Transport Minister Phil Twyford has announced the appointment of Sir Brian Roche as the chair of the NZ Transport Agency.

Roche‘s appointment is for a three-year term, starting 11 June 2019.

Twyford said Roche is an experienced director with an extensive track record in both the public and private sector, and brings a wealth of experience and a steady hand to transport sector governance.

The NZTA‘s core functions are to plan and invest in New Zealand‘s land transport networks through the National Land Transport Programme and to regulate those networks.

“The Transport Agency has a crucial role to play in creating a modern and sustainable transport network and I‘m pleased to appoint someone of Sir Brian‘s calibre to lead this work.

“There is currently a review of the Transport Agency‘s regulatory functions under way, which the Government expects to receive shortly. A key focus for Sir Brian will be implementing the direction signalled from that review, and I am confident in his ability to make that happen.

“I‘d like to thank interim chair Nick Rogers and acknowledge the work of the previous chair Michael Stiassny, who uncovered and led the fixing of the agency‘s regulatory issues,” Twyford said.