The NZTA's research programme - an overview

Introduction to the research programme

The NZTA funds innovative and relevant research that contributes to the aim of achieving an affordable, integrated, safe, responsive and sustainable land transport system in New Zealand. Every year, researchers are invited to apply for funding to carry out high-priority projects that will result in new knowledge and information of land transport sector issues applicable in the New Zealand context.

NZTA's approach to research

The research programme is managed in accordance with the NZTA’s Approach to Research. The Approach:

• outlines the strategic context that underpins the research programme
• defines the research that qualifies for funding
• sets out the transport sector’s priority research needs
• details the application and management process.

The NZTA’s areas of research interest

The NZTA allocates funding in seven key research areas:

• Integrated land use and transport systems - to more efficiently manage transport and integration with land use
• Transport demand management - to manage the people and freight demand for transport and provide impetus for changing transport choices
• Activity management - to improve the performance of land transport activities and assets
• Sustainable land transport - to improve the sustainability of the land transport system
• Safety, security and public health - to improve the safety, security and public health of users, communities and the sector workforce through improvements to the land transport system
• Environmental impacts of land transport - to measure the impact of land transport construction, operation and maintenance emissions/pollutants on the natural and built environment
• Economic development - to improve the valuation of economic benefits of land transport activities.

Definition of research

NZTA research is undertaken to acquire new knowledge and information of land transport sector issues applicable to the New Zealand context.

The research must:

• be applicable to interventions that can be applied in NZ in the short to medium term for longer term impacts
• have multiple end users
• not provide commercial gain for a sole supplier or single product
• not exclusively benefit a single organisation to achieve its own operational needs or business objectives.

Types of research

The research programme consists mostly of industry-generated research, with a small amount of directed research:

• industry-generated research: projects developed by researchers in conjunction with end users (‘bottom-up research’). Industry-generated funding is awarded on a contestable basis.  
• directed research: research projects that the NZTA specifically commissions and tenders for (‘top-down research’). Directed research is designed to fill the ‘gaps’ not covered by industry-generated research.

The Research Programme does not include research undertaken by the NZTA to support its core operational activities.

Research and the National Land Transport Programme

The Research Programme is part of, and published in, the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). See the NLTP section of this website for details of the 2008/09 Research Programme.

Last updated: 10 October 2008