18472 (2026). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

Written Question

Published date: 18 May 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	18472 (2026)
Question asked:	04 May 2026
Member asking:	Hon Willow-Jean Prime
Portfolio:	Minister for Social Development and Employment
Minister replying:	Hon Louise Upston
Answer received:	12 May 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_18472_2026
Document guid:	0dd6f9cf-b70b-4374-8d9d-922e30ce9f16

18472 (2026). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Have there been any changes since 1 November 2023 to eligibility criteria, or assessment and decision-making processes, in relation to the Ministry of Social Development and Employment’s help to get a driver’s licence; if so, what were they and when did they come into effect?

Hon Louise Upston: I am advised that Ministry of Social Development guidance was updated to align with the changes to the Waka Kotahi license regime that took effect on 8 July 2024, in particular to provide that Special Needs Grants and Recoverable Assistance payments could be paid where clients had to re-sit their driver license test (after paying the initial test fee) where the requirements were met.