New ZealandNew Zealand

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of New Zealand. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.


1. New Zealand

New Zealand lies in the southwestern Pacific Ocean and consists mainly of the North Island and South Island. Traffic drives on the left. Although the country is relatively compact, journeys can take longer than expected because many roads are narrow, winding and hilly, with mountain passes, unsealed sections and one-lane bridges still forming part of the road network. Snow and ice can affect alpine routes in winter, particularly on the South Island.

Most roads are free to use, and New Zealand has no nationwide vignette; there are currently only three toll roads, all on the North Island, using electronic number-plate-based collection without toll booths. The usual open-road maximum for light vehicles is 100 km/h, although 110 km/h applies on designated high-standard roads and many roads have lower posted limits. Road signs use standardised symbols and English, while te reo Māori and English increasingly appear together on bilingual signs.

Let's explore the traffic rules of New Zealand.
AI-generated by Rijbewijs-online.be • WCIT • CC BY-SA
What is the alcohol limit for drivers in New Zealand?

Drivers aged 20 or older must not exceed 250 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath or 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood. Drivers under 20 have a zero-alcohol limit.

🔗 transport.govt.nz • New Zealand Ministry of Transport, current age-related alcohol limits

🔗 police.govt.nz • New Zealand Police, current road rules

Can you use a mobile phone while driving in New Zealand?

You must not use a handheld phone for calls, texts, emails or similar communications while driving. An emergency call is excepted when stopping is unsafe or impracticable. Police advise using hands-free mode for calls and pulling over safely before texting or using other applications.

🔗 police.govt.nz • New Zealand Police, Being safe on the road, Driving with your phone; 🔗 police.govt.nz • New Zealand Police, phone and seatbelt enforcement guidance, 16 October 2026

When must children use a child seat in New Zealand?

Children under seven must use an approved child restraint suitable for their age and size. A seven-year-old must use an approved restraint if one is available; otherwise the applicable seat-belt rules apply. The driver is responsible for securing child passengers.

🔗 education.govt.nz • New Zealand Ministry of Education, child restraint and driver responsibility

🔗 police.govt.nz • New Zealand Police, current road rules

1 New Zealand 2 Motorway 3 Speed limit 4 Advisory speed 5 Bike path 6 Pedestrian warning 7 Bridge 8 Speed bump 9 One-way traffic 10 Slope 11 Bus lane 12 Stop sign 13 Give way 14 Roundabout 15 Road narrowing 16 Pedestrian crossing 17 Railway crossing 18 Mandatory direction 19 Turn prohibition 20 School area 21 Crossing animals 22 Slippery road 23 Curve 24 Chevron 25 Wrong-way driving 26 Roadworks 27 Crosswind 28 Height limit 29 Priority at the next junction 30 Traffic lights 31 Pedestrian lights 32 Road markings 33 Parking 34 Disabled parking 35 Reversing 36 U-turn 37 Tourist attraction 38 Charging station 39 Dangers 40 Cyclist 41 Bus 42 Police 43 Ambulance 44 Pothole 45 Path 46 Particulates 47 Air pollution 48 Rush hour 49 Road code 50 Two-way traffic 51 Street gutter 52 Cargo bike 53 Forestry vehicle 54 Construction vehicle 55 Semi-trailer truck 56 Trolleybus 57 Speed pedelec 58 Delivery vehicle 59 Idling 60 Tow truck 61 Four-wheel drive 62 Bicycle 63 Motorcycle equipment 64 Tram 65 Rail track 66 Caravan 67 Trailer 68 Tow hitch 69 Fire truck 70 Siren 71 Convoy 72 Emergency vehicle lighting 73 Agricultural machinery 74 Electric bicycle 75 Electric vehicle 76 Pedelec 77 Quadricycle 78 Microcar 79 All-terrain vehicle 80 Van 81 Recreational vehicle 82 Scooter 83 Trikke 84 Personal mobility device 85 Skateboard 86 Segway 87 Kick scooter 88 Roller skates 89 Mailman 90 Hitchhiker 91 Toddler 92 Child 93 Disability 94 Motorail 95 km/h 96 mph 97 Speedometer 98 Ride height 99 Dirt road 100 Driving ...