Media statements - 2005

For the current year's media statements, see the Media statement index.

Enjoy the trip – drive safely these holidays
16 December 2005

The holidays are a time to relax, celebrate and enjoy life, but the Christmas-New Year period can also be a particularly dangerous time on New Zealand roads.

Motorists urged to purchase cars with head protecting side air bags
6 December 2005

The AA and Land Transport New Zealand are urging motorists to purchase car models with head protecting side airbags following the latest round of Australasian crash testing.

Funding approved for Centennial Highway median barrier
24 November 2005

The Land Transport New Zealand Board has approved $15.2 million in funding for the design and construction of a median barrier along the full length of the coastal section of Centennial Highway between Pukerua Bay Hill and Paekakariki.

Funding approved for Henderson Transport Interchange
7 November 2005

The Land Transport New Zealand Board has approved funding for the construction of Waitakere City Council’s Henderson Transport Interchange project.

Funding approved for Prebbleton-Lincoln walking and cycling link
2 November 2005

Construction of a new dedicated walking and cycling route linking the Selwyn District townships of Prebbleton and Lincoln has been given the green light following Land Transport New Zealand’s approval of the $620,000 project.

Go ahead for SH50-Meeanee Road interchange
28 October 2005

Construction of a new interchange to separate traffic at the intersection of SH50 and Meeanee Rd south of Taradale has been given the green light, with the Land Transport New Zealand Board's decision to approve $8.6 million in funding.

Entries open for 2005 New Zealand Road Safety Awards
25 October 2005

Entries for New Zealand’s top road safety awards open today for individuals, schools, community groups, local councils and businesses to showcase their inventions and achievements.

$4.5m campaign targets crashes on State Highway 1
19 October 2005

Road safety agencies today announced plans for a two-stage $4.5m road safety campaign for State Highway 1 in the South Waikato and Taupo Districts.

Saving lives on the way to school
30 September 2005

Increase safety while saving money - that's the message from the organisers of the Safekids Campaign to families who are getting out of their cars because of the rising cost of petrol.

Clemenger BBDO re-appointed
30 September 2005

Land Transport NZ has re-appointed Clemenger BBDO as its advertising agency, following a pitch process involving four short-listed agencies.

Independent crash tests show 4WD safety varies
27 September 2005

Crash test results of non-luxury 4WDs have found that the Subaru Forester is the only vehicle to score a top 5 star result with its side and head airbags offered as standard features.

Funding approved for Tumai to Waikouaiti realignment of SH1
26 September 2005

The Land Transport New Zealand Board has approved $7 million funding for realignment of the Tumai to Waikouaiti section of State Highway 1 north of Dunedin.

New ad demonstrates impact of speed
23 September 2005

Over a third of fatal road crashes are caused by excessive speed, and the latest instalment of New Zealand 's road safety advertising campaign demonstrates why speed kills.

Funding approved for Western Rail Line duplication from New Lynn to Henderson
22 September 2005

The Land Transport New Zealand Board has approved funding for the second stage of the Western Rail Line duplication project in Auckland.

Find out why you really can't trust your mates this Sunday
9 September 2005

You can't always trust your mates – they're liable to downtrou' you in public, knock over a Portaloo with you inside, plastic wrap your toilet or sabotage your best efforts to pull chicks at parties. That's been the message of a series of ads screening on youth-oriented TV for the past six weeks.

Multilingual road rules booklet available for new residents
1 September 2005

New Zealand ’s most important road rules and safe driving tips are now available in seven languages for new migrants, international students and refugees.

New rule targeting commercial driver fatigue released for consultation
15 August 2005

Land Transport New Zealand is calling for submissions on a draft rule covering legal requirements for managing commercial driver fatigue through work time limits, logbook recording and approved fatigue management schemes.

Priorities set for extra $500 million in transport funding
4 August 2005

State highways, local roads and Auckland passenger rail services are set to benefit from an additional $500 million in transport funding.

New brochure highlights differences when driving in NZ
1 August 2005

A new brochure published today by Land Transport New Zealand aims to improve tourists’ awareness of New Zealand’s unique driving conditions – before they hit the road.

Advanced funding approved for Western Rail Line duplication
29 July 2005

The Land Transport New Zealand Board has approved $4.8 million in funding to the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) towards the Western Line duplication project.

Funding approved for new Awatere Bridge
29 July 2005

The Land Transport New Zealand Board has approved $15.1 million for the construction of a new two-lane road bridge over the Awatere River on State Highway 1 north of Seddon.

Funding approved for construction of Mangatawhiri Deviation
29 July 2005

Funding has been approved for construction of the Mangatawhiri Deviation - a 7.2km realignment of SH2 bypassing Mangatawhiri township in the Waikato.

Land Transport NZ announces $1.7 billion National Land Transport Programme
30 June 2005

Land Transport New Zealand has announced a record $1.7 billion in spending for land transport infrastructure and services in this year’s National Land Transport Programme (NLTP), a 20 percent ($280 million) increase from last year.

Further NLTP media statements:

• Safety and route security Land Transport NZ’s focus for Northland
• Increased capacity Land Transport NZ's focus for Auckland
• Safe and efficient roads Land Transport NZ’s focus for Waikato
• Reducing congestion Land Transport NZ's focus for Bay of Plenty
• Safety and improved access Land Transport NZ’s focus for Taranaki
• Safety and road security Land Transport NZ's focus for Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay
• Repairs and maintenance Land Transport NZ’s focus for Manawatu/Wanganui
• Route efficiency and passenger transport Land Transport NZ’s focus for Wellington
• Safety and efficiency Land Transport NZ’s focus for Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman
• Safety and maintenance Land Transport NZ's focus for West Coast
• Safety and improved traffic flow Land Transport NZ's focus for Canterbury
• Safety and improved traffic flow Land Transport NZ’s focus for Otago and Southland

How safe is your car?
28 June 2005

Data from the world’s largest survey of real-life crashes has been analysed to rate the safety performance of some of New Zealand’s most popular used cars.

Crash tests show life-saving potential of head airbags
1 June 2005

The latest crash test results from the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) provide further evidence that head-protecting side airbags can save lives and protect against serious injuries in side impacts.

Revised Dangerous Goods Rule signed
19 May 2005

Updated requirements for the carriage of dangerous goods on land in New Zealand will come into force next month.

Land Transport New Zealand leadership team appointed
21 April 2005

Several key appointments have been made to the management team of Land Transport New Zealand, the government agency formed on 1 December 2004 from the merger of Transfund New Zealand and the Land Transport Safety Authority.

Easter road toll a grim reminder
29 March 2005

The Easter weekend road toll of nine deaths, most of which were a result of excessive speed, is a grim reminder that speed is the number one killer on New Zealand’s roads, says the Director of Land Transport Wayne Donnelly.

New ad highlights intersection 'time bomb'
21 March 2005

The latest instalment in New Zealand’s road safety advertising campaign illustrates the dangers of taking unnecessary risks at intersections, comparing impatient drivers to ticking time bombs.

Shorter days are coming – get your lights right
17 March 2005

With the end of daylight savings this Sunday (20 March), Land Transport New Zealand is reminding drivers and cyclists to ‘get their lights right’.

Don’t get stung! Notify your change of ownership
10 March 2005

If you're selling a car, make sure you don't get taken for a ride. Don't get caught with unpaid licence fees, road user charges or other people's fines!

Speeders - they're killing us
28 February 2005

The latest instalment in New Zealand's road safety enforcement and advertising campaign focuses on the loss of innocent life at the hands of speeding drivers, with a new television advertisement depicting the emotional trauma wrought on the surviving family of a victim of excessive speed.

Winners of New Zealand Road Safety Innovation Awards announced
22 February 2005

A world first after-market emergency brake lighting system and an education programme run by a Tongan church are the joint overall winners in this year's New Zealand Road Safety Innovation Awards.

New road rules coming soon
16 February 2005

New traffic rules for pedestrian crossings, cycle lanes and roundabouts come into force at the end of this month as part of the Land Transport Road User Rule.

Funding approved for study of Auckland passenger rail power options
11 February 2005

Land Transport New Zealand has agreed to contribute over $760,000 to fund an evaluation of different power modes for Auckland passenger rail services.

Funding approved to investigate North Shore bus priority measures
7 February 2005

The Land Transport New Zealand Board has approved $574,000 in funding for the investigation of measures to provide easier access to Auckland's North Shore Busway.

Go-ahead for Northwestern Motorway auxiliary lane
3 February 2005

Funding for the design and construction of an additional westbound lane on the Northwestern Motorway from the Newton Road on-ramp to the Western Springs off-ramp has been approved by Land Transport New Zealand.

Green light for Glenfield Road upgrade
3 February 2005

Travel times will be reduced and safety improved on Glenfield Road in North Shore City with Land Transport New Zealand's decision to approve funding for upgrades.

Holiday road toll 2nd lowest on record
5 January 2005

The 2004/2005 holiday period has ended with a provisional figure of nine road deaths, down from 13 last year and the lowest figure for a holiday period since 1966/67, when nine people were also killed.

435 killed on New Zealand roads in 2004
1 January 2005

Four-hundred and thirty-five people died on New Zealand roads last year - 26 fewer than in 2003 but seven percent more than in 2002, when the road toll reached a 40-year low of 405.

Last updated: 18 January 2006