Agricultural Vehicles Review

Consultation: This consultation closes on 25 May 2012

The Ministry is seeking feedback on a position paper setting out proposed changes to the transport laws regulating agricultural vehicles such as tractors, combine harvesters, and other agricultural transport, and how they operate.

The Ministry is working with the NZ Transport Agency, NZ Police and the Department of Labour on the review.  The review is focusing on agricultural vehicles that make limited use of roads and operate mostly off-road, such as on farms.

The agricultural sector has expressed concern that current transport laws do not adequately take into account the special nature of agricultural vehicles, and the demands of the agricultural task.

The objectives of this review are to improve the quality of transport law, reduce unnecessary compliance costs and enhance economic growth and productivity without compromising the safety of operators, other road users and road infrastructure.

Proposals aimed at achieving this are set out in the position paper and you are invited to have your say. Any rule changes arising from the review would also need to be consulted on as part of the legislative process.

Read the position paper setting out the proposed changes (PDF, 427KB).

Read the questions and answers on the proposed changes in the position paper.

Read Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee’s media statement about the release of the position paper on the Beehive website

How to have your say

We will be accepting submissions on the position paper until 5pm 25 May 2012.

To make a submission set out your views following the guidance in the position paper and email these to agvehiclesreview@transport.govt.nz

Alternatively you can post your submission to:
Agricultural Vehicles Review
Attention: Joseph Murray-Cullen
Ministry of Transport
PO Box 3175
Wellington 6140

Background

The review was announced in September 2011 by the then Associate Minister of Transport, Nathan Guy

A series of initial meetings with industry stakeholders was held in October 2011 to listen to their concerns, views and issues. The Ministry also invited stakeholders to write in by 2 December with any issues for consideration by the review. These as well as safety concerns and overseas experience have been considered in developing the position paper.

You can read a Transport Engineering Research New Zealand (TERNZ) paper setting out the different ways agricultural transport is regulated in other jurisdictions.

Read Associate Transport Minister Nathan Guy's media statement on the Beehive website