Earlier this month, Government announced changes to the VKT Reduction Programme as part of reprioritising its work programme.
Among these changes, the Government has decided to focus initially on reducing light vehicle use in Tier 1 urban areas, where it is expected to achieve 85% of the national VKT reduction target.
This means Te Manatū Waka Ministry of Transport will continue working with councils to confirm and publish VKT reduction targets for Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch by the end of June 2023. It will now be optional for councils in other areas to set and agree on VKT reduction targets with central government by this date. This decision is intended to reduce the burden on some councils to confirm targets in the next few months, especially in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle.
Waka Kotahi is working with the five Tier 1 cities to help them develop their Urban VKT Reduction Programmes.
For clarity, this does not mean that future public transport improvements will only occur in Tier 1 areas (which is how some media reporting interpreted this announcement). Rather, the government is prioritising VKT reduction targets and programmes in Tier 1 areas for now.
Waka Kotahi will work with Tier 2 councils to develop Urban VKT Reduction Programmes for their areas from next year, with a view to completing programmes by the end of 2024.
Across all councils, Waka Kotahi will also provide ongoing support on VKT reduction through our standard processes for planning and investing in activities that help to reduce vehicle traffic and improve transport options – such as public transport services and improvements to walking, cycling and public transport infrastructure.
