My wife just passed the first part of her test, the handling skills. It's not especially hard, but it is a real test. She practiced in our quiet street (only 4 houses and dead-end), for about 6 hours total. I have helped a few people get through the handling skills test so I know what skills to work on. She did a lot of practice on the cone slalom, and was glad she did because that was quite tricky. The cones in each line are quite close and with a large off-set between the two lines. Her (and my) advice is to book the longer test where they run you thru a training session first. That's a 1 or 1 1/2 hour session. The test is 1/2 an hour, but if you do the training first, they train you specifically for the tests.

As for yourself, you can use your German license instead of an International one, if the relevant information about what classes of license you hold are in English on your license. You can use that license for up to one year, then to convert to an NZ one. You will have to sit the exam based on the New Zealand Road Code but no driving skills test. That's pretty easy because you can buy practice test papers and do them on line, in conjunction with the book in your hand. There is also a similar special test relating to motorcycle Road Code, if you want to have the NZ motorcycle endorsement. Once you have that NZ car license, you can sit beside a learner car driver to teach and supervise. There is no compulsory requirement to have paid lessons, but most of the people who do the driving examinations also do the training. It can be a good idea to get one or two lessons to target the skills that the examiners are really hot on. Either way, it will be a lot cheaper and easier than in Germany. I know of people who come to NZ, with one of their main aims to get a drivers license. It can help cover a large part of their travel expenses.

What part on NZ are you coming to?

Cheers bloke

Nigel in NZ

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