From early August, practical regulatory changes will help businesses manage the impacts of fuel price uncertainty, Regulation Minister David Seymour and Transport Minister Chris Bishop say.
The package of heavy vehicle rule changes will reduce compliance costs, improve productivity, and remove barriers to investment in modern vehicles. These changes will take effect on 6 August.
“It’s important to Kiwis that they have a say on rules that affect them,” Mr Seymour says.
“Earlier this year we called for businesses, fuel users, freight operators, and the wider public to report any regulatory barriers that might be hindering our response to global fuel pressures to the Red Tape Tipline. Some of those ideas were too good to ignore and are now being implemented.
“The Ministry for Regulation has worked with the Ministry of Transport to test and progress the best ones. Now, we are making changes to provide regulatory relief for Kiwis. Analysis from the two Ministries found that some changes should be made now.
"These are practical, common-sense changes that reduce compliance costs, improve productivity, and make our transport rules easier to understand and comply with. they remove outdated requirements, reduce paperwork, and make it easier for operators to get on with the job.”
As part of Phase 1 of the Government's fuel response regulatory relief work, the Government will permanently remove permit requirements for some High Productivity Motor Vehicles (HPMVs), including 50MAX trucks and unladen rental service HPMVs being repositioned between depots or delivered to customers.
"These vehicles are already approved to operate on specific routes, so requiring additional permits serves little practical purpose," Mr Bishop says.
"Not every challenge created by higher fuel prices can be solved by Government, but we can make sure outdated regulations aren't adding unnecessary costs on top.
"Removing these permit requirements cuts compliance costs for operators, reduces administrative burden on NZTA, and helps freight move more efficiently around the country."
The Government has also agreed to permanently allow Class 1 licence holders to drive heavier zero-emission vehicles up to 7,500kg, and Class 2 licence holders to drive heavier electric buses up to 22,000kg.
"Zero-emission trucks and buses are often heavier because of their battery technology. Current licence thresholds can unintentionally discourage operators from investing in them," Mr Bishop says.
"We're fixing that by making sure licence rules keep pace with vehicle technology and don't stand in the way of investment."
The changes will take effect on 6 August through an Order in Council.
The Government has also agreed to a range of additional heavy vehicle rule changes that are expected to come into force later this year, including removing H-plate requirements for HPMVs and improving signage requirements for load pilot vehicles.
"These are practical, common-sense changes that reduce compliance costs, improve productivity, and make our transport rules easier to understand and comply with," Mr Seymour says.
The changes form part of the Government's wider Land Transport Rules Reform programme and have been accelerated where appropriate under the Government's fuel response regulatory relief work.
"Taken together, these changes support a more productive, resilient and efficient freight sector that keeps New Zealand moving," Mr Bishop says.