About the NLTP

The National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) is a three-year programme that sets out how Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, working with its partners, plans to invest the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF) to create a safer, more accessible, better connected and more resilient land transport system that keeps New Zealand moving.

Activities in the NLTP must reflect the priorities in the most recent Government Policy Statement on land transport (GPS). NLTP development is also guided by the laws in the Land Transport Management Act (2003).

Government Policy Statement on land transport (GPS)
Land Transport Management Act 2003

We work alongside councils to make sure people in New Zealand have a land transport system that meets their needs now and in the future. To this end, the NLTP includes regional and national activities in areas like: public transport, road maintenance and improvements (including for state highways), walking and cycling, road policing and promoting road safety.

How we decide what activities are included in the NLTP

The NLTP is informed by Regional Land Transport Plans (RLTPs) developed by Regional Transport Committees and Auckland Transport. RLTPs set out each region’s transport priorities and list the activities and projects councils have submitted as bids for NLTP funding.

The NLTP is also informed by the Waka Kotahi Investment Proposal, which includes proposed state highway activities and nationally delivered programmes.

All of the activity and project proposals we receive are prioritised for funding on a national basis.

To do this, we consider all bids and then prioritise them using the Investment Prioritisation Method (IPM), which was designed to help us make investment decisions that support the aims of the GPS.

Investment Prioritisation Method (IPM)

We ensure our decision-making process is transparent, evidence-based and aimed at delivering the best value for money for New Zealand by:

• using the IPM
• considering regional priorities set out in Regional Land Transport Plans
• conducting a final national prioritisation
• involving representatives from local government and Ministry of Transport in the process as observers.

Every three years, the NLTP must be adopted by the Waka Kotahi Board by 31 August under the Land Transport Management Act (2003).

What’s the National Land Transport Fund?

The National Land Transport Fund (NLTF) is made up of revenue collected from:

• fuel excise duty
• road user charges
• vehicle and driver registration and licensing
• state highway property disposal and leasing
• road tolling.

By law, NLTF money has to be invested in land transport.

The amount of funds in the NLTF can vary from year-to-year depending on the economy, petrol prices and Government decisions on transport related levies and charges.