The 2021–24 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) is a three-year programme that sets out how we, working with our partners, will create a safe, well-connected, more resilient land transport system that supports emissions reduction goals.

It sets out the activities that can be funded from the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF) under the Land Transport Management Act 2003 to give effect to the Government Policy Statement on land transport 2021 (GPS 2021).

The Government’s transport priorities are focused on creating a transport system that is sustainable, offers choice in the way people move around to better manage urban growth, reduces harm both to people and the environment, and uses technology to manage travel demand and help people make good travel choices.

In our cities, we’re investing in an integrated transport system that can support sustainable growth, while at the same time helping everyone to be less reliant on private vehicle travel – businesses included. Creating new walking and cycling facilities and investing in public transport to make our buses, trains and ferries more frequent and reliable, is important if we are to reduce carbon emissions and congestion. We need to support people to change the way they move around by enabling them to choose a variety of travel options every day, if our cities are to become better places to live.

In the regions, we’re investing to maintain existing networks that keep communities connected and get goods to market. Our rural areas rely on their transport network for their day-to-day and critical connections.

Other Crown funding will support sustainable regional development and build greater resilience into the network.

Assessment of the NLTP

We’re required to ensure that the NLTP contributes to an effective, efficient and safe land transport system in the public’s interest and in accordance with the purpose of the Land Transport Management Act 2003. We’re also required to ensure the NLTP gives effect to the GPS and takes into account Regional Land Transport Plans, the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy and relevant policy statements in force under the Resource Management Act 1991. The NLTP must also include an assessment of how it complies with these requirements. The NLTP was developed to give effect to these requirements, and how these requirements are met is detailed in this document.

Government Policy Statement on land transport 2021 (GPS 2021)

The GPS determines how money from the NLTF will be co-invested with local government in a range of activities to maintain, renew, operate and improve the land transport system.

It is these activities, as well as a forward view of land transport beyond 2021–24, that form the NLTP.

GPS 2021 took effect on 1 July 2021. It has four strategic priorities that build on those in the GPS 2018, contributing to improving the country’s wellbeing and creating communities that are great places to live. These are:

  • Safety – developing a transport system where no-one is killed or seriously injured.
  • Better travel options – providing people with better transport options to access social and economic opportunities.
  • Improving freight connections – for economic development.
  • Climate change – developing a low-carbon transport system that supports emission reductions, while improving safety and inclusive access.

The four strategic priorities in the GPS are framed by the Ministry of Transport’s Transport Outcomes Framework, which provide a long-term view for the wider transport system, including land, air and maritime transport.

Within the GPS 2021 there are 11 activity classes. These signal how funding is to be allocated from the NLTF. New activity classes in the GPS 2021 are Road to Zero, rail network and coastal shipping.

The lower level of activity class funding ranges in the GPS 2021 were developed based on the estimated funding needed to:

  • meet prior commitments, such as repayments for public private partnerships (PPPs) and significant projects which have already had funding approved
  • maintain the land transport system at current levels of service, such as for safety and resilience, across all travel options and in line with forecast demand
  • meet increasing costs of construction, the impacts of climate change and increasing demand which impacts on the costs of network maintenance and repairs.

For the first time, GPS 2021 also sets investment expectations in relation to four government commitments: Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP), Let’s Get Wellington Moving (LGWM), Road to Zero safety strategy and the Rail Plan.

GPS 2021 strategic priorities: safety, better travel options, improving freight connections and climate change