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The Government plans to introduce a series of legislative changes to enable the transition of New Zealand’s 3.5 million light vehicles to paying for the country’s roading network through electronic road user charges, rather than petrol tax.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop says: “The abolition of petrol tax, and the move towards all vehicles paying for roads based on distance and weight, is the biggest change to how we fund our roading network in 50 years.
“Right now, New Zealanders pay fuel excise duty (FED, or petrol tax) of about 70c per litre of petrol every time they fill up at the pump with a petrol car.
“Diesel, electric, and heavy vehicles pay road user charges (RUC) based on distance travelled.
“This revenue is funnelled into the National Land Transport Fund which funds the building of new roads and maintaining our existing ones.”
Bishop says for decades petrol tax has acted as a rough proxy for road use, but the relationship between petrol consumption and road usage is fast breaking down.
For example, petrol vehicles with better fuel economy contribute less FED per kilometre towards road maintenance, operations, and improvements.
“We are also seeing a fast uptake of fuel-efficient petrol hybrid vehicles,” Bishop says.
“In 2015, there were 12,000 on our roads, while today there are over 350,000.
“As our vehicle fleet changes, so too must the way we fund our roads.
“It isn’t fair to have Kiwis who drive less and who can’t afford a fuel-efficient car paying more than people who can afford one and drive more often.
“This is a change that simply has to happen. The Government has recognised reality and is getting on with the transition.”
The Government’s plan will eventually see all vehicles pay based on actual road use (including weight), regardless of fuel type.
The transition will happen in stages, beginning with legislative and regulatory reform to modernise the current RUC system and enable private sector innovation.
Bishop says the current RUC system is outdated.
“It’s largely paper-based, means people have to constantly monitor their odometers, and requires people to buy RUC in 1000km chunks.
“We’re not going to shift millions of drivers from a simple system at the pump to queues at retailers.
“So instead of expanding a clunky Government system, we will reform the rules to allow the market to deliver innovative, user-friendly services for drivers.
“A handful of E-RUC companies already do this for about half of our heavy vehicle fleet and there are several companies, both domestic and international, with innovative technology that could make complying with RUC cheaper and easier.”
Key legislative changes the Government is progressing include:
Removing the requirement to carry or display RUC licences, allowing for digital records instead.
Enabling the use of a broader range of electronic RUC devices, including those already built into many modern vehicles.
Supporting flexible payment models such as post-pay and monthly billing.
Separating NZTA’s roles as both RUC regulator and retailer to foster fairer competition.
Allowing bundling of other road charges like tolls and time of used based pricing into a single, easy payment.
“The changes will support a more user-friendly, technology-enabled RUC system, with multiple retail options available for motorists,” Bishop says.
“Eventually, paying for RUC should be like paying a power bill online, or a Netflix subscription. Simple and easy.
“I expect to pass legislation in 2026, followed by an updated Code of Practice for RUC providers.
“We’ll also engage with the market in 2026 to assess technological solutions and delivery timelines.
“In parallel, NZTA and police will upgrade their systems to support enforcement in a digital environment.
“By 2027, the RUC system will be ‘open for business’, with third-party providers able to offer innovative payment services and a consistent approval process in place.
“At this stage, no date has been set for the full transition of the light vehicle fleet.
“That’s a deliberate choice, as we’re focused on getting the system right rather than rushing its rollout.”
