Driver licence tests available in Vosa Vakaviti for NZ Fijians

The New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi has announced that starting on Wednesday, Fijians in Aotearoa can take their driver’s licence theory test in the Fijian language, also known as Vosa Vakaviti.

The agency says the initiative aims to make obtaining a driver’s licence more accessible for the growing Fijian diaspora.

According to StatsNZ, the Fijian population was 62,310 in 2018. This figure represents 1.34 per cent of the total New Zealand population. Fijian is also the most-spoken immigrant language in New Zealand, with 7143 people speaking it.

Waka Kotahi says the decision to prioritise the Fijian language is in response to increasing migration rates from Fiji.

In 2024, 4000 people migrated from Fiji, and individuals from Fiji submitted five per cent of overseas licence conversion applications.

“This initiative reflects our dedication to serving the needs of our multicultural society and fostering a driving environment that is safe and accessible for everyone,” a spokesperson at Waka Kotahi says.

Roland Koroi, who relocated from Fiji to Christchurch almost a decade ago, says the change will remove an important barrier for Fijians seeking to obtain their driver's licence in New Zealand.

“It will definitely make Fijians wanting a driver’s licence more comfortable in doing the test as they will be able to understand it much clearer,” Koroi says.

“It’s about time this is done, considering the increasing number of Fijians moving to NZ for work and their contribution to the economy here.

Fijians should be able to take the driver licence theory test in the Fijian language from tomorrow ( Wednesday). Photo/Google

“Hopefully, we can see other agencies that deal with similar services follow suit. So, it's a thumbs-up for NZTA from me.”

Roberta Osborne, who moved to Auckland from Fiji in 2023, says that while Fijians learn English from an early age, many still struggle with it.

“By having the test in Fijian, it helps us immigrants who are not well-versed in English understand the questions better,” she says. “In turn, we’ll be able to do the test better and pass.”

Individuals holding a Fijian driver's licence must pass a theory and practical driving test to convert to a New Zealand licence. Fiji is classified as a non-exempt country for overseas licence conversions.

Fijian licence holders must pass a theory and practical test before they can receive a licence to drive on NZ roads. Photo/Google

Lanieta Young, who immigrated to Aotearoa with her family in 2023, says the current theory test allows only 30 minutes for completion, and the questions can be tricky.

“This inclusivity will increase our chances of completing the test on time and also help us understand the question better, therefore increasing our chances of passing the test,” Young says.

“I can attest to this, as I had to sit my theory test five times, and three times, I ran out of time.”

Having the translation will certainly make it easier for Fijians across New Zealand to convert their licences, saving both time and money.

Last year, five per cent of overseas licence conversion applications received by NZTA were from Fijians. Photo/Google

The NZTA promotes safe and functional land transport, including driver and vehicle licensing. The agency emphasises the importance of supporting Fijian-speaking communities.

NZTA has also translated the theory test questions for other licence classes into the Fijian language.

“The translation was produced by the Department of Internal Affairs translation service and has undergone a quality assurance process,” the NZTA spokesperson says. “This involves translation by one translator, revision by a second, finalising by the original translator and an in-house quality check.”

The agency is also working on translating several driver-training resources into Fijian, responding to the high demand for these materials from community driver-licensing support programmes.

NZTA believes having a driver licence will unlock opportunities for employment, training, and community participation. Photo/google

As part of their Budget 22 funding, which allocated $0.5 million to improve accessibility for non-English speakers, the theory test has been prioritised for translation in Fijian.

The test is already available in multiple languages, including English, Māori, Sāmoan, Tongan, Arabic, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Filipino, Gujarati, Hindi, Korean, Punjabi, and Thai.

Waka Kotahi believes that obtaining a driver's licence unlocks opportunities for employment, training, and community participation, while also enabling people to become safe, legal drivers and access essential services, including healthcare.