More than 100 motorists who previously passed their practical driving tests at an Auckland testing centre now under investigation for alleged bribery have failed compulsory re-sits, raising fresh concerns about the integrity of New Zealand’s driver licensing system.
As per NZ Herald, the controversy centres on the Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ) Highbrook branch in East Auckland, where five testing officers were dismissed over claims they accepted payments to pass applicants.
According to Stuff, the figures released by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency point that 220 affected drivers have so far completed their re-tests. Of those, 129 passed while 91 failed. A further group has bookings pending, and dozens are yet to sit the test ahead of the deadline set by the agency.
NZTA said the overall pass rate of 58 per cent was broadly in line with national averages for full Class 1 licence tests. Nonetheless, the requirement for mass retesting followed findings of what the agency described as “serious misconduct” by testing officers.
The case has now been taken over by the Serious Fraud Office, after Police confirmed to Stuff that they had filed their investigation to allow the specialist agency to assess the matter.
The scandal has unfolded alongside the public release of an independent review into NZTA’s regulatory systems, led by lawyer Stacey Shortall.
The Shortall report, commissioned in mid-2024, found persistent weaknesses in oversight of driver training, vehicle testing and related safety functions.
The review was released only after intervention by the Office of the Ombudsman, following an initial refusal by NZTA to make it public.
Shortall’s report identified structural and cultural issues within the agency, including under-resourcing, frequent organisational reshuffles and outdated technology systems.
It is also reported that the frontline staff described divisions between management and operational teams, fatigue from continual change, and concerns about inadequate auditing of course providers.
In some areas, auditing of approved training providers had slowed significantly, with certain operators reportedly not reviewed for several years. The report also noted that heavily paper-based systems and ageing IT platforms increased administrative burdens and created vulnerabilities within the licensing process.
NZTA group general manager regulatory Mike Hargreaves told Stuff that the agency accepted the findings and had already implemented a portion of the recommendations, with most remaining actions due to be completed by mid-year. He said a new operating model and updated IT systems were designed to strengthen oversight and improve intelligence gathering.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop described the findings as concerning but said seeking independent scrutiny was an important step in strengthening regulatory performance. He confirmed NZTA was reviewing its funding for regulatory functions.
VTNZ has suspended driver licence testing at its Highbrook branch while investigations continue, although other services at the site remain operational. The company has said it acted decisively once alerted to the allegations and maintains that public safety remains its top priority.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop told Stuff “the findings of this report are concerning”, but he welcomed the fact NZTA had commissioned it, and the changes made since then.
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