Transport

Page updated 23 Nov 2007

Overview of Treasury information, research and policy publications about transport in New Zealand and Government expenditure on transport.

The Treasury's Role

The Treasury provides “second opinion” advice on a wide range of transport policy issues, as well as “first opinion” strategic advice on transport sector design and funding. We work closely with the Ministry of Transport and other transport agencies to ensure the transport sector contributes to the economic growth of New Zealand.

The Treasury also plays a key role in the monitoring of Air New Zealand, of which the New Zealand Government is the principal shareholder, and ONTRACK, the Government-owned operator of New Zealand’s rail infrastructure.

Funding

Approximately 97% of Vote Transport funding is allocated to land transport activities such as public transport, road construction and maintenance and road safety. This revenue is sourced mainly from user charges; Fuel Excise Duty on petrol sales; Road User Charges on diesel vehicles and Motor Vehicle Registration charges.

The Crown has also made a number of additional appropriations to boost land transport investment. Land Transport New Zealand is the Crown entity that is charged with allocating this funding to land transport activities. Details on how this funding is allocated are reported in the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). In total, $2.4 billion is expected to be allocated to land transport investment through the NLTP in the 2007/08 financial year. A further $350 million is expected to be allocated through Vote Finance to rail investment that is funded outside the NLTP - this figure is reported in the Vote Finance section of the Estimates of Appropriations in Budget 2007.

The remaining funding in Vote Transport is allocated to the Ministry of Transport and other Crown Entities in the sector (Civil Aviation Authority, Maritime New Zealand and The Transport Accident and Investigation Commission).