New Zealand's largest membership organisation (1.8M+ members), advocating for motorists on transport policy, road safety, fuel pricing, and RUC reform.
The Automobile Association (AA) is New Zealand's largest membership organisation with over 1.8 million members, giving it an unmatched mandate to speak on behalf of everyday motorists. While the AA also operates as a service delivery channel for NZTA (covered separately under the 'aa' profile), its advocacy and policy arm is one of the most influential voices in New Zealand transport policy. The AA's Transport Policy & Advocacy team, based in Wellington, maintains relationships with Government Ministers, Members of Parliament, and senior officials, making regular submissions to select committees on legislation affecting motorists. The AA Research Foundation, established in 2011 as part of the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety, commissions independent research on road safety, driver behaviour, real-world fuel consumption, and transport costs. The Foundation's work - particularly its ongoing Member Sentiments Surveys tracking attitudes on transport costs, emissions, speed limits, and enforcement - provides an evidence base that underpins the AA's policy positions. The late Peter King, who served 22 years with the advocacy team, was the driving force behind this member surveying programme until his sudden passing in November 2023. On RUC specifically, the AA strongly supports the existing distance-based charging principle but has consistently advocated for simplicity, low administration costs, and privacy protections as the system transitions from fuel excise to universal electronic charges. The AA has raised concerns about the impact on light vehicle owners and has argued that RUC rates for EVs should be set lower than conventional vehicles to avoid penalising early adopters.
The AA makes formal submissions to Parliament on transport legislation, including the Road User Charges Act amendments, Land Transport Management Act changes, fuel excise adjustments, and EV policy. Submissions draw on member surveys and AA Research Foundation data.
Ongoing tracking survey of AA members' views on transport costs, emissions, road safety, speed limits, traffic enforcement, and alternatives to driving. Established by Peter King and a key evidence base for the AA's policy positions.
Established in 2011, the Foundation commissions independent research programmes including real-world vehicle fuel consumption, cycling safety, driver distraction and fatigue, drink-driving interventions, and road risk identification.
Weekly monitoring and public reporting on retail fuel prices across New Zealand. The AA's Terry Collins is one of the country's most-quoted voices on fuel price movements and their impact on household transport costs.
Published positions on key transport issues including road safety and mobility, road funding, vehicle standards, driver licensing, speed management, and environmental policy. Available on the AA website.
Auckland Automobile Association founded on 26 May by Dr George Thomas Humphrey de Clive Lowe and six others. Canterbury AA founded on 4 September. The AAA issued 'Certificates of Competency' to exam-qualified drivers - pioneering NZ's driver licensing concept.
Roy Champtaloup draws the first official AA road map by hand, having voluntarily erected 70 road signs across Auckland. Appointed AA Touring Manager. Southland AA introduces the first 'first aid car' for roadside assistance.
Wellington Secretariat established for national motoring affairs advocacy, led by George Fairbairn until 2005 - the AA's lobbying cornerstone.
Fifteen independent regional automobile associations complete a decade-long series of mergers under General Manager Brian Gibbons, creating the unified national New Zealand Automobile Association. Combined membership: 600,000.
AA celebrates centenary. Membership exceeds 1 million.
AA Research Foundation established as part of the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety (2011-2020), commissioning independent research on road safety, driver behaviour, and transport.
Simon Douglas joins the AA from Tourism New Zealand to lead the transport policy and advocacy function. AA Smartfuel fuel discount loyalty programme launched (joint venture).
AA Money financial services launched (February), expanding the AA's commercial offering into vehicle finance, savings, and investment.
Brian Gibbons retires after 40 years (CEO since 1990), having grown membership from 600,000 to 1.78 million. Nadine Tereora appointed as the AA's first female CEO (February 2022). Simon Douglas's role expanded to Chief Policy & Advocacy Officer.
AA celebrates 120th anniversary. Peter King, the AA's long-serving transport researcher and architect of the Member Sentiments Survey programme, dies suddenly in November.
AA Smartfuel fuel discount programme discontinued on 31 January after 12 years and $1 billion in fuel discounts. AA joins joint industry submission on EV RUC fairness (with MIA, Drive Electric, VIA, MTA, and Better NZ Trust).
AA backs the government's plan to replace petrol tax with universal electronic RUC but calls for low administration costs, privacy safeguards, and affordable rates for light vehicle owners. Brett Flintoff appointed President (December 2025). AA makes 13 submissions to government including on tolling, RUC, vehicle safety, and time-of-use charging.
Chief Executive Officer
The AA's first female CEO, appointed February 2022. 25+ years in insurance industry: former COO of Partners Life, CEO of Fidelity Life (2016-2020, three consecutive ANZIIF Life Insurance Company of the Year awards), and CEO of Asteron Life (first female CEO of a Suncorp Group company). Succeeded Brian Gibbons who served 40 years.
President
Appointed President December 2025. Retired chartered accountant who operated his own firm for 30 years. Joined the AA Board in 2010. Member of the Southland District Council. Chairs both the AA Board and National Council.
Chief Policy & Advocacy Officer
Joined the AA in 2012 from Tourism New Zealand. Previously held roles at the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Tourism, and Beca Engineering. Oversees the AA's transport policy, advocacy, and the AA Research Foundation. Also a trustee of SADD (Students Against Dangerous Driving).
Policy Director
Leads AA policy development on RUC reform, fuel pricing, and road funding. Regular media commentator on the financial impact of transport policy changes on motorists.
Principal Policy Adviser
Senior fuel and transport policy adviser. Frequent media spokesperson on fuel prices, RUC costs, and Commerce Commission fuel market interventions. Raised concerns that universal eRUC would be 'hardest to collect and easiest to evade' compared to fuel excise.
Manager: Research, Safety & Communications
The AA's primary road safety spokesperson. Regular media commentator on crash statistics, driver behaviour, and road safety campaigns.
The AA is one of the most influential advocacy voices in New Zealand's RUC policy landscape. With 1.8 million members, the AA has a unique mandate to represent motorist interests in the transition from fuel excise duty to universal distance-based charging. The AA strongly supports the principle of RUC - allocating road costs based on vehicle use - but has consistently argued for simplicity, low compliance costs, and robust privacy protections. The AA's policy team makes regular submissions to select committees on RUC legislation and engages directly with Ministers and officials on reform design.
The AA Smartfuel fuel discount loyalty programme permanently closed on 31 January 2024 after 12 years of operation, having issued over $1 billion in fuel discounts to New Zealand households. The closure was triggered by Woolworths NZ ending its partnership to launch its own Everyday Rewards programme with BP.
The High Court ordered AA Insurance to pay a $6.175 million penalty after the Financial Markets Authority found the insurer had overcharged more than 200,000 policyholders a total of $11.12 million between 2015 and 2020. The breaches involved failing to apply multi-policy discounts, AA membership discounts, and guaranteed no-claims bonuses.
In early 2026, AA Insurance stopped offering new home, business, and landlord insurance policies in several New Zealand towns after reaching its natural hazard exposure limits. Westport was restricted due to elevated flood risk, and Woodend, Rolleston, and Lincoln in Canterbury were paused after maximum seismic risk exposure.
215426
9429042781608
Listed by the AA on their website but could not be found or verified on the NZ Companies Register. Source
NZ Incorporated Society
23 Nov 1915
Level 5, 20 Viaduct Harbour Avenue, Auckland Central, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
Source: NZ Companies Office · Last checked February 2026
View on Companies Register
