If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.
Use the vocabulary list to check the meanings of some words before you listen.
Vocabulary
announce – to officially tell people something, especially a plan or decision
eyesight – your ability to see
supervise – to be in charge of an activity or person and to make sure things are done correctly
supervisor – a person who supervises
Try these activities while listening
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- When will the new rules for getting a driver licence come into effect?
- How old do you have to be to get a licence in New Zealand?
- What kind of test do you sit for a learner licence?
- What kind of test do you sit for a restricted licence?
- On a restricted licence, when can you drive on your own?
- How much does a full licence currently cost?
- Note at least two of the changes that will come in from 25 January 2027.
- Other changes relate to the time periods for licences. Note the information for learner and restricted licences, for people aged under 25 and for 25 or over.
- What will be the alcohol limit for learner and restricted drivers?
News story
On 3 February the government announced some changes to rules for getting a driver licence. These changes will take effect on 25 January 2027.
First, here is some information about the current rules. In New Zealand, the minimum age to get a licence is 16 years old. There are three stages to getting a driver licence: learner, restricted, and full. There are eyesight checks at every stage. To get a learner licence, you need to learn the road rules and sit a theory test. This test is computer-based and has 35 multiple-choice questions to check your knowledge of the road rules and safe driving practices. If you pass this test, you can then learn to drive. When you have held your learner licence for at least 6 months, and you are a confident, safe driver, you can apply for your restricted licence. The test for the restricted licence is a practical driving test. If you pass that test, you can drive on your own between 5am and 10pm, or with a supervisor between 10pm and 5am. If you’re under 25, you must hold your restricted licence for at least 18 months, or for at least 12 months if you complete an advanced driving course. If you’re 25 or over, you must hold your restricted licence for at least 6 months, or for at least 3 months if you complete an advanced driving course. Then you can apply for a full licence, and you have to sit another practical driving test. The full licence currently costs $98.90.
The changes from 25 January next year aim to make it easier and cheaper to get a licence, while making sure drivers have the skills to drive safely. From that date, there will be no second practical driving test. The cost for applying for a full licence will drop to $25.90. In addition, there will be only one eyesight check before getting a learner licence.
Another change affects the time periods for licences. For under 25-year-olds, the period of time for holding their learner licence will increase from 6 months to 12 months. However, they can reduce this back to 6 months if they do an approved practical driving course or record supervised driving hours (details for these requirements will be announced later this year). For people 25 or over, the learner licence period remains at 6 months. For restricted licences, the period for under 25-year-olds will reduce from 18 months to 12 months, and for 25-year-olds or over, it will remain at 6 months. There will be no reduction for doing an advanced driving course.
Finally, there will be a zero alcohol limit for all learner and restricted drivers, regardless of their age. However, this change requires a new law, so the date for this change is yet to be confirmed.
Answers – you don’t have to write a complete sentence as long as you have the key idea in your answer
a. When will the new rules for getting a driver licence come into effect?
25 January 2027
b. How old do you have to be to get a licence in New Zealand?
16 years old
c. What kind of test do you sit for a learner licence?
A theory test
d. What kind of test do you sit for a restricted licence?
A practical test
e. On a restricted licence, when can you drive on your own?
Between 5am and 10pm
f. How much does a full licence currently cost?
$98.90
g. Note at least two of the changes that will come in from 25 January 2027.
– no second practical test
– a full licence will cost $25.90
– only one eyesight check, for the learner licence
h. Other changes relate to the time periods for licences. Note the information for learner and restricted licences, for people aged under 25 and for 25 or over.
Learner – under 25: 12 months, but can be reduced back to 6 months if they do an approved practical driving course or record supervised driving hours; 25 or over: 6 months
Restricted – under 25: 12 months; 25 or over: 6 months
i. What will be the alcohol limit for learner and restricted drivers?
Zero