Transporting New Zealand is constantly looking to improve our delivery and services. To help ensure our association is reflecting your priorities and performing well, we’ve just launched our 2023 members survey. I know that there is a lot of survey fatigue out there, but I really encourage all members to take a couple of minutes and help out.
Looking at past results, our members have identified fairly consistent priorities for us: strong advocacy to central and local government, moving towards ‘one-voice’ in the road freight sector, close engagement on sector and technical issues, and regular member outreach.
We’re making good progress in all these areas, and we have some exciting examples coming up this month. Next Friday at 12.30pm our chairman Warwick Wilshier is hosting members Q+A on the board’s proposal to streamline Transporting New Zealand’s organisational structure. This proposal would unify the four regions into one national structure, creating a more democratic, efficient and sector-focussed association. You can RSVP to info@transporting.nz.
The following Friday, we will be officially launching our Green Compact decarbonisation framework, supported by Transport Minister Michael Wood and Bridgestone New Zealand. This will showcase the great work that the road freight sector is already doing, and emphasise practical methods of emissions reduction. More information is available in Members’ Dispatch.
We need to be advocating for this pragmatic ‘low hanging fruit’ approach, or we will end up with ideology driven transport policy that will smash freight mobility and the economy. This is why I was disappointed to see Prime Minister Hipkins ditch the 2024 Sustainable Biofuels Obligation this week, despite constructive industry support for the policy. We can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good when it comes to emission reductions.
Transporting New Zealand is also hard at work on our other strategic priorities. Our membership team is fielding an increasing number of enquiries about our market-beating fuel scheme and member discounts. We’re helping more operators hire and upskill drivers through Road to Success. Our industry team is working with government agencies and local councils to elevate road maintenance and speed reduction concerns along with other sector issues.
We are also continuing with our campaign to get the Government to withdraw its intention to slow down speeds across the country – and we use every forum possible to do so. You can hear me talking about speed limits on NewstalkZB’s The Huddle here.
By Nick Leggett, chief executive, Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand
