50 Victoria Street
Private Bag 6995
Wellington 6141
New Zealand
T 64 4 894 5400
F 64 4 894 6100
www.nzta.govt.nz
20 June 2022
Cody C
[FYI request #19417 email]
REF: OIA-10159
Dear Cody
Request made under the Official Information Act 1982
Thank you for your email
of 20 May 2022 requesting the fol owing information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
1a) Why are escooters limited to a maximum power output not exceeding 300W, but cars have no
limit?
1b) Please provide the supporting evidence that was used in the the decision making process for
the aforementioned power limit.
2) Is NZTA considering instituting a power output limit for cars as part of the road to zero policy? If
not, what is the reason for that?
I wil respond to each part of your request in turn.
1a) Why are escooters limited to a maximum power output not exceeding 300W, but cars have no
limit?
Electric scooters (e-scooters) are classified as low-powered vehicles. To meet the requirements for a
low-powered vehicle, the wheels must not exceed 355mm in diameter and the motor must have a
maximum power output (MPO) not exceeding 300 Watts. An e-scooter does not meet the definition of
a motor vehicle and have been declared not to be a motor vehicle, and so you can use one without
registration or a driver's licence. An e-scooter is designed in the style of a traditional push scooter, with
a footboard, two or three wheels, a long steering handle, and an electric propulsion motor.
The regulated limit of 300 Watts for e-scooters helps to distinguish e-scooters from motor vehicles or
cars. The design of an e-scooter means that they cannot meet the same basic safety requirements for
registration and Warrant of Fitness requirements, that are required for motor vehicles. In addition,
limiting the MPO to 300 Watts limits their acceleration to a safe level for pedestrians and reduces the
incentive for users to tamper with speed restrictions set within E-Scooter control systems. Waka
Kotahi has further information about this which is available here on our website
www.nzta.govt.nz/vehicles/vehicle-types/low-powered-vehicles/
There are a range of low-powered devices that New Zealanders use for travel or recreation. While
these vehicles and devices offer the benefit of increased mobility, they can also increase safety risks
on and around the road and so rules such as the above are required in cases such as e-scooters.
1b) Please provide the supporting evidence that was used in the decision making process for the
aforementioned power limit.
The report titled
Departmental Report – Transport Legislation Bil was prepared in 2004 for the Land
Transport Amendment Act 2005 by the Ministry of Transport. This document fal s within the scope of
your request, but due to the length of time since the document was prepared, Waka Kotahi has been
unable to locate it despite a substantive search and consultation with the Ministry of Transport.
As a result, I am required to refuse the release of this document under section 18(e) of the Act as
document al eged to contain the information requested does not exist or, despite reasonable efforts to
locate it, cannot be found.
Below is a link to the Bil in question on the parliament website, where you can also read the report
from the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee. The matter of low-powered vehicles is
addressed on pages 9, and 106/7: www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bil s-and-laws/bills-proposed-
laws/document/00DBHOH_BILL6195_1/tab/sop.
The decision around power limits for low-powered vehicles was also informed by a notice in the New
Zealand Gazette, which is publicly available here: gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2018-au4674.
2) Is NZTA considering instituting a power output limit for cars as part of the road to zero policy? If not,
what is the reason for that?
No, instituting a power output limit is not part of the Government’s Road to Zero strategy. This is due
to almost all vehicles in our fleet, including low-powered vehicles, being capable of speeds that can
result in a death or serious injury (DSI) for vehicle occupants, and that other road users and high-
powered vehicles are not overrepresented in DSI statistics.
The Vehicle Safety Focus Area of the strategy is, however, investigating a wide variety of vehicle
safety technologies that are likely to have a greater impact on DSI reductions. One of the technologies
being investigated is Intel igent Speed Adaptation, which can advise or limit the speed of a vehicle
regardless of its power output. The priority order that we wil be recommending these features to be
implemented has been mapped to New Zealand’s predominant crash types for maximum DSI
reduction, as well as mapped to vehicle supply to ensure minimal socio-economic impacts.
Under section 28 of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review my decision to refuse
part of this request. The contact details for the Ombudsman can be located at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
I line with Waka Kotahi policy, this response wil soon be published on our website, with personal
information removed.
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If you would like to discuss this reply with Waka Kotahi, please contact Ministerial Services by email at
[NZTA request email].
Yours sincerely
Chris Rodley
Manager Policy, Op Policy and Standards and Network
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