About Us
The New Zealand Local Authority Traffic Institute or Trafinz represents local authority views on road safety and traffic management in New Zealand. It exists to lobby the government, to influence decision making on road safety and traffic issues. It also acts as a forum for collectively pursuing traffic issues of interest to local authorities, and for sharing information and advice.
Trafinz serves the public interest by advocating for safe, efficient and economical planning and management of traffic. Member local authorities represent more than two-thirds of New Zealand's population.
The organisation is run by a voluntary executive comprising 12 councillors and officers elected at an annual conference. It also has a technical committee of staff practitioners from various member councils, plus the New Zealand Police, who carry out or coordinate the detailed work set by the executive through an annual business plan.
The NZ Traffic Institute Inc has been in existence since 1948 and has the following objectives:
To provide or advocate for public mobility including the planning provision and management of roads, public
To promote the safe use of roads by all, through education, encouragement, engineering and enforcement.
To ensure the environmental impact of traffic movement is recognised and treated sensitively.
To ensure that the Ministry of Transport and New Zealand Transport Agency and their departments and partner agencies are aware of the needs of local authorities and their communities.
The Institutes membership comprises local and territorial authorities, crown agencies and consultants. The Institutes strategic partners are Local Government NZ, MOT, SASTA, NZ Transport Agency, NZ Police and ACC. Local Government members are represented by both elected members and technical staff.
Our Responsibilities
As the responsibilities of local authorities have changed, so the organisation’s focus changed from general traffic enforcement, to a wider interest in pursuing all aspects of road safety. In more recent years this focus had broadened to also encompass traffic management in general, roading reform, effective community involvement, environmental issues, parking and transport planning.
Today Trafinz works under an agreed protocol with Local Government New Zealand with a clear brief to make a significant difference in terms of government policy and regulation.
What is Trafinz Doing?
Information
Informing our members and sharing information through networking, regular workshops on current issues, annual conference and this website.
Transport
Working with MoT on the implementation of "Safer Journeys".
Development
Assisting with the development of protocols for Red Light camera sites
Speed Management
Represented on national Speed Management Working Group, national Cycling Working Group etc