44 Bowen Street 
Private Bag 6995 
 
Wellington 6141 
New Zealand 
 
T 64 4 894 5400 
 
F 64 4 894 6100 
 
www.nzta.govt.nz 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
24 February 2024 
 
 
 
  
Dominic Scheirlinck 
[FYI request #29857 email] 
REF: OIA-17468 
 
Dear Dominic 
 
Request made under the Official Information Act 1982 
 
Thank you for your email of 24 January 2025 requesting the following information regarding under the 
Official Information Act 1982 (the Act): 
 
AA Drivers Licensing Agencies display the following sign next to their camera for taking 
Drivers License photos: "We are not authorized to show your driver licence photo as 
instructed by Waka Kotahi - NZ Transport Agency" 
 
My questions are: 
 
A: were such instructions were provided by NZTA to licensing agencies instructing them that 
they were not authorized to show a driver's license photo to the applicant immediately after 
taking such a photo? 
 
B: what were those instructions? 
 
I can confirm that the following instruction is contained in the Driver Licence Portal that all driver 
licence agents (the Automobile Association (AA) and Vehicle Testing New Zealand VTNZ) are 
required to follow: 
 
Viewing the image 
You must not let applicants view their image under any circumstances. If they're not happy 
with their image when they get their photo driver licence, they'll need to apply and pay for a 
replacement card. 
 
 
In line with NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) policy, this response will soon be published on 
our website, with personal information removed. 
 
 
 
 
   

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If you would like to discuss this reply with NZTA, please contact Ministerial Services, by email to 
[NZTA request email]. 
 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
Tara Parata 
Head of Customer Contact Centre 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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