Transport in New Zealand

Transport in New Zealand has always faced many challenges, given the country's mountainous topography and a relatively small population, which is located mostly near its long coastline. Before Europeans arrived, Māori either walked or used watercraft on rivers and along the coasts. European shipping and railways revolutionised the transport of goods and people, before themselves being overtaken by road and air transport, which are now the dominant forms. Bulk freight still continues to be transported by coastal shipping and by rail, and there are attempts to (re)introduce public transport as a major transport mode in the larger population centres.

Historically very car-dependent, transport funding in New Zealand is still heavily dominated by money for road projects – in 2010 the government proposed to spend $21 billion on roading infrastructure after 2012, yet only $0.7 billion on other transport projects (public transport, walking and cycling). This was criticised by opponents as irresponsible, in light of increasing fuel prices and congestion.^[1] Public transport is primarily a local government responsibility, while state highways are the responsibility of central government.