This page introduces benefits management, why it is important, and the Land Transport Benefits Framework. It also provides links to more detailed information about these topics in other sections of this guidance.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and our investment partners invest in land transport to provide benefits to New Zealanders. But in order to know that our investment is successful, and that the money was well-spent, we need to know whether it has provided the benefits it was expected to provide.
We developed the Land Transport Benefits Framework so we and our investment partners have a consistent way of measuring benefits across all projects and across time. This means we can make sure we’re investing in the things that matter to the government and New Zealanders, and that our investments are delivering the expected outcomes. It also means we can all learn from what we’ve done.
The benefits framework must be used in all investment proposals to the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).
The benefits framework is a consistent set of benefits and measures that makes it possible to consider, measure and report on all impacts of our investment in land transport.
The benefits framework is made up of 25 benefits, 12 of which can be monetised. Beneath the benefits are associated measures, which are either quantitative or qualitative. The benefits sit beneath five transport outcomes and are grouped into 12 clusters.
More about the benefits framework
Benefits management for transport investments involves three main stages.
Benefits and measures need to be identified in transport planning documents and during the development of transport business cases. Identification of benefits and measures is an important part of the Business Case Approach (BCA) for developing transport investment proposals.
Using the benefits framework in planning and business cases
Selecting benefits and measures
The expected benefits of proposed investments inform optioneering and decision-making during business case development. Waka Kotahi uses benefits to help with prioritisation and making investment decisions.
Benefits in optioneering and prioritisation
Through ongoing monitoring and reporting we can see how successfully expected benefits have been realised.
Evaluating benefits realisation
Having a framework of consistent benefits and measures also means that benefits data collected can be used to identify land transport problems, and to inform investment decisions. We have created a tool to share centralised data with our investment partners.
If you need support, or have feedback, contact your Waka Kotahi advisor or e-mail investment.benefits@nzta.govt.nz.