NZGTTM deadlines by council
There's no single national switch-over date for TMPs. From 1 July 2026, councils must use risk-based TTM to receive National Land Transport Fund money, and WorkSafe says all councils must fully meet NZTA's guidance by 1 July 2027. Each council sets its own dates for TMPs, so check your council's page.
The national picture
Two dates come from central government, and they apply to councils, not directly to your TMP:
- 1 July 2026. The Transport Minister announced that, from that day, councils wanting National Land Transport Fund money for local transport projects must use a risk-based approach to temporary traffic management.
- 1 July 2027. WorkSafe says NZTA requires every council to fully meet the risk-based guidance by 1 July 2027. WorkSafe also says NZTA required every council to have a plan in place to apply the guidance in December 2025.
When a council stops accepting CoPTTM TMPs is up to that council, and the dates differ. Some moved early and some set 1 July 2026. Always check the council you're submitting to.
Dates published by councils
Checked on 23 October 2026, from each council's own pages unless noted. Christchurch's site blocks automated reading, so its row rests on the bulletins named.
| Council | What the council says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland Transport | Soft launch from 4 May 2026: CARs without a risk assessment or risk control plan are returned at triage. From 1 July 2026, all new CARs are assessed under NZGTTM. From 1 July 2027, all existing TMPs move to NZGTTM. | AT TTM Transformation Programme page; AT TTM Update #83 |
| Whanganui District Council | Soft transition from 1 March 2026, when all TMPs submitted had to meet NZGTTM. From 1 July 2026, all CAR applications must be under NZGTTM, and CoPTTM-based TMPs are no longer accepted. | Whanganui temporary traffic management page |
| South Wairarapa District Council (with Carterton District Council) | NZGTTM CARs accepted from 1 November 2025. From 1 July 2026, all CAR applications must be under NZGTTM, and CoPTTM-based TMPs are no longer accepted. | SWDC notice, 24 October 2025 |
| Christchurch City Council | From 1 July 2026, all TMP submissions must include a risk assessment (May 2026 bulletin), and every site-specific TMP needs one (October 2026 bulletin). The NZGTTM standard form is no longer required, but the TMP must show the risk assessment, fundamental TTM controls and detailed site design (September 2026 bulletin). For council contracts funded through the National Land Transport Programme, new contracts signed from 1 July 2026 must use NZGTTM, and existing ones must transition by 1 July 2027 (May 2026 bulletin). | CCC traffic management news page; CCC Temporary Traffic Management bulletin, May 2026 |
The Transport Minister's announcement named Whangārei, Auckland Transport, Hamilton, Tauranga, New Plymouth, Porirua, Marlborough, Tasman and Christchurch as councils that had already made good progress towards the risk-based approach. That's progress, not a submission deadline: check each council's own page for its rules.
Why the dates don't all line up
The Minister's date is about funding, WorkSafe's is about full compliance, and council dates are about what they'll accept from you. They measure different things, so a council can stop taking CoPTTM TMPs in 2026 and still be finishing its own transition in 2027 or later. Councils also separate new applications from existing accepted TMPs, as Auckland Transport does.
What this means for your next TMP
- Assume NZGTTM for new work. At the councils above that have published a cut-over, new applications are now NZGTTM.
- Include a risk assessment, whatever the format. Auckland Transport and Christchurch both expect one.
- Check existing and generic TMPs. Auckland Transport moves existing TMPs across from 1 July 2027, and Christchurch changes how generic layouts can be used from 1 November 2026.
- Read your council's own page before you submit. Dates and rules change, and this page can only show what each council had published when we checked.
For what councils look for once your TMP is in, see Checking a TMP before you submit, and for what changed in the TMP itself, see What changed from CoPTTM to NZGTTM.
The Xuro Review Engine lets you pick CoPTTM or NZGTTM for each review, so you can check a TMP against the standard your council expects.
Questions
When do councils stop accepting CoPTTM TMPs?
It depends on the council. Whanganui and South Wairarapa require all CAR applications to be under NZGTTM from 1 July 2026 and no longer accept CoPTTM-based TMPs, and Auckland Transport assesses all new CARs under NZGTTM from that date. Check your council's own page, as dates differ.
What is the national deadline for NZGTTM?
There isn't one date for TMPs. From 1 July 2026, councils must use risk-based TTM to get National Land Transport Fund money, and WorkSafe says all councils must fully meet the guidance by 1 July 2027.
Do existing CoPTTM TMPs still work?
For now, at some councils. Auckland Transport transitions existing TMPs to NZGTTM from 1 July 2027. Other councils set their own rules, so check before you rely on an existing CoPTTM TMP.
Is CoPTTM still maintained?
No. NZTA published NZGTTM in April 2023, and from 1 November 2024 it no longer updates or maintains CoPTTM. See our guide on what changed from CoPTTM to NZGTTM.
Sources
- Auckland Transport, Temporary Traffic Management Transformation Programme: https://at.govt.nz/about-us/working-on-the-road/temporary-traffic-management-transformation-programme (checked 23 October 2026)
- Auckland Transport, TTM Update #83, NZGTTM soft launch from 4 May 2026 (notice dated 23 March 2026): https://at.govt.nz/media/31zfdl2c/auckland-transport-ttm-update-83-at-road-controlling-authority-notice.pdf (checked 23 October 2026)
- WorkSafe, Road cone hotline to close as pilot hits objectives (December 2025): https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/about-us/news-and-media/road-cone-hotline-to-close-as-pilot-hits-objectives/ (checked 23 October 2026)
- Hon Chris Bishop, Road cone crackdown gathers pace, 1 July 2026: https://www.national.org.nz/news/20260701-honchrisbishop (checked 23 October 2026)
- Whanganui District Council, Temporary traffic management: https://www.whanganui.govt.nz/Services/Roading-and-Footpaths/Temporary-traffic-management (checked 23 October 2026)
- South Wairarapa District Council, Transition to NZ Guide to Temporary Traffic Management, posted 24 October 2025: https://swdc.govt.nz/notices-and-updates/transition-to-nzgttm/ (checked 23 October 2026)
- Christchurch City Council, Traffic management news and information (September and October 2026 bulletins): https://ccc.govt.nz/transport/legal-road/traffic-management-news-and-information (checked 23 October 2026)
- My WorkSites, Upcoming transition to the NZGTTM (written 10 August 2026): https://help.myworksites.co.nz/en/articles/14908069-upcoming-transition-to-the-new-zealand-guide-to-temporary-traffic-management-nzgttm (checked 23 October 2026)
- Christchurch City Council Traffic Management Team, Christchurch Temporary Traffic Management, May 2026 bulletin: https://christchurchcitycouncilcommsengagement.cmail20.com/t/r-e-tusitjd-bjixfkuj-u/ (checked 23 October 2026)
- Auckland Transport, TTM Update #76 (16 July 2025), which notes NZTA published NZGTTM in April 2023: https://at.govt.nz/media/y1gbcocy/auckland-transport-ttm-update-76-at-road-controlling-authority-notice-transition-to-nzgtttm.pdf (checked 23 October 2026)
Last checked: 23 October 2026