NZ Transport Agency

NZ Transport Agency

Waka Kotahi
Agency overview
Formed 1 August 2008
Preceding agencies Land Transport New Zealand
Transit New Zealand
Jurisdiction Government of New Zealand
Headquarters Victoria Arcade, 50 Victoria Street, Wellington
Minister responsible Hon. Simon Bridges, Minister of Transport
Agency executives Geoff Dangerfield, Chief Executive
Chris Moller, Chairman
Website www.nzta.govt.nz

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA; Māori: Waka Kotahi)[1] is a New Zealand Crown entity tasked with promoting safe and functional transport by land, including the responsibility for driver and vehicle licensing and investigating rail accidents. It was created on 1 August 2008 by the Land Transport Management Amendment Act 2008, merging Transit New Zealand with Land Transport New Zealand.[2] Its legal name, as established by the Act, is New Zealand Transport Agency,[3] but it operates as NZ Transport Agency.[1] Its Māori name, Waka Kotahi, means "one vessel" and is intended to convey the concept of "travelling together as one".[1]

The initial Transport Agency board was criticised by the National Party opposition in July 2008 as being "stacked" with New Zealand Labour Party political appointees.[4] However, after the 2008 election, various board members were since appointed or reappointed according to the National government's choices.[5]

Public data access

The Transport Agency stores licensing, registration and warrant of fitness details for any road-registered vehicle within New Zealand, including cars, motorbikes, trailers, trucks and earthmoving/agricultural machinery. Any member of the public can query the Transport Agency's database by making a request using the licence plate or VIN number at an NZ Post outlet, or by using a vehicle checking website.

Road signage

Road signs in New Zealand fall under the authority of the Transport Agency and are prescribed in the Traffic Control Devices (TCD) Manual.

Awards

The Transport Agency has been recognised, alongside its partners, by industry and professional bodies for innovation and best practice. Some of the awards received in 2012-13 include:

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Visual identity guidelines". NZ Transport Agency. 23 October 2009. p. 7. Retrieved 13 January 2013. Our name is the NZ Transport Agency. Please don’t spell out New Zealand or give 'the' a capital 'T'. Waka Kotahi is the Māori name [...] NZTA is our abbreviated name.
  2. "New Transport Agency chief appointed". Land Transport New Zealand. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  3. "Part 4: New Zealand Transport Agency, regional transport committees, and miscellaneous provisions". Land Transport Management Amendment Act 2008
  4. "Nats slam transport 'stooges'". The New Zealand Herald. 2008-07-26. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  5. "NZTA Board appointments announced". Press Release: New Zealand Government. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  6. "Awards". NZ Transport Agency. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2013.

External links