17977 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Transport

Written Question

Published date: 15 May 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	17977 (2026)
Question asked:	30 Apr 2026
Member asking:	Tangi Utikere
Portfolio:	Minister of Transport
Minister replying:	Hon Chris Bishop
Answer received:	11 May 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_17977_2026
Document guid:	ce2810d1-0d91-466a-99de-eeca805e62b0

17977 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Transport: What assessment, if any, has been made of the accelerated rutting, fatigue cracking, and edge-break damage to chipseal surfaces on local roads arising from the proposed heavier axle loads, given NZ Transport Agency research finding that the damage exponent for thin flexible pavements may be as high as the fifth power for fatigue cracking and the ninth power for pavements near their structural capacity?

Hon Chris Bishop: I refer the Member to my response to Written Parliamentary Question 17975 (2026).