A Review of Highway Agencies in the South Asia Region

A Review of Highway Agencies in the South Asia Region
C.2.5 Financing Road Infrastructure
In 2009, the training expenditures were approximately US$1.1 million 41 for technical and
nontechnical skills development.
Internal assessment and on-the-job training opportunities play a key role in assisting
staff to gain contact center, business administration and other qualifications. NZTA
has a Professional Development Partner Program in partnership with the Institution of
Professional Engineers New Zealand to offer a Graduate Development Program.
NTZA has a strong focus on developing leadership within the organization. It has adopted
a new leadership competency framework for all leadership roles. The expectations from its
leaders are clearly articulated in the position descriptions for each role and are measured
specifically through the performance management system that the organization has
adopted for all positions.
Research and Knowledge Development
NTZA is responsible for the administration of a contestable land transport research fund. It
is intended that NZTA’s research program will set out a rolling three-year plan of research
activity to align itself with the new three-year NLTP funding cycle.
The research program 42 consists mostly of industry-generated research, with a small
amount of directed research. Industry-generated research comprises research projects
developed by researchers in conjunction with end users, and funding is awarded on a
contestable basis via a two-stage application process.
Directed research comprises research projects that NZTA has commissioned and requested
researchers to submit a proposal on. This ‘top-down’ approach is designed to fill the gaps
not covered by industry-generated research.
The NZTA uses a Research Reference Group to advise it on research proposals. The Group is
chaired by NZTA and comprises representatives of key stakeholder groups with appropriate
expertise.
The stakeholder groups include representatives from various government levels, policing,
consultants, contractors, universities and research institutes, road users, and other public
interest groups.
Financing
The National Land Transport Fund is a primary source of funding for New Zealand’s land
transport system, and funds all types of roads, road policing program, public transport
and other activities such as research and sector training. Figure C12 describes the overall
funding allocation.
A fuel excise duty, charges on diesel and heavy vehicles (road user charges), and vehicle
licensing and registration fees are the main sources of funds. Fuel excise and road user
charges revenue are fully dedicated to the National Land Transport Fund for allocation to
land transport activities. In addition, more funding comes directly from the government and
local authorities as well as developers’ contributions in some cases.
New Zealand has toll bridges only since 2009 when NGTR opened on State Highway 1, north
of Auckland. To bring forward construction, NZTA borrowed against future revenue to be
generated through toll collection.
41 NZTA (2009). Annual report. Page: 69.
42 NZTA (2008), NZ Transport Agency’s Approach to Research 2009–12, GPS activity class: sector research, October 2008.
133