Marlborough earns chocolate fish for smarter traffic management

Marlborough is one several councils named by Minister of Transport Chris Bishop as leading the charge to reduce road cone use.

Government has tasked councils with adopting a “common-sense, risk-based approach to temporary traffic management,”he said recently.

This transition to the New Zealand Guide to Temporary Traffic Management is well underway across the New Zealand Transport Agency, councils, DOC and the utilities sector.

Marlborough Roads manages roads on behalf of Council.

“Some councils have also made good progress toward adopting the more pragmatic approach to temporary traffic management,” Minister Bishop said.

“Chocolate fish go to Whangarei District, Auckland Transport, Hamilton City, Tauranga City, New Plymouth District, Porirua City, Marlborough District, Tasman District and Christchurch City,” he said.

Marlborough Roads Area Manager Wayne Oldfield said Marlborough was one of the five regions to trial the NZGTTM in 2024, and adopted it formally in October 2025.

“It allows contractors to undertake temporary traffic management based upon the risk of the works to be done.

“This keeps the road workers safe as well as the road users, while avoiding unnecessary road cones, delays and disruption,” Mr Oldfield said.

He acknowledged Council and Marlborough Lines for supporting the trial and adoption of the Guide.