Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand
1. Business / Trading Name: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand Inc (trading name for Road Transport Forum New Zealand Incorporated since 2021).
2. Company number: Incorporated Society registration no. 215632 (no NZ Companies Office company number; operates via a registered incorporated society).
3. NZBN: 9429042710059 (as listed on the Incorporated Societies Register)
4. Entity type: Incorporated society (non-profit industry association).
5. Business classification: National industry body representing the road freight transport sector (advocacy and lobbying for trucking industry interests).
6. Industry Category: Road freight transportation (trucking and logistics).
7. Year founded: 1997 (established as Road Transport Forum New Zealand) ; origins trace back to 1920s trucking alliances.
8. Addresses: Physical – Level 3, iPayroll House, 93 Boulcott Street, Wellington 6011. Postal – PO Box 1778, Wellington 6140. (Head office in Wellington CBD).
9. Website URL:
https://www.transporting.nz
10. LinkedIn URL: https://nz.linkedin.com/company/ia-ara-aotearoa-transporting-new-zealand
11. Company Hub NZ URL: https://www.companyhub.nz/companyDetails.cfm?nzbn=9429040932712 (CompanyHub listing for Transporting New Zealand Ltd, subsidiary).
12. NZ Companies Office URL: https://app.businessregisters.govt.nz/sber-businesses/viewInstance/view.html?id=229a78e05307b6d8bf1b29667f00cb1776e438fd075b163d&_timestamp=1607871148827419 (Incorporated Societies Register)
13. Social Media URLs: Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TransportingNewZealand ; Twitter/X – https://twitter.com/RTFNZ (handle @RTFNZ) ; LinkedIn – see above. (The organisation actively posts industry updates on these platforms).
14. Ultimate Holding Company: Not applicable – the incorporated society is member-owned (no parent company). The society itself is the ultimate parent of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Transporting New Zealand Limited.
15. Key Shareholders: Not applicable – as an incorporated society, it has members rather than shareholders. (Its membership consists of trucking companies, not equity shareholders.)
16. Leadership: Board Chair – Cam Bagrie (appointed independent Chair Nov 2024, economist and former ANZ chief economist) ; Chief Executive – Dom Kalasih (appointed 2024 after serving as interim CEO since 2023). Immediate past leadership: Warwick Wilshier (industry operator, past Board Chair until 2024) ; Nick Leggett (Chief Executive 2018–2023, former Porirua mayor).
17. Staff: Approximately 8–10 staff members (small team), including policy advisers and communications specialists. (LinkedIn lists company size “2–10 employees”, reflecting a lean staff.) Key personnel include policy managers and a content/communications editor.
18. Staff that have held previous government roles: The organisation has a pronounced “revolving door” with politics. Hon. Tony Friedlander – former National Party Cabinet Minister (Chief Executive in the 2000s) ; Ken Shirley – former ACT Party MP and Deputy Leader (Chief Executive 2010–2018) ; Nick Leggett – former Porirua City Mayor and Labour Party member (Chief Executive 2018–2023) ; Cam Bagrie – former economist at NZ Treasury and Statistics NZ (appointed Chair in 2024). (These prior roles in government give the lobby deep political networks.)
19. Past Employees: Notable former executives include Tony Friedlander (RTF Chief Executive until retiring in 2010), Ken Shirley (Chief Executive 2010–2018, succeeded Friedlander), and Nick Leggett (Chief Executive 2018–2023, who departed to head Infrastructure NZ). Each brought political experience to the role. Other past staff include long-serving industry advisors and regional association leaders who transitioned into the unified organisation.
20. Clients: Members (clients represented) – approximately 1,200 road freight transport businesses nationwide. These range from owner-driver small trucking firms and couriers to large fleet operators and freight logistics companies. Notable member companies are those operating significant truck fleets in fuel distribution, agriculture and freight – for example, bulk fuel hauler Tranzliquid (whose owner sits on the board), dairy logistics providers (e.g. Open Country Dairy’s transport arm), and many regional trucking companies. (The organisation’s “clients” are effectively its member companies whose interests it advocates for.)
21. Industries/sectors represented: The heavy road transport sector – specifically road freight transport (trucking), including general freight, bulk goods, livestock, logging, courier/delivery, and associated commercial transport services. Transporting NZ is the peak body for the trucking industry and also engages with related sectors like logistics, distribution, and trucking equipment suppliers (ancillary members).
22. Publicly Disclosed Engagements: Transporting NZ regularly participates in government policy processes. It files formal submissions on transport policy consultations (e.g. a 2022 submission to Te Manatū Waka Ministry of Transport on the national freight & supply chain strategy issues paper). Its representatives meet with Ministers and officials (for instance, meeting with the Minister of Immigration in 2023 to discuss labour shortages in trucking). The organisation also appears at Parliamentary select committee hearings on transport legislation and inquiries. (These engagements are typically a matter of public record via committee minutes or acknowledged in press statements.) Additionally, Transporting NZ sits on or liaises with various government-industry working groups and forums (e.g. road safety and infrastructure advisory groups), and it often publicises its stance through media releases and conference presentations.
23. Affiliations: Transporting NZ is the product of amalgamating regional trucking associations – historically working with four regional associations (such as National Road Carriers in Auckland and other regional Road Transport Associations) that were separately governed. In 2021 it merged with the Road Transport Association New Zealand (RTANZ) to form a single national entity, reflecting a tighter alliance across the sector. Internationally, Transporting NZ is a member of the International Road Transport Union (IRU), aligning with global road freight advocacy and adopting IRU initiatives. It often partners with broad business advocacy bodies on cross-industry issues – for example, it supported BusinessNZ’s position in the national debate on employment law reforms. The organisation maintains relationships with other transport stakeholders (e.g. NZ Automobile Association on road policy) and is an affiliate member of the NZ Road Safety Partnership programmes.
24. Sponsorships / Collaborations: Transporting NZ engages in partnerships to promote industry interests and initiatives. It co-founded and administers the “Te ara ki tua – Road to Success” traineeship program to train new truck drivers, in collaboration with industry employers and with government support (Ministry of Social Development). It has partnered with corporate sponsors like Bridgestone NZ on events such as launching the “Green Compact” decarbonisation roadmap in 2023 (a collaborative initiative with the IRU, with the Transport Minister officiating). The organisation is also a key partner in the annual NZ Road Transport Hall of Fame awards, sponsoring and organising the event alongside industry suppliers. Additionally, Transporting NZ works jointly with government agencies on campaigns (e.g. road safety promotions with Waka Kotahi/NZ Transport Agency and ACC) and has informal collaborations with other industry groups (such as sharing research with the Automobile Association on infrastructure needs).
25. Events (held or organised by this organisation): Transporting NZ hosts an annual conference for the trucking industry (e.g. the 2023 Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting NZ Annual Conference in Invercargill), where members and officials discuss policy and industry trends. It organizes regional seminars and meetings, such as the South Island Road Freight Seminar & Industry Awards (planned for June 2025 in Christchurch). The organisation also convenes industry forums, workshops, and webinars on topics like compliance, emissions, and safety. It participates in or co-hosts the NZ Road Transport Hall of Fame gala and supports events like the Road Transport Industry Awards at its conference. During election years it has facilitated political debates or “meet the politicians” events for its members. (These events help rally the industry and also provide access for policymakers to the trucking sector.)
26. Political Donations: The road transport lobby has directly contributed funds to political parties and candidates. Notably, ahead of the 2008 general election the Road Transport Trust donated NZ$95,000 across both major parties and several MPs. This included $30,000 to the National Party and $20,000 to the Labour Party, plus $5,000 each to nine individual MPs from National and Labour. The RTF’s chief executive at the time, Tony Friedlander, openly stated these contributions were aimed at securing access to lawmakers to discuss trucking issues. There is no public record of recent direct political donations by Transporting NZ itself; any such support may occur via individual member companies or industry coalitions. (The large 2008 donations were disclosed in MPs’ pecuniary interest registers and attracted media scrutiny for effectively “buying access.”)
27. Controversies: Opaque lobbying and influence: Transporting NZ (and its predecessor RTF) has faced criticism for exerting outsized influence on transport policy without transparent disclosure. The forum’s secret nearly-$100k political donation scheme in 2008 drew concern about buying political access. Watchdog commentators have alleged that government transport strategy has been “driven by trucking industry lobbyists” to the detriment of broader interests. Road vs Rail disputes: The organisation is frequently at odds with rail advocates. In 2024 a rail lobby group accused Transporting NZ (calling it “the trucking lobby”) of pushing misleading statistics about heavy trucks’ road cost contributions in order to argue for larger trucks. Rail proponents claim the trucking lobby understates the road damage and emissions from trucks while lobbying to cancel rail projects. Transporting NZ’s interim CEO Dom Kalasih was singled out for presenting a “false picture” of road user charges and downplaying trucks’ impacts. Safety and environmental concerns: Critics have periodically charged the forum with resisting safety reforms (like lower speed limits or stricter fatigue rules) and environmental measures. For example, the RTF was criticised for opposing rail freight expansion and for influencing decisions such as allowing 50-tonne trucks on roads – a policy that a car users’ advocate said left “the average motorist the loser” in terms of road wear costs. The forum’s former CEO (Tony Friedlander, an ex-Minister) being in charge while such policies were advanced was cited as a case of potential “regulatory capture”. Internal rifts: The road transport lobby itself suffered past fractures – in the late 2010s, disagreements between the national body and some regional associations led to a splinter group (RTANZ) until the 2021 merger. This fragmentation (and subsequent reunification) was contentious within the industry, though not widely publicised. Overall, Transporting NZ has been at the centre of debates on trucking’s impact, occasionally attracting negative press over its tactics to shape policy in favour of road freight.
28. Other information of note: In September 2021 the organisation rebranded from “Road Transport Forum” to “Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand”, adopting a bilingual name and new logo to reflect a modern, inclusive image. (“Ia Ara Aotearoa” was explained by translators as meaning “each and every road of Aotearoa”, signifying that every road in the country is used by the freight industry’s trucks.) The rebranding coincided with efforts to broaden public awareness of trucking’s essential role, following research showing generally favourable public views of the industry. Transporting NZ publishes a regular industry magazine/newsletter (“Road Transport News”) for its members and stakeholders – historically via its subsidiary Transport News NZ Ltd. It also administers an Endowment Fund (through an Endowment Committee) to support industry training, scholarships, and driver development initiatives. In 2022–2024, the organisation undertook a major overhaul of its constitution to comply with the new Incorporated Societies Act 2022, moving from a federation of associations to a single unified society with direct company membership. This structural change, along with the name rebrand, marks a new era for the lobby, aiming to strengthen its influence and better “deliver the services members want” under contemporary governance standards.
29. Recipient of Wage Subsidy Scheme: Data Not Found. (No public record was found of Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand or the Road Transport Forum directly receiving COVID-19 Wage Subsidy payments. The organisation did, however, advocate for wage subsidy support for transport firms during pandemic lockdowns, but it does not appear as a claimant itself.)
Sources: See footnotes below.
Sources:
[1] Who we are – Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand Inc, Transporting NZ, https://www.transporting.nz/who-we-are
[2] Transporting New Zealand submission on Freight & Supply Chain Issues Paper, Te Manatū Waka Ministry of Transport (PDF), https://www.transport.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Transporting-New-Zealand-NZFSCS-Public-Submission.pdf
[3] Nick Leggett: Proud to be part of an industry that moves NZ, TransportTalk, https://transporttalk.co.nz/columns/opinion/nick-leggett-proud-to-be-part-of-an-industry-that-moves-nz
[4] Transporting NZ: Cam Bagrie named chairman of the board, Dom Kalasih confirmed as CEO, NZ Trucking Magazine, https://www.nztrucking.co.nz/transporting-nz-cam-bagrie-named-chairman-of-the-board-dom-kalasih-confirmed-as-ceo/
[5] Truck group gave $95,000 to MPs, NZ Herald (Claire Trevett), https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/truck-group-gave-95000-to-mps/H24AEYZCB5DYVAKQP4ZKCKJ7Q4/
[6] Road Lobby give false picture of road user charges – TRAC Press Release, Scoop News, https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2402/S00128.htm
[7] Transporting New Zealand adopts sector-focussed constitution and governance structure, Scoop Business (Press Release – Transporting NZ), https://business.scoop.co.nz/2024/08/08/transporting-new-zealand-adopts-sector-focussed-constitution-and-governance-structure/
[8] Ken Shirley to lead road transport lobby group, National Business Review (NBR, NZPA), https://www.nbr.co.nz/ken-shirley-to-lead-road-transport-lobby-group/
[9] Tony Friedlander – Wikipedia, Wikipedia.org, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Friedlander
[10] Nick Leggett – Wikipedia, Wikipedia.org, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Leggett
[11] Katherine Rich – Interest groups (Te Ara Encyclopedia), TeAra.govt.nz, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/34976/katherine-rich (cited snippet via search)
[12] Motorists robbed by trucking plans (Clive Matthew-Wilson), Dog & Lemon Guide (Media Release), https://dogandlemon.com/media/motorists-robbed-trucking-plans
[13] Transporting NZ (Ia Ara Aotearoa) – LinkedIn profile, LinkedIn, https://nz.linkedin.com/company/ia-ara-aotearoa-transporting-new-zealand
[14] Company profile – Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand Inc, Katalyst Business, https://www.katalystbusiness.co.nz/business-profiles/670910.html
[15] Road Transport Forum rebrands as Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand, Transporting NZ (Press Release, 15 Sept 2021), https://www.transporting.nz/press-releases/road-transport-forum-rebrands
[16] Contractor Magazine – Immigration changes after industry lobbying, Contractor.co.nz, https://contractormag.co.nz/contractor/immigration-changes-after-industry-lobbying/
[17] New Zealand needs bigger and heavier trucks, says industry, NZ Autocar, https://www.autocar.co.nz/new-zealand-needs-bigger-and-heavier-trucks-says-industry/
[18] Facebook – Transporting NZ profile (public page info), Facebook.com, https://www.facebook.com/TransportingNewZealand
[19] Transporting NZ calls for urgent business and wages support, TransportTalk, https://transporttalk.co.nz/news/transporting-nz-calls-for-urgent-business-and-wages-support (via Google cache)
[20] Designing a Fair Pay Agreements System – RTF submission (BusinessNZ reference), Transporting.nz (PDF), https://files.transporting.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/RTF-Fair-Pay-Agreements-Submission.pdf (RTF supported BusinessNZ’s submission)
Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz