This page relates to the 2021-24 National Land Transport Programme.

Introduction

This is Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency's policy to ensure funding decisions are made in accordance with the board’s delegations of authority to make funding decisions.

Date of issue: June 2021 | Updated July 2023 | Investment policies will be reviewed every three years or when a new Government Policy Statement on land transport is released.

Purpose

To ensure decisions related to funding from the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF) are made by people with the delegated authority to do so.

Policy statement

All decisions related to transport investments that receive funding from the NLTF must be made by people with the delegated authority to make those decisions.

Delegations within Waka Kotahi

The Waka Kotahi Board has approved a general instrument of delegation to delegate statutory functions and powers of Waka Kotahi (as investor) at two levels of delegation:

  • from the Waka Kotahi Board to board committees or the chief executive
  • from the chief executive to staff.

Waka Kotahi staff should refer to the Delegations page on the intranet for the current delegations and instruments of delegation, to ensure full understanding of the delegations.

Delegations outside Waka Kotahi

The Waka Kotahi Board has agreed that approved organisations may apply to receive delegated power to make funding approvals for small improvement projects up to an approved maximum amount for the construction/implementation cost per activity. The board’s agreement to such a delegation is subject to the approved organisation entering into a formal agreement with us. The formal agreement will set the amount of the delegated funding authority, which must not be more than $15 million for the construction/implementation cost per activity. Before entering into the agreement, the Waka Kotahi Chief Executive must ensure a number of conditions are met such as the approved organisation demonstrating it has the required capability, processes and systems to exercise the delegations competently.

We (Waka Kotahi as investor) require our investment partners be fully accountable for all decisions and actions made under delegation. Investment partners must apply the policies and processes set out in this knowledge base, including the Investment Prioritisation Method, to achieve desired outcomes and the best value for money.

We will review a sample of investment decisions made under delegation and expect that approved organisations will also monitor and report their performance in the exercise of their delegation.

Programme management delegations

Approved organisations and Waka Kotahi (for its own activities) have delegated authority to manage activities within a funding approved programme, which includes the authority to transfer approved allocated funds between work categories within the programme and within the same activity class, subject to terms and conditions formally advised by us. The exception to this is funding allocated for named bridge renewals using work category 216 due to the fact these are part of national bridge renewal programme. Funds not used can then be reallocated for other bridge renewal purposes.

Work category 216: Bridge and structures renewals

The programmes include:

  • road maintenance continuous programmes (road controlling authorities)
  • public transport continuous programmes (regional authorities)
  • low-cost, low-risk programmes
  • road safety promotion programmes (approved organisations and Waka Kotahi (for its own activities)).