Celebrating the success of the Tairawhiti Driver Licensing Trial were, back, from left, driving instructors Helen Wynyard (REAP), Kayla Foss (McInnes Driving) and Linda Stewart (Director of Regional Relationships Waka Kotahi) . Front, from left, Bileiana Walker (REAP), East Coast MP Kiri Allan and Tairāwhiti REAP executive director Ani Pahuru-Huriwai. Picture by Paul Rickard
Celebrating the success of the Tairawhiti Driver Licensing Trial were, back, from left, driving instructors Helen Wynyard (REAP), Kayla Foss (McInnes Driving) and Linda Stewart (Director of Regional Relationships Waka Kotahi) . Front, from left, Bileiana Walker (REAP), East Coast MP Kiri Allan and Tairāwhiti REAP executive director Ani Pahuru-Huriwai. Picture by Paul Rickard
The success of the Tairāwhiti Driver Licensing Trial was celebrated last week.
The trial involves a partnership between Tairawhiti REAP (Rural Activities Education Programme) McInnes Driving School and Waka Kotahi. It is an initiative being run by the Driver Licensing Improvement Programme, a cross-agency programme led by Waka Kotahi, tolook at ways of improving access to testing for driver licensing for people who live in rural areas or small towns.
“Getting a driver licence opens the door to a world of opportunities — jobs, training, support for whānau, social connection. But access to driver licensing is harder for some communities in Aotearoa,” said Linda Stewart, Waka Kotahi director of regional relationships for the Central North Island.
“Wait times for driver testing and distance to driver testing sites, along with cultural and social barriers, can be significant factors limiting access to a driver licence, especially for people who live in rural areas or small towns.
“A key factor in the success of the trial has been the accessibility and flexibility offered by the new Community Driver Testing Officer role. These testing officers are part of the local community, have more time to spend with individual students to support them through their driver licensing journey, and are able to be flexible around test booking times.
“Since the beginning of the Tairāwhiti Driver Licensing Trial in June 2022, 354 driver tests have been undertaken, with 298 people passing their driver test and becoming safe and legal drivers (as at May 23 2022). Ninety-one percent of students sitting practical tests with Tairāwhiti REAP identify as Māori, 6 percent identify as Pakeha and 3 percent as Pasifika.
“We want to thank the Tairāwhiti REAP programme for its continued commiwtment to such a valuable programme for the community.”
