Connecting New Zealand - questions and answers

Useful links

Download Connecting New Zealand (PDF, 4.5b)

Read Connecting New Zealand (HTML)

Questions and Answers

What is ‘Connecting New Zealand’?

Connecting New Zealand is a document that summarises the government’s broad policy direction for the transport sector.

The document sets out the government’s plans for 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.

Connecting New Zealand is based around the government’s three key themes which set the direction for the development of the transport system over the next 10 years. These are:

• economic growth and productivity
• value for money
• road safety

What is the purpose of Connecting New Zealand?

Connecting New Zealand reflects the government’s direction for the sector at a high level.

Its purpose is to assist stakeholder understanding of the government’s broad policy direction for the transport sector and enable stakeholders to consider this when they make their own investment decisions.

Where does Connecting New Zealand fit in with the government’s transport priorities?

Connecting New Zealand summarises a number of direction-setting documents for the transport sector. It draws together the policy direction set out in a number of policy decisions and guidance documents. This includes the National Infrastructure Plan, the New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy, the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding, the KiwiRail Turnaround Plan, and the Safer Journeys road safety strategy and action plan. These documents provide detailed guidance on their particular areas of the transport system.

Connecting New Zealand is consistent with the government’s approach to growing the New Zealand economy through its focus on infrastructure, value for money, and safety. It is also in line with the government’s plans for 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.

Although Connecting New Zealand covers all modes, it has a clear emphasis on land transport, which reflects the economic growth and productivity gains possible within these modes, and the level of investment the government makes in them through its funding roles.

What is the status of the 2008 New Zealand Transport Strategy (NZTS)?

The NZTS was a non-statutory document released by the previous government which has been largely superseded by subsequent policy decisions.

While the government supports the overall intent of the NZTS 2008 it is now less relevant as a practical guide to the issues facing New Zealand and the transport sector in the immediate term.

Stakeholders should refer to Connecting New Zealand as a more current summary of the government’s transport policy and intentions.

Why does the document not contain specific actions or targets?

Actions and targets are included in the more specific guidance documents such as the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding (GPS) and Safer Journeys.

What period does Connecting New Zealand cover?

Connecting New Zealand covers the 10 years from 2011 to 2021.

What is the GPS and how does it differ from Connecting New Zealand?

The Government Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding, or GPS as it is commonly known, sets out the government’s priorities for expenditure from the National Land Transport Fund. The GPS is the primary document for land transport decision makers. It is released every 3 years and provides a 10 year policy view. It will continue to be a guiding tool for the NZ Transport Agency to make funding decisions. The GPS 2012 was released in July this year, and will come into effect in July 2012.

Connecting New Zealand summarises the government’s policy direction for the entire transport sector at a high level, while the GPS provides specific guidance on the land transport funding area.

Read more about the GPS

What is the National Infrastructure Plan or ‘NIP’?

The second National Infrastructure Plan (NIP) was released in July 2011. The NIP outlines the government’s 20 year vision for New Zealand’s infrastructure.

The NIP builds on the first plan released in March 2010, by outlining the government’s vision for New Zealand’s infrastructure and the role infrastructure will play in supporting our economic growth. The overall purpose of this version of the NIP is to improve investment certainty for businesses by giving confidence over current and future infrastructure provision.

The chapter dedicated to the transport sector assesses the current situation, current work programme, and key issues for transport infrastructure.

Read more about the NIP