Category: Vehicles

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Road rage of a different kind: How cranes and trucks are feeling jammed up

Source: Radio New Zealand

A truck transports wood in Wellington. RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Angry truckers have banded together with bus, crane and even combine harvester operators to hit out over rules they say make it too hard to get bigger, more efficient vehicles on the road and easily move them round.

They want far-reaching change to the 23-year-old ‘Rule’ around the size, weight and permitting system for heavy vehicles.

They said in a hardhitting letter to the Transport Agency (NZTA) that the old Rule was blocking safer, more efficient vehicles from easily being imported, envisaging a near future when the maximum 58 tonne diesel trucks were scaled up to 62 tonne electric (which allowed for the battery).

“The level of anger from our members and the risk of more pronounced public responses during an election year should not be underestimated if tangible progress is not made,” said a letter from 11 heavy vehicle associations to the Transport Agency’s chair late last month.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop promised last June the government would be “taking the handbrake off productivity through transport rule reform” – and on Monday said he heard operators “loud and clear when they tell us there are more changes they’d like to see”.

The operators had earlier talked of feeling fobbed off, though the Transport Agency late last week offered them another meeting, for Tuesday this week.

“While responsibility is often framed as sitting with the Ministry, NZTA has long led sector engagement and provided all technical advice to the Ministry and ministers. Recent ministerial correspondence shows the full extent of the lack of progress is not well understood,” their letter said.

“We seem to get pushed from pillar to post,” said signatory Dom Kalasih, head of Transporting NZ that represented 1100 firms, mostly truckers.

Dom Kalasih, head of Transporting NZ. RNZ / Phil Pennington

Crane operators, who also signed, said the old rules were holding everyone up.

“Getting a crane out for a job, the … permit and exemption process, goodness, for a large crane operation, we’re talking hours, hours a day ,” said Sarah Toase of the Crane Association.

Their next stop would be to seek a meeting with the minister, the associations told RNZ.

Bishop said the rules would be modernised.

“Important research and policy work is underway to carefully consider those ideas,” he said in a statement. “This is a complicated area and not everything can be done all at the same time.”

The question of how fast remained open though the first changes under reform were due this coming July.

‘Complex safety, infrastructure and cost considerations’

The Transport Ministry pushed back on the industry group criticism.

“Many of the changes sought by industry – particularly those enabling significantly larger or heavier vehicles – raise complex safety, infrastructure and cost considerations,” it told RNZ.

Research had to be done on the impacts on roads and what additional infrastructure investment may be required, it added.

However, the industry said “frustration … is now acute”.

The agency was unnecessarily outsourcing analysis to consultants, even though the reform’s ambition had been scaled back.

It talked of batteries and extra safety tech being blocked by the old rules.

“In some cases, safety features are being compromised to manage weight.”

Bishop had got their hopes up last year.

“Instead, the work programme was underwhelming in scope and subsequently reduced, leaving industry with no confidence that meaningful change is being prioritised.”

Transport Minister Chris Bishop. RNZ/Marika Khabazi

The reform is of what is called ‘the Rule’, the main VDAM or Vehicle Dimensions and Mass rule.

One core change being proposed was to remove the permits on trucks between 44 and 50 tonnes.

These big trucks would still have to fit the weight and design limits of what is called the ’50MAX’ class – and would still have to stick to certain roads and bridges – but they would not have to get an actual permit, as they have done since 2013 when the High Productivity Motor Vehicle (HPMV) regime was introduced. HPMV’s advent was the biggest change in the Rule.

Electronic monitoring of trucks was now widespread and would help keep them to approved routes that were strong enough, a source said.

Another proposal in the reforms would make it cheaper to comply for the likes of electric buses now tipping the scales at over a seven tonne threshold because of their batteries.

Cranes caught in the Rule

Toase told RNZ it was not enough.

Sarah Toase of the Crane Association. Supplied / Crane Association

Cranes were “always being dealt with in retrospect” and were routinely having to seek exemptions from narrow rules designed for regular trucks just to operate, she said.

They had tried to build change, for instance, through a trial that succeeded in cutting by a fifth how far overweight mobile cranes had to travel, reducing congestion and emissions.

“We’ve sent all the information through to NZTA and it’s just sitting there.”

Another example she gave was that many mobile cranes were now often failing brake tests under an electronic inspection regime.

“It doesn’t produce accurate results for cranes because they are engineered differently. So cranes are failing those tests, which means they are then deemed not roadworthy.

“They’ve failed compliance and they can’t be used.”

Operators then had to revert to manual testing in order to pass, which all took time.

Federated Farmers and Rural Contractors NZ also signed the letter.

Combine harvesters, for instance, faced very restrictive limits on what bridges they could cross which should be managed in a much less complex way, said another source.

“We’re not just talking about road freight, we’re talking about harvesting of food.”

Combine harvesters work on crops in Southland. Cosmo Kentish-Barnes

At the trucking coalface, the old Rule meant heavily specced new vehicles could not be easily imported as-is but needed bespoke modifications, in a market that was already isolated due to being minority righthand drive, the letter said.

The industry ideal for keeping up internationally, allowing for the state of NZ’s roads, was to lift the 58-tonne HPMV limit to 62 tonnes, Kalasih said.

At 62 tonnes they would not be much bigger to overtake, and the distribution of weight between the axles would spread the impact on the road, he said.

The AA did not want to comment on that from a car driver’s point of view.

‘Totally at odds’

Consultation has opened on phase two of the reform following on from phase one that began last October.

But the meetings with officials earlier this year were a final straw for the industry associations.

“The scope of that work is frankly incredibly underwhelming and lacks ambition,” said Kalasih.

“It seems to us totally at odds with what Minister Bishop has asked for.”

They felt the time was up on more reviews, research and meetings, and they were tired of being passed from NZTA to the MOT and back, he said.

But MOT said the latest research was a “necessary step to ensure that any larger changes are safe, durable, and deliver real benefits to industry and the wider transport system”.

Other changes are going on into bridge designs, which determine what weight of trucks can pass, although NZTA has played down how that work would alter old or new bridges.

NZTA said it understood the impact of the Rule’s settings on the industry.

“This is why we are engaging with industry representatives to understand the specific challenges they are facing, and the opportunities which they see for improvement,” it said in a statement.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi chair Simon Bridges, in a letter responding to the associations, acknowledged their concerns, telling them the minister made the rules and offering another meeting on Tuesday this week.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/24/road-rage-of-a-different-kind-how-cranes-and-trucks-are-feeling-jammed-up/

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Illegal street racing sees arrest and car impounded

Source: New Zealand Police

Raglan Police have arrested one person and impounded their car after reports of illegal street racing around the area over the weekend.

The arrested person was one of multiple drivers seen driving dangerously on Nau Mai Road.

The 19-year-old man was taken into custody around 1.30am on Sunday. He is due in Hamilton District Court on 27 March, charged with operating a motor vehicle causing sustained loss of traction, and excess breath alcohol.

Senior Constable Brendon Richardson, Waikato Road Policing Team, says Police continue to run a dedicated operation focused on responding to and investigating illegal street racing activity that endangers road users, damages roads and causes disturbance to the public.

“We are taking a district-wide approach to this and will take action against those that are putting others at risk.

“Police are also working with our partner agencies and local councils around other measures that can assist us in preventing this behaviour.

“I also want acknowledge Constable Hetal Patel who assisted with this arrest and contributed greatly to the outcome,” Senior Constable Richardson says.

Police are asking anyone that sees illegal or dangerous driving to make reports so officers can follow up and hold offenders to account.

Photos and video footage is helpful for Police to follow up on offenders that quickly speed off when driving unlawfully. These can also be used to identify the vehicles, hotspots and times dangerous driving occurs and helps to identify the drivers.

If you see any dangerous driving, call 111 immediately.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/24/illegal-street-racing-sees-arrest-and-car-impounded/

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Employers offering transport perks warned of tax rules

Source: Radio New Zealand

The price of 91 is now more than $3.30 a litre on average across the country, and forecast to rise further. RNZ / Dan Cook

Any businesses planning to offer extra support for their staff facing fuel cost rises will need to consider the tax implications.

Fuel prices have risen sharply in the past month as conflict in Iran has put pressure on oil supplies.

The price of 91 is now more than $3.30 a litre on average across the country, and forecast to rise further.

That adds to the cost of commuting – the Public Service Association earlier called for employers to allow staff to work from home to help offset the cost.

Deloitte tax partner Robyn Walker said any form of payment from an employer to an employee would generally be taxable through the PAYE system – even if it was a short-term fix for the petrol problem.

If it was offered in the form of goods or services, that could trigger fringe benefit tax.

But she said there were some exceptions for transport, which employers could consider.

The fringe benefit tax legislation has an exemption for ebikes, bikes, scooters and escooters provided by employers and used for commuting to work.

That means that as long as the employee is intending to use the bike mostly for commuting, it can be provided without needing to pay any fringe benefit tax (FBT).

She said there could also be significant benefits for employees taking a “salary sacrifice” arrangement.

This means their income is reduced by an amount equal to the cost of the bike. Because the cost of the bike was taken out of pre-tax income the final impact on the employee would be lower than if the bike was paid for out of after-tax income.

She said it could help someone afford a bike they might not otherwise be able to purchase. Some providers such as WorkRide and Northride have set up systems to streamline this process.

Another option is Extraordinary, which allows employers to offer public transport benefits either by salary sacrifice or as part of a total remuneration package, without attracting FBT.

This also has the potential to make public transport cheaper for employees.

Walker said employers could also start getting more claims for mileage from employees travelling for work in their own vehicles, where previously they might not have thought the administration was worth it.

“There are some quite detailed rules around how this works and generally ‘home to work’ travel can’t be reimbursed tax-free, but travel from home to a client – in excess of normal travel distances, or from work to a client is able to be paid tax exempt.

“Inland Revenue issues new reimbursement rates each year, which are based on historic costs. These are essentially a ‘safe harbour’, whereby they are comfortable that reimbursement at that level is reasonable; employers are not bound to use those rates, so could opt to pay a higher amount while fuel costs are high. This would need to be supported with some calculations to explain why the amount paid is reasonable.”

At present, the rate for a petrol car is $1.17 per kilometre.

“It is technically possible for an employer to provide tax-free allowances for employee transport costs in some limited circumstances. This exemption is targeted at scenarios where an employee’s commuting costs are more than what would ordinarily be expected – for example, if the employer operates in a remote location or if the location isn’t serviced by public transport and/or the employee is working hours where public transport isn’t available.”

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LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/24/employers-offering-transport-perks-warned-of-tax-rules/

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Large vehicle fire in West Auckland suburb extinguished

Source: Radio New Zealand

File photo. RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Firefighters have extinguished a large vehicle fire in the West Auckland suburb of Massey this evening.

Fire and Emergency crews arrived on Sunline Avenue to find a car and a van well alight about 7.30pm

The fire was extinguished by 8pm and St John said nobody was injured.

A fire investigator is at the scene to determine the cause of the fire.

Police said they were also at the scene.

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School attendance services warn rising fuel prices likely to drive up truancy

Source: Radio New Zealand

Attendance services warn rising fuel prices are likely to drive up truancy. 123rf

Attendance services warn rising fuel prices are likely to drive up truancy.

Two service providers, one in rural Northland the other in Auckland, say transport costs are a big driver of student absences and they expect it to get worse.

Meanwhile, one of the providers, Mangere East Family Service Centre, said long-term truants had often lost the physical fitness they needed to cope with a school day and had to be eased back into classes.

The centre was the new attendance service provider for 22 schools in the area after the government regnegoiated 83 contracts last year.

Chief executive Caroline Tana-Tepania said bidding for the contract was a logical progression because its social workers in schools were already working a lot with truants.

Even so she was surprised by the scale of the problem in the area – so far the centre had been charged with tracking down 400 children who were not enrolled in any school, about 230 of them historical cases from last year.

“I knew that it was an issue, but I certainly wasn’t aware of the extent of the numbers,” she said, adding that schools would be starting to alert the service to their chronic truants.

Anika Channa managed the centre’s nine-person attendance team and had previously worked in attendance for three-and-a-half-years.

She said one of the biggest changes she had noticed in the government’s attendance service overhaul was greater involvement of other social services.

“In my experience, there are a lot of factors as to why children are not going to school. It’s actually not just that they don’t want to go. There’s barriers like transport, housing, health. So having those community organisations involved helps us navigate the families into the correct supports for them,” she said.

In addition, the service’s ‘attendance navigators’ now stayed in contact with children after they returned to school to ensure they maintained their attendance and dealt with any new barriers to attendance that might crop up.

“It just means that we’re able to intervene more quickly rather than having to wait for another referral to come through,” she said.

Channa said a major group of chronic truants was the children of families who had moved out of the area, but kept their children enrolled in a Māngere school.

She said many such families struggled to get their children to school every day and the rising price of petrol would make that problem worse.

Channa said finding non-enrolled children took a “bit of investigation”.

Often the family was not at their last recorded address and attendance officers had to ask schools for children’s emergency contacts, often members of their extended family, in order to track them down.

Channa said once children had been found, they had to be eased back into school.

“Going straight back into school for five days is just so much for them, it’s very overwhelming. It’s not just going to school, it’s socialising, it’s being out in the environment,” she said.

She said that was because many truants spent their time “bed surfing”.

“They just stay in bed and so when they go out to do anything, they get really, really tired so it takes them some time to adjust.”

Channa said consistency and “awhi” or support were the keys to a successful return to school.

Transport a massive problem

Ara Whakamaua director Lisa Halvorson. Supplied

Ara Whakamaua has been the attendance service for 26 schools across Hokianga and Kaipara for more than three years.

Director Lisa Halvorson said it usually worked with more than 500 students each year, successfully closing 70-80 percent of the cases by returning children to class or finding other education options for them.

She said this year was already “way better”, thanks largely to a new computer system that showed when and where children last attended school.

“Already we’re seeing that the closure rates are reducing and that the active cases are turning around a lot faster. So that’s really pleasing to see,” she said.

“In the past, we have just been chasing kids to look for them. Whereas now we actually have that last point of contact and we’ve got the ability then to see … a little bit of a pattern or to see how often they were attending and what that looked like. So it does make it so much easier,” she said.

Halvorson said there were a lot of reasons families might not send their children to school.

“Some of it can be as simple as the child doesn’t have the right PE uniform or no shoes, they don’t have a school bag or a lunch box or a drink bottle, and so the whakamā about that child walking into a school without that is hard,” she said.

“Transport is a massive one for us in our region, so the ability for our whanau to have warranted and registered cars or to be able to afford to run their children to school – we’re talking some distances of children having to travel 30 kilometres to get to the closest school one way.”

She said some cases had relatively simple solutions while others involved multiple agencies.

“They just don’t have a pair of shoes on their feet then sure, we’ll go to the Warehouse and buy them a pair of shoes and put them into school,” she said.

“If it’s a bit bigger than that, then yes, there are other avenues that we can support whanau to complete application forms or do hardship grants … We also connect with a lot of other social services in our regions.”

She said the job was rewarding when families received the help they needed and created stability for their children.

“To get the kids back to school and have a sense of well-being and self-worth and some mates around them and a bit of social connection, that goes a long way,” she said.

“Once we see the right supports in place, and then you see the attendance stabilise, and then you see the whanau feel a bit more confident, and then everyone’s navigating the system really well. That’s a massive win,” she said.

“Some of those children would never have had that stabilisation in their lives, because sometimes you’re dealing with little six and seven-year-old children, they’re too young, they don’t know any better.”

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High petrol prices: Cost of public transport ‘still a significant barrier to people’

Source: Radio New Zealand

Auckland had its busiest day on public transport since 2019 last week, and the capital has seen 10 percent more passengers on the train in the past month. File photo. Supplied / Environment Canterbury

A cheaper bus or train fare would be far better than working from home to avoid rising fuel prices, say commuters, despite the local government minister ruling it out.

Simon Watts says the government is not looking at any change or incentive model in regards to public transport.

“Public transport usage by New Zealanders has already increased, we’ve seen that flow through in our major urban cities,” he said.

“That’s obviously a result of Kiwis making the conscious decision to take public transport versus driving their vehicle and that’s what you’d expect with prices at the pump being higher.”

He said it should be up to New Zealanders to make their own decisions, based on their own circumstances.

But petrol has sky-rocketed by more than 83 cents a litre and diesel has shot up $1.33 since the US and Israel began attacking Iran.

Auckland Transport, Greater Wellington, and Canterbury Regional Councils are asking the government to encourage people to use more buses, trains, and ferries – rather than work from home.

People RNZ spoke to in central Auckland on Monday said they would prefer that.

“I do like working from home but working in the office is also really nice, it’s more collaborative,” said one commuter.

“I would prefer to have cheaper public transport,” said another.

Shay Peters from Robert Walters Recruitment Agency said a lot of jobseekers preferred to work from home.

“As we’re in tougher economic times, people are probably erring on the side of caution and will like to be in the office but I know a number would also like the opportunity on balance to be able to just save cash and be working from home at the moment.”

Last Tuesday was Auckland’s busiest day on public transport since 2019, and the capital has seen 10 percent more passengers on the train – and six percent on the bus – within the past month.

Greater Wellington Regional Council Public Transport Committee chair Ros Connelly would also like to see subsidised fares.

“There’s no doubt in my mind and from the surveys and customer feedback that we receive that the cost of public transport still is a significant barrier to people. Obviously since we’ve seen the fuel crisis, comparatively the cost of public transport has decreased but still it is extremely expensive.”

She said the train from Masterton to Wellington can cost up to $22.50 each way, per day.

“That is a barrier for many people and so they will look at other options. Working from home is definitely popular but if there was an increased subsidy we’re really confident that we would see more people on public transport and as fuel prices increase this is one way that the government can ensure that people get to work.”

Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said it was a no-brainer to make public transport free.

“Fares have gone up by as much as a third in Canterbury, by a quarter in the Manawatū-Whanganui region and Auckland also has seen fare increases in the realm of 15 to 20 percent over the last three years. We need to remove those barriers to access and also be reserving fuel supply for those who actually need it and don’t currently have the option.”

Stacey van der Putten from Auckland Transport would welcome that.

“We’re monitoring it daily so there will be adjustments that are needed but the system does have flex to be able to support it.”

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Fuel cost crisis: Govt to unveil ‘targeted and temporary’ support tomorrow

Source: Radio New Zealand

The finance minister will reveal “targeted and temporary” support for hard-hit families on Tuesday, as fuel costs continue to rise.

Nicola Willis gave notice of the announcement at Monday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, alongside Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones.

Jones also announced plans to align New Zealand’s fuel standards with that of Australia, allowing the import of fuel destined for Australia to New Zealand instead.

Willis said the decisions on support had been taken at Cabinet, and while some of the details were still being worked out, that would not affect how quickly families could get it.

“This conflict is impacting just about every New Zealander, it has pushed up the price of petrol, diesel and jet fuel and those increases are already hurting our people and our businesses. Unfortunately the government is not in a position to mitigate that impact on everyone,” she said.

“The approach we are taking is consistent with the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the response to the Covid pandemic, which highlighted the damage that can be done by untimely, untemporary and untargeted spending.”

It was unclear when the support would be rolled out, with Willis saying that would be made clear when it was announced.

Motorists should fuel up as and when they needed to, she said, with the government’s solution set to target income rather than fuel prices.

‘No concerns’ about fuel supply

For now, there were no concerns about fuel supplies in New Zealand, she said.

“To date, all shipments have arrived as scheduled and fuel importers have not raised any concerns about shipments that are due here in future.

“It remains the case that we have to be prepared for the possibility of disruptions in the medium to longer term, particularly because the refineries in Southeast Asia from which we import more than 90 percent of our fuel may have challenges getting the feedstock crude oil that they need.”

Luxon said the country had at least enough fuel for the next seven weeks, although the government was preparing in case of long-term further disruption.

“If you are someone who has just faced a 30 percent increase in your fuel bill or a 60 percent increase in your diesel bill since the actual crisis, since this conflict has commenced, it’s real.

“We cannot do the Covid learnings and mistakes, which was just spray a heap of money around that has short term gain but long term pain – massive long-term pain – and equally we’ve got to find a way to get people support in a temporary, targeted kind of way.

“The reality is that we are not going to be able to alleviate the pressure of rising prices for everyone, but what we’ve been clear about are the parameters for any support that we provide, which is that it must be targeted, it must be timely, and it must be temporary and not drive inflation or debt higher.”

The latest data from Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment showed stocks for about 47 days of fuel, including about 50 days worth of petrol, 46 days of diesel, and 45 of jet fuel.

The data, accurate to last Wednesday, marks about two days fewer than was reported last week.

One new fuel shipment arrived on Sunday, and two more – carrying between them another 20 days of each kind of fuel – are expected to arrive in the next fortnight.

The next update is due on Wednesday, but the ministry says New Zealand is not yet experiencing the kind of sustained disruption that would justify emergency measures under the national fuel plan.

Luxon said nothing had changed about New Zealand’s position on the Iran conflict, but that Iranians “holding hostage a whole bunch of ships to bring fuel and critical supplies … that’s not acceptable”.

“What we want to see is a quick resolution to this conflict and that means that actually respecting civilians and civilian infrastructure is really important … we think the best thing is de-escalation.”

Willis confirmed some consideration had been given to which industries could be prioritised if fuel rationing was needed, but this would not be revealed until a later date.

“We will not be having to hit the button tomorrow, but we will outline what our proposed phasing of response is … we recognise that it’s useful for people to understand what could be coming under a range of scenarios,” she said.

She noted the high prices would also naturally limit fuel use.

“It is pinching people’s pockets already and that is changing people’s choices. So Auckland transport have reported they had their biggest day of public transport use in seven years, I think that’s people deciding to use their cars a little bit less because it’s pretty expensive right now.”

‘Anzac pact’ in fuel and other standards

Jones outlined the government’s plan to temporarily allow fuel that meets Australian specifications to be supplied to the New Zealand market for up to a year.

Fuel companies had said this could allow them to secure shipments more quickly, and from a wider pool of suppliers.

Jones said long-range vessels typically carried about 120 million litres, and New Zealand consumed about 24 million litres of fuel a day – with about 47 percent of that being diesel, about 35 percent being petrol, and the remainder being aviation fuel.

“Should such a vessel be on its way to Australia then we would have the ability to also benefit from such a vessel.”

He said fuel refined to Australian standards was compatible with New Zealand vehicles, and met safety and quality expectations, pushing back on the suggestion it would allow dirtier fuels than under current standards.

“It’s unkind of us to refer to our Aussie compatriots as dirty,” he said. “There’s two things – whether or not fuel used in a high-temperature northern Australian environment, we are advised that a lot of that fuel is suitable for the North Island … with the South Island the fuel importers assure us that they will have the optionality to service both of those markets.”

He said officials had spoken to Australian counterparts.

“We pushed the idea that at some point in time we should explore and ANZAC pact and I would say to you this is the first step that we’re taking to join forces.

“It’d be fair to say that I’ve got a fair degree of support in our Cabinet to actually move towards permanent harmonisation of not only these standards but a variety of other standards in the economy.”

Willis and the associate ministers of finance would make further improvements, he said.

The government would not follow Australia’s lead in relaxing standards to allow higher-sulphur fuel, he said, at least not yet.

“At this stage it’s not our intention to do so, however, we will take advice should the situation change – and that could be an option that expands our supply.

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Road rules shakeup on the table – here’s what you need to know

Source: Radio New Zealand

Currently e-scooters are allowed to ride on the footpath and the road, but it’s illegal to ride in the cycle lanes, but this would change under new rules. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Both the previous government and the current one kicked the can down the road on making ‘sensible’ changes to road rules, but now the changes are back on the agenda

Every day, across the country, kids break the law by riding their bikes on the footpath.

Every now and again they might get a growling from a grumpy passerby, but for the most part, Kiwis recognise that it’s a safer alternative to a child riding where they’re technically supposed to – in a cycle path, or on the road.

“I think most parents who have got kids riding their bikes will probably be doing it on the footpath,” director of greater Auckland Matt Lowrie said.

But now, the government has proposed changes to road rules that would mean children 12 and under are free to ride where it’s safest – on the footpath.

In a press release, Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the changes were aimed at “fixing the basics” for big and small forms of transport.

They come in two packages with the first including:

  • Allowing e-scooters in cycle lanes
  • Kids 12 and under being allowed to bike on the footpaths
  • Mandatory passing gaps around cyclists and horses
  • Drivers in 60 kilometres or under speed zones to allow buses to merge into traffic
  • Better signage for berm parking

The second package relates to heavy vehicles.

This article is focused on the first package and what it means for drivers, riders and pedestrians.

These changes aren’t a new concept.

National announced similar rules in 2025 and the previous Labour government proposed changes to footpath rules in 2020.

Matt Lowrie, who is an avid cyclist, said these changes had been a long time coming.

“A lot of these are quite common sense changes and so the government are now getting back to it again and looking to get them approved.”

New Zealand director of road safety charity BRAKE, Caroline Perry, said the organisation welcomed the changes, but would like clearer guidance on some aspects.

“There are some small parts to it that we would like some clarification on in terms of things like children up to the age of 12 being able to cycle on footpaths. What about their parents or guardians?”

Currently e-scooters are allowed to ride on the footpath and the road, but it’s illegal to ride in the cycle lanes, but this would change under new rules.

“In legislation, only bikes can be on cycle lanes, whereas actually in terms of the speed that e-scooters are generally going, they actually match more appropriately the speeds that are on the cycle lanes, so that makes sense that e-scooters could use those lanes rather than footpaths,” Perry said.

The proposed change to this rule could help improve safety for e-scooter riders – especially important with e-scooter-related ACC claims on the rise.

Between 2022 and 2025, new ACC claims involving e-scooters increased by 55 percent across all age groups.

Young people under the age 25 made up close to half of ACC claims between the beginning of 2026 and early February.

Perry said more could be done to minimise riding risks.

“We need more investment in infrastructure, particularly for active modes.

“Part of making it safer to walk and cycle is to have more of those dedicated facilities for them such as bike lanes.”

Despite all the negative commentary that can come with e-scooters, Lowrie says the positives do outweigh the negatives.

“What e-scooters do is open up the first mile, last mile connection.

“E-scooters can really help with addressing those issues and making public transport – walking, cycling – more attractive and [allowing people to] get around our city easier, and often faster.”

These proposed road rules are currently open for consultation and close on the 25th of March.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/24/road-rules-shakeup-on-the-table-heres-what-you-need-to-know/

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Two people dead after crash blocks SH57 in Levin

Source: Radio New Zealand

File photo. A serious crash blocked State Highway 57 in Levin on Monday morning. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

A serious crash that closed State Highway 57 in Levin today has claimed two lives.

Emergency services were called to the two-vehicle crash on Arapaepae Road about 2.30am on Monday.

Police said two people were pronounced dead at the scene.

The road is still closed while the Serious Crash Unit carry out a scene examination.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/23/two-people-dead-after-crash-blocks-sh57-in-levin/

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Government widens fuel supply options

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is taking practical steps to strengthen New Zealand’s fuel resilience by temporarily allowing fuel that meets Australian specifications to be supplied to the New Zealand market, Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says.

“In a tight global fuel market, flexibility matters. Countries that can access a wider range of shipments are better placed to keep fuel flowing. This decision removes unnecessary technical barriers and helps ensure New Zealand isn’t excluded from available supply our neighbours across the Tasman are accessing,” Mr Jones says.

The temporary alignment will open up more options for fuel importers by allowing fuel refined to Australian specifications to be supplied domestically.

“The change reduces the risk of supply disruptions driven purely by technical specification differences. Fuel companies have told us this could allow them to secure shipments more quickly and from a wider pool of suppliers.

“Our fuel specifications are already very similar to Australia’s. Fuel refined to Australian standards is compatible with New Zealand vehicles and meets safety and quality expectations.”

New Zealand will not, at this stage, be following Australia’s lead and relaxing standards to allow higher sulphur fuel. Australia has made the decision so it can access high-sulphur fuel from its Brisbane refinery.

“However, we will keep an eye on whether further changes to fuel specifications could open up further supply channels if necessary,” Mr Jones says.

“This is a sensible, time‑limited step that gives importers access to a broader range of fuel shipments, including those already in our region.

“We are closely monitoring market conditions and will keep under review any further practical measures that could strengthen New Zealand’s fuel supply resilience while global conditions remain uncertain.”

The temporary alignment with Australian specifications could remain in place for up to 12 months if needed.

Editors’ note:

Fuel specifications set the minimum technical and environmental requirements that petrol, diesel and other transport fuels must meet before they can be supplied in New Zealand. Each country has its own fuel specifications.
Where there are differences in fuel specifications for the purpose of catering to different climatic conditions, this is dealt with by the requirement that fuel sold in New Zealand must still be ‘fit for common purpose’. For example, this means diesel for hot climates cannot be sold in very cold ones. 

 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/23/government-widens-fuel-supply-options/

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Nailed it: Police clean up following tip off

Source: New Zealand Police

Police in Counties Manukau have been busy cleaning up and returning a pile of stolen goods following a tip off from a member of the public.

On Friday afternoon, Police patrolling the Counties Manukau West area were alerted to an address of interest in Mangere Bridge by a member of the public who reported he’d had several items taken from his vehicle in Pakuranga.

Counties Manukau West Area Commander, Inspector Dave Christoffersen, says one of the items belonging to the victim had a GPS, which lead to a property in Tima Lane.

“Units were in the area at the time and met with the victim, who had observed his items inside the address.

“A search of the property located multiple tools and other items, one of which was a GPS linked stolen nail gun.

“This lead to one person at the address being arrested and charged for receiving.”

Inspector Christoffersen says Police recovered the alleged stolen goods and have managed to return several to their rightful owner.

“This is a great example of members of the public reporting incidents when they happen, then following up with any helpful information that comes to hand.

“This allows the opportunity for Police to act and, as in this case, recover stolen property.

“I would like to acknowledge the community for their vigilance and reporting suspicious activity promptly to Police.”

A 37-year-old man was remanded in custody and will appear in Manukau District Court today charged with receives property.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/23/nailed-it-police-clean-up-following-tip-off/

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Aged Care Assn: If we can fund EV chargers, why can’t we fund aged care beds?

Source: Aged Care Association

This week’s announcement that Government-backed loans will support the rollout of another 2,500 electric vehicle charging points across New Zealand is, in many ways, good news.
As an EV owner, I welcome the continued investment in infrastructure that supports the transition to a lower-emissions future. It is practical, forward-looking, and demonstrates that when Government identifies a priority, it can move with pace and purpose to enable private investment.
But it also raises a difficult question.
Why can we move quickly to support the infrastructure needed for vehicles, but not for the infrastructure needed to care for our ageing population?
For the past two years, the Aged Care Association has been calling for the establishment of a dedicated infrastructure fund to support residential aged care providers to upgrade facilities and build new beds, particularly for older New Zealanders who rely on superannuation or modest fixed incomes.
We are not asking for anything extraordinary. We are asking for recognition that aged residential care is essential health infrastructure.
New Zealand’s population aged over 65 is growing rapidly. At the same time, much of our aged care infrastructure is ageing, with a significant proportion of facilities more than 20 years old. Capacity is already constrained in many parts of the country, particularly for standard beds and specialist care such as dementia and palliative services.
This is not a future problem. It is happening now.
As the daughter of an 85-year-old, I think about this not just as a sector leader, but as a New Zealander. If my parent, or yours, requires hospital care, we expect that care to be available. But hospitals rely on the ability to discharge older patients into appropriate residential care. When there are no beds available, those patients remain in hospital longer than they need to, placing pressure on the entire health system.
This is where the issue becomes urgent.
A lack of residential care beds is not just an aged care issue – it is a hospital flow issue, an equity issue, and ultimately a system sustainability issue.
An infrastructure fund would allow providers, particularly not-for-profit and community-based organisations, to upgrade ageing facilities, expand capacity in areas of need, and build the types of services our communities require. It would support older people to remain closer to home and whānau and ensure timely access to appropriate care.
Importantly, this is not about replacing private investment. It is about unlocking it – just as the EV charging initiative does – by providing the confidence and support needed to invest in areas where returns are lower but social need is high.
We have seen that Government can act decisively when it chooses to. The question now is whether it will apply that same urgency to the infrastructure that supports our most vulnerable citizens.
Because at some point, this will matter to all of us.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/23/aged-care-assn-if-we-can-fund-ev-chargers-why-cant-we-fund-aged-care-beds/

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Delays on Auckland’s Southern Motorway after multi-vehicle crash

Source: Radio New Zealand

There were delays near Auckland’s Ōtāhuhu after the crash. (File photo) Unsplash / Robert Calvert

Commuters on Auckland’s Southern Motorway should expect delays following a multi-vehicle crash.

Emergency services were at the scene on State Highway One, near Ōtāhuhu.

Police said the crash happened near the northbound Princes St off-ramp, about 9.30am on Monday.

Multiple people were taken to hospital with moderate injuries, a spokesperson said.

The Princes St on-ramp was closed.

Motorists were advised to expect delays and avoid the area if possible.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/23/delays-on-aucklands-southern-motorway-after-multi-vehicle-crash/

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Woman sent to court after fleeing Police

Source: New Zealand Police

A woman nosing through North Shore mailboxes has been diverted to court after fleeing from Police.

At 3am, Police detected a stolen Nissan hatchback travelling through Wairau Valley.

Acting Inspector Andrew Hawkins, Relieving Waitematā East Area Prevention Manager, says the Police Eagle helicopter had been in the area and deployed to the report.

“Eagle was quickly overhead and picked up the vehicle travelling on East Coast Road in the Sunnynook area,” he says.

“While overhead, the vehicle has been seen stopping in several driveways along the road and the woman driving has been seen searching through mailboxes.”

Information was relayed to Police staff on the ground and a unit moved in to pull the vehicle over.

Acting Inspector Hawkins says the vehicle was signalled to stop on East Coast Road.

“The driver failed to stop and took off from the unit at high speed, and was not pursued at the time,” he says.

“With Eagle overhead, the driver had nowhere to go, and the vehicle was tracked heading onto Sycamore Drive.

“The woman abandoned the vehicle on the road and unsuccessfully attempted to hide from Police nearby.”

The 34-year-old Glenfield woman was soon arrested.

Police have since recovered the Nissan hatchback, which was confirmed stolen earlier this month from the Forrest Hill area.

“We have searched the vehicle and fortunately have not located any stolen mail inside,” acting Inspector Hawkins says.

The woman is expected in the North Shore District Court later this month, facing charges of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, dangerous driving and failing to stop.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/23/woman-sent-to-court-after-fleeing-police/

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Charging ahead: 2,500+ EV chargers on the way

Source: New Zealand Government

The number of electric vehicle (EV) public chargers around New Zealand will more than double thanks to $52.7 million in zero-interest loans from the Government and co-investment from ChargeNet and Meridian, Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Energy & Climate Change Minister Simon Watts say.

“Many New Zealanders have thought about getting an EV, even before the fuel challenges we’re currently facing. But research shows that the lack of public chargers is holding many back from making the switch to an EV,” Mr Bishop says.

“The private sector is reluctant to invest in charging infrastructure until there’s sufficient demand, but demand won’t grow until the lack of public chargers stops putting buyers off. Just as the previous National-led Government did with the ultrafast broadband network rollout, we’re taking action to break that deadlock.”

ChargeNet and Meridian Energy were selected through a contestable, value-for-money bid process. Both companies are co-investing a combined $60 million of their own capital alongside the Government loans, taking the total investment to over $110 million.

“Concessionary loans bring forward private investment in public EV charging infrastructure by lowering the cost of capital, while keeping the taxpayer’s contribution to a minimum,” Mr Bishop says.

“In this case, the average loan per charge point is $20,000, but once repayments are factored in, the net cost to the Crown is around $10,000 per charger, roughly a quarter of what a direct grant would cost.

“We’re also changing our planning rules to make the installation of public EV chargers a permitted activity under the RMA, meaning in most cases no consent is required – another factor that will help to speed up delivery.”

The 2,574 new charge points include 1,374 DC fast chargers and 1,200 AC chargers. DC fast chargers deliver power directly to the battery and can charge a car in 20 to 60 minutes, making them suited to highways and destinations where people stop briefly. AC chargers are slower and better suited to places where cars are parked for longer periods, like shopping centres, workplaces, and residential areas.

“About half the new chargers will be spread across Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, the Wellington region, Christchurch, and Dunedin, with the other half throughout the regions, so drivers outside the main centres will benefit too,” Mr Bishop says.

“New Zealand currently has a bit over 1,800 public charge points, which is among the lowest charger-to-EV ratios in the OECD. Another 161 charge points are also in progress. Combined with the investment being announced today, the national total will be around 4,550. The Government is working towards 10,000 charge points by 2030, roughly one for every 40 EVs.”

“Owning an EV in New Zealand already makes strong financial sense. Electricity is cheaper than petrol and almost entirely generated from renewable sources like wind, geothermal, solar, and hydro,” Mr Watts says. 

“Kiwis are already making the shift to electric vehicles as a cost-of-living choice, and we have seen uptake grow. In February 2026, EV sales were up 10.5 per cent on the same month last year – and anecdotal evidence suggests even greater interest over the past couple of weeks as conflict in the Middle East has seen fuel prices increase.

“At a time when global fuel markets are volatile, that matters. 

“A better charging network means more New Zealanders can take advantage of it, and that’s good for household budgets and our emissions profile alike. EVs produce at least 60 percent fewer lifecycle emissions than petrol vehicles.”

Notes to editor: 

  • Concessionary loans are loans at below-market interest rates (in this case, zero-interest) which incentivise charge point operators to invest in charging infrastructure ahead of demand. The repaid capital can be used for new loans if co-investment is still required or allocated to other initiatives.
  • The loans are administered by National Infrastructure Funding and Financing (NIFFCo), the successor organisation to Crown Infrastructure Partners (which delivered Ultra-Fast Broadband). EECA will provide assistance as required.
  • The Government has allocated $66.145m of capital funding for concessionary loans.
  • The concessionary loans will fund up to 50 percent of project capital costs, have a zero percent interest rate, and a maximum tenure of 13 years. The loans have been awarded through a contestable co-investment bid process.
  • Applications were assessed against value-for-money criteria to ensure loans are awarded to projects of greatest benefit and that New Zealand’s EV charging network grows at pace.
  • Consumer monitoring by EECA consistently shows that some of the main perceived disadvantages of EVs include that the driving range is not suitable for long distance travel, and that there are not enough public chargers available. Increasing the availability of public charging infrastructure gives drivers the confidence to switch to an electric vehicle. See EECA’s EV Charging research October 2025 update – EV Charging Research 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/23/charging-ahead-2500-ev-chargers-on-the-way/

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First Impressions of Maukahuka Auckland Island

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

12 March 2026 – Blake Hornblow

During my first night on Auckland Island, I wake to the sound of my tent fly trying to take flight, 50 knot winds battering it in relentless gusts. As the flapping subsides, I hear a loud cry somewhere in the dark outside the tent—a female sea lion calling for her pup. Still half-asleep, I reach for my headtorch—only for my hand to plunge straight into a pool of water surrounding my sleeping mat.

Naturally. It appears that some of the 40 mm of rain overnight has decided to drain directly into my tent.

In that moment I realise one thing: Auckland Island doesn’t do gentle introductions.

As I emerge from the tent and stand amongst the wind beaten rātā trees I think to our mission here for the next six weeks. I have been dreaming of working on this island for years, driven by the chance to contribute to the Maukahuka Auckland Island Restoration programme — an ambitious effort to remove feral pigs, feral cats, and mice from this wild subantarctic island, so that the multitude of endemic flora and fauna can once again thrive. Now I’m finally here.

While here, our team of four will be living some 500 km south of New Zealand’s mainland at a remote field base called Camp Cove, tucked into the bottom of Auckland Island. Camp Cove has hosted people before: first, on 7 February 1905, it was here that the castaways of the Anjou found shelter after their ship struck rocks on the western cliffs two days before.

The dramatic western cliffs of Auckland Island with nesting White-capped mollymawks on the cliffs below. Video: DOC Blake Hornblow

When we first arrived on the SV Evohe we worked not far from where the Anjou wrecked at Bristow Point on the western cliffs. The scale of these cliffs is immense. While looking at them I found it hard to imagine, not only surviving a shipwreck here but also the challenge that lies ahead to remove feral pigs, feral cats and mice that hunt for seabirds and megaherbs there. These cliffs hold some spectacular seabird species and some of the only albatross that still manage to breed on the main Auckland Island. Predation from feral pigs is a major problem so most of the remaining nests are now on steep, inaccessible ledges. White-capped mollymawk / Toroa and Light-mantled sooty albatross / Toroa pango still breed in a colony at South-west Cape.

I had the privilege of mapping the extent of the colony using a drone. Flying from nearby cliffs it was breathtaking to see the island alive with such impressive birds. Once the island is pest-free we hope to see a return of these birds to other parts of the island.

Team members descend the cliffs from SW Cape, Auckland Island. Looking down into Carnley Harbour which separates the main Auckland Island (left) from Pest-Free Adams Island (right). Photo: DOC Blake Hornblow

The team saw a few lone Gibson’s Albatross sitting on failed nests, tucked among the tall, wind-swept tussocks. Nearby, the ground was torn up by feral pig rooting. Here on Auckland Island, feral pigs and feral cats make it almost impossible for these birds to successfully breed. These albatrosses are made for the open ocean — they spend most of the year gliding over the Southern Ocean, sometimes circling the globe — but they still need a safe refuge to return to when it’s time to nest. This subantarctic island, just a speck in the South Pacific, could once again become that haven for them and so many other species.

A White-capped mollymawk chick perched on the edge the 200m cliff, safe from pigs at Southwest Cape. Photo: DOC Millie Mannering

For those of us without a three-metre wingspan, getting to the Auckland Islands isn’t quite so simple. With no airport within hundreds of kilometres, our only option was the sea — a 48-hour voyage from Bluff aboard the 25-metre sailing yacht Evohe. She and her crew know these waters better than most, having ferried conservationists south for nearly three decades. Rolling over five-metre waves for two days gives you plenty of time to appreciate just how remote this place is, and just how determined you must be to reach it.

The Evohe at anchor with Camp Cove, Auckland Island behind. Photo: DOC Blake Hornblow.

Now the boat has left us, and my flooded tent is a stark reminder of how far I am from home. I start to ferry my damp sleeping bag into the shelter of our base tent and reflect how Maukahuka is more than just a project — it’s a world-first effort by DOC and Ngāi Tahu to remove feral pigs, feral cats, and mice from Auckland Island and restore the mana of this subantarctic World Heritage site. By returning 46,000 ha of wilderness to its natural state, we’re safeguarding habitat for more than 500 native species. One of Earth’s last truly wild places. Maybe that’s worth a flooded tent or two.

What species would you love to see return to Auckland Island once it’s pest-free? To hear more from the field follow DOC’s Conservation Blog over the next six weeks. To learn more about the programme or to be part of this incredible endeavour follow the link below to donate.

Auckland Island/ Maukahuka | NZ Nature Fund

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/23/first-impressions-of-maukahuka-auckland-island/

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Crash blocks SH57 in Levin

Source: Radio New Zealand

File photo. A serious crash blocked State Highway 57 in Levin on Monday morning. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

A serious crash has blocked State Highway 57 in Levin.

Emergency services were called to the two-vehicle crash on Arapaepae Road about 2.30am on Monday.

The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.

The road was expected to be closed until at least 9am.

Diversions were in place and motorists were advised to allow extra time for travel along the route.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/23/crash-blocks-sh57-in-levin/

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I do a job where people love to hate me

Source: Radio New Zealand

For 17 years, Lori Davis has been sounding the alarm about the challenges facing SPCA animal welfare inspectors. But the hostility is only getting worse, she says.

“I myself have been threatened, you know, ‘get the F off my property or I will do this’. I’ve had a car driven at me in a driveway, like threatening to be run over, a couple of times. I’ve had a man open the door and holding a knife in his hand,” the Auckland regional manager says.

“I’ve had a man pick up a golf club and threaten to hit me with it. I’ve been cornered on a property in between two males.”

Three quarters of visits by an SPCA officer involve some form of abuse or threat.

RNZ / Angus Dreaver

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/23/i-do-a-job-where-people-love-to-hate-me/

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$50m plan to double the number of public EV chargers

Source: Radio New Zealand

Aotearoa currently has about 1800 public charge points currently, among the lowest charger-to-EV ratios in the OECD. File photo. ABC News / Brendan Esposito

The government is providing interest free loans of $52.7 million to two companies to boost the number of electric vehicle public chargers around the country.

The zero-interest loans will go to ChargeNet and Meridian Energy, who are investing $60m in capital, and would see 2574 new charge points, 1374 DC fast chargers and 1200 AC chargers.

The move will more than double the country’s chargers, to around 4550.

New Zealand has about 1800 public charge points currently, among the lowest charger-to-EV ratios in the OECD.

In 2023, the National Party promised electric vehicle chargers by 2030 if elected.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the loans kept the taxpayer’s contribution to a minimum.

“In this case, the average loan per charge point is $20,000, but once repayments are factored in, the net cost to the Crown is around $10,000 per charger, roughly a quarter of what a direct grant would cost.

Bishop said it was a chicken and egg situation, with some electric vehicle charger providers reluctant to roll out chargers until there were more EVs on the road, but concerns about the driving range of electric vehicles and a lack of public chargers was one of the main perceived disadvantages of EVs for potential buyers.

“Many New Zealanders have thought about getting an EV, even before the fuel challenges we’re currently facing. But research shows that the lack of public chargers is holding many back from making the switch to an EV,” Bishop said.

“The private sector is reluctant to invest in charging infrastructure until there’s sufficient demand, but demand won’t grow until the lack of public chargers stops putting buyers off. Just as the previous National-led Government did with the ultrafast broadband network rollout, we’re taking action to break that deadlock.”

He said the below-market interest rate loans were preferable to grants.

“It’s a more commercial model, a more sophisticated model, bringing forward that private sector investment.”

“In this case, the average loan per charge point is $20,000, but once repayments are factored in, the net cost to the Crown is around $10,000 per charger, roughly a quarter of what a direct grant would cost.”

Chris Bishop said work on the grants had been underway for some time, but the timing was “fortuitous” given the increased interest in EVs as fuel costs surged due to the conflict in the Middle East. RNZ/Marika Khabazi

Some requirements were placed on the loans, such requiring an urban-rural split, but exactly where they went was a commercial decision for the companies, Bishop said.

“About half the new chargers will be spread across Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, the Wellington region, Christchurch, and Dunedin, with the other half throughout the regions, so drivers outside the main centres will benefit too,” he said.

“We’re also changing our planning rules to make the installation of public EV chargers a permitted activity under the RMA, meaning in most cases no consent is required – another factor that will help to speed up delivery.”

Work on the grants had been underway for some time, but that the timing was “fortuitous” given the increased interest in electric vehicles in the wake of surging fuel costs caused by the conflict in the Middle East, he said.

“People look at a petrol price of three bucks, three bucks twenty, and potentially going higher, and they say, jeepers creepers, now’s the time to go electric because the running costs are just so much lower,” Mr Bishop said.

The 10,000 chargers by 2030 target was ambitious, he said.

It was on its way to meeting it, but would require additional Crown investment which would be considered as part of the budget process, he said.

Chair of EV lobby group Drive Electric Kirsten Corston welcomed the news, but said much more needed to be done.

She said the government had promised more than $200m to go towards fast chargers several years ago, and this project only accounted for $52m.

“We’re interested to see what the other commitments are going to be.”

It seemed very unlikely the government would achieve its target of 10,000 chargers before 2030, she said.

New Zealand was falling behind other countries in [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/thedetail/586362/the-ev-slowdown-how-government-decisions-changed-the-road-ahead

EV uptake] following a sharp decline in purchases following the government’s cancellation of the clean car subsidy.

EVs accounted for around 27 percent of new vehicle sales in 2023, or at least one in four cars sold. Only one in nine cars sold are electric now.

“And you look at Australia, one in five cars sold are electric. In China, one in two cars sold are electric. The global average is one in four cars sold are electric.”

There had been a three-fold increase of inquiries into second-hand and new EVs in recent weeks, she said.

“The challenge for us, though, is we’ve got a country that is still very dependent on importing fossil fuels and we’ve got a government that whilst this is fantastic to see this investment into charging infrastructure we also need investment into electric vehicles to drive uptake.”

Colston said reducing road user charges – which are the same for electric vehicles as for diesel vehicles – would be one way to do that.

Other levers included a Fringe Benefit Tax for light vehicles such as Australia has, or accelerated depreciation for commercial and heavy vehicles.

Drive EV wanted to see investment in making EVs more accessible to more people, she said.

“At the moment, when the average purchase of a car for a Kiwi is around $7000, yes, they can go and access a Nissan Leaf for $5000 – $10,000. But if they’ve got four kids and they need a 200 kilometre range to get around town for the day, that’s not going to meet their needs.

“So we have to create that second, third, fourth hand market for Kiwis to bring that price down – that’s a really critical piece to make EVs available for everyone in our community.”

Getting more people into electric vehicles promised a huge financial opportunity for New Zealanders, Colston said.

“The average household spends $3000 to $4000 a year paying for their petrol or diesel, and if they could electrify, it would be around $1000 a year.”

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/23/50m-plan-to-double-the-number-of-public-ev-chargers/

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Four dead in 24 hours after multiple crashes around NZ

Source: Radio New Zealand

In Auckland, northbound lanes were blocked on the South-Western Motorway, SH20, at Onehunga, on Sunday morning. Supplied/ NZTA traffic camera

Four people have died and others have been injured in crashes in Waikato, Taranaki, Auckland, Stratford, Waiohau and Southland

Waikato police said on Sunday morning a person died following a single-vehicle crash on Howden Road, to the west of Hamilton city in Temple View. The crash happened about 8:30pm on Saturday.

Meanwhile, blocked lanes on Auckland’s Southwestern Motorway at Onehunga were reopened by 9:30am Sunday, after a collision earlier in the morning. Two vehicles were involved in the crash on the State Highway 20 motorway, police said.

One person was killed and two others moderately injured.

Early this evening, police said one person has died after a single vehicle crash on SH43 / Forgotten World Highway in Stratford this morning.

The crash was reported to police at 11.30am, and the road remains closed.

A fourth person died after a single-vehicle crash on Galatea Road, Waiohau, at about 5.15pm.

The sole occupant of the vehicle was found dead.

Police said the road was closed and diversions are in place.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/22/four-dead-in-24-hours-after-multiple-crashes-around-nz/