There have been eight instances of taxpayer-funded cars provided to ministers receiving speeding tickets since the Government took office.
The information provided to the Herald by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) doesn’t identify who was driving the vehicles.
But Dr Shane Reti has owned up to getting a ticket since becoming minister, while Erica Stanford said her husband has received two in her car.
As part of their ministerial entitlements, ministers can receive a self-drive vehicle for their private use. Former Prime Ministers and their partners are also eligible to receive the cars. Those eligible can also provide permission to any other licence holder to drive the vehicle. The cars are Crown-owned and administered by the DIA.
A response provided under the Official Information Act (OIA) reveals that since November 27 last year – when the Government was formed – and November 1 this year, there have been eight instances where self-drive vehicles have received infringements.
The first was in Northland in March 2024. The speed limit was 110km/h and this was exceeded by 11km/h, resulting in an $80 fine.
There was another in July, also in Northland, where the 50km/h limit was exceeded by 7km/h, with a fine of $30. In August, there were two in Northland and two in Auckland. In one of these instances in Northland, the 50km/h limit was exceeded by 16km/h, leading to a $120 infringement.
In September, a 60km/h speed limit was exceeded by 7km/h. In October, a 100km/h limit was exceeded by 9km/h. Both resulted in $30 fines.
These were on top of three separate occasions of Crown vehicles getting infringements. The DIA VIP Transport group operates the fleet, which includes 24/7 chauffeur-driven vehicles for ministers and other dignitaries.
The Herald asked the DIA which minister’s cars were speeding, but this request was denied under the OIA to protect privacy.
“It is important to note that each minister, or other entitled user, has the use of a self-drive vehicle at their discretion. As part of this discretion, any holder of a New Zealand driver’s licence may drive the self-drive vehicle if the entitled user provides permission.
“This means that a minister or entitled user may not have been driving the vehicle at the time of a recorded infringement.”
Given that, the Herald asked some Northland and Auckland-based ministers on Tuesday morning whether they had received a ticket since becoming a minister.
Reti, the MP for Whangārei and Health Minister, said: “I would have to look at that. My sense is yes, yes I have.”
He couldn’t say when that occurred.
“I would have to go back and have a look at that. I don’t recall, but yes, I believe I have.”
The National MP said it was a self-drive car.
Stanford, the East Coast Bays MP, took a long pause when asked by the Herald if she’d received a ticket.
“That’s a good question. My husband has in my car, which is not nice.”
Asked if that was in the ministerial self-drive, she said: “Yeah, he was driving my car.”
“He got two, I think. I was very upset with him and I said, if you get another one, you’re never driving my car again. But I don’t think I have got one.
“I have just dropped by husband in it, that’s terrible, but still, he deserves it.”
Both Judith Collins and Simeon Brown said they hadn’t received tickets since November.
“No, I haven’t, should I? No, I haven’t,” said Collins.
Brown, the Transport Minister, said it was the Government’s expectation that people follow the law.
“If they get a speeding ticket, they should pay the fine.”
According to DIA, ministers and other entitled users of the self-drive vehicles are responsible for paying any breaches of legislation that result in a fine or infringement, like a speeding ticket. It confirmed all fines mentioned had been paid.
Julie Anne Genter, the Greens' spokeswoman for Transport, said it was important there was transparency.
“There does need to be some public accountability for how those vehicles are being used and if the rules and restrictions that are put in place to keep us all safe are being infringed upon.
“We understand people make mistakes, but if there are repeated mistakes in terms of driving too fast, that can have real serious consequences.”
Genter has been critical of the Government’s decision to reverse speed limit reductions. She said the tickets “further reinforces concerns about this Government’s attitude towards safety.”
The Government has also required reduced variable speed limits outside schools during pick up and drop off times, while wanting speed limits up to 120km/h on expressways if it is safe.
Jamie Ensor is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team based at Parliament. He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer in the Newshub Press Gallery office.