08/09/2026
We're officially launching our 2026 Election Platform today with five key calls for the next Government.
Fuel and supply chain disruptions, deteriorating roads with no funds to fix them, dangerous driving, an aging trucking workforce and slumping productivity are some of the most urgent issues facing our sector.
This election (and beyond), we want to see political parties with the courage and common sense to address these roadblocks that inhibit growth across New Zealand's entire economy.
1. ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐
This year's fuel price shocks showed how exposed New Zealand is when supply is disrupted. We want bigger onshore diesel reserves, formal contingency arrangements with refining partners, and resilient Cook Strait connections so trucks keep moving and the country stays supplied, whatever happens overseas.
2. ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ก
New Zealand spends big on infrastructure but gets some of the worst returns in the OECD, and our stop-start approach has left a deficit and killed certainty for business. We want road maintenance made the top funding priority and a stable, long-term pipeline of nationally significant projects that survives changes of government.
3. ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ฌ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ
Road deaths are trending down, but there's more to do. We want camera-based technology expanded to catch mobile phone and seatbelt offences, roadside drug-driving tests lifted from 50,000 to 150,000 a year, and a crackdown on cowboy operators who undercut firms that play by the rules.
4. ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐
One in ten truck drivers is over 65, and more than a million New Zealanders don't hold a full licence - a problem when 70% of jobs need one. We want funding for licence training in schools and communities, shorter heavy-vehicle licensing pathways, and immigration settings that let operators fill critical gaps fast.
5. ๐๐๐๐ค ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ง๐๐ซ, ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ
Lifting productivity and cutting emissions means helping operators renew their fleets. We want full capital expensing for high-productivity and low-emission trucks, stronger bridges and culverts so bigger, cleaner vehicles can use more of the network, and a Commerce Commission with the teeth to tackle uncompetitive freight supply chain.
Thanks to all of you who joined us online for the launch or here in the capital. Next, we're taking this document to the desks of decisionmakers nationwide to ensure the voices of New Zealand's road freight sector are heard, loud and clear.
