‘Very disappointing’: Ministry of Transport shelves key freight study update, cites fiscal constraints

‘Very disappointing’: Ministry of Transport shelves key freight study update, cites fiscal constraints
The Ministry of Transport published the Aotearoa New Zealand Freight and Supply Chain Strategy in 2023 and committed to a second action plan in 2024 that never happened. (Image: NZME)
Oliver Lewis
The Ministry of Transport has dropped plans to renew a critical freight study that was last updated several years ago, despite calls from the sector for better data.The Aotearoa New Zealand Freight and Supply Chain Strategy, published by the ministry in 2023, makes frequent reference to data from the 2017/18 National Freight Demand Study (NFDS), which was previously undertaken in 2014 and 2008.The strategy, described by former Transport Minister David Parker as a blueprint and a launch pad for further work, included a recommendation to identify...

More Infrastructure

Port of Tauranga ‘reluctantly’ doubles MetroPort rail fees
Primary Sector

Port of Tauranga ‘reluctantly’ doubles MetroPort rail fees

The port says it's working with KiwiRail on 'long-term arrangements'. 

Oliver Lewis 04 Jul 2025
‘Bluewater backbone’: Lyttelton, Auckland ports plan $1b+ of upgrades
Policy

‘Bluewater backbone’: Lyttelton, Auckland ports plan $1b+ of upgrades

Two of the biggest NZ ports are raising prices as they plan major investments.

Oliver Lewis 02 Jul 2025
Cost of Ōtaki to north of Levin highway nears $2b
Infrastructure

Cost of Ōtaki to north of Levin highway nears $2b

In 2020, the lower North Island expressway was costed at just $817m.

Oliver Lewis 01 Jul 2025
'There are some firms in NZ I won’t touch'
Policy

'There are some firms in NZ I won’t touch'

Adam Feeley on the reluctance to call out poor performers in NZ infrastructure sector.

Oliver Lewis 30 Jun 2025