Who we are
We are the national industry association representing and advocating for road transport operators.
From courier companies and owner/drivers to large fleet operators and the companies that work alongside the freight transport industry, our representation is wide-ranging and responsive to the needs of our members.
We take a lot of pride in the service and benefits we provide to our members – you can find additional details about how we operate in the Transporting New Zealand Constitution and Privacy Notice.
Under the leadership of Chief Executive Dom Kalasih and our Board, we are passionate about providing support and development for the vital transport lifeblood of New Zealand industry.
Who we represent
Owner-operators
Small to large fleets
Industry suppliers and supporting businesses
What we do
Advocacy & representation
Member support & benefits
Industry events & networking
Why it matters
Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4,700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion.
Having a strong, unified industry voice means the people who move the country’s freight are represented when decisions are made about infrastructure, regulation, safety, and the future of transport.
Without effective representation, policies risk being developed without the practical insight of those working on the road every day.
Through advocacy, leadership, and collaboration, we work to ensure New Zealand’s road transport industry can continue to operate safely, efficiently, and sustainably.
Our advocacy
We’re proud to trace our origins back to the 1920s where it all started with the Master Alliance Carriers Association and the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance, New Zealand’s two original industry organisations.
The Road Transport Forum New Zealand was established in 1997. In 2021, we changed our name to Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand to better reflect our brand and our voice, and the important contribution road transport makes to our country’s economy.
Our strategy
Transporting New Zealand’s mission is to create an environment where trucking operators can drive successful, safe and sustainable businesses.
We are actively working towards achieving goals in several focus areas to drive this overarching mission.
Our History
We’re proud to trace our origins back over a hundred years.
1920s
Here’s where it all started with the Master Carriers Federation and a bit later on, the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance.
1980s
In the early 1980s, the deregulation of the transport industry meant that carriers could legally compete with rail when transporting freight over 150km.
During the 1980s there were 20 or more local associations sitting underneath the New Zealand Road Transport Association (NZRTA) umbrella. However, as the industry became less regionally restricted and branched out, New Zealand’s many small local road freight associations started to consider amalgamation. The end of compulsory unionisation for road freight employees also reduced the need for association-assisted collective negotiations.
1990s
In 1992, local associations moved into the regional association structure that would continue through to the 2020s. The country was divided into five autonomous regions, starting from Region 1 at the top of the North Island, down to Region 5 in Southland.
In 1997 the NZRTA was re-constituted as the Road Transport Forum, which included regional associations and their respective administrative bodies.
2020s
In 2021, RTF rebranded to Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand (Transporting New Zealand).
Ia Ara Aotearoa can be translated as “each and every road of Aotearoa” – claiming that every road that etches the land across our country will be driven on by one of the freight vehicles of Transporting New Zealand – Ia Ara Aotearoa.
In 2024 following an extensive consultation process, Transporting New Zealand moved from an association umbrella group to a national membership organisation with over 1,100 individual members. Regional legacy funds were moved into the independent, member elected Endowment Committee that currently offers funding rounds to benefit positive industry projects and scholarships.
As of 2026 Transporting New Zealand is the largest freight association in the country. It is the only association with a national team of membership managers, has the widest regional representation, and the largest media and policy footprint.