RCA requirements for risk-based controls
New Zealand councils, as Road Controlling Authorities (RCAs), are now operating under the requirement to have established plans for a risk-based approach to TTM (Temporary Traffic Management), following the 20 December 2025 deadline.
This transition marks the formal move away from the prescriptive Code of Practice for Temporary Traffic Management (CoPTTM) to the more flexible, risk-based New Zealand Guide to Temporary Traffic Management (NZGTTM).
We are now approaching an important milestone in procurement: as of 1 July, 2026, the risk-based approach must be applied to all new contracts. This means that from this date forward, CoPTTM-based Traffic Management Plans (TMPs) will no longer be accepted for new work, requiring contractors to demonstrate site-specific risk assessments and competency-based solutions.
The final phase of this transition requires the risk-based approach to be incorporated into all existing contracts by 1 July 2027, ensuring a complete systemic change in how TTM is planned and executed.
The staggered timeline gives councils and the industry time to adapt, retrain staff under the new competency-based system, and update their operational procedures to align with NZGTTM.