New Zealand proposes higher road user charge

New Zealand’s proposed Road User Charges (RUC) from an independent multi-sectoral three-member review group show a bias towards large commercial vehicles, BMW AG subsidiary MINI New Zealand claimed. One of the schemes proposed by the review group, based on 15,000 kilometers traveled per year, will require additional annual costs of NZ$34 (US$19.89) per year for small diesel vehicles, while heavy trucks will be entitled to savings of up to NZ$2,269 (US$1,327) per year. RUCs are paid to the New Zealand Transport Agency for road maintenance. (May 7, 2009)