Archive · 30 Nov 2025
459 Indian Truck Drivers Lose Licences in NZ
In New Zealand, 459 truck drivers from India lost their licences because they used fake papers from the UAE to get their driving permits.
The government says this was to keep roads safe, but the drivers say they were tricked.
Many of these drivers are now struggling to support their families.
They had passed all the tests in New Zealand, but the papers they used from Dubai are now considered fake.
Some people are protesting and asking the government to help these drivers.
The trucking industry in New Zealand is also having a hard time because there aren't enough drivers.
459 Indian-origin truck drivers in New Zealand had their licences revoked due to fraudulent documentation.
The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) found irregularities in the conversion of overseas licences.
All affected drivers used documents from the UAE, Australia, or Canada, with 436 cases linked to UAE-issued documents.
Drivers claim they were victims of a scam involving dubious documentation and are facing financial distress.
Protests and rallies have been held, with drivers and transport operators calling for a balanced resolution.
- Who
- 459 Indian-origin truck drivers in New Zealand
- What
- Licence revocations due to fraudulent documentation
- When
- Audit initiated in July 2023, cancellations announced in November 2023
- Where
- New Zealand
- Why
- False or altered documentation used for licence conversions
- Number of Drivers Affected
- 459
- Country of Origin
- India
- Documentation Source
- UAE (436), Australia (18), Canada (5)
- Fines for False Information
- Up to NZ$750 (Rs 40,000)
- Cost of Supporting Letters
- NZ$500–NZ$1,000 (Rs 27,000–Rs 54,000)
- Truck Driver Shortage in NZ
- 3,449 in 2022
- Asian Drivers in Sector
- 20% (up from 10% in 2013)