Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com
Kiwis are a step closer to carrying their driver licence on their phone, with the Government opening public consultation on a digital version designed around how people actually live and move.
Associate Transport Minister James Meager says the focus isn’t the technology — it’s the people who will use it. “Digital driver licences should make everyday life faster and easier. This is about giving New Zealanders a simple, secure way to prove who they are and their right to drive, using something most of us already carry,” he says.
Meager says the Government’s goal is to “fix the basics” while building a future where transport services feel seamless. A digital licence, he says, is one part of creating a system where people can manage their transport needs online without jumping through hoops.
But the real test is trust — and that means designing the system around people’s expectations. “Putting people at the centre is essential,” Meager says. “We want to hear what would give New Zealanders confidence in a digital licence and what would make it genuinely useful.”
Digitising Government Minister Paul Goldsmith says privacy and security are being treated as core requirements, not optional extras. “Users will only share the information needed for a transaction — nothing more,” he says. “People stay in control of their own data.”
Goldsmith stresses the digital licence will be optional, ensuring no one is forced to change how they identify themselves. “If you prefer a physical licence, keep using one. If digital works better for you, you’ll have that choice.”
Both ministers say public feedback will shape the final design, ensuring the digital licence becomes a safe, trusted and widely used option. “We want New Zealanders to tell us what matters to them,” Goldsmith says. “A people‑centred system starts with listening.”
