Dear New Zealand Transport Agency,

Kia ora,

I am writing to the Ministry of Transport to raise a vehicle policy matter and to ask to be connected with the appropriate team.

In April 2024, Waka Kotahi NZTA responded to an Official Information Act request (OIA-15043) confirming that New Zealand has no defined vehicle category for light quadricycles — vehicles such as the Fiat Topolino, Citroën Ami, and Renault Twizy, which are road-legal across the European Union under the L7e classification. The response also noted that a review of NZTA's regulatory framework was expected to begin soon, with the scope to include what vehicle classes should be accepted for registration in New Zealand.

Nearly two years on, I am seeking an update from the Ministry on the policy position regarding this issue. My questions are:

1. Is the Ministry of Transport aware of or involved in the vehicle regulatory framework review referenced by NZTA in April 2024, and if so, what is its current status?
2. Has the question of introducing a light quadricycle vehicle category — equivalent to the EU's L7e classification — been considered at a policy level by the Ministry?
3. If this has not yet been considered, would the Ministry be willing to assess whether such a category is appropriate for New Zealand?
4. Is there a public or stakeholder consultation process planned in connection with any vehicle classification review, and if so, how can I participate?

I also wish to raise what I believe is a significant inconsistency in the current regulatory approach as it relates to pedestrian safety — a matter the Ministry has acknowledged as a priority.

I raise this not to argue against any particular vehicle type, but to ask that any regulatory review of vehicle classification be conducted on a consistent, evidence-based basis — and that the pedestrian safety argument not be applied selectively to block smaller, lighter, slower vehicles while larger ones face no equivalent scrutiny.

I would be grateful if you could direct this enquiry to the appropriate policy team, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Jacob Williams