11 Aug 2011

NZ drivers cut back travel

7:17 am on 11 August 2011

For the third year running, New Zealanders have clocked up fewer kilometres in their vehicles.

Ministry of Transport data shows 9145 kilometres was travelled per person in 2010

That's a drop of more than 50 kilometres per person on the year before and a fall of 468 kilometres compared to the decade's peak in 2005.

Green Party transport spokesperson Gareth Hughes says if the trend continues, the $36 billion, 10-year transport budget will come under pressure as not enough revenue will come in from fuel tax and road user charges.

But Transport Minister Steven Joyce says the amount of travel in recent years has been affected by the global financial crisis and the Government revenue model suggests there will be enough money to fund work in the next decade.