Transport Minister Chris Bishop raised concerns about reduced performance targets proposed by NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), but the agency’s board chose to leave them unchanged, according to reporting by the New Zealand Herald.
The Herald reports Bishop wrote to NZTA board chair Simon Bridges in May expressing concern that several draft 2026/27 targets were less ambitious than the agency’s expected performance in 2025/26. He asked the board to review the targets before they were finalised.
The targets included reducing the proportion of practical driving tests completed within 30 working days from an expected 95% in 2025/26 to 75% in 2026/27, and lowering the target for collecting unpaid road user charges identified through investigations from 85% to 65%.
Bridges responded that the board considered the targets “appropriate at this time”, citing changes to NZTA’s regulatory operating model, but said they would be reviewed as those changes were implemented.
The final Statement of Performance Expectations, published this month, retained the lower targets.
Bishop told the Herald he accepts that targets need to be realistic and achievable and is awaiting the outcome of NZTA’s planned review during 2026/27.
