Pursuant to section 161 (3) of the Land Transport Act
1998, notification is hereby given of the making of Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Amendment Rule 2006 (Rule 91001/2).
This amendment Rule amends Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Rule 1999 (Rule 91001), which sets out the requirements for obtaining and renewing driver licences and endorsements. The purpose of this amendment Rule is to give effect to many of the recommendations of the 2001 independent Review of the Cost and Management of Driver Licensing Regime. Changes include:
? removal of the “automatic only” condition, to allow older drivers who take their test in an automatic
vehicle to drive either an automatic or a manual vehicle (unless the “automatic only” condition was imposed for medical reasons);
? clarifying that an overseas driver licence is valid for use in New Zealand for multiple periods of up to 12 continuous months;
? revised maximum vehicle weight limits by licence class that allow heavier vehicles to be driven on Class 1, 2 and 4 licences;
? a range of provisions tightening up the requirements for overseas drivers to convert to a New Zealand licence; and
? an extension of the time in which older drivers can renew their licence from 60 days to six months before the licence expires.
All the provisions of Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Amendment Rule 2006 come into force on 1 June 2006 except the form of the restricted licence driving test, which takes effect on 1 July 2006.
The amendment Rule is available for inspection free of charge at the National Office of Land Transport New Zealand,
7 Waterloo Quay, Wellington, and a bound version is available for purchase from bookshops that sell legislation or from Legislation Direct, telephone (04) 495 2882.
A loose-leaf version of the amendment Rule will be made available to Rules subscribers from Wickliffe Limited, freephone 0800 226 440.
Dated at Wellington this 27th day of March 2006.
WAYNE PATRICK DONNELLY, Director of Land Transport.