Latest news with #JustinTigheUmbers
RNZ News
27-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Ministry of Transport U-turns on freight data study
A crucial study into how freight is moved around the country has now been given the green light, despite the Ministry of Transport earlier this month saying it would not be going ahead. The National Freight Demand Study was last undertaken in 2018 , and 2014 and 2008 before that, and captures total freight volume and movements across the country, including which goods are moved, and how. It uses publicly available data, as well as industry-provided data such as EROAD GPS in heavy vehicles. There had been indications the study would go ahead - with the Ministry recently spending $164,000 to get advice on what the new iteration of the study would involve , including making greater use of telemetry and GPS data. In an article from BusinessDesk on July 7 however confirmed the study had been dropped due to "operating in a constrained fiscal environment". Nine to Noon sought to clarify the status of the study - and received a surprise response from the Transport Minister Chris Bishop that he was "actively exploring options to commission an update to the Freight Demand Study". Justin Tighe-Umbers is chief executive of National Road Carriers. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
27-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Truck operators angered at Port of Auckland fee hike
File photo. Port of Auckland Photo: RNZ / Kymberlee Fernandes Truck operators are outraged at a steep increase in access charges at the Port of Auckland, but the port's CEO says ratepayers have been subsidising importers and exporters for too long. An expected 36 percent increase for 2026 had been doubled to 77 percent, with trucks charged $230 in peak hours and $100 in off-peak hours to drive into the country's second largest port. The National Road Carriers Association represents port transport operators. Chief executive Justin Tighe-Umbers told Morning Report the increase was effectively a cash grab. Abruptly bringing the increase forward disrupted operators' planning, and created a flow-on effect that landed on consumers, he said. "The port puts the charge through to the transport operator, who puts the charge through to the freight forwarder, who puts the charge through to the cargo owner, who puts the charge through to the retailer and ultimately you and I as consumers." "It kicks off an enormous amount of work, and predictability is really important." Port of Auckland chief executive Roger Gray said claims the port was already making excessive profits were "simply not true". Photo: Supplied/ Ports of Auckland Tighe-Umbers said the port was already beating its forecast dividends to the council. "The danger we see here is that there's a monopoly in the hands of the cash-strapped Auckland council. My concern is that Auckland Council is going to be tempted to treat the Port of Auckland as a revenue tap they can simply turn on whenever they like without consequence" Port of Auckland chief executive Roger Gray said while the port did bring the charges forward, the increases were signalled a year ago and "shouldn't be a surprise to the sector." He said claims the port was already making excessive profits were "simply not true". The port's profit target of $100 million would bring a fair return to the city. "For too long, the Port of Auckland hasn't been making enough money for its owner, the ratepayers of Auckland, and have been subsidising importers and exporters." The port was seeing a 7 percent increase year on year in containers going through the terminal, he said. The port did not have a monopoly, with a significant number of importers and exporters using the Port of Tauranga, Gray said.
