Podcasts about nzta

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.

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.

Do you know what's really starts to rub me the wrong way? It's governments telling us to do more things. This morning, we've got the government coming out with yet another hotline. Sounds fancy. Sounds efficient. It's a hotline to report road cones. A road cone tipline. Sorry, but if the problem is that there are too many road cones on the road, and they're unnecessary for the work being carried out —which half of them appear to be— then why do you need us to tell you that? Surely if we just had better, clearer rules and less bullshit, we wouldn't need a road cone tipline. A pothole tipline. A 105 theft tipline. A beneficiary tipline. Either you know what you're doing and you've got smart people and smart systems, or you don't. And every time I hear of another tipline I realise, they have no idea. Tiplines are the equivalent of a safety calming measure. Those weird speed bumps or narrowing roads, designed to make people feel better when driving around. All they really do is piss people off and reveal how rubbish your road designs are to begin with. Just think about this: There's a bunch of road cones in a dumb place on a busy road. WorkSafe and NZTA and Council people drive past this busy spot every day. Barbara in her little Honda Civic, she drives past. She calls it in. Barry in his truck and trailer. He calls it in. Sally picks the kids up at 3pm from school every day. They all ring the tipline. They all report the same thing. It will then be somebody's job to sort through the tips. Somebody else will triage the tips. That's two jobs. In three weeks, Barry, Sally, and Barb get a letter. Because the post only runs two days a week. The letter says we're looking into the issue for you. Meanwhile, 100 government or council people have walked or driven past the road cone Armageddon and nothing's changed. Tiplines are plasters over grenades. The only time I want to ring a tipline is speak to the actual dump. In its first 156 days in office, the National-led government has set up 37 reviews, inquiries or advisory panels – some of which are being led by former ministers, including Bill English, Steven Joyce, Murray McCully and Roger Sowry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

It's thought there are few silver linings to come from the Government's road cone hotline. The pilot, which encouraged the public to report excessive cone use, ends tomorrow, six months ahead of schedule. Site visits found 86% of worksites were already compliant, and Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden says the trial has done what it needed to do. CEO of traffic management company Parallaxx Dave Tilton told Andrew Dickens some of the data collection may be useful. He says it brought the road control authorities including NZTA, WorkSafe, and councils together well. 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 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.

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.

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.

The trucking industry wants NZTA to have the power to impound dangerous vehicles, after an Auckland operator was jailed for manslaughter. 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 roadworker last year. Transporting NZ Policy Head, Billy Clemens told Ryan Bridge the assessment for entering the industry needs to be more rigorous, with the current process limited to a theory test. He says they want people to demonstrate their experience and the necessary skills beforehand.See 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.

A few years ago, we had a bunch of stories about Santa parades getting cancelled because of red tape and traffic management. NZTA was the Grinch that stole Christmas. And guess what, two years in, despite a change of Government, despite a Minister and Ministry of Regulation, despite the road cone tip line, the Grinch is back. This time it's Piopio. Population around 500. Rural. Between Hamilton and New Plymouth. SH3. They want to close the road on the main which is their usual route. It's close from 5:30pm to 8pm. Two and half hours. Kids get to see Santa's sleigh riding through town. Lollies would presumably be thrown from floats driven behind Utes - or do they still throw lollies, or would you be fined for hitting somebody? Anyway, you get the idea. We've all been to a Santa parade - great fun when you're a kid. Guess how much it was going to cost them because of the Grinch's traffic rules and the resulting bill for traffic management costs? It would normally cost around $1000. This year? $10,000-$14,000. If you're organising a Santa parade or an ANZAC parade or community event, don't worry, on the NZTA website you'll find a helpful guide: the New Zealand Guide to Temporary Traffic Management. It's 88 pages long. That's not the only problem. The first sentence of the foreword (yes, there's a foreword to this magnum opus) outlines the problem. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is committed to Road to Zero - a safer Aotearoa New Zealand where no one is killed or injured on our roads. Now, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this is an absolute pipe dream and will never happen. Aiming for that outcome is mad. What you get as a result is 88 pages of rubbish and a $14k bill to get Santa in a sleigh for two hours. The organisers say they'll have to do a Christmas meet and greet but no actual parade. Christmas is the season to be jolly and the season for giving. NZTA is giving Grinch vibes and a bad attitude. Whether it's working from home, health and safety, or curriculum changes, there's a wall of bureaucracy that seems impenetrable. A change of government and direction doesn't seem to change anything.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

If the amount of money spent on ACC claims over the past five years for e-scooter injuries doesn't convince you that tighter laws are needed, I don't know what will. And if the amount of money spent on ACC claims over the past five years for e-scooter injuries doesn't convince you that NZTA made a big mistake deciding not to make e-scooters subject to the road rules - again, I don't know what will. The figure relates to injuries all over New Zealand. But it appears that us lot in Canterbury have copped it the worst. Or maybe we're the most reckless. The flatness of the place probably has something to do with it. Because, Christchurch especially, is brilliant for riding anything. Which is maybe why new data out today shows that, in the past five years, there have been more e-scooter injury claims in Canterbury than anywhere else in the country. Here, there have been 1,761 ACC claims lodged by Health NZ. Compared to 1,378 in Auckland, which has way more people - they've had claims. The $55.6 million in claims between September 2020 and now has the AA saying - again - that there aren't enough rules around e-scooters. Saying it's crazy, for example, that it isn't illegal to ride an e-scooter drunk. And it wants alcohol restrictions for e-scooter riders. No argument from me on that one. It is crazy. The AA also thinks it's crazy that there's no age limit and no mandatory helmets. No argument from me on both of those, either. But it's going to be very tricky to do anything about any of those things as long as e-scooters aren't considered or treated as vehicles. Which is the big mistake NZTA made, when it gave e-scooters this dispensation. Just so the private e-scooter operators could get their way and operate without any consideration for the road rules. No licence required; no obligation to follow the same rules as other road users; no previous experience required; no helmet required. There's not even a speed limit enforced. Plus, you can ride anywhere and everywhere. The other thing about this $55.6 million in ACC claims, is that e-scooter owners and e-scooter companies don't pay ACC levies. People bang on all the time about people coming here from overseas and getting free ACC cover - the reason being that you can't sue in this country and so we have to provide cover for people from overseas. The exact same thing is happening with e-scooter users. Private owners and people who use the hire scooters get free ACC cover. which, over the past five years, has cost us $55.6 million in claims. The AA says time's up and tougher rules are needed. I'm saying that isn't going to happen until we classify e-scooters vehicles. That's the nub of the problem and that's what needs to change. 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.

Like anyone, if I can get something for free - I'll take it. But if it's something I have to pay for, then I'll pay it. Which is how I'm feeling about all this fuss over the new Woodend Bypass, north of Christchurch, being a toll road. Granted, I won't be a daily user, so the financial impact on me won't be the same as it will for someone who uses it every day. But let's get a grip. Toll roads are the future. Tell that to Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon, though, who is very upset that NZTA plans to charge car drivers $2.50 for a return trip on the bypass. He says many families can't afford that. It will cost $5 for trucks, by the way. I'm not sure what planet Dan Gordon has been on for the last 12 months. But this idea of the new bypass being a toll road was being hinted at by the Government more than a year ago. Last July, Simeon Brown was Transport Minister and he was saying back then that charging people to use the new road was definitely on the table. But Dan Gordon's not the only one upset about it. The principal of Kaiapoi North School isn't happy, either. Jason Miles reckons most locals will just avoid the toll road altogether - so they don't have to pay - and they'll use the road that goes past his school instead. And he's worried about the impact that could have on the safety of his students. Now if I was awarding a prize to either the mayor or the school principal for the strongest argument against the road toll, I'd give it to the school principal. Because, ever since the bypass at Woodend has been discussed, safety has been a major issue. So, yes, it would seem counterintuitive to spend billions on a bypass only to have it create other safety issues because of people not wanting to pay to use it and using an alternative route. But these days - if we want something, we have to pay for it. Which is what Nick Leggett from Infrastructure New Zealand is saying too. He says if we say no to tolls, we're saying no to new highways. He says: “It's disappointing to see local mayors lining up to oppose tolling the proposed Woodend Bypass. We all need to face facts. If we want safer, faster, better highways, the users of those roads need to be willing to pay something for them. “As a nation, we naturally want the best of everything, but that doesn't come for free.” Nick Leggett goes on to say: “The fairest and most sustainable approach is for those who use the road to contribute to its upkeep and operation. It is not fair to ask all taxpayers, many of whom will never use the road, to foot the bill.” And he won't be getting any argument from me. LISTEN ABOVESee 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.

A new set of amendments looks to turbo charge major infrastructure projects. The Government's proposing changes to the Public Works Act to speed up acquiring land, including premium payments to private landowners. The Environment Court will be sidelined from the objections process. Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop told Mike Hosking a lot of these are NZTA roading projects. He says they don't like taking land, but it's the reality if we want to build infrastructure in this country. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three currently sealed roads in Southland could be turned back into gravel roads because of what the council says is a lack of funding from NZTA. Southland Mayor Rob Scott spoke to Corin Dann.

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.

More roads could get faster - beyond the Government's planned changes to speed limits on 38 sections of road. The Government is reversing speed limit reductions on those stretches by July, with work set to start tonight. The Prime Minister believes it'll help people get to jobs faster, pushing economic growth. Transport Minister Chris Bishop says 49 roads deemed 'more complicated' will be consulted on. "There are some nasty sections of those roads - we're going to consult on them and it may be that NZTA says the default will go back up to 100, for example, but there will be bits where we keep the speed limit." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transport agency Waka Kotahi has released its updated used car safety rating, including a crash avoidance rating to show how well a car can prevent or reduce crashes. Principal Advisor Vehicle Safety Todd Wylie spoke to Corin Dann.

The Transport Minister says councils have other options to increase revenue, not just through higher fares. NZTA's ordering councils take a higher revenue share and agree to new targets by December 19th. Public transport authorities have requested an urgent meeting, saying the targets would see bus, train, and ferry prices surge. But Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking it's a lazy approach to just increase fares. He says councils have a range of tools including increased advertising, sponsorships, corporate fare schemes, and renting out space at train stations. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you like to hop on the bus or train to get around, then the fares you pay could be about to skyrocket in price. Waka Kotahi NZTA has sent letters to local councils and transport authorities asking them to increase their revenue from fares, sponsorship and advertising. Kate Green has the story.

Bus and train fares across New Zealand are set to rise with the transport agency asking councils to hit higher revenue targets. Public transport commentator Matt Lowrie spoke to Alexa Cook.

The transport minister has revealed how much NZTA is spending on traffic management. Minister Simeon Brown spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

State Highway 6 between Haast and Knights Point is likely to remain closed until later this week, after heavy rain caused slip damage and rockfall over the weekend. NZTA system manager for the area Mark Pinner spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A signficant situation vacant is causing concern in the science world and beyond. The government won't say whether it's keeping role of Prime Minister's Chief science advisor; a job that has been empty since July. That's despite the coalition agreement saying "decisions will be based on data and evidence."Among other things the chief science advisor provides advice on specific topics to the PM and Ministers and information in a crisis like, the covid pandemic. However, past advice from Prime Ministerial science advisors on dealing with gangs, a rising prison population , and boot camps has run contrary to a number of policies the current government's adopted. The budget for the office has also been cut by half a million dollars. Simon Kingham was Chief Science advisor to the NZTA, up until May this year and spoke to Lisa Owen.

"Auckland's the problem child," when it comes to a blow out in wait times to sit licence tests, according the NZTA. Want to be drivers are having to wait up to a year for a spot. In desperation some are travelling to Thames, Matamata, and Te Awamutu 280 kilometres from Auckland. NZTA said demand for tests has gone up 60% and it's hurridly bolstering testing officer numbers. To help ease congestion, the government's agreed to extend the amount of time people can drive on over licences from 12 to 18 months. At the Glen Innes VTNZ centre in East Auckland, learner drivers say the long wait times are frustrating. NZTA's national manager regulatory system design Chris Rodley told Lisa Owen the wait times are unacceptable

After a 7 year wait, the highway connecting the eastern and western sides of the lower North Island is expected to open next year. But a last minute proposal move to add a toll to motorists using the highway has thrown locals into a tailspin. The New Zealand Transport Agency's idea of tolling Te Ahu a Turanga, the replacement highway for the closed Manawatu Gorge road is now open for public consultation, and as Jimmy Ellingham reports, even the council is mobilising against it.

A serious accident has closed State Highway One south of Auckland with all lanes closed in both directions. RNZ understands people have died and others have suffered critical injuries. A video posted online shows multiple cars, a van and a six wheeler truck were involved in the accident which happened just before two o'clock between Ramarama and Bombay. NZTA's Auckland System's manager Paul Geck speaks to Lisa Owen.