Proposed changes to parking requirements in the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004

Overview

Te Manatū Waka – our role in transport

Transport is about freedom of movement. It touches everyone’s lives and is fundamental to our wellbeing and everyday life. It connects people to family, employment, education, and recreation. It moves goods and people; critical to the strength of the economy.

Transport also connects people to important places or sites. This can include places linked to iwi and hapū identity, like marae or tūrangawaewae (a place of standing).

Te Manatū Waka Ministry of Transport (the Ministry) provides advice to the Government about transport issues. The Ministry also supports the implementation of Government decisions.

The Ministry helps to make sure Aotearoa New Zealand’s sea, air, and land transport systems work together as an efficient, safe, and sustainable system. To do this, we work with:

• other central government departments,
• Local government,
• iwi,
• transport operators, and
• interest groups.

The system steward

Government agencies are responsible for regulatory stewardship under the Public Service Act 2020. Regulatory stewardship treats the regulatory system as an asset. This means that requires regular review, maintenance, repair, and sometimes replacement. This is like how physical infrastructure is looked after.

The Ministry has a responsibility to take care of our transport regulatory system. The regulatory system is the laws and rules that govern how the transport system operates to:

• keep people safe and healthy,
• support the economy,
• protect the natural environment,
• minimise and manage risks, and
• provide inclusive access for all people in Aotearoa New Zealand.

To make sure our regulatory system is working, we regularly review and update legislation to make sure it is still relevant and working well. We do this in partnership with our operational policy counterparts:

• Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency,
• Maritime New Zealand,
• Civil Aviation Authority, and
• Transport Accident Investigation Commission.

Why did we do this work in the first place?

System assessments are a key part of the Ministry’s regulatory stewardship activity. As part of this, we talk with key groups who are involved at all parts of the regulatory system. Those conversations help us understand how well the system is performing, so that we can:

• develop solutions to any unintended outcomes,
• reduce unnecessary regulatory burden,
• keep up with changes in technology and society, and
• ensure transport systems remain fair and effective so we can avoid a regulatory failure.

Parking-related issues are raised with the Ministry in a number of ways. Sometimes they will be raised by members of the public or special interest groups. Other times they are raised by Road Controlling Authorities (RCAs).

Local RCAs enforce parking rules in their town or City. Their role is to:

• make sure everyone is kept safe
• people and goods can get around quickly, and
• everyone can access social and economic opportunities.

RCAs rely on effective regulatory tools, including parking requirements, offences, and penalties. This helps them to make sure public road space is used in a fair, safe, and efficient way.

For this work we have focused on feedback from local RCAs who talked about the problems they face managing parking every day.

We are seeing your views. 

We are seeking your views about how each of these proposals would affect you and any suggestions for improvements.