Rarotonga licence loophole

[rustys]

Went on an organised bike tour in Australia last year. One of the group never had a motorcycle licence, which ment he could not hire ride or hire a rental motorcycle without it. So doing some re search he found that buy going to Raro for a holiday and getting his $10.00 motorcycle licence, he was then legal to ride and hire his bike in Australia. I think it was valid for something like six months though.

[CHOPPA]

Na you can only swap a full motorcycle licence if you have held it for atleast 2 years, i had my full oz licence but couldnt swap it for a full nz for 2 years so i just sat my nz full...

[Switch]

I went over to Rarotonga when i was 17 i believe. Only had my Restricted Car licence. Stopped in at the police station in Raro, paid $10, and a group of us (tourists) rode around the block being followed by a police officer.
Half way through the ride an older lady almost crashed so the police officer stopped to help her out and told the rest of us to meet him back at the police station So off we rode and 5 minutes later he arrived with her back at the station, wondered off inside then told us to wait for them to print out the licences
So after about 30 minutes of sitting around, 5 minutes of riding, i had a full Rarotongan Motorcycle licence valid for a year

The family hired a few bikes and we rode around the island all day. Was fantastic

Unfortunatly i didnt know about the loop-hole until after my licence had expired >.<

[Hawkeye]

there is no test!,just rock up,wait, pay ya 10bucks,wait,they take your mugshot,wait,if you have a bike licence,wait,they give you a raro licence,if you don't have a bike licence,you wait,then ride round the block,wait.they give you a licence,simple

He has the Raro licence. Got that when he was there. Now wants to convert it to a NZ full.

[Hawkeye]

Na you can only swap a full motorcycle licence if you have held it for atleast 2 years, i had my full oz licence but couldnt swap it for a full nz for 2 years so i just sat my nz full...

But did you have to go through the restricted first or did you only take full?

[Mom]

But did you have to go through the restricted first or did you only take full?

Someone earlier posted about needing to hold a current overseas license for 2 years before you can convert it. When we were there last year we were offered the option of taking the Raro license for 5 years ($50) IIRC or one year $10. You can drive on an overseas license for ?12 months without converting, someone can clarify that I am certain.


I am certain there is a thread devoted to this issue somewhere on here. Why not ring LTSA tomorrow and ask?

[Hawkeye]

I've got a mate who has been to Rarotonga and come back with his bike licence. No mention of any restrictions. Can he still trade it in for a full over here or has that particular loophole been closed?

Just so that the original question is very very clear.

1. He has already been to Rarotonga.
2. He does not have a NZ licence.
3. Whilst in Rarotonga, he sat and passed his bike licence ($10 + ride around the block).
4. He has returned from Rarotonga with a full Rarotanga bike licence.

Question: what steps does he have to go through to get a NZ full licence.

[90s]

Do a search because over the last few years I have posted on this topic many, many times in excruciating detail the laws and steps with reference to converting a Raro to NZ licence.

The process is simple - you must convert within a year (see previous posts for debates ad nusuem on the definition of a "year" - ie. from last entry into the country ... )

Go to the AA, get the conversion form and book the full test. You must then take the full test scractchy and do the full test practical.

Yes you do 'jump' all the other steps and proceed to a full, pass go and get $200 etc. If you pass. And, as countless other threads on this have made clear, if your previous experience was some scooter on Raro getting an R1 as your next step will ensure a very short motorcycling career.

Good luck all.

Just so that the original question is very very clear.

1. He has already been to Rarotonga.
2. He does not have a NZ licence.
3. Whilst in Rarotonga, he sat and passed his bike licence ($10 + ride around the block).
4. He has returned from Rarotonga with a full Rarotanga bike licence.

Question: what steps does he have to go through to get a NZ full licence.

[Hawkeye]

Do a search because over the last few years I have posted on this topic many, many times in excruciating detail the laws and steps with reference to converting a Raro to NZ licence.

The process is simple - you must convert within a year (see previous posts for debates ad nusuem on the definition of a "year" - ie. from last entry into the country ... )

Go to the AA, get the conversion form and book the full test. You must then take the full test scractchy and do the full test practical.

Yes you do 'jump' all the other steps and proceed to a full, pass go and get $200 etc. If you pass. And, as countless other threads on this have made clear, if your previous experience was some scooter on Raro getting an R1 as your next step will ensure a very short motorcycling career.

Good luck all.

Thanks. 90s. He's been riding for quite a while, just never got around to doing the paperwork. Although there have been numerous threads on the subject, I had heard rumours that the loop hole had been closed, which is why I was asking.


It also appears that a number of our resident 'experts' on here can't quite read and have explained, in great detail, how to get a Rarotonga licence.

[Tank]

Perhaps I should commute in a tank.....

that just aint gonna happen sunshine ...

[Krayy]

I fail to see how the AA or any other authority can take the Raro license as anything other than a joke. The "license" system is in place to rip tourists off cos when you hire a car or scooter/125 bike on the island, you aren't covered by insurance until you have paid your 10 bucks for the license.

Think of it as a taxation system rather than anything real.

Then again if the AA or other licensing authority accepts it, then they are cocks of the first order and should be the first against the wall when the revolution comes...oh hang on, that was phone sanitisers.

[jamiey]

Just been sat reading this thread, then came across this story on the Herald website

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/...ectid=10525255

Riding without a licence (it sounds like a Raro one is just like not having one), without any experience too often ends up with only one result.

[90s]

Thanks. 90s. He's been riding for quite a while, just never got around to doing the paperwork. Although there have been numerous threads on the subject, I had heard rumours that the loop hole had been closed, which is why I was asking.


It also appears that a number of our resident 'experts' on here can't quite read and have explained, in great detail, how to get a Rarotonga licence.

Point taken, but as the Cook Islands are legally within the NZ remit because of the constitutional relationship it would be hard to close this 'loop-hole'. In fact it is utterly wrong to think of this as a loop-hole - its just one territory or country that has its licence acknowledged by NZ, but one which is bound to NZ.

The point that the licence system in Raro is a joke and a tax system is a point well taken (however, there are people who fail - yes fail - the test), but I could extend this to the NZ system, which is also bit of a joke. Really. Just not a very funny one (it certainly does not train people to understand the rode code, ride or drive well).

Do I think the Raro licence should be acknowledged as being of the same standard as the UK licence for example? Erm, no.
But changing this is not going to happen easily.

Good luck to your friend ...

[portokiwi]

I was accepted for the Cook Islands police force.... As far as I know, You can not use your cook Islands drivers licence anywhere else but in the Cooks. My sister has just been back here and gone back she just updated her New Zealand one. It looks nice but worthless anywhere else in the world lol.
My wife has one and when she went to AA they said NO to the cook Island one but Yes to her Portuguese one.
I hope this helps.

[90s]

:It looks nice but worthless anywhere else in the world lol.
My wife has one and when she went to AA they said NO to the cook Island one but Yes to her Portuguese one.
I hope this helps.

Well it is useful because you can convert it to a NZ licence through the due process.
And the AA do run the conversion tests.