Road transport peak body, Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand, has welcomed the Government’s decision to extend the discount to road user charges (RUC) until January 2023.
Transporting New Zealand’s recent operator survey of some 400 businesses nationwide showed that 41% of transport operators said the Road User Charge (RUC) discount made a meaningful difference to their business costs, while over 96% of those surveyed supported Transporting New Zealand’s request to the Government to indefinitely extend the discount.
“It’s pleasing to see that Transporting New Zealand has its finger on the pulse of industry opinion and that we are listened to by Government,” said CEO, Nick Leggett.
He said Transporting New Zealand has recently written to the Minister of Transport requesting an indefinite extension to the discount for fuel RUC and public transport fares.
The 36% RUC discount had been due to expire in September.
“It would have been undermining of the road transport and other industries reliant on diesel for the Government to drop the discount now, with international oil prices staying so high,” said Mr Leggett.
“This is good news all around and will extend relief for road transport operators who are up against it with escalating costs and nowhere to turn,” he said.Â
