Learner and Restricted Driving Courses Whangaparaoa

04/04/2026

07/03/2026

We’d like your feedback on a proposed change to the road user rules that would require drivers to give way to buses that are leaving bus stops.

As defined in the law, “drivers” includes people driving a car or truck, or riding a motorcycle, moped, bicycle, or a mobility device considered a vehicle.

Currently drivers aren’t legally required to give way to buses leaving bus stops (though many do already as a courtesy). As part of our proposal, failing to give way would carry a $50 infringement fee and a maximum court-ordered fine of $250.

This is one of 5 changes we’re proposing. The other 4 are:

• allow children 12 years and under to ride bikes on footpaths
• set a minimum passing gap for when drivers pass other types of road users, including people cycling, and people riding horses (a minimum gap of 1 metre at speeds of 60km/h or less, and 1.5 metres above 60km/h)
• legally allow people riding e-scooters to use cycle lanes
• clarify signage requirements for parking on berms (the grassy area between a road and a footpath).

Share your feedback with us using the form on our website: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/laneuse

Read the page and our discussion document before filling out the form – there’s a lot more information there than what’s above.

Our consultation closes on 25 March 2026. We can’t include comments on this post or messages to us on social media as submissions – you need to use the form on our website if you want us to officially take your feedback into account.

Your feedback will inform the decisions made by the Minister of Transport about these changes.

30/10/2025

It’s the law: it's illegal to run a red traffic light. This includes red traffic lights at motorway on-ramps.

The same rules apply to on-ramp traffic lights as to traffic lights at intersections. Only one vehicle per lane can enter the on-ramp when the light turns green. This helps improve traffic flow on motorways and makes it safer to merge.

For more information on ramp signals, go to https://nzta.govt.nz/roads-and-rail/ramp-signals/general-faqs

06/10/2025

22/09/2025

16/09/2025

Tomorrow we’ll roll out our first mobile safety camera in a trailer to detect speeding.

These camera-equipped trailers are joining our fleet of camera-equipped SUVs. Here are four things to know about mobile cameras:

• We operate mobile trailers and SUVs anytime and anywhere, which means you’ll see them during the day and at night on any type of public road across the country.
• The trailers and SUVs detect speeding both towards and away from the camera, and on either side of the road – so both as you’re approaching the trailer or SUV and after you pass it.
• The trailers are all painted white and look like the one in this photo, while the SUVs are different colours, makes, and models. Neither are branded.
• The trailers and SUVs aren’t sign posted.

Our aim is to reduce the number of people travelling over the speed limit and lessen the likelihood of a serious or fatal crash.

We’re sharing what the cameras look like, how they work, and how we’re using them so you know what to expect.

Exceeding the speed limit is illegal. If you travel at or below the speed limit you won’t receive a speeding ticket. You’ll be fined if a safety camera captures you exceeding the speed limit – you can avoid this by not speeding.

Our SUVs are already operating around the country. Our first trailer will start operating in Auckland from 17 September 2025. We’ll add more trailers across the country in the coming months.

Our website has more information about all our types of safety cameras, including fixed camera locations and detail on how the cameras work: https://nzta.govt.nz/safety-cameras

11/09/2025

29/08/2025

25/08/2025

24/07/2025

Normally your vehicle’s tyres make full contact with a road, but wet weather can cause your tyres to lose grip and make you unable to steer or brake. This is called aquaplaning.

The tread on your tyre moves water on the road. However, in heavy rain or when there’s standing water, there may be too much water for your tyre to move. When this happens, your tyre loses contact with the road and your vehicle will skid across the surface of the water.

If you’re travelling through a patch of standing water, or if you feel your vehicle starting to skid, avoid braking, stop accelerating, and keep your steering wheel straight and steady until you feel a normal level of contact with the road.

You should regularly check your tyres to make sure you have plenty of tread. The minimum legal depth is 1.5 millimetres, but your tyres move water more easily with more tread, you’ll have more grip, and overall you’ll be safer.

If you regularly use cruise control, turn it off in bad weather. Cruise control can cause your wheels to spin if your vehicle begins to aquaplane, and that can lead to an even more dangerous skid than you’d otherwise have.

When the weather is bad, always check our pages to see if state highways are affected before you travel. Our priority is your safety – we may close state highways if conditions make it unsafe for travel. You can find more information in this post: https://www.facebook.com/nztransportagency/posts/pfbid0FSzkpU3WTJ7YDcNHKQGD6KjfbxEqSWQgvezDsHB8VZgoxtTMTmS6j5erpU55NPRzl

Visit our website for more information about driving during winter: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/winter-driving/

29/06/2025

Very important to NOT rely on your car's auto setting for headlights.

If your vehicle has automatic headlights, don’t rely on them in bad weather. Turn your lights on manually.

Newer vehicles have automatic headlights that turn on when it's dark, but you’ll often need to manually turn the headlights on in dim conditions during the day – the automatic function often doesn't activate during daytime, even when visibility is low.

Also, turn your headlights on dipped when it’s raining – you’ll likely need to do this manually during the day.

You should use your lights when it’s raining because many of us have silver, grey, or white vehicles which easily blend into the road, grey sky, and water spray. Having your headlights on dipped makes you more visible to everyone and helps you see the road.

Put simply: If your wipers are on, your lights should be on too.

Keep in mind that you can’t have your headlights on full beam (also known as "high beam") when you’re around people – your headlights must be dipped, even in heavy rain. Practically, that means you should only consider using full beam when you're not around other people and you’re driving on an unlit or poorly-lit road.

Visit our website for more information about driving during winter: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/winter-driving