The Ministry of Transport (Te Manatū Waka)
Was the New Zealand Government's principal transport policy adviser. The vast majority of its work is providing policy advice to the Minister and Associate Minister of Transport to shape transport policy for New Zealand. The Secretary for Transport (Chief Executive) is Martin Matthews.
The Ministry of Transport was formerly responsible for enforcement of traffic laws before their division of traffic officers was merged into the same organization as the police.
Some significant dates
1968 The Ministry of Transport was established with a headcount of nearly 2800 staff.
1972 The Marine Department was added to the Ministry of Transport, assembling all modes of transport under one organization and increasing the Ministry's headcount to just over 3700 staff.
1987 Air Traffic Services moved from the Ministry of Transport portfolio when it became the State Owned Enterprise known as Airways Corporation of New Zealand Ltd.
The Rescue Fire Service was transferred to individual airports within New Zealand.
A new government policy prompted an internal review of the regional structure. The existing secretaries carried out the review and they identified 50 positions to be removed.
Despite the Ministry's portfolios decreasing and the effects of the internal review, the headcount in 1987 was approximately 4200 staff.
1988 The Ministry of Transport was restructured into business divisions: Land Transport (including Traffic Safety Service) Meteorological Service, Air Transport, Maritime Transport and Roading. The restructuring meant a reduction in headcount to approximately 3000. This was mostly due to natural attrition rather than redundancy. It also saw the different business divisions move from one building to separate premises.
1989 The Roading Division became a Crown Entity called Transit New Zealand.
Local Authority Traffic Services were transferred to the Ministry of Transport.
1990 The Office of Air Accidents became the Crown entity called the Transport Accident Investigation Commission.
The Ministry's headcount was approximately 2700 staff.
1992 The Meteorological Service was separated from the Ministry of Transport and became the State Owned Enterprise called the Meteorological Service of New Zealand Ltd.
The Traffic Safety Service was transferred to the New Zealand Police.
Atmosphere and Climate Research was transferred to the Crown Research Institute, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.
The Air Transport Division became a Crown entity called the Civil Aviation Authority.
The Driver Education Service was privatized.
1993 The Safety and Regulation of boilers, lifts and cranes was transferred to the Department of Labour's Occupational Safety and Health unit.
The Land Transport Division became a Crown entity called the Land Transport Safety Authority.
The Maritime Transport Division became a Crown entity called the Maritime Safety Authority.
The Aviation Security Service was transferred to the Civil Aviation Authority.
SEE ALSO Avsec