Police and NZTA probe drivers' licensing fraud

Wednesday, 16 March 2016

The fraud could reach back as far as January last year.

Police and New Zealand Transport Agency are launching investigations into the driver licensing system after allegations of potential fraud.

One News reported on Wednesday evening that a booking officer in Auckland was selling licences for $500, allowing customers to by-pass the standard wait time.

One News said the booking officer worked at an Auckland branch of the AA and the alleged fraud may go as far back as January last year.

NZTA Chief Executive Fergus Gammie said the agency was helping police in their investigations and taking immediate steps to protect the driver licensing system.

'We are taking these allegations very seriously and initiating a full end-to-end driver licensing system audit.'

'The integrity of that system is vital because we need to ensure that everyone who holds a New Zealand licence has earned it by demonstrating the ability to drive safely. The public needs to have trust and confidence in the driver licensing system.'

Gammie said the system audit would help identify any additional measures which may be needed to reduce the likelihood of security breaches in future.

He said immediate action would be taken for any licences found to have been inappropriately issued.

NZTA would not provide further details on the situation while police were investigating.

Counties Manukau police spokeswoman Shelley Nahr confirmed police were investigating allegations of fraud involving the issuing of drivers' licences.

'We will not be making any further comment at this stage of the investigation,' she said.

One News reported that a border alert had been put on the passport of the man alleged to be involved in the fraud, so he could not leave the country. He had denied the allegations against him.