Driving the economy
Transporting New Zealand endeavours to work alongside government to help address industry issues.
damage to our industry’s reputation. The whole episode also increases the risk that our industry could be near the front of the queue for a Fair Pay Agreement, which is a prospect that Transporting New Zealand and every operator is very keen to avoid. At Conference, Jonathan Caseley, executive director of PERFORM-X Aotearoa, explained how his company’s tool that provides accurate information about employment in our industry shows there is a shortage of about 2,400 drivers across the country. This is a far cry from 9,000 and is the scale of the shortage that initiatives like Te ara ki tua Road to success help to address. Road to success is a classic case of working with ministers and officials to provide solutions that are industry-led but government supported. At the end of the day the driver shortage is fundamentally our problem to
sort out; it is unrealistic to expect any government can and would be able to do this for us. Cooperation, however, is the key, and to establish a good cooperative relationship with decision-makers over a complex issue like our driver shortage is how Transporting New Zealand will continue to go about our advocacy work. Finally, let me wish all New Zealand Truck & Driver readers a great Christmas and New Year. For all of those that will work through this period keeping New Zealand moving, good on you and thank you. For too long what the transport and logistics sector does for our country has been taken for granted but if the pandemic had one silver lining it was that at least now there is a wee bit more appreciation for just how important transport operators, professional drivers and freight handlers are. I, for one, will be raising a glass to you all. T&D
Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand’s Regional and Sector Advisors are available to assist members right around New Zealand. Ia Ara Aotearoa – Transporting New Zealand PO Box 1778, Wellington 04 472 3877 info@transporting.nz
Nick Leggett, Chief Executive 04 472 3877 • 021 248 2175 nick@transporting.nz Mike McRandle, Regional & Sector Manager 027 556 6099
www.transporting.nz 44 | Truck & Driver
Keith McGuire, Region 2 027 445 5785 Sandy Walker, Region 3 027 485 6038 John Bond, Region 4 027 444 8136 Jim Crouchley, Region 5 027 261 0953
