Hello Nate

Thank you for your enquiry regarding where golf carts can be operated.

In order for a golf cart to be driven on the road legally, it would need
to be registered and licensed. Generally golf carts cannot be registered
for use on NZ roads as they do not meet minumum safety requirements for a
vehicle. A golf cart is not a vehicle that is suitable for NZ roads for a
number of reasons. Most golf carts fail to comply with general safety
requirements as they have insufficient lighting equipment, their steering
is left hand drive, they have no automotive glazing and poor seatbelts,
seatbelt anchorages and brakes that usually operate only on the rear axle.
Typically, the bodies are constructed of fibreglass or lightweight metal
and without doors or anything to keep the occupants inside the vehicle.
Section 6 of the Land Transport Act 1998 states that 'a person may not
operate an unsafe motor vehicle on a road'. Therefore, golf carts would
need to have efficient brakes, steering, lights and tyres suitable for the
vehicle's usage.

In conclusion, as a golf cart doesn't meet general safety requirements, it
can only be operated in an area not considered a road. They also aren't
classified as a mobility device and therefore cannot be used on the
footpath. The definition of a road is quite broad and includes the
following:

* 

a street,

* a motorway,

* a beach,

* a place to which the public have access, whether as of right or not,

* all bridges, culverts, ferries and fords forming part of a road or
street or motorway

I hope this information is of assistance. If you have any further
enquiries, please feel free to reply to this email or contact us on 0800
108 809. We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

Regards

Alisha Kitchen / Senior Customer Access Representative
Customer Service Centre
NZ Transport Agency
P 0800 108 809 / E [1][email address] / W [2]www.nzta.govt.nz
PALMERSTON NORTH OFFICE / 43 Ashley Street,
Private Bag 11777, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand 

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