NZTA Waka Kotahi - The Silence is Broken
The roading authority’s silence is broken.
Fellow equestrian and advocate Brenda Reading likes to be informed and in turn, keep her local Member of Parliament informed. When she met to discuss the importance of Vulnerable Road User status for equestrians in Transport Legislation, the response from her representative wasn’t entirely positive and forthcoming.
However what happened next is to be applauded…
Waitaki MP Miles Anderson wrote in his official capacity to the transport authority – Waka Kotahi - and asked for a response around the following issues raised.
What is the position of Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) regarding horse riders on the road and status as Vulnerable Road Users?
What is the requirement to become a VRU under NZTA to enable us to support our constituents?
The response from NZTA, Acting Director of Regional Relationships, Ian Duncan confirms:
Vulnerable road user is NOT a term used or defined in transport legislation.
Minister of Transport has the final say on recognising horse riders as VRU through rule changes.
Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is meeting its obligations towards all transport system users, including horse riders, within the parameters of existing legislation and policy direction.
The Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS) 2024, and the Minister of Transport’s Annual Letter of Expectations sets NZTAs funding priorities.
Horses are allowed on roads, including berms and verges.
The New Zealand Road Code provides guidance about sharing the road with other road users.
NZTA will publish vehicle and horse rider safety content when and where appropriate, taking into consideration other priorities.
Thanks to Brenda’s enquiry, and her MP Miles Anderson using his official channels as an MP to make a request for information on behalf of his constituents, we had a point of contact at the authority on the myriad of issues.
Ngā mihi Miles for putting in the mahi!
MP Miles Anderson used his access to official channels to support his constituent Brenda Reading of Waitaki Horse Trails
Not only was the response letter confirming all we know (Vulnerable Road User Submission case) but there was a hint of how difficult it is for the authority to work within its rules.
Julia of PWASNZ wrote to the author of the letter, Acting Director of Regional Relationships at NZTA Ian Duncan straight away and introduced herself. Julia asked for an opportunity to speak with him. She wrote again days later following the release of the authorities first horse rider awareness social media campaign. It’s message aligned with PWASNZ and yet there had been no meaningful response from the authority’s head of social / marketing about why it couldn’t/ wouldn’t work collaboratively with PWASNZ, as we are the group representing equestrians in this area of horse road safety.
A response came through from Ian, and an online meeting between PWASNZ and NZTA was scheduled. For 45-mins Julia and Ian shared, discussed, listened and agreed on a way forward.
Ian agreed to come back to Julia on the issues discussed and acknowledged communications should have been more transparent as to why the authority can’t support PWASNZ work. In Julia’s words, “it’s political”.
NZTA has set priorities and a framework to deliver on. Safety is one of those areas. Hence why you have suddenly seen social media content on how to pass a horse and rider safely. It is now clear that as the Vulnerable Road User Submission tracks through the Parliamentary system, NZTA must not be seen to take a position. NZTA must remain neutral, hence why it cannot formally support the PWASNZ message.
Ian Duncan apologised that this had not been communicated earlier as our team have been reaching out to the NZTA since September 2024 with the offer support, advice and marketing content.
PWASNZ supplied feedback on the March 2025 horse road safety campaign;
Keep the message simple - Pass Wide & Slow when they see a horse rider on the road.
Have riders in all campaigns wear a Hi-Vis vest, as it is important we role model the behaviour we want to see on our roads.
Use Horse Rider road signage, not the Wild Horse signage in messaging about horse riders.
Julia left Ian with important pātai / questions that Ian promptly answered;
How can horse riders be included and participate in May’s Brake road safety week (12-18 May 2025)? Ian has encouraged PWASNZ to connect with Brake NZ.
How can NZTA support PWASNZ September 13/14 awareness rides across the country? Ian has supplied a point of contact at NZTA to discuss the annual awareness rides.
Finally Julia appealed to the authority to use relevant fatality statistics to inform its advocacy and shared where it can obtain them. Julia explained the flaw in relying on crash stats from NZ Police and that Health NZ had an internationally recognised classification system and code for deaths relating to a horse drawn vehicle or person on a horse.
“We can’t be joined at the hip, but we are both raising awareness, and we should continue to do this.”
We do believe NZTA could benefit from the education resources we are producing and the knowledge our team holds about advocacy and horse road safety marketing messaging and we will continue to lead by example and continue to educate and advocate for postive change on our roads.
We hope that one day NZTA can collaborate closely with PWASNZ, as united we can make a bigger impact.