Connecting New Zealand - Minister's foreword

Foreword from the Minister of Transport

Moving our freight and people as safely and efficiently as possible, with a minimum of hold ups, is vital to speeding up economic growth.

Growing the economy is central to both:

• the government’s overall goal for New Zealand — to grow the economy to deliver greater prosperity, security and opportunities for all New Zealanders
• the government’s objective for transport — an effective, efficient, safe, secure, accessible and resilient transport system that supports the growth of our economy, in order to deliver greater prosperity, security and opportunities for all New Zealanders

The transport system is an important enabler of economic growth and all that it can provide for all New Zealanders. The government has been working hard over the last 2 or so years to ensure that transport agencies are focused on our three priorities for transport: economic growth and productivity; value for money and road safety. These are the areas that we need to see the greatest improvement from in the transport system over the next decade.

Connecting New Zealand is intended to help transport stakeholders to better understand what the government is seeking from the transport system. It does that by drawing together the government’s transport policy direction as set out in a number of guidance documents, including the National Infrastructure Plan, Government Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding 2012/13–2021/22 and Safer Journeys: New Zealand’s Road Safety Strategy 2010–2020. Together these documents outline the government’s strategic direction and priorities for transport.

The roading network is the backbone of the transport system. It is responsible for moving 70 percent of our freight tonne-kilometres. Eighty-four percent of the trips that we make as individuals are by motor vehicle. The government will invest more than $36 billion in the land transport system over the next decade via the National Land Transport Fund. However, with the freight task expected to double over the next 3 decades, significant population growth in the top half of the North Island, and an ageing population, we need the whole of the transport system to lift its game and deliver greater value for money.

As a trading nation, we need to make sure that access to our key rail hubs, air and sea ports remain free moving. These are the lifeline of our exporting businesses and we need efficient aviation and maritime sectors that can meet the changing needs of our businesses.

For our urban centres, public transport is important in reducing congestion and providing access and mobility to our communities. We want to grow public transport patronage but reduce its reliance on government subsidies. We also recognise the role that walking and cycling play for many New Zealanders.

Each of the transport modes needs to operate efficiently to meet the needs of its users. More than that we need an integrated transport system whose total contribution to our country is more than the sum of its individual parts. To help achieve this, the government will work in partnership with local government and the transport sector to make that a reality.

The government is committed to delivering New Zealanders the transport system they need. We have identified our policy direction for transport and the investment we need to make in the transport system. But we need all participants in the transport system — be they infrastructure or service providers, or transport consumers — to play their part.

Looking to the decade ahead, there are some exciting opportunities before us. We need to make the most of them if we are to realise the greater prosperity, security and opportunities we all seek.

Hon Steven Joyce

Minister of Transport

 << Connecting New Zealand main page | Executive Summary >>