In accordance with section 161(2) of the Land Transport Act 1998, the NZ Transport Agency, on behalf of the Minister of Transport, gives notice of the Minister’s intention to make Rules that apply to operator licensing and that will amend the Land Transport Rule: Work Time and Logbooks 2007 and the Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Rule 1999, and advises that draft Land Transport Rule: Operator Licensing 2017, draft Land Transport Rule: Work Time and Logbooks Amendment 2017, and draft Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Amendment Rule 2017 are available for public comment.

The purposes of the proposed Rules are:

• in the case of the Land Transport Rule: Operator Licensing 2017, to revise and modernise the rules relating to operators of transport services and, for small passenger services, to provide for new service models by reforming the rules that relate to that sector in particular;
• in the case of the Land Transport Rule: Work Time and Logbooks Amendment 2017, to clarify which types of small passenger service operator will be subject to work time and logbook obligations and what those obligations are; and
• in the case of the Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Amendment Rule 2017, to remove the requirement that applicants for a passenger endorsement must have sat a full Class 1 licence test in the five years preceding their application.

A copy of the draft Rules and accompanying overview material may be obtained by calling the NZ Transport Agency Contact Centre on freephone 0800 699 000 and is available, together with questions and answers, on the website at

www.nzta.govt.nz/about-us/consultations/land-transport-rule-small-passenger-services-2017

The consultation material is also available for viewing at the NZ Transport Agency’s National Office and regional offices. Groups and individuals who have registered their interest have been advised of the availability of the draft Rules for comment.

Submissions close at 5.00pm on Friday 18 November 2016.

For further information about the rules process, contact the Rules Team, NZ Transport Agency, Private Bag 6995, Wellington 6141, or email rules@nzta.govt.nz.

Dated at Wellington this 11th day of October 2016.

ANGELA DUNCAN, Managing Counsel (Rules), NZ Transport Agency.