FAQs
The Road Controlling Authorities (RCAs)
The principals that create projects
The contractors that deliver works
TTM companies who in some cases plan and manage TTM around work sites.
Risk-based TTM is the answer: The stated outcomes will only be delivered when TTM at every work site in Auckland is appropriate to the level of risk and location/road use. This not only includes how TTM is planned and set up but also includes how it is managed for the duration of the roadworks.
Shared legislative obligation: All four TTM players (the RCAs, the principals that create projects, the Contractors that deliver works, and TTM companies) share responsibilities for the safety of road workers and road users under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA). AT, as the RCA, can lead, enable, and encourage the change to risk-based TTM but cannot assume other persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) responsibility for risk management within and around worksites.
The scale: There are up to 2,000 live worksites on Auckland’s roading network on any given day. It is impractical for AT to monitor all these sites. We need the industry partners responsible for the day-to-day management of worksites to share the responsibility.
Varying levels of incentive: Moving to risk-based TTM, in the absence of CoPTTM, means everyone in the industry needs to assume greater responsibility for assessing and managing risk at worksites. This would call for investment in risk management capabilities and systems by all relevant parties. For some in the industry, a change to risk-based TTM may not be commercially favourable. Both these factors mean, there are varying levels of incentive for the industry members to move to risk-based TTM.
Industry Transition: AT is playing a leadership role in the industry transition to risk-based TTM. We expect this to be a multiyear process. All relevant organisations need to understand their obligations under the risk-based approach, changing roles of others in the ecosystem, the skillset required, and the operating systems required.
Enabling AT: This workstream focuses on delivering/improving capabilities and systems that enable AT to better influence how TTM is set up and managed at individual worksites and better understand the impacts of roadworks both at a local and regional level to fulfil its obligations as a major PCBU in Auckland.
What is the TTM Transformation Programme?
Background
In the ‘Letter of Expectation for Statement of Intent for 2023 – 2026’, the Mayor set out an expectation that AT prioritise “delivering a better approach to traffic management”. TTM costs to the Council group, and the wider economic impact of disruptions caused by TTM to Auckland businesses, community groups, and the public were identified in this letter as specific areas for improvement. AT has established a formal multi-faceted work programme, named the TTM Transformation Programme, to deliver on these expectations.
National Context
The TTM system is made up of four key players:
Each of these parties plays a different but significant role in the planning, establishment, and management of TTM around worksites.
Key considerations
Auckland’s TTM Transformation programme is set up to find ways to minimise disruption around worksites without compromising safety and to facilitate cost-effective TTM solutions. In setting up the programme, we have considered the core strategy and other key contributing factors as listed below.
Programme Structure
The Programme is made up of two key workstreams:
CoPTTM is not broken, why change to the NZGTTM?
The current Code of Practice for Temporary Traffic Management (CoPTTM) has been in place for over 20 years, yet safety issues keep happening under it.
People continue to die and be seriously injured at TTM sites and this needs to change. Between 2017 and 2021, there were 43 fatal crashes and 287 serious injury crashes at road work sites with temporary speed limits. This is an increase on the previous 5-year period.
Within our industry, there’s a growing shift to a risk-based approach – it’s time for our national approach to temporary traffic management to reflect this and put the safety of our road workers and road users first.
Waka Kotahi’s new guidance aims to change the way we plan and manage people’s safety at TTM sites. The new guidance puts risk assessment and planning first. This is to make sure the TTM control types, design, and equipment used will keep people safe.
The NZGTTM has been designed to be consistent with WorkSafe’s new Good Practice Guideline: Keeping safe and healthy on the road and roadside(external link) to help organisations meet their legal obligations under HSWA.
What is AT's Position on NZGTTM Adoption?
AT supports a flexible, risk-based approach that aligns with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) and evolving industry expectations. We encourage all contractors to begin transitioning to NZGTTM immediately. If your organisation is ready to transition now, we welcome and support that move. For those who require time and guidance, AT will continue to accept TMPs under the CoPTTM framework until 1 July 2026, provided they are accompanied by a risk assessment to support reformative thinking and alignment with NZGTTM.
As outlined in our industry notice, our goal is to support the industry in making a full and confident shift to NZGTTM by 1 July 2026 and you've got till the 1st of July 2027 to roll over your existing contracts.
What are the “Guidelines” documents?
AT is open to receiving TMP submissions in formats that best suit your organisation’s internal processes. However, for consistency and benchmarking, we recommend referring to the example forms provided in the NZTA NZGTTM TTM Library. These are not mandatory, but they offer a useful starting point: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/roads-and-rail/new-zealand-guide-to-temporary-traffic-management/ttm-library
We have developed our own guidelines. They've been produced as internal guides for AT staff. However, we saw value in sharing them with the industry, both from an awareness and feedback perspective. These are not intended to be "how to" documents.
We have released the NAC and CAR guidelines, with the Assurance Guidelines expected to be released early in the new year. And to make this as efficient as possible, we've set up a TTM Transformation webpage https://haveyoursay.at.govt.nz/ttm-transformation-programme which we'll use as a central repository for documents and information sharing.
What is the legal role of an RCA?
As the Road Controlling Authority (RCA), AT has legislated responsibilities to:
• Approve road closures,
• Approve temporary speed limits and other regulatory signs,
• Grant access to the road corridor,
• Ensure proposed works are coordinated with other parties requiring access
• Audit worksites.
Legally, we are required to facilitate access to the corridor — not enforce specific methods.
We encourage you to engage with us early to enable us to work with you to assess the best method.
What Is My Responsibility as the Person Conducting Business or Undertaking (PCBU)?
As the PCBU, you’re not just the person with the hard hat and clipboard, you are
the one making sure everything runs safely, legally, and smoothly.
Moving to NZGTTM, it starts to prioritize planning and risk management specific to each site. So, the thing to remember is that we're not throwing COPTTM out. Yes, it's been retired by NZTA, and they won't be maintaining it as a code of practice, but the science is still very valid.
All you need to do is to identify the risks of your particular site right up front, bring it to the beginning of the process and have those conversations with your client or with your subcontracting chain about how to mitigate those risks.
You were always doing a risk assessment. It's just that you weren't necessarily writing it down and submitting it with your CAR. So those risk registers and risk assessments are something that has been around since the beginning, particularly since the Health and Safety Act.
The difference now is you're articulating those parts of your application specific to your TTM and we're having a conversation about whether as the Road Controlling Authority, we think that you've covered all the risks that we can see in your TMP.
What will happen to current applications & corridor access requests (CAR)?
All currently approved CAR’s will remain active. Lead contractors and Principles should expect direct engagement from us where clarification is needed. Check out our Web page with guidance on how to submit a CAR. https://at.govt.nz/about-us/working-on-the-road/corridor-access-requests
Will the changes affect how we work together?
This change is a learning experience for all who undertake activities within the road corridor, including contractors, utility operators, principals, road corridor managers, and Traffic Management companies.
AT as the RCA remains informed through the Temporary Traffic Management Industry Steering Group https://www.ttm-isg.org/ and participates in a working group alongside other councils.
We welcome open dialogue and are committed to working collaboratively with all industry partners during this transition. Use us, talk to us - we’re here to help you align your systems with NZGTTM so that your operations are both compliant and efficient.