50 Victoria Street
Private Bag 6995
Wellington 6141
New Zealand
T 64 4 894 5400
F 64 4 894 6100
www.nzta.govt.nz
13 December 2021
Iain Palmer
[FYI request #17738 email]
Ref. NZT-6855
Dear Iain
Thank you for your email of 27 November 2021 regarding Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency support
for rail heritage groups in the 2020 financial year, and Waka Kotahi policy for engaging with these
groups. Your correspondence has been referred to me as these matters fall within my responsibilities
as Senior Manager for Safer Rail.
Waka Kotahi frequently engages with rail heritage groups through the National Rail Industry Advisory
Forum, which we facilitate. This brings together all parts of the rail industry in New Zealand, including
tourist and heritage groups.
Waka Kotahi has primary regulatory responsibility for rail safety in New Zealand. The Safer Rail team
undertook a range of activities to promote rail safety with its rail license holders in the tourist and
heritage section. This included completing 34 safety assessments of tourist and heritage operations
and adding guidance to the Waka Kotahi rail website (www.nzta.govt.nz/roads-and-rail/rail/) on
governance and conducting an internal audit. The team also gave several seminars to Federation of
Rail Organisers NZ (FRONZ) members. Topics included preparing for a safety assessment, risk
management, assurance and incident reporting. Waka Kotahi Safer Rail also supports and presents at
the FRONZ annual conference and provides a rail safety award. This year, it was won by the Nelson
Railway Society Incorporated for the risk-based approach they used in the development and
construction of the New Western Link Line.
Finally, licence holders are exempt from paying the variable portion of the annual safety charge if they
are a registered charity or a volunteer organisation, making it easier for heritage and tourist rail
operations to operate.
I hope this response has provided some insight as to how Waka Kotahi works alongside the heritage
and tourist rail industry. If you would like to discuss this matter further with Waka Kotahi, you are
welcome to contact Natalie Wyatt-Renney, Manager Rail Support Systems, by email at natalie.wyatt-
[email address].
Yours sincerely
Gini Welch
Senior Manager Safer Rail