Driving tests

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32540, 25 February 1971, Page 10

Driving tests

Sir, —I recently returned from Australia after two years and found I had let my New Zealand driver’s licence lapse for a year. I had previously lived in Christchurch for 10 years and held a licence for all vehicles except class 5. My Australian licence covered bus, heavy vehicle, and car. I have also driven a bus and taxi in London and have had a licence for over 30 years. On return to Christchurch I had a medical examination to renew my licence for taxi and bus, but was told by the Transport Department that I would have to sit every licence again, even for a car, and start off as a learner. It is like asking a qualified accountant to sit all his examinations again. Meanwhile, any driving job that is advertised I must ignore although driving any type of vehicle is no problem for me. —Yours, etc., WHAT A WELCOME!

February 12, 1971. [The regional secretary of the Ministry of Transport (Mr D. L. Hogan) replies: “If your correspondent arrived here with a current Australian licence he would normally be given a New Zealand one in the same terms, provided he passed a written and oral examination in this country’s traffic laws. There are a number of difficulties in translating overseas to New Zealand licences, and I would suggest that your correspondent calls at the Ministry’s office, 216 Manchester Street, where he will be able to discuss the matter with Mr H. Turner.”]