www.autofile.co.nz
JULY 2026
THE TRUSTED VOICE OF NZ’s AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY SINCE 1984
Politicians urged to get behind industry Association’s manifesto calls for next government to focus on fleet’s safety, skills shortage and EVs
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training fund to increase financial support for businesses taking on apprentices and creating a scrappage scheme are on an industry organisation’s agenda ahead of this year’s general election. The Motor Trade Association (MTA) is lobbying politicians to get to grips with a host of other issues in its 52-page manifesto called The Road to Prosperity, which was launched at parliament on July 1. It’s also calling for a balanced warrant of fitness (WOF) system, product stewardship for end-of-life batteries, boosting the switch to electric cars, changes to a raft of laws and measures to tackle crime at service stations. Lee Marshall, the MTA’s chief executive officer, says the roadmap outlines clean, practical and cost-effective proposals across priority areas. He told Autofile: “Many calls we make, if enacted, would create a more favourable legislative
Lee Marshall launching the MTA’s roadmap. Photo: Marty Melville
environment that would make it easier for our industry to thrive. “The MTA’s roadmap is very much the product of our members, what they have told us, their feedback about what’s important
and what they need to see change to do better. “Some calls are more ambitious than others. But, by and large, our intention is for every one to be pragmatic, actionable and broadly supportable irrespective of where you sit on the political spectrum or which party’s colours you wear.” He explains the four “routes for industry and government to growth and prosperity” are a safer fleet, skilled workforce, focus on crime, and a fair playing field when it comes to rules and regulations keeping pace with progress. As for upgrading New Zealand’s fleet, Marshall says action is needed to minimise pollution and increase its safety. He contends the clean vehicle standard (CVS) only influences what comes into the country and does nothing about what’s already on our roads, which is where emissions intensity and safety risks are most concentrated. Then there’s the ageing fleet
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