This transparency statement summarises how the NZ Transport Agency complies with the State Services Commission’s Model Standards on Information Gathering and Public Trust(external link)
Operating environment
The Transport Agency is a Crown Entity with the objective to undertake its functions in a way that contributes to an effective, efficient, and safe land transport system in the public interest. We are also the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, the RUC collector, and a toll operator.
Our main functions are:
- planning and funding the land transport system, including management of the National Land Transport Fund and State Highway network
- regulating land transport activities, including law enforcement functions
- land transport research, education, and training
- maintaining the Motor Vehicle and Driver Licence Registers
- collecting Road User Charges and tolls.
We work within a system of legislation including:
We are subject to oversight from other agencies and office-holders, including:
- Ministry of Transport
- Auditor General
- Treasury
- Ombudsman
- Privacy Commissioner
- Government Chief Privacy Officer
- Government Chief Digital Officer
Information gathering, use, and sharing
We collect, use, and share information in accordance with the framework above and a range of policies and procedures, including:
- Transport Agency Code of Conduct
- State Services Commission Code of Conduct and Model Standards on Information Gathering and Public Trust
- Conflict of Interest Policy
- Privacy Policy
- Information Management Policy
- Health Safety and Wellbeing Policy
Collection, use, and sharing of information occurs in both physical and digital environments.
This includes the collection, use, and sharing of information as necessary to give effect to our legislative responsibilities and functions, and for:
- supporting other state sector agencies’ activities
- undertaking protective security and risk assessment activities
- managing health and safety
- planning and policy development
- research and analysis.
In some cases information is collected and used by agents and contractors engaged by us.
We collect information from a wide range of sources, including:
- regulated parties, including voluntarily and upon lawful demand
- physical sources, persons, and locations, including audits, inspections, and surveys
- online sources, including websites, social media, and public registers
- by recording with prior notice, telephone calls, interviews, or conversations
- technical devices, including road management sensors and CCTV for the purposes of land transport safety, land transport management, and maintenance of the law
- other agencies or entities including the NZ Police, the Ministry of Justice, private sector companies, and overseas governments and agencies.
When considering when and how to collect, use, or share information we take into account a range of factors, including:
- lawfulness of collection, use, or sharing, including privacy considerations
- significance of the activity, including health and safety risk
- credibility and reliability of the information and source.
In limited cases and with additional governance, management, and legal oversight, we may collect information necessary to carry out our lawful functions by observation of regulated parties in public places, by means where an employee is not immediately identifiable, and by engaging external security consultants.
Complaints
If you have a complaint about the information gathering practices of the Transport Agency:
