The following statement was issued on Friday 16 February 2024 by Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand board chair Warwick Wilshier in response to the earlier statement by National Road Carriers and the New Zealand Trucking Association.

“The Board of Transporting New Zealand is extremely disappointed to hear that National Road Carriers (NRC) has communicated a message to its members that it intends to stop working with us.

Whilst this decision is not inconsistent with NRC’s earlier decision in October 2021 when it chose not to take the opportunity to operate as a unified organisation, I cannot see how its latest announcement can in any way be for the benefit of the road freight industry.

Quite frankly, I am somewhat astounded and dismayed by the claims made in the letter, particularly given our CEO, another Board member and I met with NZTA and we specifically discussed TruckSafe and the Road Freight Safety Partnership less than 2 weeks ago.

Sadly, I can see NRC’s action creating more damage to the reputation of the road freight sector. This is another frustrating distraction getting in the way of us addressing the real issues that our sector is facing. That’s what this organisation is for, and that’s why you are a member.

I can absolutely assure you that Transporting New Zealand has always put the best interests of its members and our industry at the forefront of everything it does and it will continue to do so.”

Transporting New Zealand Board Chair Warwick Wilshier