NZTD News

UD Truck Distributors (NZ) Ltd (UD Trucks) is expanding its nationwide service network with the appointment of eight Truckstops service agents across the upper and central North Island. 

“Truckstops Whangarei, Albany, Mount Wellington, Taupo, Napier and Rotorua are now official UD Trucks service agents, with the brand-new Truckstops’ workshop in Ruakura, Hamilton and Truckstops Palmerston North joining our service network from 1 February 2026,” said UD Trucks General Manager, Zane Erwee.

“This widens the cov...

Heavy rain has de-stabilised the large slips, meaning it is now unsafe for our contractors to continue clearing work through SH2 Waioweka Gorge. 

With weather set to worsen over the day, crews will take a pause, rest, and allow the weather to pass before reassessing the site and resuming clearing work once safe to do so. 

State Highway 35 (SH35) remains open however it is not a reliable detour route while weather is severe. 

SH2 south of Gisborne and SH5 remain open if people must travel. Add...

Positive business signals 

The latest NZIER Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion (QSBO) showed a strong lift in business confidence in the final quarter of 2025. A net 39 percent of firms expect better general economic conditions over the coming months on a seasonally adjusted basis. This was a substantial increase from the net 17 percent expecting an improved general economic outlook in the September quarter, and business confidence is at its highest level since March 2014. 

NZIER repo...

New Zealand’s fairest fuel providers plan to create a national network that would continue to drive lower pump prices to Kiwis everywhere. 

The merger would combine NPD and Gull’s complementary sites, teams and supply chains to become the largest independent, majority Kiwi-owned fuel company. Retaining their distinctive brands, they plan to deliver faster, smarter and fairer fuel at 240 sites from Invercargill to Kaitaia.

Together, NPD and Gull will leverage behind-the-scenes capabilities and the increased b...

Engineers at Purdue University have successfully demonstrated the first U.S. roadway capable of wirelessly charging a heavy-duty electric truck while it travels at highway speeds. This milestone, achieved on a quarter-mile segment of U.S. Highway 52/U.S. Highway 231 in West Lafayette, Indiana, marks a significant step toward electrified highways that could recharge vehicles of all sizes across the nation.

The experimental system, developed by Purdue researchers in collaboration with the Indiana Department of Transporta...

Work to prepare for the installation of in-road scales on State Highway 2 Hawke’s Bay Expressway has been rescheduled.

The in-road scales, set to be installed on SH2 just north of the airport, are one of 4 sets to be installed as part of Napier’s new Commercial Vehicle Safety Centre (CVSC).

Work was set to get underway yesterday but will not go ahead until February. We will communicate the start of the work as soon as the programme has been finalised.

There will be minimal traffic impact during the work, as...