NZTA launches app
The NZTA’s app is now available for everyone to use following successful public beta testing from May through to July.
“The app is a secure digital ‘one-stop shop’ for drivers to access their licence and vehicle information as well as making online payments,” says Liz Maguire, the agency’s chief digital officer.
“Feedback provided during user testing was incredibly positive, with great feedback received for improvements we’ve now made to the app’s functionality, as well as looking at features to include in future versions.
“During testing, the app was accessed over 75,000 times with 12,000 payments initiated, providing confidence that transport users value accessing our services digitally.
“Future updates will allow users to easily pay tolls and view their vehicles’ safety ratings, as well as pave the way for a digital driver licence in New Zealand.
“We anticipate use of the app will result in significant long-term savings of more than $5 million per year over the next five years on postage and other administration costs for processing transactions and responding to contact centre queries.”
The NZTA App is available for iPhones and Androids. You can download it from Apple’s app store and Google Play, or by searching “NZTA Waka Kotahi” in the relevant app store. More information can be found online at www.nzta.govt.nz/app.
The current version of the app allows people to view their driver details, including classes and endorsements held, demerit points, vehicle details, rego and warrants of fitness expiry dates, and access a quick link to online payments for rego and to buy road-user charges (RUC).
In future releases, customers will benefit from extra features. These will include the option to receive messages, notifications and reminders directly in the app, and the choice to opt out from receiving paper correspondence for activities they can complete online themselves.
Kiwis will also be able to keep contact details up to date so labels are delivered successfully, and electronic notifications will be permitted with the ability to instantly act, such as registration due with a “pay now” option.
People will also be able to change of registered person, view and pay tolls, view, dispute or pay infringement fees, check expiry dates and renew vehicle registration, and view the safety rating of their vehicle.
The NZTA anticipates use of the app will result in significant long-term savings on postage and other admin costs for processing transactions and responding to queries through its contact centre. These include:
• Reducing the cost to serve by $14.6m over five years of projected growth in operational costs due to higher vehicle use and regulatory changes. This includes savings on postage cost increases, RUC applying to EVs and demerit points applying to safety camera offences.
• Reducing the write-off amount of RUC by $12.9m over five years by providing a more convenient way to pay for the type of customers who tend to pay late – private-use light vehicles, now including EVs and PHEVs.
• Enabling customers to self-serve on simple types of calls they typically call the contact centre about. The app will help reduce calls for six of the top 12 call intents.
Those issues include registration label issues – missing, lost or incorrect, updating addresses, phone numbers or emails, driver licence card has not arrived in post, enquiries regarding vehicle registration,
Enquiries regarding vehicle registration being cancelled/lapsed, RUC – distance licence enquiry.
The NZTA has begun initial work on what legislative requirements would be required to deliver a digital driver’s licence the next few years. It will be working with the digital public service branch at the Department of Internal Affairs to ensure all New Zealand and international standards are met.
