A coalition of transport industry organisations is calling on the Government to boost access to driver education and licensing as more than one million adults in New Zealand remain without a full driver licence.
The group, made up of Transporting New Zealand, Driving Change Network, Bus and Coach Association, MITO, Heavy Haulage Association, National Road Carriers and Groundspread NZ, wrote to ministers last week seeking increased support to address the growing number of unlicensed New Zealanders.
The organisations say recent changes to the graduated driver licensing system will reduce the financial burden on learners, but argue more action is needed to help young people obtain licences at the scale required for employment and independence.
Transporting New Zealand chief executive Dom Kalasih says at least 70% of job listings require a driver’s licence.
“For the road freight sector, that figure will obviously be a lot higher. Ministry of Transport estimates the freight task will grow more than 20% over the next 20 years – an additional 60 million tonnes of freight moved per year.
“With that growth we need a sustainable supply of qualified drivers. A full Class 1 licence is the first step in that pipeline.”
The coalition says stable investment across the transport, education and social development portfolios to improve access to driver training and testing would reduce barriers to employment and help prevent young people entering the justice system.
The organisations are calling for driver education and testing to be integrated into secondary schools and supported by Government funding.
“Driver education in schools should be a normal part of the transition from school into work,” Kalasih says.
“Without it, too many young people who can’t access support at home or pay for private lessons are left behind.”
The group is also seeking increased funding to support low-income learners and expand community-based training and testing services, particularly in rural and high-deprivation areas.
Among its proposals are doubling targeted government funding for low-income applicants from $20m to $40m annually, with training and testing services delivered through community providers and Ministry of Social Development.
It also suggests integrating driver training into all New Zealand secondary schools by 2030, offering theory preparation, practical lessons, and on-site testing, supported by central and local government funding.
Increasing funding for mobile and community-based licensing services, particularly in rural and high-deprivation areas, from just over $4m per year to $20m per year, is another recommendation.
The coalition is awaiting a response from the ministers for education, transport, vocational education and social development.
