Licencing advice

**babyblade250rr** · 6th September 2007, 17:35

Hi all,

I'm going over to rarotonga later this year for a weeks vacation, And a friend has told me to do a motorcycle licence whilst im there, apparently when i return i can convert to a full class 6 nz licence after completing a theory and practical session.

Does anyone know if this statement is correct?

**klyong82** · 6th September 2007, 18:33

i am pretty sure you must have held that overseas licence for at least 2 years to do a NZ conversion. And if it is not in english you have to get it translated. But why would you want to speed up the process?

**babyblade250rr** · 6th September 2007, 18:52

well, not so much for speeding up the process but rather the convienience of just getting it over and done with, not in a hurry to upgrade bike though

**0arbreaka** · 6th September 2007, 19:22

Perhaps this will help.

**babyblade250rr** · 6th September 2007, 21:34

thanks for the link, yeah it seems it's all legit!! we'll i don't see the problem getting my licence and coverting it once i get back, at least i can legally ride after dark!!

thanks

**carbacca** · 6th September 2007, 21:46

had a looking on getting a cook island license on google...

he driving is on the left and is fairly reserved with sane drivers and speed limits. Beware, however: one needs to get a local driver's license to legally drive in the Cook Islands, and this essentially means showing up with valid home license at the police station in the capital Avarua with $10 in hand. If you have an automobile license and are intending to rent a motorcycle, you have two options: either do a road test for an extra $5 or rent first, drive to the police station on it, and when it's pointed out you don't have the appropriate home license, you may just get the license you need because you've demonstrated an ability to get there already. As bizarre as this sounds, it was recommended to us and worked.

f you are going to drive then you need to get a Cook Islands drivers license. We have three categories when we issue driver’s licence in the Cook Islands as follows:

12 months @ $10.00..
5 years @ $30.00.
10 years @ $50.00.
These licences for each class of motor vehicle eg: motor cycles, motor car, light or heavy trade, Taxis, Passenger Service
etc expires on the applicant’s date of birth. A new driver’s licence is issued on the applicant date of birth.

If the applicant was born on 30 November 1986, a renewed licence:
will be issued on the 30th November 2006,
to expire on the 30th November 2007 if for 12 months.
to expire on the 30th November 2011 if for 5 years.
to expire on the 30th November 2016 if for 10 years.

If a licence was issued on the 1st January 2006 for a motor cycle or car for some unknown reasons, that licence will expire on the 30th November 2006 because that is the date of birth of the holder, even though it is less than 12 months. All classes of licence are to expire on date of birth of each applicant or holder.

damnit now i wanna go there...

**HermaphroBiker** · 6th September 2007, 23:20

wow!! sounds like the place to be, although would that mean there are a lot of 'nobbers' that ride in the cook islands?

**craigs288** · 7th September 2007, 09:17

My friend went there for about 3 months and got a licence there, when he came back and renewed his NZ licence it suddenly had 'full' everything on it.

**babyblade250rr** · 7th September 2007, 09:22

well looks like licensing in raro it is then!!!

**90s** · 7th September 2007, 10:02

Originally Posted by klyong82

i am pretty sure you must have held that overseas licence for at least 2 years to do a NZ conversion. And if it is not in english you have to get it translated. But why would you want to speed up the process?

No, this is incorrect.

See my post here and the thread it links to also:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ga#post1155640

Pls note that anyone can never have riden a bike before, get a 'full' in the Cook Islands and then have the right to take the full test here in NZ the next day. Note that it does not mean you will pass!
Potentially on day 4* of your riding career you could legally be on a busa.

But whether this is wise or not is up to you.

(OK - you would need to book the test AFTER returning from the Islands, and are unlieky to be there only a day, then it'll be about 2 weeks to your test, but realisitically you can go from zero to hero to dead on a 1300 busa in less than a month)