stop road user charges
The issue
Stop New Zealand’s Electronic Road User Charges (eRUC) Surveillance System
To: New Zealand Government, Ministry of Transport, Members of Parliament
What’s at Stake? The upcoming electronic Road User Charges (eRUC) system will use GPS and digital tracking to monitor vehicle movements for charging purposes. This means the government will collect detailed data on where, when, and how far every vehicle travels—affecting every driver in New Zealand.
Why This Matters:
1. This system builds a massive surveillance framework that risks your privacy and freedom of movement.
2. Data breaches and misuse of such sensitive vehicle location data are real and documented risks.
3. It sets a precedent for linking vehicle tracking with government digital ID systems and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), leading to unprecedented citizen monitoring and control.
4. Once in place, reversing this system will be extremely difficult, gradually normalizing constant government tracking.
5. New Zealand’s only oil refinery, Marsden Point, has been non-operational since 2022, meaning we fully rely on imported refined fuels subject to volatile global markets.
6. The public has no direct control or say over rising fuel prices, which are influenced by international supply, demand, and geopolitics.
7. The government does not set fuel prices and can impose additional taxes at any time, potentially increasing costs at the pump without meaningful public input.
8. This lack of fuel price control combined with the shift to electronic road user charges raises serious concerns about fairness and financial burden on New Zealanders.
What We Want:
1. Halt the rollout of the eRUC system until thorough, independent privacy impact assessments are done with full public consultation.
2. Enforce strict privacy protections: collect only essential data, minimise retention, and ban data sharing beyond billing.
3. Provide opt-out alternatives so drivers are not forced into digital tracking systems.
4. Transparent legal limits preventing integration with digital ID or CBDC platforms.
5. Recognition that the absence of a domestic refinery and dependence on imported fuels limits public influence over fuel costs, underscoring the need for fair and transparent road user charging.
Join Us:
By signing this petition, you stand up for your right to privacy, freedom from constant government surveillance, and fair treatment in fuel and road user charges. Together, we can demand a safer, fairer road user charging system that respects New Zealand values. petition link chng.it...
Secure your homes over summer
Police are reminding people to keep their homes secure during the summer months.
Inspector Glenda Barnaby, Christchurch Area Prevention manager, says daytime burglaries are just as common as nightime burglaries.
“Burglaries can be committed at any time of the day, and coming into warmer months there is more opportunity for thieves."
"Although a majority of burglaries involve forced entry through windows and doors, we are starting to see more incidents at insecure premises. Police deal with cases where burglaries are committed in broad daylight, sometimes even while the victim is at home. Good weather means open doors and windows, which makes homes more vulnerable to burglars.”
Inspector Barnaby says there’s a few things people can do to reduce their changes of a burglary being committed.
⚠️ If you’re going outside for gardening, relaxing in the sun, or working in the garage, take a moment to lock your doors and secure your windows first.
⚠️ Do the same at night when you go to bed - keep your doors and windows secure and close your curtains. Fitting window stays means you can get a breeze coming through, while keeping your windows secure.
⚠️ Get to know your neighbours - let them know if you’re going away and look out for one another.”
If you see any suspicious activity, people or vehicles in your neighbourhood, don't hesitate to contact Police.
If you witness or suspect any illegal activity, please call 111 if it is happening now, or make a report through 105 either online or over the phone, if it is after the fact.
Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
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72.5% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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16.4% Hmm, maybe?
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11.1% Yes!
Poll: Pedestrian access is being extended to the Ōtakaro Avon River - good idea?
Pedestrian access from one of Christchurch’s favourite streets is being extended all the way to the Ōtakaro Avon River. This new 12m-wide pathway will give you a direct, easy route from the street to the river promenade ... perfect for a stroll, a coffee run, or just soaking up the riverside vibes.
We want to know: In your view, what makes a city people-friendly?
What else should our urban areas be doing to support better community connections?
Curious about the full plans? You can check them out here.
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90.2% Yes
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9.8% No
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