...but fees set to rise?

WAKA KOTAHI NZTA HAS OPENED the consultation process on a proposal to revamp its fees and charges for the administration of land transport regulations.

The new funding model is the result of an 18-month review of the Agency’s funding and fees, and was prompted by the release of two independent reports in 2019 that, importantly, emphasised that the regulatory arm of Waka Kotahi was underfunded.

Kane Patena, Director of Land Transport, says the proposal will provide the resources and certainty needed to improve safety and compliance in the transport system through effective regulation.

“The new model is based on the simple principle that everyone who creates risk in the land transport system, or who receives direct benefits from being part of it, should contribute to funding its regulation,” he says.

“It means the right people will pay for the right things, and we’ll be able to provide better regulation into the future.

“This was the first comprehensive review of fees and charges since before Waka Kotahi was established in 2008. We found that most of our fees and charges don’t reflect the current cost to effectively regulate or provide regulatory services, and confirmed that our current funding situation is unsustainable.”

The eight proposals that make up the new funding model include suggested changes to government funding, along with many changes to the amounts Waka Kotahi charges for services. These do not include across-the-board increases. In fact, the fees for diver licences and driver testing are in general significantly reduced.

On the other hand, the admin fees for RUC purchases, vehicle licensing and registration, and those for TSL holders and motor vehicle certifier activities are all slated to rise.

The period allowed for feedback on the proposals extends through to June. At the time of publication road transport industry bodies had yet to prepare their submissions.

T&D