44 Bowen Street
Private Bag 6995
Wellington 6141
New Zealand
T 64 4 894 5400
F 64 4 894 6100
www.nzta.govt.nz
22 April 2024
Mark
[FYI request #26207 email]
REF: OIA-14987
Dear Mark
Request made under the Official Information Act 1982
Thank you for your email
of 23 March 2024 requesting information relating to driver testing officers
under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
I have responded to each part of your request in turn below.
1. Why are driver testing officers required to be employed by VTNZ or the NZDF if there is
no mention of this in legislation?
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) hold the regulatory responsibility for driver testing services.
We have delegated the delivery of this service to Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ) through a
service delivery contract. We have also provided delegation to the New Zealand Defence Force
(NZDF) to test their own staff members.
2. Number of assaults/verbal abuse incidents with testing officers within the last year.
VTNZ has advised that from 1 February 2023 to 26 March 2024, there have been 6 physical assaults,
27 verbal assaults and 2 plant and materials assaults. ‘Plant and materials’ relate to an assault on a
fixing (i.e. smashing a window of a site) or vehicle at VTNZ.
3. Can/do testing officers stil undertake basic handling skil s tests?
No. Testing Officers with the current provider (VTNZ) do not provide basic handling skil s testing.
If you would like to discuss this reply with NZTA, please contact Ministerial Services, by email to
[NZTA request email].
Yours sincerely
Eric van der Plank
Senior Manager Commercial Services