Transporting NZ Conference 2026: Industry Insights and Recognition in Wellington
Transporting NZ Conference 2026: Industry Insights and Recognition in Wellington
The 2026 Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand Conference, held at Parliament in Wellington on Friday and Saturday, brought together leaders from across the road freight industry for practical discussion, insight, and connection.
Across the programme, the focus was clear: how operators can navigate increasing complexity while continuing to prioritise safety, efficiency, and compliance.
Turning innovation into everyday practice
One of the standout sessions was the Technical Innovations panel, featuring EROAD’s Peter Carr alongside other industry leaders.
The conversation centred on how technology is being applied in real-world fleet environments – not just what’s possible, but what’s actually working. From in-cab visibility to better use of operational data, the panel reinforced a consistent theme: innovation only delivers value when it’s embedded into day-to-day operations and supports drivers on the road.
Recognising leaders across the industry
EROAD was proud to support and present two awards recognising individuals and organisations showing leadership across the sector.
- EROAD Young Driver Award: Max Hewson, Linfox
- EROAD Outstanding Contribution to Health & Safety Award: Graham Neate, Philip Wareing Limited
Both organisations are EROAD customers and part of a wider group of operators across New Zealand focused on improving safety, performance, and outcomes on the road.
It was great to see the calibre of entrants this year, with a strong emphasis on continuous improvement and raising standards across the industry.
Technology supporting safer fleet operations
For many operators, the focus is shifting from standalone tools to connected systems that support better decisions every day.
Discussions across the conference, particularly around safety, reinforced the growing importance of in-cab visibility – giving operators a clearer understanding of what’s happening both inside the vehicle and on the road.
Solutions like EROAD’s MultiCam and Clarity Edge are helping fleets build that visibility, supporting more informed driver coaching, risk management, and overall safety outcomes.
Alongside in-cab vision, tools like electronic logbooks and CAN bus integration continue to play a key role in reducing admin, accessing real-time vehicle data, and maintaining compliance with less friction.
The takeaway from the conference was clear: the right technology, used well, is becoming essential to safer and more efficient fleet operations.
