Overseas licences - swapping for a NZ full license?

[Bruiser]

We are off to Rarotonga later in the year (payback for eleven months recuperating from my stouch with a cage, and reward for my partner's support as I rejoin the biker/human race).

My question is about bike licenses. We have been told that a full license in Rarotonga is a simple matter of paying the fee and a ride around the front lawn.

We have also heard that these ten dollar Rarotongan full licences are legal in NZ for riding here, and also that these (tourist) licenses can be transferred to a full NZ license with no other requirements except paying a licence transfer fee.

It all sounds a bit dubious to me but thought I'd check with the experts here?

[Cajun]

know someone who did this less than 2 months ago, now he can ride his vrod legally,

He did previously have a nz learners licenese, don't know full story but pretty much what you said works

[ManDownUnder]

oh goodie... a way to legally put far too much power in the hands of the inexperienced and endanger my life on the road even more...

But wait - there's more... they get a holiday in the tropics too!

[Bruiser]

oh goodie... a way to legally put far too much power in the hands of the inexperienced and endanger my life on the road even more...

But wait - there's more... they get a holiday in the tropics too!

Hey MDU, you're storing a heap of pent-up hostility there pal.

I am simply asking if the issue is bs or there is some truth to the story about overseas licenses applying here.

As a longtime rider travelling this year I am interested in the answer. Until we know the facts your opinion (and your attitude) is neither welcomed nor shared. But I'm sure you already know that.

Bruiser

[ManDownUnder]

Hey MDU, you're storing a heap of pent-up hostility there pal.

I am simply asking if the issue is bs or there is some truth to the story about overseas licenses applying here.

As a longtime rider travelling this year I am interested in the answer. Until we know the facts your opinion (and your attitude) is neither welcomed nor shared. But I'm sure you already know that.

Bruiser

LOL yeah there is - but I don't know if it came through, but it's a general comment, not directed at you or anyone in particular.

I've seen, heard of, and been involved in enough accidents to know what happens when power and inexperience get combined. It's never a combination I'll endorse and if there is a loophole in the law enabling newbies to go kill themselves and others I'd rather see it closed

MDU

[Bruiser]

MDU, your response wasn't taken personally, but I grow tired of seeing threads here where genuine people are asking for advice and information, only to have their thread hijacked by those with their own agendas or simply wanting to get something off their chest.

If you have such a need, how about starting your own thread where you can invite all those who feel so inclined to discuss and dispute the issue to your hearts' content.

Of course we both know you won't do this for two reasons.

i) It is far easier to hijack someone elses' thread than start your own.

ii) You'd have a snowballs chance in hell of getting interest when your thread title is a moan instead of a genuine enquiry or request for information or advice.

Bitch over ;-)

[matt147]

im also seriously considering going over to the tropics to try this license scheme out. I was thinking though that before i go i would ring up LTSA - "err i have a rarotonga international licence, how do i get this changed for a kiwi one??" hopefully the response is "sure bring it on in..."

I would like to know of people successfully doing this too please, as per the original thread.

cheers

[Karma]

Hey MDU, you're storing a heap of pent-up hostility there pal.


AHAHAHAHAHAHA :lol:


snip snip

[Dai]

My nephew did exactly this two years ago.

At 17 he went on a holiday to Raro,

Paid his $10 and went for his car licence

Rode around the block on a scooter and was issued with a full car licence.

Came back to NZ, drove on that licence for a year. Sat the practical and passed his full licence for cars at 19 years old. No learner or restricted period.

So in answer to the origonal question yes this can be done.

[adiddy]

is this true? what about for a full class 6 ?! yay

[Bruiser]

im also seriously considering going over to the tropics to try this license scheme out. I was thinking though that before i go i would ring up LTSA - "err i have a rarotonga international licence, how do i get this changed for a kiwi one??" hopefully the response is "sure bring it on in..."

I would like to know of people successfully doing this too please, as per the original thread.

cheers

Hi Matt,
Can you report back with LTSA's response to your question/s?


Cheers,
Bruiser

[Jimmy B]

I think Dai is onto it, not simply a matter of paying a fee, there is the requirement to complete the practical test , pretty sure there is no requirement to complete theory, could be wrong but either way it is a current loophole.

Take care

JB

[McJim]

Sounds good to me - should be a case of if you can pass the test you should have the licence, otherwise what's the fukken point of the test? I wouldn't mind having to sit the test if I could get some way round the time ban - 9 months is a long time to wait for a 36 year old to be allowed out after 10pm!

Prob won't upgrade beyond 250 after I pass as I don't feel the need for power but would like to be able to legally ride at any time I want to.

[Jimmy B]

Mate I guess the test is not really real world because you are on your best behaviour and its no more onerous than tootling down the road for 30 mins. The real test is what you do when you get your license and strap on 140hp...

Happy days

JB

[Macktheknife]

Hey bruiser, yes it is true, I know a couple of guys who have done it after LTSA 'lost' the records of their licences.
And 1 guy who never had a licence decided to do it after riding for 20 yrs without one, he just happened to be going on holiday anyway when he found out about it.
Hope that helps.
Good to hear you are feeling better now mate, look forward to catching up for a coldie sometime.
Mack

[McJim]

strap on 140hp...JB

Oooooo - where can I get a 140hp Strap on? I know a few girls in Glasgow that would be interested in that! :rofl:

[Wasp]

if we all book the flights to rarotonga at the same time we might even get a discount :D

[adiddy]

well im going in april next year now lol.... on my way through to thailand :whistle:

[Squeak the Rat]

Sounds good to me - should be a case of if you can pass the test you should have the licence, otherwise what's the fukken point of the test? I wouldn't mind having to sit the test if I could get some way round the time ban - 9 months is a long time to wait for a 36 year old to be allowed out after 10pm!

Prob won't upgrade beyond 250 after I pass as I don't feel the need for power but would like to be able to legally ride at any time I want to.

I thought Dover had convinced you to get a thou! I have four weeks off with a head injumury and I've come back to a parrallel universe where things are slightly off kilt-er...

If you get your full licence overseas you still need to do a practical test in NZ when you return if you've held the full for less time than what it takes to progress through the system. At least thats how it was back in '00.

[adiddy]

its alot easier than waiting lol...
WOULD BE nice to sit the liscnece and be able to ride with no "L" plate legally

[matt147]

it seems like it will work! You need to take in the Rarotongan full bike licence, proof of your address (bank statement), a new zealand licence, pay $154 then sit both a practical and theory test, then you will be issued with a full NZ bike licence. I even asked "what if i have never had a NZ bike licence before", just to make it glaringly obvious, and the kind lady said "no thats no problem, as long as you have a rarotongan licence". So that sounds like good news to me, other than actually passing the tests i would say its a cinch! From what i hear about the lax road rules over there, getting a Rarotongan licence is no probs either....

And i know theres a lot of old guys thinking out there thinking that we young folk cant handle 140hp, but relax, i dont want to kill myself just yet, i only have a 400cc bike, so this is just to save me potential fines...

cheers

[adiddy]

i

And i know theres a lot of old guys thinking out there thinking that we young folk cant handle 140hp, but relax, i dont want to kill myself just yet, i only have a 400cc bike, so this is just to save me potential fines...

cheers

agreed - lol, mite pay rarotonga a visit !
just hope the law doesnt change soon!!!!

[Bruiser]

it seems like it will work! You need to take in the Rarotongan full bike licence, proof of your address (bank statement), a new zealand licence, pay $154 then sit both a practical and theory test, then you will be issued with a full NZ bike licence. I even asked "what if i have never had a NZ bike licence before", just to make it glaringly obvious, and the kind lady said "no thats no problem, as long as you have a rarotongan licence". So that sounds like good news to me, other than actually passing the tests i would say its a cinch! From what i hear about the lax road rules over there, getting a Rarotongan licence is no probs either

I just got off the phone with LTSA (or LTNZ) and you are absoultely correct. They don't measure how long you have held the Rarotongan full license, and when pass the scratchie and road test here you get an instant full license.

By the way, the full license up there consists of riding your rental scooter around the paddock at the back of the police station and a small matter of $10. They consider these licenses as "tourist licenses" there.

So there you have it people. You can't avoid the scratchie or driving test back home but you do avoid the 18 months the "system" requires for a full NZ license.

Thanks everybody for your input and lets hope they don't close the loophole.

[Insanity_rules]

I got my Raro bike licence 3 years ago and only found out once it had expired about the licence transfer.

Sitting the licence entailed riding around the block in a group with the cop on a bike behind you. One guy actually failed, he was a really crappy rider. And he gave the cop a mouthful to boot.

I wish I had found out while it was valid. They expire after a year.

[adiddy]

thanks lol, ill get mine soon ! :lol:

[pixc]

I mentioned this quitely and as 'ha ha' to my bf. When i came home from work I found 4 passport application forms and a heap of holiday brouchers for the islands. :P
I guess the family is off for a holiday soon :)

[Jimmy B]

hey McJim, :lol: Any reputable strap on dealer should see you right mate

[matt147]

where is the most lax place to go in the waikato region? anyone have any suggestions or places to stay away from? Im taking my bike in on Saturday to get vinned at a VTNZ somewhere, so would really appreciate any advice, cheers

[adiddy]

wat do you mean by that ?

[Bruiser]

where is the most lax place to go in the waikato region? anyone have any suggestions or places to stay away from? Im taking my bike in on Saturday to get vinned at a VTNZ somewhere, so would really appreciate any advice, cheers

Hi Mat, you have one other more serious issue to deal with - you, my friend, have either eyesight or perception problems.

WTF are you up to putting up a question about vinning in a thread about overseas licenses being swappped in NZ?

[Jimmy B]

At the risk of sounding like a nanna I would have thought that any inspection would have a direct correlation as to how safe your Bike is, so in fact you should be after someone that will do a thorough inspection with the aim of pointing out any problems that have the potential to open up a world of hurt

Goodo

JB

[pinkhoggirl]

Does anyone know if anything has changed with this? I have a friend who has been riding for 20+ years, only just recently got a restricted. Wondering if he can speed the process up and be ready for the road this summer...??

[90s]

A quick search of this question would have found the answer instantly. I converted a Raro licence as I did not convert my old European one within a year and had started again as a 6L. I describe the process in detail in several earlier threads, along with costs etc.
One thing not noted here so far is that if you have a NZ 6L then all you do in Raro is pay the fee, $10. This is useful, because the people taking the practical had to wait a few hours for the process, while I was back to the beach within 5 minutes.

And on earlier threads there was the knock-down between young riders who want instant super-bike action and 'mature' riders thinking this 'loophole' should be closed.

But it is not a loophole. The Cook Islands have a constitutional relationship to NZ and their licence valid as an international licence. This is not an oversight but something that cannot be changed as easily as not recognising some other 'third-party' country's. You have a full Raro or UK licence and within a year of entry you have the right to convert them by taking the theory here (and the practical full test for Raro).

[jafar]

Does anyone know if anything has changed with this? I have a friend who has been riding for 20+ years, only just recently got a restricted. Wondering if he can speed the process up and be ready for the road this summer...??

I too know several people that have done the raro licence trip & got their full licence when they returned home. Yes it COULD be done , but I hear they have now closed this loophole & made raro licences invalid.
Would pay to check with the LTSA & find out.
Mabey a Samoan or Tongan holiday would suit you better :cool:

[timphy2]

hey yes i have a rarotongan license too so i tried this but since the start of this month they have enforced another rule so it's more difficult for us to use the loophole. the catch is that you have to get the rarotongan traffic department to send a lettor or fax to the department in NZ confiming that you did actually sit the test and not just pay them money. This sounds pretty simple untill you actually try getting them to do this. I spent 30 min on the phone trying to spell my name to them and sent them an email too. untill now no response. If anyone is going over to rarotonga, please make them send a fax on my behalf :P If only i had gone to the AA 17 days earlier.

[MarkyMark]

Shoot, I'm going to Raro in February, thought this would be a nice added bonus. Would I still be able to show my Rarotongan license for one year and not convert it to NZ full license? I'm on my 6R already, so riding on my Raro license for a bit and then getting my 6F at the normal time would be acceptable.

Or is there an extra document I could get signed in Raro that would placate LTSA. Hmm, might have to give them a ring.

[HungusMaximist]

Aye, just make sure when you have completed the licence test, make them give you a copy of some transcript or offical letter stating that you have just legally compeleted the test.

Cheers..

[MarkyMark]

Ahh beauty. cheers.