Rarotonga licence loophole

[portokiwi]

Cool Tell me how her Portuguese one will expire in Nov then she has to sit her therory. But if you think she can trade her Cook Island one to New Zealand We would love to know what steps she has to take.
That would be soooooooooo Cool.

[90s]

Cool Tell me how her Portuguese one will expire in Nov then she has to sit her therory. But if you think she can trade her Cook Island one to New Zealand We would love to know what steps she has to take.
That would be soooooooooo Cool.

Its the same process as for converting the Portuguese licence - go to the AA and convert your overseas licence.
If the Port. licence is only for a cage and the Raro one is for a bike you can convert the Raro one to a full bike (you sit the final theory and do the advanced road test). If the Port. licence is also for cage & bike then you can just convert that. I think (I'd check this) but to convert the Port cage licence to NZ you would not need to do any practical - but if you convert a Raro licence you would have to do all the advanced practical tests.

When I moved to NZ I had lost my European bike licences (I found them in a drawer afterwards ... doh!) and hadn't been on a motorbike for quite a few years. I failed to convert my overseas licence within a year (at which point it expires in NZ) and decided to get a 6L and then write LTNZ a letter asking to jump straight to the full licence based on the fact I've been a licenced motorcycle rider since 1988 (aparently they are quite fair in allowing this if you make a good case). However, I had been over to Raro on work and had a licence sitting about when I read on here you could just convert a Raro to a full.
I looked into it and did it as the simplest fastest solution - and hey presto piece of cake.

[Bronx]

Sorry to labour the point 90s, but did you end up getting your 6L before converting your Raro licence?

I've got my 6L and am heading Raro way for a holiday. Can I still get my souvenir licence and convert it to a NZ full?

I don't suppose anyone knows the relevant section of the Land Transport act/regs/rules for the licence conversion?

Cheers

[h20boy]

I was just declined an exemption from my NZ learners and as I have a brand new bike sitting in my shed and want to ride it, I'm considering a trip to Rarotonga.
(I was declined because my bike isn't on the approved list.)
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=80648

If I go over and get my full MC license, will i be able to go through the exchange process even though I already have a NZ learners?

[TL1000R]

You cant convert the Raro licence to NZ Full licence anymore.. they closed that loop hole about 11 months ago.. you can still legally ride on it for either 6-12 months from what i remember but it cant be converted to a NZ full anymore..

You may be lucky and able to convert it to a NZ Learners, but northing higher.. and you have to contactt he Rarotongan police etc, and they have to send a full detailed information of the test that you sat over there.. and the fact that you right about 50m down the road, turn around the come back doesnt sit well the testers here etc.

[MarkH]

You cant convert the Raro licence to NZ Full licence anymore.. they closed that loop hole about 11 months ago.. you can still legally ride on it for either 6-12 months from what i remember but it cant be converted to a NZ full anymore..

So, can h2Oboy come back to NZ with a Raro license and ride on that for 12 months? By the time 12 months is up he will then have a full NZ license and can ride on that. No need to convert or anything?

[Tony]

I am interested in getting an Rarotongan license and then converting it to a NZ full license. I think the current licensing scheme is flawed (silly 70kmh law) but is mostly reasonable for most people - However like everyone I think I am an exception!

I recently obtained a 6L license and want to move up from my current 250CC bike in a few months to something more suitable for touring. (Not interested in sports bikes). I started riding bikes off road when I was 10. I have held a car license for over 20 years, so I think I have the right attidudes, road sense and a sensible skill level to take the next step.

There is quite a lot of confusing and contradictory answers in this forum. Anyway I decided to go to the source and get the real answers rather than hear say from bunch of well meaning but confused Kiwi Bikers.

I decided the best option was to go to the source and call the LTSA. Here is the shortened transcript as best and accurately as I can remember it from 10 minutes ago.

Me: Good moring I would like to know what is involved in getting a Rarotongan license converted to a NZ license.

LTSA: What is your name?

Me: XXXXX YYYYY

LTSA: Is this for a motorcycle license?

Me: Yes.

LTSA: OK this is a common request. The rules have changed. You need to contact the Coook Islands Licensing Authority and ask them to fax through what you did to obtain your license.

Me: When did the rules change?

Pleasant lady at the LTSA: I don't know, maybe about 12 months ago.

Me: Why do I need to get the Cook Islands Licensing Autority to fax this info through to the LTSA?

Pleasant lady at the LTSA: For appraisal, each case is dealt with on a case by case factor.

Me: What factors do they look at?

Pleasant lady at the LTSA: What tests you completed to obtain your Rarotongan license and how long you have had it.

Me: Can you tell me what tests do I need to have done and how long do I have need to held the license for?

Pleasant lady at the LTSA: I can't tell you that each case is dealt with on a case by case basis.

Me: Can you put me through to the people who do know or those who make the case by case decisions?

Pleasant lady at the LTSA: No. I can't do that.

Me: How can I get to talk to them?

Pleasant lady at the LTSA: The only way to contact them is by submitting an application to convert your license.

Me: So let me understand this. It may be possible to convert a Rarotongan motorcyle license to a Full New Zealand Motorcyle license. It will be dealt with on a case by case basis. I can't talk to the secret people who make the desicion to get an understanding of the secret criteria unless I have their secret contact details and the only way I can get their secret contact details is to make an application to convert a license.

Pleasant lady at the LTSA: Yes.

Me: Thats a lot of hassle just to find out whether I can convert a Rarotongan license.

Pleasant lady at the LTSA: (Can't remember exact response - but still very pleasant)

Me: Oh OK. I am trying to clarrify this for my own needs and because I want to write something to clarrify this for others on an online forum.

Pleasant lady at the LTSA: So you are writing an article. Then you must speak call XXXX in our communications division.

Me: I don't have to.

Pleasant lady at the LTSA: Yes you must.

(At this point I think that John Cleese or Spike Miligan is probably going to come on the line)

Me: No I don't have to. Free speech allows me to just publicise the contents of this conversation accurately.

Pleasant lady at the LTSA: Would you like me to put you through to XXXX in our communications division.

Me: Alright then, yes, thank you very much for your help.

Ring Ring

LTSA operator: XXXX is away and not available, would you like to speak to YYYYY

Me: OK

Ring Ring

Voice recording: I am not available currently please leave a detailed message....

Me: (This is getting to hard/funny/absurd... hang up because I am sure that the commmunications department will just tell me that they can't tell me because they don't want people to know the criteria because this would help people exploit any legal loop holes. Which I would consider a reasonable response).


Summary:

The only thing I have learned is there is no guarantee that this loop hole still works.

If you already have a New Zealand 6L license you may not have to do a practical test in Rarotonga. I suggest however that you still try to still do the practical test in Rarotonga so that they will at least tell the LTSA here that you have done that as it may be a factor that helps in the case by case descision in converting your Rarotongan license to a full NZ license.

Short of using the officials secrets act or following thru with their communications department (who will probably avoid providing clear answers)
I can't see a way of getting any further clarrification on this from the LTSA.

[supraman_nz]

Even though you cant convert it to a full licence straight away, you can still ride on it for 12 months while you are in NZ. Can anyone confirm this? even though this only helps people on their restricted.
Also if you get a full MC raro licence does it matter that you also have a NZ restricted or learners?

[Tony]

Even though you cant convert it to a full licence straight away, you can still ride on it for 12 months while you are in NZ. Can anyone confirm this? even though this only helps people on their restricted.

Yes I can confirm this. The LTSA web site says that you can drive on an overseas license for a period of 12 months.


reference source

Note the wording of this clause though...

"A person, on arrival in New Zealand, is deemed to hold a New Zealand driver licence of a class that entitles the person to drive the motor vehicles that the person is entitled to drive under—
(a) A valid and current driver licence or permit issued overseas to the person, after the person has produced proof of the person's driving competence, by an overseas authority, or an agent of that authority, authorised to issue a driver licence or permit;"

I think they may be able to interpret "proof of the person's driving competency" as requiring a letter from the overseas driving authority describing what test you had to do to obtain the license.

Also if you get a full MC raro licence does it matter that you also have a NZ restricted or learners?

I see nothing in the legislation that says it makes any difference in any way if you already have a NZ restricted or learners license.


If you wish to convert your Raro license to a NZ license:

• You do not need to do the 6L and 6R time. reference source
  
• You will still need to do the practical test unless you have had the Raro license for more than two years.

reference source

[mxracer_nz]

i done it end of 06, went there with my learners, paid $10 didnt do any test just got photo and it handed over, i think paid $80 buks over here and just had to sit restricted practical test and then they gave me my full. i havent herd of it being changed since then

[Da Bird]

Have just come back from Raro this evening... after giving my "never ridden a motorbike in her life" partner a few tips and about 10 minutes of riding experience on a back road in Raro, she applied for her practical test which consisted on a ride around the block - literally. (She actually practised the test ride first). It took less than 5 minutes... if you are unlucky, the cop will get you to cross the sometimes busy main street and go a few hundred metres down the road and go around a roundabout before coming back to the police station.

The price for the licence is now $20.00. (plus the test was $5.00 or $6.00).. probably to pay for the gas for the 500cc cop bike. (Gas is about $2.75 a litre!)
And the worst part... the annual licence actually expires on the day before your birthday so in my partner's case, at the end of March which only makes it about 6 months.
I paid the $20 to convert my full NZ bike licence to a Raro one - no test required.
Not sure if my partner will try to convert it to a NZ licence but have to say, the whole Raro thing is bit of a joke and I would ensure my partner went to some riding / skills course before she ventured on any NZ roads, that's for sure. But we did have fun putting around the island a few times on our 125cc scooters.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Ask Deliphius what he did to get his...?

[Insanity_rules]

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)

I have witnessed first hand a guy FAIL his cook island bike test. He was a 6 foot 2 odd German guy from my test group who wobbled heaps on a scooter that was waaaayyy to small for him. To drive a final nail into his coffin when the very pleasent police officer tried to give him some well meaning advice, he started an arguement and stormed off in a huff.

He offered to let the guy swap his rental bike and come back with something more his size!

What a cartoon.

[Salival]

I got back from Raro myself recently - seems I went through the same 'fill out a form and hand over $20' performance as many others. No hassles and they were very polite. I already have my class six so they converted it straight over.

Gotta admit, though, if this loophole does exist rocking over to Rarotonga for a week's holiday in awesome weather then coming back and cutting your 6L/R time to zero is a pretty good deal. Given the chance to cut my risky time back I would've jumped at it!

[Bronx]

I think they may be able to interpret "proof of the person's driving competency" as requiring a letter from the overseas driving authority describing what test you had to do to obtain the license.

I think from the way the section is structured the "proof of ... driving competency" refers to demonstration to the 'overseas agency' (such as the Raro 'block' test), and not a letter from the agency to LTNZ.