Wong Pansy: Land Transport Amendment Bill — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee Third Reading 
Wong Pansy: Land Transport Amendment Bill — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:626;Page:21361] 
PANSY WONG (National) 
: 
 I have proposed two amendments to Part 2 that I would like to explain to the Committee in detail to enable members of the other political parties including the Minister in the chair the Hon Pete Hodgson to consider them. I look forward to the Minister’s comments—hopefully they will be positive. I learnt from the Hon Harry Duynhoven that in relation to individuals who teach learner-drivers for monetary consideration the offence of not having the “I” endorsement was previously omitted from legislation. Apparently that offence has been reinstated in this Land Transport Amendment Bill— and I welcome that—to make it clear that any individual who teaches learner-drivers for monetary consideration should obtain an “I” endorsement. 
But what this legislation has not taken into consideration is how we can inform the public that people who want to learn to drive properly from a licensed driving instructor are getting that service. The Minister in his letter to me said that they would advertise in newspapers etc. I think that a very smart move would be for an instructor who is properly authorised to do it for commercial purposes to display the “I” endorsement on the vehicle in which he or she teaches students just like taxis do. Nowadays when we get into a taxi we know the name of the taxi-driver which enables individuals to lodge a complaint or make inquiries. It also reminds the driving instructors that they have to have the “I” endorsement in order to carry out those commercial activities. 
My second amendment proposes that the driving instructors who can obtain the “I” endorsement should be New Zealand citizens or holders of a permanent residence visa. That is to avoid visitors or people holding student permits teaching others for commercial gain. I do not believe that teaching others to drive on New Zealand roads can be entrusted to persons who have spent a short time in New Zealand. Even though they may be experienced drivers in their home country we have our own rules. 
If we look at the United States or China we have the right-hand versus the left-hand driving habit. Also New Zealand has a unique set of road conditions particularly on the open road. So I believe that the “I” endorsement driving permit should be limited to New Zealand citizens or people who are permanent resident visa-holders. I hope the Minister can take a call to indicate whether he is in favour of those changes to enhance road safety for New Zealand society. 
I continue to bring up the theme of this legislation being about enhancing the enforcement regime. Just now my colleague Phil Heatley who is a very robust debater raised a very good question. He asked whether the Prime Minister the Rt Hon Helen Clark should be seen to be above the law. This legislation should send a stern signal and say that no matter who if legislation to enhance road safety in New Zealand is infringed that person should front up to the court to answer or defend the charges otherwise we are making a mockery of having one standard of rule for all. It would be one standard for the Prime Minister and one standard for the rest of New Zealand’s citizens which I do not think would be a desirable outcome of this legislation. The enforcement provision is one that National members want to see being properly enforced.