8. Chairman’s Report

The Chairman reported on:

• The commitment of Otago Regional Council to work closely with Dunedin City Council and Queenstown Lakes District Council to further improve and build on public transport systems.
• The number of rental vehicle and foreign driver crashes in Queenstown had recently resulted in a public meeting, attended by representatives from NZTA, NZ Police, NZ Rental Vehicle Association, and the tourism industry. From this meeting, 100 action points were identified and are being collated for future circulation. While national data shows tourists are not highly represented in accidents or fatalities, locally they are over-represented.

Mr Harland updated the meeting on the work of the Visiting Drivers’ Governance Group, active since 2014. The group has focused on safety improvements such as centre lane rumble strips, barriers, enhanced road markings, billboards, and safety information. The rental association and tourism industry have also developed a code of conduct for accommodation and rental providers to advise clients, supported by ongoing training.

Cr Pottinger expressed concern about continued alarming driving behavior on roads. Mr Harland responded that foreign drivers often make the same poor decisions as average New Zealand drivers. While the programmes target foreign drivers, individual decision-making remains crucial.

The meeting agreed that an update on the Visiting Drivers’ Governance Group programme would be provided at the next meeting.