New Zealand hubs

Tui

Driver

New ZealandEnglish (English)$ NZD

Tui is a professional driver navigating the roads of Aotearoa, balancing long hours behind the wheel with the complexities of tax, health, and road safety regulations. This hub covers the essential national schemes, portals, and obligations that keep Tui on the road and financially secure.

Keeping my license and rig legal

Staying compliant with Waka Kotahi is the only way to ensure my livelihood isn't interrupted by fines or suspensions.

Heavy Vehicle Driver Licence

national · Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

Who qualifies
Drivers aged 18+ meeting medical and experience requirements for Class 2-5.
What you get
Legal authority to operate heavy commercial vehicles.
What it actually costs you
Varies by class; requires medical certificate and practical testing fees.
Common gotcha
Medical certificates expire every 1-5 years depending on age and licence class.

Road User Charges (RUC)

national · Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

Who qualifies
All diesel vehicle owners and heavy vehicle operators.
What you get
Pre-paid distance allowance for road maintenance contributions.
What it actually costs you
Calculated by weight and distance; must be displayed on the windscreen.
Common gotcha
Driving with an expired RUC distance label results in immediate fines.

Certificate of Fitness (CoF)

national · Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

Who qualifies
All heavy vehicles and passenger service vehicles.
What you get
Certification that the vehicle is safe for commercial operation.
What it actually costs you
Inspection fee every 6 months; requires maintenance records.
Common gotcha
Failing to book in advance often leads to vehicle downtime.

Transport Service Licence (TSL)

national · Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

Who qualifies
Any business or individual operating a transport service for hire or reward.
What you get
Legal permit to operate a commercial transport business.
What it actually costs you
Application fee and 'fit and proper person' vetting.
Common gotcha
Must be displayed on the vehicle at all times.

Work Time and Logbook Rules

national · Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

Who qualifies
Drivers of heavy vehicles and passenger services.
What you get
Regulatory framework to prevent driver fatigue.
What it actually costs you
Purchase of approved logbook; strict adherence to rest breaks.
Common gotcha
Minor clerical errors in logbooks are treated as serious compliance breaches.

Driver Licence Record Request

national · Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

Who qualifies
Any licence holder.
What you get
Full history of demerit points and licence status.
What it actually costs you
Free online request.
Common gotcha
Demerit points stay on your record for two years.

Sorting my tax and ACC

As a driver, managing IRD tax obligations and ACC levies is crucial to avoid end-of-year surprises.

ACC Earners' Levy

national · Accident Compensation Corporation

Who qualifies
All earners, including contractors and employees.
What you get
No-fault personal injury coverage for accidents on or off the road.
What it actually costs you
Deducted from income; self-employed pay via annual invoice.
Common gotcha
Self-employed drivers must ensure their income is declared accurately to avoid levy underpayment.

myIR Secure Portal

national · Inland Revenue Department

Who qualifies
Every taxpayer in NZ.
What you get
Centralised hub for tax returns, GST, and student loan repayments.
What it actually costs you
Requires RealMe login.
Common gotcha
Failing to file GST returns on time triggers automatic penalties.

Working for Families Tax Credits

national · Inland Revenue Department

Who qualifies
Low-to-middle income families with dependent children.
What you get
Weekly or lump-sum payments to assist with family costs.
What it actually costs you
Requires annual income estimation.
Common gotcha
Underestimating income leads to a debt at the end of the year.

Independent Earner Tax Credit (IETC)

national · Inland Revenue Department

Who qualifies
Individuals earning between $24k and $48k who aren't on other benefits.
What you get
Up to $10 per week in tax relief.
What it actually costs you
Automatic if you meet criteria.
Common gotcha
If you earn over the threshold, you must notify IRD to stop payments.

KiwiSaver

national · Inland Revenue Department

Who qualifies
NZ citizens/residents aged 18-65.
What you get
Government contribution of up to $521 per year for voluntary contributions.
What it actually costs you
Percentage of salary or voluntary lump sums.
Common gotcha
Many drivers forget to make the voluntary contribution to get the full government match.

Student Loan Repayment

national · Inland Revenue Department

Who qualifies
Anyone with an outstanding student loan balance.
What you get
Interest-free loans for NZ-based borrowers.
What it actually costs you
Mandatory deductions based on income thresholds.
Common gotcha
If you are a contractor, you must manage your own repayment schedule.

Staying healthy on the road

Long hours mean I need accessible healthcare, from GP visits to emergency support.

Public Health Services

national · Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ)

Who qualifies
All NZ residents.
What you get
Subsidised GP visits and free emergency hospital care.
What it actually costs you
Co-payments for GP visits; free for children under 14.
Common gotcha
Wait times for non-urgent elective surgery can be very long.

Community Services Card

national · Ministry of Social Development

Who qualifies
Low-income earners meeting specific thresholds.
What you get
Lower costs for GP visits and prescription medicines.
What it actually costs you
Application form; must renew annually.
Common gotcha
You must present the card at every pharmacy visit for the discount.

Prescription Subsidy Scheme

national · Pharmac

Who qualifies
Individuals/families who pay for more than 20 prescriptions in a year.
What you get
Free prescriptions for the remainder of the year after 20 items.
What it actually costs you
Keep track of receipts or use a pharmacy that tracks it.
Common gotcha
Most pharmacies track it, but you should confirm they are using the same system.

National Travel Assistance

national · Te Whatu Ora

Who qualifies
Patients travelling long distances for specialist treatment.
What you get
Reimbursement for fuel, accommodation, and travel costs.
What it actually costs you
Requires specialist referral and receipts.
Common gotcha
Must be pre-approved by the hospital before travel.

Need to Talk? 1737

national · Ministry of Health

Who qualifies
Any NZ resident feeling distressed.
What you get
24/7 free text or phone support from trained counsellors.
What it actually costs you
Free.
Common gotcha
It is not for medical emergencies; call 111 for those.

National Immunisation Schedule

national · Te Whatu Ora

Who qualifies
All residents.
What you get
Free vaccines for flu, COVID-19, and other preventable diseases.
What it actually costs you
Free at most pharmacies and GP clinics.
Common gotcha
Flu shots are often free for specific groups, but others pay a small fee.

My digital identity

Everything from renewing my licence to filing taxes requires a verified digital identity.

RealMe

national · Department of Internal Affairs

Who qualifies
All residents with a valid ID.
What you get
Single sign-on for all government services.
What it actually costs you
Requires passport or driver licence for verification.
Common gotcha
Verification can be done online or at a PostShop; online is faster.

NZ Passport Renewal

national · Department of Internal Affairs

Who qualifies
NZ citizens.
What you get
Travel document valid for 10 years.
What it actually costs you
Renewal fee; requires digital photo.
Common gotcha
Standard processing takes 10 working days; urgent services cost extra.

Birth Certificate Order

national · Department of Internal Affairs

Who qualifies
Anyone born in NZ.
What you get
Official proof of identity.
What it actually costs you
Small fee per certificate.
Common gotcha
You need the 'full' certificate for most official purposes, not the 'short' one.

SuperGold Card

national · Ministry of Social Development

Who qualifies
People aged 65+ or receiving NZ Superannuation.
What you get
Discounts on transport, retail, and services.
What it actually costs you
Automatic issuance upon turning 65.
Common gotcha
Not all retailers offer the discount; always ask first.

NZ Post ID Verification

national · NZ Post

Who qualifies
Anyone needing to verify identity for government or banking.
What you get
Physical verification of documents.
What it actually costs you
Small service fee.
Common gotcha
You must bring original documents, not copies.

Civil Union/Marriage Registration

national · Department of Internal Affairs

Who qualifies
Couples planning to marry or enter a civil union.
What you get
Legal recognition of partnership.
What it actually costs you
Application and licence fees.
Common gotcha
The licence is only valid for 3 months.