44 Bowen Street
Private Bag 6995
Wellington 6141
New Zealand
T 64 4 894 5400
F 64 4 894 6100
www.nzta.govt.nz
24 February 2026
J. Wills
[FYI request #33364 email]
REF: OIA-20893
Dear J. Wills
Request made under the Official Information Act 1982
Thank you for your email of 22 December 2025, which was transferred to NZ Transport Agency Waka
Kotahi (NZTA) from the Ministry of Transport on 26 January 2026 under section 14(b)(i ) of the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act) requesting the following information under the Act:
I am seeking any information held by the Ministry of Transport regarding work, studies,
proposals, or discussions on enabling the use of green flashing lights (or beacons) on
personal vehicles by volunteer emergency responders.
This includes, but is not limited to:
Volunteer firefighters (e.g., associated with Fire and Emergency New Zealand), Volunteer
ambulance officers (e.g., St John Ambulance or Wel ington Free Ambulance), Search and
rescue personnel (e.g., LandSAR New Zealand or Surf Life Saving New Zealand), Coast
guard members (e.g., Coastguard New Zealand).
Specifical y, I request:
Any documents, reports, memos, emails, or correspondence related to the potential
introduction or amendment of legislation, rules, or regulations (such as under the Land
Transport Act 1998 or associated rules) to authorise green flashing lights for these volunteers
when responding to emergencies.
Any studies, analyses, or consultations on the impact of such lights on road safety, emergency
response times, or traffic congestion, particularly in the context of volunteers navigating busy
roads to reach stations.
Details of any proposals, drafts, or bil s considered or prepared on this topic, including
timelines and outcomes.
Records of any communications with other agencies (e.g., Fire and Emergency New Zealand,
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, or the Ministry of Health) regarding this matter.
Section 8.5(1)(c) allows for the use of green beacons fitted to vehicles operated by either a registered
medical practitioner, registered nurse or registered midwife while on urgent medical service. However,
NZTA has not undertaken any work to extend their use to volunteer emergency responders.
Your request has therefore been refused under section 18(e) of the Act, as the information requested
does not exist or, despite reasonable efforts to locate it, cannot be found.
Under section 28 of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review my decision to refuse
this request. The contact details for the Ombudsman can be located at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
If you would like to discuss this reply with NZTA, please contact Ministerial Services by email to
[email address]. Yours sincerely
Sam Russell
Team Lead - Government and Ministerial Services
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