Sources
Official resources
These are the sources RoadReady NZ is built on, in order of authority. When anything here differs from an official source, the official source is right.
Legislation and Land Transport Rules
- Land Transport Act 1998 ↗
Parliamentary Counsel Office (NZ Legislation)
- Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi · Land Transport Rules index
- Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Rule 1999 ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi · Land Transport Rules index
The official Road Code
- The official New Zealand Road Code ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
- General Road Code (car drivers) ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
- Road Code – The give way rules ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi · About driving › Giving way
- Give way rule changes (2012) ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
- Road Code – Alcohol and drug limits ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi · About limits
- Road Code – Following distance ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi · About driving › Key driving skills
- Road Code – Signs, signals and markings ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi · Look for the road signs, signals and road markings chapters
- Road Code theory test questions ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
- Theory test questions – core questions ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
- Road Code – Stage 1: learner licence ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
- Road Code – Stage 2: restricted licence ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
NZTA licensing and testing guidance
- Theory test for learner licence ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
- Apply for a car licence ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
- Conditions of a learner licence ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
- Practical driving tests ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
- Full licence practical driving test (class 1 – car) ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
- Changes to getting a car licence ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
- The roadmap to your car licence from 25 January 2027 (PDF) ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
- Learn to drive ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
- Restricted drivers – building your driving skills ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
Drive (free NZTA learning tools)
- Drive – free learning tools from NZTA ↗
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi / ACC
Other government sources
- Driver licensing system – Ministry of Transport ↗
Ministry of Transport Te Manatū Waka
How we verify content
Source hierarchy. We use current legislation and regulations first, then the official NZTA Road Code, then NZTA licensing and testing guidance, NZTA's Drive resources, other government sources, and finally our own carefully reviewed explanations. We don't treat blogs, social media or commercial quiz sites as authoritative.
Every rule has a source. Lessons, questions, signs and licence rules store their official source links, a version number, the date they were last checked, and a verification status.
Two review states. "Awaiting expert review" means the content was drafted from official sources and cross-checked, but a qualified reviewer hasn't signed it off yet. "Verified NZTA source" appears only after a named reviewer has checked it against the official source in our content system.
Nothing unreviewed goes live automatically. Imported or AI-assisted content is saved as a draft. It is never shown to learners until a reviewer publishes it, and every change is recorded in an audit history.
Date-aware rules. Licence requirements have start and end dates, so we show today's rules and clearly label announced or proposed future changes.
Practice questions. All questions are original, written from rules in the official Road Code, and labelled as such. We never present them as official NZTA test questions.
Simplified wording. Simple explanations are written to keep the legal meaning. Where exact wording matters, use the "View official source" link.
Independence. RoadReady NZ is not operated, approved or endorsed by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.
Glossary
- advisory speed
- A recommended top speed for a curve or hazard in good conditions. It is shown on a yellow plate and is not a legal limit.
- blind spot
- An area near your vehicle that you can't see in your mirrors. Turn your head to check it.
- centre line
- The line in the middle of the road that separates traffic going in opposite directions.
- continuing road
- At a T-intersection, the road that keeps going (the top of the T).
- demerit points
- Points added to your licence record for some traffic offences. 100 or more in 2 years leads to a suspension.
- flush median
- A painted area in the middle of the road with diagonal lines, used for turning. You may not drive along it for more than 50 metres.
- give way
- Let another road user go first, so they don't have to slow down or swerve to avoid you.
- hazard
- Anything that could cause a crash or make you change speed or direction.
- level crossing
- A place where a road crosses a railway line at the same level.
- limit line
- A white line across the road where you must stop at a STOP sign, traffic light or crossing.
- regulatory sign
- A sign that tells you a rule you must obey, such as a speed limit or STOP sign.
- restricted licence
- The second stage of a New Zealand licence. You can drive alone, with conditions about time and passengers.
- Road Code
- The official guide to New Zealand road rules, published by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.
- supervisor
- A person who has held a full licence for at least 2 years and sits in the front passenger seat to guide a learner.
- terminating road
- At a T-intersection, the road that ends (the bottom of the T).
- uncontrolled intersection
- An intersection without STOP signs, GIVE WAY signs or traffic lights.
- WoF
- Warrant of Fitness – a regular safety inspection that most cars must pass.
- zip merge
- When two lanes merge equally and drivers take turns, like the teeth of a zip.
- NZTA
- NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi – the government agency responsible for driver licensing and the Road Code.
- aquaplaning
- When a layer of water builds up under the tyres so they lose contact with the road.