Overseas licences - swapping for a NZ full license?

[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

[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.