The national voice for New Zealand's road freight transport industry.
Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is the peak national membership association representing New Zealand's road freight transport industry. Established in 1997 as the Road Transport Forum New Zealand, the organisation traces its origins back to the 1920s through the Master Carriers Association and the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance - the country's two original road transport industry bodies. In September 2021 the Road Transport Forum rebranded to Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand, with 'Ia Ara Aotearoa' translating as 'each and every road of Aotearoa', reflecting the freight industry's use of every road in the country. The association directly represents over 1,200 individual road freight transport companies with a combined fleet of more than 14,000 vehicles, and through affiliated regional associations has an extended reach of approximately 3,000 companies operating 16,000–18,000 trucks. Membership spans the full spectrum from courier companies and owner-drivers to large fleet operators and supply chain partners. Headquartered at Level 3, iPayroll House, 93 Boulcott Street, Wellington, the organisation advocates for its members on road funding, infrastructure, safety, workforce development, emissions reduction, and regulatory compliance. Transporting New Zealand is a member of the International Road Transport Union (IRU) - a relationship dating back to 1973 - and has adopted the IRU's Green Compact framework for decarbonising road freight.
Submissions to parliamentary select committees, engagement with the Ministry of Transport, Waka Kotahi NZTA, and local government on road funding, RUC policy, infrastructure investment, and regulatory reform.
National driver recruitment and training programme designed to attract new people into truck driving through a structured traineeship model combining on-the-job cab training with industry-recognised tertiary qualifications.
Groundbreaking initiative in partnership with Teletrac Navman to develop diversity champions within the transport industry, promoting inclusion and creating change across workplaces and communities.
Decarbonisation roadmap adapted from the IRU, based on six pillars: alternative fuels, efficient logistics, collective mobility, vehicle technologies, driver training, and green infrastructure. Aims for carbon-neutral commercial road transport by 2050.
Online tools and guidance for members to assess their fleet's carbon footprint and plan reduction strategies through fuel efficiency, vehicle procurement, route optimisation, and emissions reporting.
Major industry conference bringing together operators, policymakers, and suppliers. Themes have included 'The Road Ahead' (2022) and 'A Changing World'. Features political panels and advocacy forums.
Specialist working groups aligned with specific operating challenges experienced by members, providing focused advocacy and information sharing.
Governance structure ensuring effective regional voice within the national association, connecting local transport issues to national policy positions.
Quarterly publication by Grant Thornton NZ tracking cost movements across fuel, RUC, wages, depreciation, overheads, and repairs/maintenance for the road freight sector.
Fuel discounts, trusted industry partnerships, and practical tools such as cost modelling to help members manage operating expenses.
Origins traced to the Master Carriers Association and the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance, New Zealand's first road transport industry organisations.
New Zealand road transport representation affiliates with the International Road Transport Union (IRU), a relationship maintained to the present day.
Road Transport Forum New Zealand formally established as the peak national body. Tony Friedlander (former National Party Cabinet Minister) appointed inaugural CEO, serving until 2010 and inducted into the NZ Road Transport Hall of Fame.
Road Transport Association New Zealand (RTANZ) formed from regional structures of the former NZRTA, operating as a separate body from the RTF.
RTANZ and Road Transport Forum merge operations under one structure, reunifying the national representation of the road freight sector.
Road Transport Forum rebrands to Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand in September. In October, NRC and NZ Trucking Association exit the federation, reducing direct membership by 64%.
Organisation undertakes constitutional overhaul to comply with the Incorporated Societies Act 2022, moving from a federation of associations to a single unified society with direct company membership.
Launches the Green Compact - a decarbonisation framework adapted from the IRU - with six pillars including alternative fuels, efficient logistics, and green infrastructure. Nick Leggett departs as CEO after four and a half years; Dom Kalasih becomes acting CEO.
Dom Kalasih formally confirmed as Chief Executive after 18 months as interim CEO. Economist Cam Bagrie appointed as independent Board Chair in October/November. In August, called for universal road user charges to future-proof transport funding, arguing the heavy freight industry has been paying weight-based RUC for nearly 50 years.
Shona Robertson elected to the Board (October). Submitted to the Transport and Infrastructure Select Committee on the Land Transport (Revenue) Amendment Bill - supported RUC modernisation but opposed tolling existing roads as 'double dipping'. Industry survey found 79% increase in transport sector liquidations and 93% of members said poor road maintenance puts lives at risk. Cautiously welcomed MCERT super-ministry announcement (December).
Chief Executive
Formally confirmed as CEO in 2024 after serving as interim CE since May 2023. Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Canterbury. Nearly a decade at Waka Kotahi NZTA, several years at the Ministry of Transport as Heavy Vehicle Safety Advisor, and over a decade at Z Energy in logistics, business development, and health & safety. Previously General Manager of Transporting NZ. Immediate Past President of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers NZ; member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.
Board Chair (Independent)
Appointed October/November 2024, succeeding Warwick Wilshier. Former ANZ Bank chief economist. Previously held positions at National Bank, Treasury, and Statistics NZ. Well-known NZ economic commentator.
Board Member
Managing Director of BLH Holdings Ltd and Talley's Group Fleet Manager (Southern Milk Transport). Re-elected for fifth year on the Board.
Board Member
CEO of Road Transport Logistics. Elected October 2025. Women in Road Freight Transport Award recipient.
Former Chief Executive (2019–2023)
Former Mayor of Porirua (2010-2016). Led the Road Transport Forum and oversaw the 2021 rebrand. Departed to become CEO of Infrastructure New Zealand.
Transporting New Zealand is a principal industry voice on road user charges policy, representing over 1,200 road freight companies that pay RUC on their diesel and heavy vehicle fleets. The association strongly advocates for a simple, transparent, user-pays RUC system and opposes any dilution of RUC's purpose by loading unrelated externality costs onto the charging framework. Transporting New Zealand submits regularly to parliamentary select committees on RUC legislation, including the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill and the Land Transport (Revenue) Amendment Bill. The association also engages with the Ministry of Transport's periodic RUC system reviews.
The Road Transport Forum (now Transporting New Zealand) organised a massive nationwide truck protest on 3 July 2008 against overnight increases in road user charges. Approximately 4,500 trucks drove slow-rolling convoys through city centres during morning rush hours in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and other major towns, causing significant disruption. Transport Minister Annette King was forced to establish a working party to review the RUC formula.
Transporting New Zealand CEO Nick Leggett strongly opposed the Ministry of Transport's 'Driving Change' discussion document, which proposed expanding the RUC system to charge for noise pollution, congestion, and climate externalities. Leggett argued the proposal was 'barking up the wrong tree,' insisting RUC's strength lies in its simplicity as a user-pays system for road maintenance.
In August 2024, Transporting New Zealand publicly backed the transition of all light vehicles from fuel excise duty to a universal road user charges system. Interim Chief Executive Dom Kalasih argued that fuel excise was no longer equitable because newer, heavier petrol SUVs were paying less per kilometre of road wear than older, lighter vehicles, and that a weight-and-distance-based RUC system would be fairer for all road users.
215632
9429042710059
NZ Incorporated Society
1997
Level 3, iPayroll House, 93 Boulcott Street, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand
Source: NZ Companies Office · Last checked February 2026
View on Companies Register
