Mark Ron: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Mark Ron: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:606;Page:3858] 
6.  
RON MARK (NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Transport 
: What has he done with respect to tougher laws for foreign drivers and why? 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN (Associate Minister of Transport) 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister of Transport 
: Officials are considering a range of measures to toughen up current laws relating to foreign drivers including requiring holders of a non-English overseas driver’s licence to carry at all times an accurate English translation of their driver’s licence or an international driving permit and invalidating an overseas driver’s licence when that driver receives a New Zealand driver’s licence. 
Ron Mark 
: Can the Minister assure the House that the 4-year-old girl who was run down and killed beside her father who was seriously injured was not run down by an unqualified incompetent non - English-speaking driver who obtained his driver’s licence by fraudulent means as was the case in the death of Yunfei Zhao? 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN 
: That matter is sub judice pending a court appearance and therefore I cannot comment. 
Helen Duncan 
: Is the Minister considering implementing any measures other than those just detailed to deal with this problem? 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN 
: Apart from shortly considering those proposals to amend the Land Transport (Drivers Licensing) Rule I have also asked officials at the Land Transport Safety Authority to report back on further options to toughen up requirements for foreign drivers. That report will be received within the next few weeks. There are proposals ranging from simple reminders such as a high-visibility sticker on the windscreen as used in places like Vanuatu to high-tech electronic devices. 
Pansy Wong 
: Will the Minister confirm that he will institute a requirement to verify that foreign drivers’ licences are not forged rather than just requiring that they be translated as recommended by the coroner in the inquest into the death of Yunfei Zhao; if not why not? 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN 
: I am aware of recent media reports of alleged bribery and forgery. I am advised that no allegations of bribery have been laid with the police but there is an issue over forgery and that is being looked at as to ways of combating it. It is believed that there are very few forged drivers’ licences in circulation but they are a matter of real concern and we are doing everything possible to ascertain how that is happening. 
Ron Mark 
: In the light of the Minister’s answer could he tell the House why it is that since the coroner’s report was tabled and publicised in November of last year it has taken until now including further reports in the Christchurch  
Press 
 of corruption and bribery and further reports of accidents that involve non – English-speaking drivers who are suspected of having obtained licences illegally for this Government to even start to attempt to address the problem? 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN 
: First of all I do not think the member listened to the answer I gave previously. There have been allegations but no evidence of bribery at this stage but that is not to say that steps are not being taken; of course they are. 
Ron Mark 
: In view of the reports in the Christchurch  
Press 
 in which a reporter stated that he went out and spoke to an interpreter who told him precisely what was going on will the Minister now take it upon himself to launch an inquiry in order to locate those interpreters and to follow up on what they have been stating and therefore to lay charges where they are deemed necessary? 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN 
: The ministry and the Land Transport Safety Authority are aware of those allegations and have already taken action. The authority has translated the theory tests into a variety of languages including Chinese Mandarin Korean and Arabic. Applicants who speak those languages are no longer permitted to use an interpreter when they sit a test. The member says that nothing has been done but I suggest that he should just wake up and find out what has been done before he makes silly allegations in the House.