Improving the driver licensing system

A driver licence has been called the key to the door of life’s opportunities, but some people are missing out because of barriers in the driver licensing system.

Not having a driver licence can affect people’s access to jobs, training, community activities, and health services for themselves and their families.

Better access to driver licensing will improve employment opportunities and community participation, and result in more drivers trained to drive safely.

We’re working to reduce barriers and make gaining a New Zealand driver licence more accessible for people across Aotearoa New Zealand. Our focus is on groups that are overrepresented in the 10% of people who face significant barriers to getting a driver licence:

  • Māori
  • Pacific peoples
  • disabled people
  • new migrants
  • refugees
  • prisoners
  • those who live rurally or remotely.

What’s been done

We've had kōrero with people involved in driver licensing across Aotearoa about the barriers people in their communities face, how we can reduce those barriers, and the ideas they have for a more accessible driver licensing system.

Guided by Tiriti o Waitangi, we have been working with our Tiriti partners to find ways to better respond to Māori aspirations for the system and deliver solutions that meet their needs.

From this feedback we identified some changes we could make to improve driver licensing.

Improvements

We introduced a new type of driver testing officer – community driver testing officers, who provide focused support for communities that struggle with accessing driver testing.

We added more driver test routes – practical testing sites -  and we’ve made mobile theory testing available in more areas.

We’re developing more regional support as well as partnering on community trials in Tairāwhiti (Gisborne) and the Far North to improve access to driver testing.

More driver testing officers

A new type of driver testing officer, called community driver testing officers or CDTOs, has been introduced to support community driver training and mentoring programmes.

  • CDTOs test people being supported by a community provider. They can offer more flexibility around test times and more pastoral support for students.
  • In mid 2022, the first group of CDTOs were trained. They’ve been working with community driver licensing support organisations in Tairāwhiti and the Far North. Since then more CDTOs have been trained and the CDTO service has been extended into Hawke’s Bay and Ōpōtiki.
  • More CDTOs are being trained as the needs for specific communities are identified.

Driver test routes

To improve access to testing, we added new testing routes in the second half of 2022, new test routes were set up in Matamata, Upper Hutt, Kaikohe, Dargaville, Wairoa and Waipukurau, and in September 2023 a test route was opened in Ōpōtiki..

More mobile theory testing

Working with AA, we’re trialling mobile theory testing through a community provider to see if it’s an effective way to reach people who’ve had difficulty accessing learner testing. especially people living in remote rural communities.

In September 2023 a trial started with Eastbay REAP (Rural Education Activities Programme) in Ōpōtiki, Bay of Plenty, to test the impact of having a community provider offering mobile theory testing in their rohe (district).

Better regional support

We've introduced new regional advisors to strengthen and develop community driver training and mentoring programmes in communities around Aotearoa. This will help our regions and communities to give better access and support to learner drivers.

Three safer driver education advisors have also been appointed. They’re working alongside community providers to create quality learning resources for driver training programmes.

A testing administration role is also being created to improve access to group bookings for community providers.

Regional advisors

Northland

Arthur Webber

Auckland

Bex Gilchrist

Waikato, Taranaki, Wellington

Kelly Martin

Bay of Plenty and Tairāwhiti

Arlouise Brooking

Hawke's Bay and Central (Manawatu and Wairarapa)

Davey Forbes

Te Waipounamu South Island

Tony Ratima-Lane

Safer driver education advisors

Toni Fauonuku, based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

Toni Fauonuku

Makareta McDonnell, based in Hawke’s Bay

Makareta McDonnell

Angela McDonnell, based in Christchurch

Angela McDonnell

Community trials in Tairāwhiti (Gisborne), the Far North and Ōpōtiki

We've partnered with Far North REAP (Rural Education Activities Programme) and Tairāwhiti REAP to trial new ways of making access to driver testing for restricted and full licences faster and easier.

  • The Far North REAP is working with local police officers qualified as driver testing officers to offer practical driver testing for REAP students. REAP and the police officers have worked closely together to understand local needs.
  • The Tairāwhiti  REAP has 2 community driver testing officers who are dedicated to testing students for their restricted or full driver licence. They understand the needs of these students. Many of them live in rural areas or small communities with difficulties accessing driver licensing.

While the 2-year trials concluded in June 2024, the funding and CDTO services are continuing.

A third trial started with Eastbay REAP in Ōpōtiki, Bay of Plenty, in September 2023, to test the provision of mobile theory testing by a community provider for the first time.

What we learn from these community trials will help us develop a more effective driver licensing system.

The impact of these community initiatives on the lives of people in both Tairāwhiti and the Far North is shown in these stories and videos. 

Driver licensing stories

Funding from Budget 2022

As part of Budget 2022, the Government announced $86.5 million in funding to support 64,000 more people to get driver licenses. The funding is for driver licensing support and removing barriers for people who have trouble getting a driver licence.

A list of MSD approved providers who received funding for year 2 is now available:

GETS | Ministry of Social Development - Driver License Training and Support Programme(external link)

Who's involved

This mahi to improve access to driver licensing was initiated by the Driver Licensing Improvement programme. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) led this 2-year programme in collaboration with:

  • Ministry of Social Development
  • Ministry of Transport - Te Manatū Waka
  • NZ Police
  • Te Puni Kōkiri
  • Accident Compensation Corporation
  • Ministry for Pacific Peoples
  • Department of Corrections.
  • with support from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and the Driving Change Network.

While the programme concluded in June 2024, this work is being continued by other NZTA teams, in collaboration with our agency partners and the Driving Change Network.

Driving Change Network(external link)

Newsletter

Our newsletter Improving Driver Licensing gives updates on how the work toward better access to driver licensing is progressing.

Improving Driver Licensing – Programme Update 26 June 2024(external link)

Improving Driver Licensing – Programme Update 30 April 2024(external link)

Improving Driver Licensing – Programme Update 6 December 2023(external link)

Improving Driver Licensing – Programme Update 29 September 2023(external link)

Improving Driver Licensing – Programme Update 27 July 2023(external link)

Improving Driver Licensing – Programme Update 31 May 2023(external link)

Improving Driver Licensing – Programme Update 29 March 2023(external link)

Improving Driver Licensing – Programme Update 1 February 2023(external link)

Improving Driver Licensing – Programme Update 7 December 2022(external link)

Subscribe to the DLIP newsletter(external link)