NZTA revokes 459 heavy vehicle licences from Indian-born drivers after uncovering fraudulent UAE documents, sparking driver shortages and safety fears nationwide.

New Zealand's trucking industry faces chaos after the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) cancelled 459 commercial driver licences in a nationwide crackdown on fake credentials. Every single revoked licence belonged to drivers born in India, who converted UAE heavy vehicle licences using false or altered documentation. The audit, launched in July 2025, ballooned from initial cancellations to 459 as investigations deepened, leaving transport firms scrambling for replacements during peak season.

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Biggest scammers were drivers aged 30 to 35 presented UAE licences backed by letters from Dubai providers charging NZ$500 to $1,000. These documents, once accepted by NZTA, verified overseas experience for Class 5 heavy vehicle conversions. NZTA now deems them "non-verifiable or invalid," triggering immediate revocations. Of those revoked; 436 came via UAE, 18 from Australia, five from Canada. Fines up to NZ$750 loom, though no charges yet.

Protests erupted at Auckland's Takanini Gurdwara, where hundreds of families rallied. Indian MP Parmjeet Parmar warned of "enormous strain on freight networks" pre-Christmas, urging Transport Minister Simeon Brown for case-by-case reviews. Operator Navjot Sidhu, losing four drivers, blasted the fallout: "These hardworking migrants filled vital gaps, but now 440 families suffer." Tauranga's Ranjit Singh echoed recruitment woes.

**Safety hawks cheer the purge.** NZTA's Mike Hargreaves stressed swift action protects roads, with heavy trucks demanding proven skills. 

NZTA holds firm: conversions demand valid, current overseas licences.

**The scam exposes migrant loopholes in a nation desperate for drivers.**

Indian Truck Drivers' Fake Licence Scam Rocks New Zealand Roads