Nick Leggett commenced in the role of Chief Executive of Infrastructure New Zealand in April 2023. Previously Chief Executive of the road transport industry peak body, Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand, Nick’s professional career has always centred around the need for quality and sustainable infrastructure.

What you’ll learn:

• Why eRUC matters now: How fuel efficiency, EV adoption, and declining petrol tax revenues have made the old system unsustainable.

• How eRUC works: The shift from fuel excise to distance-based charging, and the role of GPS/odometer technology.

• Lessons from heavy vehicles: What New Zealand has already learned from decades of applying road user charges to trucks.

• The bigger picture: Why this reform isn’t just about roads, but about New

Timestamps:

01:05 – The Biggest Change in 50 Years
Minister Bishop’s announcement: moving away from fuel excise (petrol tax) to electronic road user charges (eRUC). Why this is a generational shift.

02:25 – Why the Current Model is Breaking Down
How fuel efficiency, EVs, and hybrids are eroding petrol tax revenues while still using road assets, and how eRUC aligns with a 30-year infrastructure vision and why bipartisan support is critical for stability.

06:12 – What is eRUC and How Does it Differ from Petrol Tax?
Explaining distance-based charging, fairness, and the role of GPS/odometer technology.

08:20 – Why Now?
Trends driving the shift: electrification, efficiency gains, equity issues, and declining revenue.

10:06 – Lessons from Heavy Vehicles
What New Zealand has learned from applying road user charges to trucks and how that informs rollout to light vehicles.

12:19 – Building Fairness into the System
How eRUC addresses regressiveness in petrol tax, with options for rebates, concessions, and dynamic pricing.

14:19 – Defining Success
What success looks like and how eRUC can build confidence that New Zealand can modernise and deliver infrastructure for the next generation.

This episode is produced in partnership with the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies at the University of Sydney

Prof. David Levinson joined the University of Sydney from the University of Minnesota in 2017 as Foundation Professor in Transport Engineering. He conducts research on Accessibility, Transport Economics, Transport Network Evolution, and Transport and Land Use Interaction. He is the Founding Editor of the Journal of Transport and Land Use and of Findings.

What you’ll learn:

• The meaning of accessibility. How it differs from mobility, how to measure it, and why it should be the core goal of transport planning.

• How land use and transport are inseparable. And why treating them as separate problems leads to inefficiencies and missed opportunities.

• The accessibility trade-offs of major projects and policy. How initiatives create winners and losers in access, and what that reveals about policy priorities.

• Why speed isn’t everything. Reaching more destinations versus moving faster, and how this shapes city design and property values.

• How small design choices shape behaviour. Traffic signal timings can encourage or discourage walking, cycling, or driving.

Russell King is a seasoned transport policy strategist with over two decades of experience spanning the UK and Australia. His career offers a rare 360-degree perspective on transport policy, having served as an elected London Councillor, strategic Policy Advisor to both the NSW Minister for Transport and Infrastructure and Premier, senior public servant, and advocate within influential peak bodies.

As the editor of the Transport Leader Newsletter and Blog, read by hundreds of transport decision-makers globally, Russell delivers actionable insights for leaders navigating transport's evolving landscape.

What you'll learn:

• Why transport reform struggles to gain traction

• The biggest mistakes transport professionals make when pushing for change

• How to make transport conversations more inclusive and impactful

• The difference between outputs and outcomes—and why it matters