recommendations which range from required changes to legislation, regulations, policies and procedures for funding arrangements to improvements that can be achieved in the short term with minimal expenditure. The report was published in September 2005.

Biodiesel – Diesel fuel derived from plant or animal sources.

Bioethanol – A form of alcohol derived from plant or animal sources. It may be blended in low concentrations with petrol and used in conventional petrol vehicles or used in higher concentrations in specially modified petrol vehicles.

Biofuels – Any (generally liquid) fuel derived from plant or animal sources including biodiesel and bioethanol.

Biomass – Any (generally solid) organic matter. Biomass can be used for manufacturing biofuels. Examples include: dedicated energy crops and trees, agricultural food and feed crop residues, wood and wood wastes, animal wastes and other waste materials.

Carbon dioxide – Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a naturally occurring gas and also a by-product of burning fossil fuels and biomass, as well as other industrial processes. It is the most significant greenhouse gas.

Climate change – Human activities (such as industry, agriculture and transportation) are increasing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These are causing the Earth to heat up. This effect is known as global warming. Since this warming affects weather patterns and climatic conditions, it is referred to as climate change.

ETS or Emissions Trading Scheme – An emissions trading scheme creates a responsibility for a defined group of emitters to hold tradeable emission units or allowances to match some or all of their greenhouse gas emissions over a specific period. Entities subject to the scheme are able to either reduce their own emissions or trade units or allowances to meet their obligations.

Fossil fuels – Coal, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, crude oil and fuels derived from crude oil (including petrol and diesel) are fossil fuels because they have been formed over long periods of time from ancient organic matter.

Freight tonne-kilometres – The product of the weight of goods multiplied by the distances over which they have been conveyed.

Greenhouse gases – Atmospheric gases that retain more energy from outgoing infra-red radiation than from incoming solar radiation. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Nearly half of New Zealand’s total emissions are produced by agriculture, predominantly CH4 from farm animals and N2O from soils and fertilisers. However, the principal growth in New Zealand’s emissions comes from increased CO2, primarily from the energy sector. Most of this increase has come from transport and electricity generation.

ICAO or International Civil Aviation Organisation – ICAO is an agency of the United Nations with its headquarters in Montréal. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation, and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth.

IEA or International Energy Agency – An autonomous body within the OECD based in Paris. It was established in 1974 following the first oil crisis (in 1973) and in response to the enhanced power of OPEC (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries).

IMO or International Maritime Organisation – Formerly known as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation and established in 1948 through the United Nations to coordinate international maritime safety and related practices. With its headquarters in London, the IMO’s main objective is to facilitate cooperation among governments on technical matters affecting international shipping, in order to achieve the highest practicable standards of maritime safety and efficiency in navigation.

Kyoto Protocol – A 1997 international agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to address climate change, the Protocol sets greenhouse gas emission targets for developed countries.

Long-Term Council Community Plan – Each council in New Zealand is required to produce a plan for its community called the Long-Term Council Community Plan. It describes the activities of the council and provides a long-term focus for its decision making. It must cover a period of 10 consecutive financial years though it is prepared every three years.

Low-carbon – Low-carbon technology, fuels or systems are those that minimise carbon dioxide emissions from human activity.

Major Urban Areas – As defined by Statistics New Zealand, these are very large urban areas centred on a city or major urban centre with a minimum population of 30,000.

National Freight Study – The aim of this study is to get a better understanding of both current and future freight volumes and the distribution of import, export and domestic freight movements in New Zealand. It will also identify significant trends relating to freight. The study has been commissioned by the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Economic Development and Land Transport New Zealand.

National Land Transport Programme – The three-yearly approved programme of investment in land transport infrastructure and services from the National Land Transport Fund.

New Zealand Transport Agency – Under the Land Transport Management Amendment Act 2008, the New Zealand Transport Agency is the new Crown entity replacing Land Transport New Zealand and Transit New Zealand.

NZTS or New Zealand Transport Strategy – Released in December 2002, the original NZTS outlined the government’s vision for transport and described how the transport system could respond to the social, economic and environmental needs of the nation. This document replaces the 2002 Strategy, and from the publication date is to be referred to as the New Zealand Transport Strategy 2008.

OECD or Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development – An international organisation of 30 countries that accept the principles of representative democracy and a free market economy. Since 1961 its mission has been to help its member countries to achieve sustainable economic growth and employment. Its goal is also to raise the standard of living in member countries while maintaining their financial stability, in order to contribute to the development of the world economy. New Zealand joined as a member in 1973.

Public Transport – Passenger transport services available to the general public on payment of a fare. The term includes buses, passenger rail services and ferries, but excludes passenger air services. Other forms of shared transport may be included in the term, although taxis are generally excluded.

Regional Fuel Tax – This is a tool available to regions for high priority projects that would not otherwise get national funding within a timeframe desired by the region. The tax is a supplement to normal fuel excise duty.

Regional Land Transport Programme (RLTP) – The three-yearly (formerly annual) programme of investment in land transport infrastructure and services from the National Land Transport Fund within a particular region. RLTPs are prepared by Regional Transport Committees and, in the case of Auckland, by ARTA.

Regional Land Transport Strategy – Under the Land Transport Management Amendment Act 2008, every Regional Transport Committee on behalf of the regional council must prepare, and consult on, a Regional Land Transport Strategy to provide guidance on the land transport outcomes sought by the region. The Regional Land Transport Strategy must be produced every six years and cover a period of 30 years, and it must contribute to the vision set out in this Strategy (and the five transport objectives).

Regional Transport Committee – Under the Land Transport Management Amendment Act 2008, every Regional Council or Unitary Authority must establish a transport committee for its region and appoint a range of representatives (including those from Regional Councils, Territorial Authorities, the New Zealand Transport Agency, one representing each of the five transport objectives and one from a cultural perspective). The functions of the Regional Transport Committee are to prepare a Regional Land Transport Strategy and a Regional Land Transport Programme. There is provision in the Act for the Regional Transport Committee to recommend a Regional Fuel Tax for the region.

Sea Change – The New Zealand domestic sea freight strategy. Its broad purpose is to revitalise coastal shipping in New Zealand. It includes an action plan to increase the maritime sector’s share of inter-regional freight moved in New Zealand.

Sustainable Transport – This discussion paper was released in December 2007 and set out the issues and challenges facing the transport sector. It proposed a series of specific targets and was used as a mechanism to seek feedback from stakeholders. The stakeholder responses from Sustainable Transport have been used to inform the development of this Strategy.

Transport Monitoring Indicator Framework (TMIF) – The TMIF has been developed by the Ministry of Transport in consultation with transport agencies. It provides a national and, where possible, regional framework for the robust and consistent performance monitoring of the New Zealand transport system and the New Zealand Transport Strategy 2008.



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• The New Zealand Transport Strategy 2008 (PDF v7.0 4,687KB)