The funding will be managed through the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). Projects which boost economic growth, productivity and employment have been targeted.
"This is the largest land transport investment in New Zealand's history, and it represents a 17 percent increase from the previous three-year period," NZTA chairman Brian Roche said.
"This additional investment will deliver significant benefits for New Zealand now and in the future."
The programme invested in projects in all regions, providing guaranteed funding levels for each region over the next three years.
Most activities had funding increases, including:
* a 21 percent increase for public transport ($899 million over the next three years);
* a 19 percent increase for New Zealand's state highway network ($4.5b over the next three years);
* a 14 percent increase for local roads ($1.9b over the next three years).
The programme would help to address the important challenges New Zealand faced with land transport, Mr Roche said.
Improving the efficiency of key routes, public transport, and easing severe congestion in key urban areas, as well as upgrading important freight and tourism routes, improving safety and access to markets, and to employment would contribute to economic growth, he said.
The three-year timeframe allowed for investments with a longer-term view, and for local government and the wider land transport sector to plan ahead.
Sixteen regional transport committees and the Auckland Regional Transport Authority were involved in developing the programme.
"This collaborative process has allowed us to build an overview of land transport requirements across New Zealand and to balance regional and national priorities in deciding on the best investment programme to maximise value for money across the country," Mr Roche said.
Local Government New Zealand spokesman Peter Tennett, who is Mayor of New Plymouth, said the programme would benefit local authorities nationwide.
He cited the Wellington to Levin corridor, the Waikato Expressway and Auckland's Puhoi to Wellsford link as examples.
The three were among the "roads of national significance" identified by the Government earlier this year. Progressing them was a key priority of the programme.
The other four are completion of the Auckland western ring route, addressing Auckland's Victoria Park bottleneck, the Tauranga eastern corridor and Christchurch motorway projects.
Road Transport Forum chief executive Tony Friedlander said the programme was "commendable".
"The focus on freight routes and on improvements, notably the roads of national significance, aimed at boosting economic growth and productivity are essential for helping New Zealand pull itself out of recession and for building the platform for sustained growth in the future," Mr Friedlander said.
"We are delighted to see that an extra 19 percent will go into new state highways over the next three years, especially given the emphasis which is now being put on efficiency and effectiveness in all spending."
The plan provided certainty for three years, said New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development chief executive Stephen Selwood.
It would still take more than 10 years to complete the roads of national significance, he said.
Roading New Zealand's chief executive, Chris Olsen today welcomed the investment, saying it would assist economic growth.
Contractors were well placed to meet the challenge of the increase in state highway funding and had substantial capacity to deliver the new programme, he said.
The Automobile Association also welcomed the increased funding, expressing pleasure that Students Against Driving Drunk received $420,000 to enable it to continue its community education programme in 2010.
