A nationwide audit in New Zealand has triggered a crisis for hundreds of India-born commercial truck drivers after authorities revoked 459 licences linked to fraudulent documentation in the process of converting overseas licences to those in New Zealand. What began with 440 cancellations in July has grown further, according to figures obtained through an Official Information Act request. All of the affected drivers were born in India, though the licences they converted were not Indian — most were originally issued in the UAE, with others from Australia and Canada. The revoked drivers are largely in the 30–35 age group, with only two women among them.
The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said the decision followed a nationwide investigation that uncovered irregularities in the documents submitted during the conversion process. NZTA deputy director Mike Hargreaves defended the move, saying the agency has systems to detect and respond to fraudulent activity and would act swiftly to hold applicants accountable. Under New Zealand law, providing false information on a licence application is an offence that can result in fines, and overseas licences presented for conversion must be valid and not suspended, disqualified or revoked at the source country.
The cancellations have left hundreds of families in financial distress, with drivers unable to work and many struggling to pay rent and basic expenses. Large-scale protests were organized in Auckland, where truckers and their families gathered at Takanini Gurdwara, demanding a reversal of the decision. Protest organizers said the move has disproportionately affected the Indian community, which makes up a significant part of New Zealand’s transport and logistics workforce and has been instrumental in addressing labour shortages since the reopening of borders in 2022.
Many affected drivers described the sudden loss of livelihood as devastating. Some said trucking is their only skill and that they relocated to New Zealand believing their licences were valid. Several now rely on friends for financial support and fear eviction. Transport operator and community advocate Navjot Sidhu said the protests aim to persuade the authorities to re-evaluate the cancellations, arguing that most of the affected drivers had followed the process in good faith and that punishing families without providing a path to review is unfair.
For now, the revoked truckers remain unemployed as they wait for clarity on whether the New Zealand government will consider an appeal mechanism or fresh testing for reinstatement.
