(See Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2016)
The rule covers requirements for dimension and mass limits to enable vehicles, in particular, heavy truck and trailer combinations, to be operated safely on New Zealand’s roads.
Note: Both of these pages will also provide links to the consultation material – such as summary of submissions and FAQs (questions and answers) – for each version and amendment.
Questions and answers are provided to accompany a new rule or amendment when they are signed. These and other consultation documents on this page have not been updated to take into account any later rule amendments and are retained for historic interest only.
The new amendment Rules signed by the Minister of Transport (the Minister) are:
These amendment Rules make changes to 11 Land Transport Rules. They were consulted on as part of the draft Land Transport Rule: Omnibus Amendment 2008 (the draft Omnibus Amendment Rule).
Following consultation, the provisions in the draft Omnibus Amendment Rule were split into separate amendment Rules. A further amendment Rule consulted on in the draft Omnibus Amendment Rule, Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Amendment (No 2) 2008, was signed in December 2008, with provisions coming into force on two separate dates, 15 January and 1 April 2009.
The amendment Rules make relatively minor changes to Rules. The amendments are required:
Ten of these Rules come into force on 7 May 2009. Land Transport Rule: Operator Safety Rating Amendment 2009 will be brought into effect by Gazette notice.
Yes. In August 2008, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) advised about 1500 groups and individuals registered on the Rules consultation database, by letter or email, of the proposed changes and invited them to make submissions. Printed copies of the draft Omnibus Amendment Rule and the summary of the proposed changes were made available to people on request. The draft Omnibus Amendment Rule and information material were also available on the NZTA's website.
Public notices seeking submissions were published in the daily newspapers in the major centres (Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin) and the Minister's intention to make the amendment Rules was notified in the New Zealand Gazette. The NZTA received 24 submissions on the draft Omnibus Amendment Rule.
The Land Transport Act 1998 allows the Minister of Transport to make Land Transport Rules. Rules are drafted in plain English and go through an extensive consultation process with interested groups and the public. This is to ensure that they are easily understood and are widely complied with. Rules are usually prepared by the NZTA under contract to the Ministry of Transport and, like regulations, have the force of law.
Final rules are available on our website. Printed copies of Land Transport Rules can be purchased from selected bookshops throughout New Zealand that sell legislation. Most Rules can also be purchased from the Rule printers and distributors, Wickliffe Ltd, telephone (06) 358 8231.
Rules may also be inspected at regional offices of the NZTA.
A newsletter outlining the changes to the Rules will be sent to groups and individuals who registered their interest in the Rules that have been amended.
The NZTA will update any relevant Factsheets or other information material available on its website to reflect the changes brought about by the amendment Rules.
You can call the NZTA Contact Centre on 0800 699 000 for more information about the amendment Rules.
Page created: 8 April 2009
