NZ heavy vehicle rule changes fall shortFriday 27 Feb 2026
If follows Phase 2 of the Government’s Heavy Vehicle Productivity reform programme, proposing changes that include allowing drivers on a Class 1 licence to operate heavier electric trucks and buses, removing permitting requirements for vehicle rental service providers moving empty trucks, and simplifying the conversion of overseas heavy vehicle licences. Transporting New Zealand chief executive Dom Kalasih says the proposals but do not go far enough.“To put things in perspective, the current proposals would remove the need for about 79 heavy vehicle permits a year, affect around 30 battery electric heavy vehicles annually, and remove a NZ$100 fee and a paper form from international driver licence conversions,” Kalasih says. “The proposals are a step in the right direction, but tinkering with the regulations wouldn’t deliver the productivity improvements the country needs.” The association says the scale of the changes does not match the Government’s stated growth agenda or the increasing national freight task. “There are some really exciting technological developments in higher productivity and lower emission trucks that are being blocked by the current land transport regulations,” Kalasih says. Consultation on Phase 1 of the productivity reforms closed in December and included proposals to remove 50MAX permits and H Plate requirements. Transporting New Zealand says its submission on Phase 1 included six specific recommendations, including changes to permitted axle configurations and spacing limits. “Officials are currently considering this feedback, and we want to see those changes adopted,” Kalasih says. “Similarly, with these Phase 2 proposals, particularly around increased weight limits for heavy electric vehicles, we’ll be pushing for more meaningful changes that accommodate larger battery electric, hydrogen and hybrid truck and trailer combinations.” Submissions on the Phase 2 proposals close on March 25. Source:Transporting New Zealand  | ||
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