300+ To Retake Tests After VTNZ Officers Allegedly Took Money To Pass Drivers

Over 300 drivers will have to sit their tests again after allegations that a few VTNZ officers received money from applicants for passing grades, The New Zealand Herald reports.

Both police and the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) have launched investigations into what has been described as “potentially fraudulent activity.” Five officers at VTNZ’s Highbrook branch in Auckland have been dismissed as a result.

VTNZ has suspended all driver licence testing at the Highbrook branch while inquiries continue, although the site remains open for other services such as WoF and CoF inspections.

According to the Herald, NZTA said the misconduct involved five Driver Testing Officers (DTOs) who allegedly took payments from applicants to pass practical tests since 2023. The agency confirmed that the DTOs had been dismissed, and their official Testing Officer endorsements were suspended pending further investigation.

NZTA told the Herald that 322 people who passed their driving tests during the period of suspected fraud would be required to resit their tests, free of charge, to ensure they meet the required driving standards.

The matter has been referred to police, who confirmed that an investigation is underway.