Podcasts about nzta

Life isn't fair. It's one of the first lessons you learn. And it's not fair when you find yourself, or more accurately your home, right smack in the middle of a vital piece of infrastructure. There's been so many cases around the country over a long period of time, but more recently you had the buyout of houses after the Canterbury quakes. Technically the buyouts of more than 8,000 properties were structured as voluntary offers. However, many residents felt forced to accept because the Government explicitly stated that essential infrastructure and council services would cease in those zones. They would be no more. They'd be living in a literal no man's land. You had the buyout of 160 odd homes for the Waterview Tunnel. We've had 50 odd homes in Ranui in West Auckland bought by the council to make way for new floodplains and to uncover a buried piped stream. So if your house happened to be right over the top of that stream, you were gone. Now we have the buyout of homes in Grey Lynn in Auckland for the Northwest Busway project. Some of the residents in the suburb of Grey Lynn have lived in their homes for more than 50 years, but the bus needs to get through. The Northwest Busway project will give the growing population of West Auckland a valuable public transport option. When completed, it will be able to carry 9,000 passengers per hour either way. There's just the matter of the people living on the land that's needed for the expansion of the motorway. About 20 of the properties have already been purchased at a cost of $40 million, which seems about right for that part of Grey Lynn and should still buy you a house in this market in the area of similar quality and standard of renovation if that's where you want to live. Negotiations will take place over the coming years for the remainder of the busway project as it progresses. And it might be tough for the residents, but at least the Government's learned lessons from the past. Remember Raglan Golf Club? You might not, but the Crown originally seized the 63-acre coastal site for a Second World War wartime military airfield. Turns out it wasn't needed. But instead of giving the land back when the war was over, instead of returning it to its Tainui owners, the Government leased it to the Raglan County Council, who turned the land into a golf course. Local Māori were evicted and expansion plans for the golf course encroached upon Māori sacred sites and burial grounds. When Māori objected and started to protest on the golf course, the council said, “Oh, all right then, well we'll sell it back to you." And Māori said, the Tainui said, “I don't think so. You didn't pay for it in the first place. You took it off us because you said it was absolutely needed for the defence of the country, and then you didn't give it back." I mean, imagine if the Crown just said, “Right, well we need this for the busway, bugger off." You know, at least they've learned the error of their ways. Eventually the golf course was returned to Tainui, the rightful owners. So at least we're not living in those grim times. There seems to be an understanding that a home is more than land and a house. And the neighbourhood buyouts are always complicated by differences of opinion. We saw that in Canterbury, we saw that in Ranui, we're seeing it now in Grey Lynn. There are pragmatists, some are even sanguine about it, seeing it as a new opportunity. You know, it has to happen, it's got to happen, well, you know. Others want to chain themselves to trees – “over my dead body," they're saying, will the NZTA take their home. And in that same area roughly, a supermarket was buying up land for its brand new supermarket. One holdout who wanted something absurd for his run down little home. I mean it's his castle, but he was wanting an absurd amount, so they just built round him. All right then, stuff you, we'll build round you. But what options do you have if you have been there and done that? There'd be plenty of people who have had NZTA come knocking on their door, especially with the highways between Auckland and Cambridge, between Auckland and the Brynderwyns really, and there's still more looking to develop that. Residents of Canterbury, you know, what options do you have? Have you been treated fairly? I mean, just looking at the prices that they're paying for the Grey Lynn residents of that part of Grey Lynn, that's market rates, which is fair enough. You don't want, I suppose you do if you're the owner, but as the taxpayer, you don't want the former administration going in with an open chequebook saying, “No, name your figure. No, that's too low. Let's give you more." You would want to see market rates being paid, a fair market rate being paid, so if people want to stay in the area they can, if they want to move on elsewhere, they can do that too. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A trial using cameras in billboards has helped spot cars with fraudulent warrants of fitness (WOF) but the Transport Agency is not rolling out more of this surveillance because it can't afford to. Reporter Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

I had the joy of using State Highway 1, south of Christchurch, over the weekend. Which is a bit of a goat track. And it's why there is a bit of excitement about the government announcing that it wants to look into making it a four-lane highway. At least between Christchurch and Timaru. Which, to many people, is a no-brainer. This is part of a wider study the government wants done into transport links between the ports at Lyttelton and Timaru. As well as a better highway, replacing the bridge at Rakaia and the role rail plays in freight movement will also be looked at. Which is only happening because it's election year. So that, when the National, Act and NZ First leaders turn up during the campaign and people start asking them about State Highway 1, they can say they're doing this study and kick it to touch until the 2029 election. But a four-lane highway - at least between Christchurch and Ashburton - is something that's been talked about for years. Which I've always thought is a no-brainer. But - after driving down south and back up again at the weekend - I've been thinking, would it actually be worth it? Is it really a priority? And what other government funding we might miss out on? Not that we're like a pig in muck when it comes to road funding. In the most recent round of government funding for roads, just 6 percent went to the South Island. Which, as I said at the time, was nothing short of pitiful. I wasn't alone. Leeann Watson from Business Canterbury said, considering the South Island's contribution to the national economy, the amount we get back in road funding is definitely out of whack. In terms of the government's upcoming study also including the potential replacement of the bridge at Rakaia, we've had construction consultant Mike Blackburn saying that needs to happen. Sooner rather than later. Mike says it's urgent because of the number of people moving south, buying houses in places like Ashburton and commuting into Selwyn or even into Christchurch. And that's where I'm landing, too. I reckon we need to face up to the fact that we're never going to have four lanes on State Highway 1, south of Christchurch. And I think we need to focus our attention on getting something done about the bridges at places like Rakaia. Not that I no longer think a four-lane highway would be brilliant. And not that I no longer think we're being ripped off not having one. But the reality is, it will never happen. New bridges, though, are a much easier sell when it comes to government funding. Because if a bridge packs a sad, you're shot. Yes, there are always alternative routes. But, especially when it comes to freight movement, the bridges between Christchurch and Timaru are much more of an issue than the two-lane highway. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland’s long-running second harbour crossing debate is back in the spotlight. It’s a project that politicians love to talk about but have long struggled to deliver - given the complex work, the very high price tag, and the wide range of very heated opinion on what would be best for the City of Sails. NZTA is in the final stages of refining both a tunnel and a bridge option and will seek a decision on which to progress with “in mid-2026". It’s after reports show the existing bridge’s ongoing maintenance burden – and the possibility of repair work forcing closures. Today on The Front Page, University of Auckland senior lecturer in urban planning, Dr Timothy Welch is with us to unpack the politics, the planning, and the choices ahead. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It will be the single biggest piece of infrastructure that New Zealand will build. Remember when Shane Jones' Northport was going to be the single biggest piece of infrastructure? Well, now that's gone the way of the dodo. So the single biggest piece of infrastructure that New Zealand will build in our lifetimes, will come when the Government makes the decision on what a new Auckland Harbour crossing will look like. The time for discussion and debate is over, there simply isn't that luxury. We've been faffing around another crossing for decades. New Zealand Transport Agency released two June 2025 reports relating to the current bridge's —the only bridge's— state of wear, and the documents show that many areas of the bridge are vulnerable and increasingly fraying under use. The annual maintenance and repair costs now surpass $25 million. And I suppose when you're 67 years old, you're not as strong as you used to be and you need a bit of extra work. You might have seen the images of the bridge wobbling and wavering. As someone who uses the bridge just about every single day and makes at least two crossings, I feel like I'm playing Russian roulette on wheels every time I drive over it. I think, well, here we go. She's been a good life. No one can say I was taken too soon. Hoots away and off we go. And then when you get to the other side, you think, well, we live another day. There are approximately 170–180,000 vehicles crossing that bridge daily, with some days having more than 200,000 crossings. It is considered the busiest section of State Highway in New Zealand, serving as a critical transport connection for more than 64 million vehicles annually. It's not just about Aucklanders; it affects far more New Zealanders than that. But from the day the Harbour Bridge opened in 1959 there have been calls for another alternate crossing. In 1987 and 1988, studies for tunnels and additional bridge structures were conducted. In 2008, Option 2C was developed – a major plan involving two new tunnels. In 2021, I remember that a $785 million walking and cycle bridge was announced, oh, and then cancelled within four months. But the consultants earned themselves a good whack. 2023, the Government revealed five new distinct options including tunnels, light rail, and bridges. And ‘24 to ‘26 continued debate over the bridge versus the tunnel options. And you had Mayor Wayne Brown's Meola Reef Bridge proposal, which seemed absolutely barking to me – none of the benefits of that were explained properly. So now it's been narrowed down to two options, and Transport Minister Chris Bishop is confident he can make it happen. And as he told Heather du Plessis Allan, he is engaging with all the other parties for their support. “I do not want to be the Transport Minister who announces, you know, a big pie in the sky plan and says we're going to do this and we're going to do that and it all turns to custard and it doesn't actually end up happening. I'm going about this in a very deliberate way. We're taking a very evidence-led approach. We've been engaging with the market. We've had a barge in the harbour doing geotech work. We've had extensive studies into it. So I'm just going about this in the right way and it's going to the NZTA board for a decision in terms of a preferred option next month, and then it'll come to Cabinet and we'll be engaging with other parties around it.” Right, so next month, what do you think? What's it going to be? A tunnel or another bridge? It would be great to see other options, like the cycling, like the walking. As a tourist attraction, it'd be fantastic to have the cycling and the walking options. But ultimately, we need to commit. This country, successive governments, and successive generations of voters, has put off doing the hard stuff for far too long. Next month will be about a decade too late, but at least there'll be an option on the table, and we have to act on it, and we have to ensure that there's cross party support. And hopefully, the other parties don't play silly buggers and play hard to get and want all sorts of baubles to get the support, because it is far too important for that. It's time to put on our big girls' and big boys' undies and commit to this sort of infrastructure, the sort of infrastructure we need to future proof New Zealand. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NZ Transport Agency has proposed a $4.50 toll on the proposed new highway between Warkworth and Te Hana, and it's proven controversial. AA has called on the Government to lower the proposed toll price for the first stage of the Northland Expressway. NorthChamber chair Tim Robinson says this is going to bring a significant benefit to the region economically, and the toll is fair. "Those of us here in Northland, we've been crying out for the opportunity to grow our economy and create the right environment for our kids and our grandkids - to be able to choose to live and work and play here." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayors from areas affected by the ongoing closure of State Highway 3 in Taranaki are calling for an urgent meeting with NZTA. New Plymouth District Council mayor Max Brough spoke to John Campbell.

Several mayors are demanding a meeting with NZTA saying they are dealing with unacceptable disruptions on State Highway 3, from New Plymouth to Te Kuiti. NZTA Regional Relationships Director Linda Stewart spoke to John Campbell.

NZTA says the national ticketing solution trial is proving successful in Christchurch. In the meantime Auckland and Wellington councils have launched their own contactless payments systems on buses and trains. Roger Jones, National Ticketing Solution Programme Director at NZTA spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Mainfreight CEO 'frustrated' at KiwiRail, Auckland Transport; India FTA: Trade Minister still trying to woo Labour; NZTA discusses latest on national ticketing solution; Political update with RNZ Political editor, Jo Moir; New findings over how sperm whales communicate

Damaging gusts and severe downpours are gathering steam, with Cyclone Vaianu set to hit. Watches and warnings cover the upper half of the country, and a scattering of regions between Northland and Hawke's Bay have declared States of Emergency. Heavy overnight gusts have already knocked out power for thousands of homes, with crews out this morning working to restore supply. Whitianga could be cut off at High Tide - with the deluge causing flooding in the Coromandel. Several Auckland Roads are also seeing flooding - and NZTA warns there could be more road closures across Waikato and Bay of Plenty. MetService meteorologist John Law says strong Northeasterlies at the eastern flank of that low pressure system, are driving the large seas and strong winds around the Bay of Plenty. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick is joined in the studio today by Wellington City Mayor Andrew Little for their monthly catchup. Mayor Little takes questions from both Nick and our audience, on the progress in our city and council in April. Starting with pressures in the city from the Iran War. Mayor Little discusses the potential for public transport cost deductions, and the other ways the CBD has been impacted from the fuel crisis. Then onto rates - Little takes calls from the audience on commercial, property and water rates. And then cost of Tiaki Wai, Wellington's new water entity taking over from July 1st - Little says he stills has not seen the evidence that our water payments will need to be up to nearly $7000 per household within 10 years. Nick and Little discuss this, how the transfer of power works and what needs to be done considering the cost to ratepayers. Little gives an inquiry update for Moa Point, and elaborates on the cause - and that it still has not been fixed. Plus, NZTA says Wellington will reach it's vision for Wellington in just 6 years. Nick asks Little whether he agrees and this could be reality - or is this still a vision? Then after the drama surrounding the new WCC office building we ask the Mayor what he thinks of his new office. LISTEN ABOVE OR WATCH BELOW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The severe weather that swept into Northland has moved swiftly down the island, leaving the region in clean up & recovery mode and others bracing for impact. Kaikohe residents are being asked to urgently conserve water after the town's treatment plant was damaged by flooding. In Kaitaia a rapid relief team's been serving free meals to evacuees. NZTA is urging caution with an number of roads damaged.

The Transport Agency has cancelled and refunded hundreds of speeding fines issued on a single day, after conceding road signs on a Lower Hutt road created confusion about the speed limit. Anya Fielding reports.

Liz Gunn speaks with Tony Pascoe, Marie Gibbs, and Russell Gibbs in this powerful interview. Tony Pascoe, a lifelong farmer north of New Plymouth, has spent over a decade fighting the New Zealand Transport Agency's Mount Messenger Bypass project. This proposed 5.3 kilometre road would cut through his family's ancient forest valley and 18 hectare wetland, home to rare native species. The family faced repeated trespass without notice, intimidation, psychological pressure, and tactics designed to break landowners.Marie and Russell Gibbs, siblings with deep farming and iwi roots, joined the fight. They share their own experiences with Public Works Act land pressures and explain the legal complexities. The interview covers hidden cheaper route options, unlawful delegated authority by NZTA and the Property Group, and relentless pressure on the Pascoe family.On 18 December 2025, the Supreme Court ruled 3 to 2 in the Pascoe family's favour. The decision found that NZTA and the Property Group lacked proper ministerial delegation under section 18 of the Public Works Act for nearly 30 years. This landmark ruling is a precedent that protects landowners and requires good faith negotiation by the Minister for Land Information.The guests discuss the human and financial toll, systemic issues in the Public Works Act process, and the need for accountability from NZTA, ministers, and lower courts. This story serves as both a warning and a guide for other New Zealanders facing similar land acquisition threats.Please consider supporting Tony Pascoe to help cover his legal costs:Account number: 06-0789-0179609-00Name: TJS & DA PASCOEBank: ANZOur first interview with Tony Pascoe & Marie Gibbs in 2023: https://rumble.com/v3ts5ki-tony-pascoe-and-marie-gibbs-protect-mt-messenger.html?e9s=src_v1_s%2Csrc_v1_s_o&sci=a1fa59ba-798a-4f9e-a6e2-a646aa56a4bd

The Te Huia train service is hoping it can prove its critics wrong as its existence is extended for another year. The service, which connects Auckland and Hamilton will run at least until June next year, with NZTA picking up 60% of the bill. It's been criticised in the past for low passenger numbers and revenue. Waikato Regional Council Transport Committee Chair Angela Strange told Mike Hosking that in terms of farebox recovery, the service is actually doing really well when compared to other public transport in New Zealand. She says they're sitting at close to 16%, and it's closer per kilometre than the metro trains and ferries in Auckland. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's getting flak, especially in Auckland, for their capital gains tax. Rightly so. But National's approach, as is usually the case with centre-right parties, is user-pays. It's a way to get revenue without appearing to tax-grab your starving constituents. Yesterday it was whacking a new tax on our power bills in order to make them cheaper - we hope. Last week they scrapped the full driver licence test but then NZTA came out and said they may need increase fees for the first test and other bits to make up costs. We'll pay tolls to get the roads we want. We're about to get hit with congestions charging. International tourists pay the tourists' tax. Domestic tourists pay to use DOC huts and, more recently, carparks at peak places. Wellington will probably soon get a targeted special rate for pumping their number twos into the Cook Strait. Now, so long as this stuff is ring-fenced, I prefer things are charged this way because if you don't want to use a toll road, use a taxed one. User pays make more sense and is fairer to those who use, and more importantly, those who don't use a particular good or service. But at some point, your household budget is hit with so many fees and charges that you have to stop and ask how long it can continue. It's death by a thousand cuts. And then you ask, can't the government cut wasteful spending elsewhere to cover some of this stuff or give me some back in tax? In case you needed examples of that, this week, Shane Jones' half-billion slush funds would be a good place to start, I would've thought.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remember the terror of the driving test? Your heart in your mouth as you drove around the mean streets of Timaru or Ashburton, or in my case Tauranga, with a gimlet-eyed traffic cop watching your every move. The parallel parking, the hill starts. I only got my license because the cop took pity on me, I'd have lost my job if I didn't pass the test. But it's been 40 years now and I haven't had any major incidents in that time, fingers crossed. His faith was justified. Getting your driver's license is a rite of passage. But now Chris Bishop has announced a swathe of changes, the first to the testing regime since 2011 for drivers and for wannabe drivers, as he explained to Mike Hosking this morning. “Firstly, we know that younger drivers are more dangerous on the roads. We know that inexperienced drivers are more dangerous on the road. You add alcohol and drugs to that, it's a really toxic mix. So we've gone for a zero-alcohol rule for anyone on their learners and restricted. We've made sure that people under 25 spend longer on their learners as a default. They can lower that down by doing an approved driving training course, which again we know the evidence shows makes a difference. “And it's all about road experience, so that's why we've gone for a longer period of time at the front end in terms of spending time on your learners. But then at the other end, we don't think it makes a lot of sense to make people go and do a second practical test after they've been driving for a long period of time on their restricted and have got used to the road code and they've got that practical experience. We just didn't think it made sense to have people spend all the time and money to go and get a second test. Most countries don't do that, so we're bringing ourselves in line with that.” So, once you sit your practical on your restricted and get your restricted, no more second test. Longer time spent on the learner licenses for under 25s, so 12-month learner period, an increase of six months. You can reduce that learner period by six months if you record practice hours or complete an approved practical course. It'll be cheaper to get a full license, it will reduce by 80 bucks under the new system. If you get demerits, you'll face a further six months on your restricted. There'll be fewer eyesight screenings, so that will only be required at the first license application and at each renewal. Chris Bishop explained about the zero-alcohol rule, no learner or restricted driver will be able to have a drop of alcohol in their blood. And there'll be stronger oversight of the training providers. NZTA can suspend driver training course providers if they think there's something iffy going on. So some good changes, but as the Driver Training Association told Ryan Bridge this morning, it's a bit of a mixed bag. I'd have liked to have seen a few more changes, like resitting your license at 60 and then 80. Like those who hold overseas driver's licenses having to sit a full test on New Zealand roads. Our roads are markedly different to those of other countries, our driving conditions are markedly different, so I would like to see anyone who holds an overseas driver's license having to sit a driver's license here. Like having to resit your license or go to traffic school if you're pulled over for three driving offences in a certain timeframe. I think we should have been tougher. It's a privilege, not a right, to be on our roads. I do like some of the changes, but I really would have liked to have seen the government go further. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police say any protestors attemping to cross Auckland Harbour Bridge tomorrow will be stopped, but they are warning motorists of potential delays. NZTA has declined an application by the Freedom and Rights Coalition to walk the bridge - the group is an off shoot of Brian Tamaki's Destiny Church. But Brian Tamaki is still encouraging people to gather at Victoria Park, which is a short distance from the motorway on-ramp. Waitemata District Commander, Superintendent Naila Hassan spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Transport Minister says discussions must be had on roads that keep flooding during extreme weather events. Chris Bishop and the Prime Minister have been surveying damage in Te Tairāwhiti, and visiting still isolated communities. Bishop says the focus now is reopening routes. But he says NZTA and contractors need to discuss how to future-proof these crucial routes. "They'll be having a really good look at the Waioeka Gorge and thinking about what we need to do to rebuild - and it'll be the same with State Highway 35." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week's severe weather again wreaked havoc on roads around North Island. Slips and flooding have significantly damaged State Highway 35 on the East Coast, and State Highway 25 in Coromandel. NZTA Regional Transport Services Manager, Mark Owen spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

There is still a huge amount of clean up to do on roads around the upper North Island following last week's severe weather. Slips and flooding damaged major roads in Thames, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and the East cape. In Gisborne entire hillsides collapsed, bringing forestry and native bush down onto roads. Convoys have made it through State Highway 35 at the top of the east coast, but it could be several weeks before State Highway two between Gisborne and Bay of Plenty reopens. NZTA's Mark Owen spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Hamilton to Auckland passenger rail service could come off the tracks if it becomes too expensive for rate payers. Waikato Regional Council is writing to the NZTA board to ask for a one-year extension of the service, through to 2027. They want to test full integration with Auckland's City Rail Link, which opens next year. Waikato Regional Council Chair Warren Maher told Heather du Plessis-Allan 60% funding through the Land Transport Fund will be vital to keep it going. He says if it drops back to 51%, they want the review of the trial to go ahead at NZTA's April meeting, and that could be the death nail for Te Huia. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZTA is reducing speed limits on several sections of a popular holiday route in time for Christmas. Four sections of State Highway 25 will drop to 50 kilometres from 80 or 70 kilometres. Waka Kotahi says there were 982 submissions on the speed review in the Coromandel region and the majority saw benefits in lowering the speed limits. Linda Davidson owns a bed and breakfast on one stretch of road where the speed limit is reducing and spoke to Lisa Owen.

The New Zealand Transport Agency has frozen $6 million dollars of funding to police until it's satisfied they've met their alcohol breath test targets. It comes after RNZ revealed 30,000 breath tests had been "falsely or erroneously recorded" by frontliner staff. About 130 police around the country are under investigation. National Crime Correspondent Sam Sherwood spoke to Lisa Owen.

Among everyday vehicles, nearly half are overdue for either their Warrant of Fitness (WOF) or their registration, according to a vehicle management app. Bonnet, an app that links to NZTA data crunched the numbers for 21,500 vehicles, privately owned and fleet operated. The Bonnet data shows in Northland, 66% of warrants are overdue, in Auckland around 16% have expired, but it's just 8% in Otago. AA's principal policy advisor, Terry Collins spoke to Lisa Owen.

The gigantic home retail store IKEA throws open its door next week in Mount Wellington, just off the city's southern motorway and a stone's throw from the Sylvia Park Mall. It's anticipated there will be a stampede of eager shoppers. So much so, Auckland Transport and NZTA are warning there could be 40-minute queues just to exit the motorway at Mount Wellington. Auckland Transport Operation Centre Manager Claire Howard spoke to Lisa Owen.

The New Zealand Transport Agency has doubled down on its stance that a braking system linked to six deaths is not inherently unsafe. The Coroner determined that these brakes, found in about 70,000 vehicles in New Zealand, could not be relied upon as a sole braking system, because even a well-maintained brake can fail without warning. Despite this, the Transport Agency told Transport Minister Chris Bishop it doesn't accept the coroner's views about the breaks being inherently unsafe. It comes as RNZ can reveal another instance of a cardan shaft brake failing. And further investigations by Louisa Cleave and Jimmy Ellingham have found trucking firms that have long since stopped importing vehicles with cardan shaft parking brakes.

A push for NZTA to be given the same powers as Police - to impound unsafe trucks. The trucking industry wants tougher rules, after an Auckland operator was jailed for manslaughter last year. Ashik Ali kept his truck on the road despite it being banned, and its failed brakes caused it to roll away and fatally hit a road worker last year. National Road Carriers Association chief executive Justin Tighe-Umbers told Mike Hosking that most operators maintain their vehicles. He says there's a handful that blatantly ignore the rules, and they're the ones the system doesn't currently identify. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington's mayor says scrapping the controversial Golden Mile project would be relatively easy, but they want to act in good faith. Councillors voted 12-4 to hold fire, after warnings the project could balloon to $220 million up from the 2021 budget of $160 million. Doing up Courtney Place could cost up to $25 million more than approved. Andrew Little says there's no contract or exit costs - but there's an agreement with NZTA. "We actually need to maintain that relationship with NZTA, we've got some big projects scheduled for Wellington now too." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For years, a father has been fighting for Waka Kotahi to do more about the dangers of a vehicle braking system involved in his son's death. Now a coroner's report backs him up, but NZTA still disagrees. After a death on a construction site, a coroner's report has called a braking system found in some 70,000 vehicles around New Zealand "inherently unsafe". Waka Kotahi disagrees.Guests:Louisa Cleave - Checkpoint senior producerSelwyn Rabbits - safety campaignerLearn More: Read more reporting on cardan shaft brakes, starting in 2021, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and hereSee NZTA Waka Kotahi's guidance on cardan shaft park brakes Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The new law passed yesterday giving NZTA and councils the power to bring in time-of-use charging. AA policy director Martin Glynn spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Tens of thousands of trucks in New Zealand are fitted with unsafe brakes that could fail at anytime. That is according to a damning coroners report into the death of an Auckland worker nearly eight years ago. Graeme Rabbits was crushed to death in 2018 when the brakes failed on a telehandler and it rolled down the slope it was parked on and pinned him against a concrete mixer. His death is one of six known fatalities caused by vehicles with cardan shaft brakes since 2010. There are up to 70,000 vehicles with the same brakes in New Zealand. Now a Coroner is urging NZTA to do more to warn people about the inherent danger these brakes pose. Checkpoint's Louisa Cleave and Jimmy Ellingham filed this report.

Major resurfacing work on one of Wellington's most crucial transport links begins today, three years after the road was completed. NZTA's Regional Manager for the lower North Island and upper South Island's Mark Owen spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Questions are being raised about what more the Transport Agency can do to improve the resilience of State Highway 3 between Waikato and Taranaki. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin reports.

Drivers are likely to have to cough up for travelling on the Government's Roads of National Significance. NZTA's board has endorsed the investment cases for all the roads. Transport Minister Chris Bishop says the default will be to toll the new roads in order to establish a clear revenue stream. "Once you've built a road, it's all very well to have it there, but you've got to look after it as well." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 300 people are being made to re-sit their practical driving test - following fraud allegations at an Auckland VTNZ. Police and NZTA are looking into claims testing officers at the Highbrook branch took money in return for passing applicants, over several years. Five officers have been sacked for misconduct - and the branch has stopped offering tests in the meantime. Transparency International NZ executive director Julie Haggie says they need to figure out how this was possible. "Behaviour and the training and the culture that was existing and whether any of those things had an impact on people feeling like - I can get away with it. And they have felt like they can get away with it and make profit out of it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's launched an NZTA-backed freight action plan, which will link big airport projects with road and rail. It'll look at national demand and set up a freight advisory council after calls from the industry to make exports more competitive, and imports more affordable. Airports Association Chief Executive Billie Moore told Mike Hosking that although the plan focuses on roading, it needs to bring all modes of transport together. She says there's only so much that can be achieved through airports investing in cargo, if the road connections aren't good enough. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Horse riders in the lower North Island have raised concerns over safe road access. A shared path along the Ōtaki to North of Levin Expressway - a project currently under construction - prompted concern after horse riders were excluded from the path. NZ Equestrian Advocacy Network chairperson Shelly Warwick says the group's lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission, citing concerns over equity. "There are alternatives for every other user if you want to take them, but they've made a shared-use path to cater for vulnerable road users to get across this community, but excluded horse riders." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 12 September 2025, the big protest across the Harbour Bridge in Auckland has been called off because of high winds. Relieving Waitemata District Commander Stefan Sagar tells Heather why police were going to let the protest happen, even though NZTA said no. Have secondary teachers lost their room with a whole week of strike action next week? PPTA president Chris Abercrombie defends the strike. There's angst in Wellington because people might soon start exploring for gold near the ecosanctuary of Zealandia. Travis Mackay is the only person who has been granted permission so far - he says it's all a storm in a teacup. Plus, the Sports Huddle disagrees on whether the All Blacks can make it 2/2 against South Africa and who is to blame for the netball debacle this week? Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The initial construction of Transmission Gully is being described as a 'dog's breakfast' as the chipseal and drainage systems prove unable to cope with demand. Newstalk ZB revealed yesterday that NZTA is planning to re-surface and rebuild several kilometres of the road north of Porirua, likely meaning lane closures during the day and full closures at night. Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett told Mike Hosking the road was rushed and opened without all consents being satisfied. He says New Zealand is not that experienced in building big projects, as things keep getting switched on and switched off. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's Transport Agency is dealing with a privacy breach after names and addresses of nearly 1000 people were accessed from the Motor Vehicle Register. NZTA deputy director of land transport Mike Hargreaves spoke to Corin Dann.

The Transport Agency has been secretly using cameras in billboards at city intersections to track cars and trucks. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Transport Minister says the beleaguered national ticketing system needs to get back on track and NZTA has been "overly optimistic" about its viability. Reporter Nick James spoke to Corin Dann.

The transport agency is warning motorists about challenging driving conditions on central South Island highways over the next few days. NZTA senior network manager Scott McKenzie spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Across the top of the south Island, roads have been damaged, affecting travel. Ingrid Hipkiss spoke to NZTA regional manager Mark Owen.

Driving schools that offer lessons in high-tech car simulators are at odds with the transport agency over safety risks they could pose for learner drivers once they hit the road. The NZTA argues simulators could encourage over-confidence, putting new drivers at greater risk of crashing, but instructors insist they aren't dangerous. Joe Shaw reports.

Lawyers for a group seeking to pause the roll out of speed limit increases say the changes are ignoring NZTA's own safety findings. The group - called Movement - wants any changes to speed limits to wait until the outcome of a judicial review. But counsel for the Crown say millions of dollars are already commitment to putting the governments policy into effect. Bill Hickman has more.

A small Nelson school is fighting plans to increase the speed limit on the State Highway 6 that runs past its front gate. The government's reversing speed limit reductions, brought in by Labour, on local streets, arterial roads, and state highways by 1 July this year. NZTA announced it will now consult on changes to 16 sections of state highways that were due to automatically revert to faster speeds. Clifton Primary School in the Nelson suburb of Atawhai is on State Higway 6; about five years ago the speed limit on that stretch of road dropped from 80km/hr to 60km/hr. It's desperate to keep it that way and will now get a say. Clifton Terrace school principal Rob Wemyss spoke to Lisa Owen.

Drivers wanting to travel faster on State Highways around the country will soon get their wish. 38 sections of the roading network will be reversed back to their previous higher speed limits by NZTA over the next five months. It brings an end to speed reductions brought in under the last Labour Government. There are concerns that faster speeds could lead to more crashes on our roads, but the government insists the changes are safe. Nick James reports.