NZ Heavy Haulage Association

The New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association (NZHHA) is the national trade association for member companies involved in the transport of overweight and overdimension loads. Founded in 1964, the Association represents five distinct sectors: heavy haulage transport, building relocation, load pilots, heavy recovery, and general oversize. Headquartered in Wellington, the NZHHA advocates for its members with regulatory authorities including Waka Kotahi NZTA and local roading authorities, lobbying to keep main routes open, safe, and efficient for oversized loads. The Association provides training programmes (developed with MITO), good practice guides, a weekly e-newsletter, an annual member conference, and an annual Member Directory. It employs a Chief Executive, an Oversize Roading Advisor, and a Support Officer. Full members are transport operators regularly moving overdimension or overweight loads, allocated to sector groups for Board representation. Associate members are industry suppliers, and Load Pilot Specialist members have direct Board representation.

The NZHHA engages with RUC policy as it directly affects heavy haulage operators, who pay RUC based on vehicle weight bands. Vehicles operating on overweight permits must purchase additional RUC licences for the extra weight allowed under those permits. The Association advocates for fair RUC rates for specialist permitted heavy vehicles and has provided evidence to government inquiries on transport costs. Jonathan Bhana-Thomson has submitted evidence on behalf of the Association to hearings on urban land and transport matters.