The Campaign For Better Transport

The New Zealand Herald reports that both fuel tax and road user charges will increase tomorrow, as the Government increases petrol excise by 3.75c per litre. Road User Charges (RUCs) will increase an average of 7% tomorrow as well. An interesting quote:

drivers of small diesel cars and other vehicles weighing up to ten tonnes will pay 10 per cent more.

Heavy truck operators will pay 3 per cent to 6 per cent more, but there will be no increase for truck trailers.

Road Transport Forum chief executive Tony Friedlander denied that meant the trucking industry would be subsidised by other road users.

Steven Joyce says owners of diesel cars can expect to pay more in the future under changes to the current road user charges system.

Refer to this article in the Herald.

Steven Joyce also says that the government has decided not to replace the road user charges with a diesel tax, as this would “impose costs on non-transport users”.  The current system will instead be retained, simplified, modernised and purchases moved online.  Refer to this article on simplification of road user charges at Stuff.co.nz