11668 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Transport

Written Question

Published date: 10 Apr 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	11668 (2026)
Question asked:	25 Mar 2026
Member asking:	Tangi Utikere
Portfolio:	Minister of Transport
Minister replying:	Hon Chris Bishop
Answer received:	06 Apr 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_11668_2026
Document guid:	1462ee85-c8e2-4464-b79b-7a4288806ae1

11668 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Transport: Further to Reply 8830 (2026), what was the nature of the control whose efficacy assessment led to the detection of the fraud in February 2025; and had that control been in place throughout the period during which the fraudulent conversions were occurring?

Hon Chris Bishop: I am advised that on 8 July 2024, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) introduced a control requiring a Certificate of Particulars for all overseas licence conversions where the country of issue differed from the individual’s country of primary identification, such as their passport. This control was in place from 8 July 2024 to 16 April 2025. I am further advised that the fraudulent licence conversions occurred between 1 January 2023 and 31 October 2025, meaning the control was not in place for the full period during which the fraudulent conversions occurred.