Qualified Driving Instructors
Dual-Control Practice Cars
Former Test Officers
Language Support
Test-Day Support
Qualified Multilingual Driving Mentors
Culturally-Appropriate Lessons
Test-Day Supervisors
Language Support Volunteers
Confident and Competent Drivers
Safer NZ Roads
Achievement Unlocked
Freedom to Explore
Job Opportunities
Puketāpapa Community Driving School is a full-service, community-owned social enterprise. It was established in 2017 by the PETER Collective, a group of local organisations working together in Puketāpapa to improve education, training, and employment outcomes.
Migrant Action Trust (MAT) became the lead organisation managing the community driving school, alongside partners RULE Education, UMMA Trust, Wesley Community Centre, and Aotearoa Resettled Community Coalition (ARCC).
At Puketāpapa Community Driving School, we are dedicated to making driver training and simulated testing more accessible and affordable for youth, women, migrants, and former refugees. We continuously explore and develop our company’s operational capacity to cater to the 200+ on the waitlist in becoming confident and safer drivers around the community.
Shaila is a qualified instructor with her own driving school who wants to support our community driving school at the same time. Shaila’s experiences as a former migrant encouraged her to get educated in driving as a way to help the community and get involved in PCDS. As a former staff member at Migrant Action Trust, Shaila understands the need to address cultural and language barriers for some migrants who are learning how to drive.
As a former testing officer, Joey is a huge asset to our team especially for those who wish to sit mock test before their restricted or full license tests. Joey has trained around 20 volunteer driver mentors to support learner drivers.
Susan was motivated to be a qualified driving instructor to help new migrants and former refugees.
“I saw a lot of mothers with their children walking during winter and I know how hard it is. It’s also difficult for them to find a job if they cannot drive. Learners whom I trained gave me so much pride and joy. The happiness of being hugged by teary-eyed learners after passing their test is priceless.”
Peter has been helping family and friends to learn to drive for over 25 years now. He became a qualified instructor a few years ago then joined PCDS team since 2018. Peter is available to conduct driving lessons and mock tests for learner drivers in West / Central Auckland as well as in North Shore where he has supported a good number of student drivers in Glenfield, Albany, Silverdale test areas.
Rex joined our team of instructors after the first Covid-19 lockdown. His parents were immigrants so he understood the importance of getting a driver licence and getting language support to successfully settle in Aotearoa. He saw the PCDS story on TVNZ Breakfast and thought of joining the PCDS team as a great way of giving back to the community and we agree so Rex is currently helping with driving lessons for PCDS learners and preparing for restricted and full tests.
Rina joined the team of community driver mentors to help supplement the on-road driving practice of former refugees and fellow migrants clients. Now, she is one of the latest addition to PCDS team of qualified instructors.
Ye has been in the motor industry for over 10 years and recently became a qualified driving instructor. "Driving is my passion and being an instructor is a great opportunity for me to give back to the community. I understand how important driving is for most people in their daily routines."
Ross has 7 years in law enforcement and has been a driver testing officer for 10 years for NZDL and VTNZ. As one of our volunteers supporting the Open Road Refugee Driver Training Programme, Ross is also currently helping with driving assessment for PCDS learners preparing for restricted and full tests.
Read how to safely share the road with large vehicles such as buses and trucks. If you want to learn more, book a FREE NZ Road code session with us today!
Read about the extension for overseas licence and see if you are eligible.
Learn what to do and what NOT to do when sharing the road with cyclists.