NZTD News

 The Light Traffic Index (LTI) eased 0.2% in November and is 3.3% higher than a year ago. The Heavy Traffic Index (HTI) eased 0.1% in the month, and is up 0.9% y/y. 

Light traffic (motorbikes, cars and vans) is generally a good indicator of the state of demand, as opposed to production. It typically provides up to a six-month lead on momentum in the economy, with variation reflecting discretionary spending on outings, movement of couriers and tradespeople etc. 

The trend in light traffic has lifted...

The Maritime Union of New Zealand today welcomed the decision by Associate Transport Minister James Meager to decline NovaAlgoma Cement Carriers’ (NACC) application to operate a foreign-flagged vessel carrying Holcim cement on the New Zealand coast.

The failed application for an exemption under Section 198 of the Maritime Transport Act sought permission for the Panamanian-flagged and overseas-crewed NACC Vega to replace the New Zealand-flagged and crewed MV Buffalo.

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretar...

A highlight for me last week was participating in the Institute of Road Transport Engineers of New Zealand (IRTENZ) conference. 

I presented some of my learnings from the HVTT18 conference and had the privilege of chairing some sessions and panels. 

The event was not only another reminder to reflect on the quantum of change happening around us, but also the incredible pace of change. It doesn’t feel long ago that in-cab cameras for monitoring drivers and fatigue risk were considered new technology. Now, these systems...

As we approach the end of the year, I want to reflect on the progress we have made together. When I stepped into this role, I emphasised the importance of taking a steady, considered approach and that building trust, listening carefully, and understanding the goals of government would be essential if we are to shift the dial for road transport.

That approach is paying dividends.

Earlier this year I shared NRC’s strategic priorities for efficiency, safety, and the energy transition. Since then, we have seen some encouraging win...

November was another challenging month for the New Zealand new truck and trailer market.

A total of 279 new truck registrations for the month sees the market well behind the 532 registrations recorded in the same month in 2024.

The truck market (over 4.5t GVM) for November is also well behind the October 2025 total of 350 registrations, and year-to-date (YTD) the total new registrations represent only two-thirds of the volume achieved in the same period last year.

The strongest monthly total in 2025 has bee...

Mercedes-Benz has officially launched its next-generation Actros ProCabin across Australia and New Zealand, introducing a sophisticated blend of fuel-saving aerodynamics and cutting-edge safety technology that sets a new benchmark for the commercial transport sector.

The ProCabin's development centered on one critical objective: reducing fuel consumption through intelligent design. Mercedes-Benz engineers extended the cabin's front section by 80mm, meticulously sculpting every surface to maximize aerodynamic performanc...