44 Bowen Street
Private Bag 6995
Wellington 6141
New Zealand
T 64 4 894 5400
F 64 4 894 6100
www.nzta.govt.nz
21 November 2025
Ben Arnold
[FYI request #32670 email]
REF: OIA-20071
Dear Ben
Request made under the Official Information Act 1982
Thank you for your email
of 26 October 2025 requesting the fol owing information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act). I will respond to parts of your request in turn as fol ows:
1. Transport Service Licensing (TSL)
For each of the fol owing companies, please provide:
A copy of any current and/or historical Transport Service Licence (TSL) held, specifically
any with a Vehicle Recovery Service (VRS) endorsement.
The TSL Number and the TSL Issue Date and TSL Expiry/Cancel ation Date (if
applicable).
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) cannot disclose information about transport operators’
Transport Service Licences (TSLs) as it would contravene our obligations under section 199A of the
Land Transport Act 1998 (LTA).
I am therefore refusing these parts of your request under section 18(c)(i) of the Act as making
available the information requested would be contrary to the provisions of section 199A of the LTA.
We can, however, advise that TSLs do not expire and can only be suspended, revoked or cancel ed if
NZTA has sufficient evidence that a TSL holder has not been abiding by our transport operator
requirements and regulations.
A TSL can also be surrendered by the holder of the TSL or NZTA. If a TSL is not used within two
years, we can deem it as “surrendered” and remove it from the register.
Any documentation or correspondence pertaining to the application, suspension, or
cancellation of the TSL for […]
(ALFA WESTCITY TOWING & STORAGE LIMITED 881620)
(NEW ZEALAND TOWING LIMITED 5666927)
(ALFA WEST CITY TOWING AND RECOVERY LIMITED 8790326)
(WESTCITY TOWING & SALVAGE LIMITED 32320392).
According to our records, NZTA does not hold any TSL documents or correspondence for:
• New Zealand Towing Limited
• Alfa Westcity Towing and Recovery Limited
• Westcity Towing & Salvage Limited.
I am therefore required to refuse this part of your request under section 18(e) of the Act as the
documents al eged to contain the information requested do not exist.
Alfa Westcity Towing & Storage Limited’s TSL was surrendered on 1 August 2024. Documents that fall
within the scope of this part of your request are enclosed as follows:
• Attachment 1 – Re 84730 Alfa West City Towing & Storage Limited Voluntary surrender of TSL
template
(email)
• Attachment 2 – NZTA, TSL Licence, Surrendered, 1AUG24
(document attached to above email). Certain information has been withheld under section 9(2)(a) to protect the privacy of natural persons,
including that of deceased natural persons.
With respect to the information that has been withheld, I do not consider there are any other factors
which would render it desirable, in the public interest, to make the information available.
Information pertaining to Alfa Westcity Towing & Storage Limited is refused under section 18(c)(i) of
the Act as making available the information requested would be contrary to section 199A of the LTA.
Persons in Control and Fit and Proper Person Status.
For each of the companies and the individuals listed, please provide:
A list of all 'persons in control' or 'operating the service' […]
for the duration of any TSL
held by the above companies.
Disclosing information about external persons employed by transport operators would contravene our
obligations under section 199A of the LTA.
This part of your request is also refused under section 18(c)(i) of the Act as making available the
information requested would be contrary to the provisions of section 199A of the LTA.
Any records of a determination on the 'fit and proper person' status, including the
Personal Details Supporting an Application for Transport Service Licence […]
for the
following […]
As this part of your request raises privacy issues, this information is withheld under section 9(2)(a) of
the Act to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of deceased natural persons.
With respect to the information that has been withheld, I do not consider there are any other factors
which would render it desirable, in the public interest, to make the information available.
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If any information is held under a trading name associated with these companies or
individuals (e.g., Towing and Recovery West Auckland), please include […]
According to the New Zealand Companies Office, Alfa Westcity Towing & Storage Limited was
previously known as Westcity Towing & Salvage Limited and New Zealand Towing Limited trades as
Alfa Westcity Towing & Storage Ltd.
Your request for information about Alfa Westcity Towing & Storage Limited’s TSL has been addressed
previously. NZTA does not hold any other information regarding trading names associated with the
other two companies requested. I am therefore required to refuse this other part of your request under
section 18(e) of the Act as the documents al eged to contain the information requested do not exist.
Under section 28 of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review my decision to
withhold part of this information and refuse parts of this request. The contact details for the
Ombudsman can be located at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
In line with NZTA policy, this response will soon be published on our website, with personal
information removed.
If you would like to discuss this reply with NZTA, please contact Ministerial Services by email to
[NZTA request email].
Yours sincerely
Sam Russell
Manager, Ministerial Services
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