Getting a licence transfered from the Cook Islands?

**ninja250r** · 6th January 2011, 12:54

I have a friend that back in 2006 went to the Cook Islands and got there bike licence. On returning to NZ all they did was apply to have it transfered over to a NZ licence. It cost them $130. I have been searching but haven't found anything on this - can anyone tell me if this is still happening?

**Cayman911** · 6th January 2011, 13:13

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/about/contac...licensing.html

**Houseman** · 6th January 2011, 14:24

My sister just got back from 2 weeks in Nieue in November. She applied for a Nieue licence and by some sort of admin f-up they gave her car, ht, and bike all at the same time.

She is seriously thinking of getting the ht and bike converted to NZ...

**F430 3** · 6th January 2011, 14:39

Originally Posted by ninja250r

I have a friend that back in 2006 went to the Cook Islands and got there bike licence. On returning to NZ all they did was apply to have it transfered over to a NZ licence. It cost them $130. I have been searching but haven't found anything on this - can anyone tell me if this is still happening?

Hi - hey, this is my first post!

I've heard this before as well. I don't know if it's an urban legend, but according to this page http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/fa...w-zealand.html it's not true. If you have a license from the list of countries shown, then you don't have to sit the theory test and/or practical. Unfortunately, I don't see any of the Pacific Islands there ...

c

edit: Actually - it just says that you have to sit the NZ theory and Practical tests. I wonder if you have a CI motorcycle license, can you come back and immediately sit the practical test for NZ full license, bypassing the learner and provisional stage?

**Pascal** · 6th January 2011, 14:43

Bit of information on somebody's process here. It would be interesting to find out what the case is.

**rainman** · 6th January 2011, 17:37

I don't know if it is still allowed or if the rules have changed but I did this a few years ago. Went to the Cooks in 2005, got my motorcycle license, valid for one year. Within 12 months of it expiring I upgraded my standard NZ learners (which I had done the conventional way) straight to a 6F. Had to do the practical test, but no restricted and no waiting. Can't remember what I had to pay.

**phill-k** · 6th January 2011, 17:46

No information available as all those that did mange this died through inexperience

**JimO** · 6th January 2011, 18:26

Originally Posted by Houseman

She is seriously thinking of getting the ht and bike converted to NZ...

that will make the roads safer

**cbfb** · 6th January 2011, 19:13

Don't mean to piss on anyone's bonfire, but if they start giving licences away with packets of breakfast cereal the roads aren't gonna get much safer are they? Why not just study for and sit the NZ tests? If you're not good enough to pass them you shouldn't be using NZ roads, simple as.

**phill-k** · 6th January 2011, 19:21

Originally Posted by cbfb

Don't mean to piss on anyone's bonfire, but if they start giving licences away with packets of breakfast cereal the roads aren't gonna get much safer are they? Why not just study for and sit the NZ tests? If you're not good enough to pass them you shouldn't be using NZ roads, simple as.

Mate don't come on here and be so bloody sensible, fuck we won't have anything to bitch on about, interestingly I used Google Translate just to check you message, your mother probably wouldn't be to pleased with googles translation.

**cbfb** · 6th January 2011, 19:33

Originally Posted by phill-k

Mate don't come on here and be so bloody sensible, fuck we won't have anything to bitch on about, interestingly I used Google Translate just to check you message, your mother probably wouldn't be to pleased with googles translation.

Bugger, I keep forgetting KB is the wrong place for logic and sensiblity. Will try harder in future. Didn't understand the Google Translate bit sorry.

**fliplid** · 6th January 2011, 19:43

Originally Posted by cbfb

Don't mean to piss on anyone's bonfire, but if they start giving licences away with packets of breakfast cereal the roads aren't gonna get much safer are they? Why not just study for and sit the NZ tests? If you're not good enough to pass them you shouldn't be using NZ roads, simple as.

I wonder at times if they don't give free licenses here with cereal at times, added to which nipping offshore to get a "dodgy" license and using it here seems just as bad, especially if it involves vehicles larger than scooters!

**cbfb** · 6th January 2011, 20:55

Originally Posted by fliplid

I wonder at times if they don't give free licenses here with cereal at times, added to which nipping offshore to get a "dodgy" license and using it here seems just as bad, especially if it involves vehicles larger than scooters!

Too right, the roads are dodgy enough as it is with supposedly licenced drivers on them. Take away the vetting process and god help us

**davereid** · 7th January 2011, 06:42

OK, here are the facts.

A Cook Is. Licence is valid in New Zealand for 1 year from the time of entry for a visitor, or migrant from the Cook Is.

This is under an international agreement allowing people to drive on their own licence in a foreign county.

However.

If you are a New Zealander, and you use a Cook Is licence to drive in New Zealand, you are not in a foreign country.

So you should have a New Zealand licence to drive here.

Additionally, you cannot convert a Cook Is licence to a New Zealand Licence. You need to sit a New Zealand licence.

BUT..

Your Cook Is licence is still a useful form of photo ID.

If you use your New Zealand Licence for ID you are at massive risk of identity fraud, as the NZTA driver licence database is the defacto database for the credit industry.