These information pages can help you get started in learning about some of the laws and registration requirements that may apply to your Trips or Experiences on Airbnb. These pages include summaries of some of the rules that may apply to different sorts of activities, and contain links to government resources that you may find helpful.

Please understand that these information pages are not comprehensive, and are not legal advice. If you are unsure about how local laws or this information may apply to you or your Experience, we encourage you to check with your city or an attorney.

Please note that we don’t update this information in real time, so you should confirm that the law has not changed recently.*

I’m planning to drive my guests to and from my Experience. Do I need a licence or registration to allow me to do this?

Yes – you would at a minimum need the usual licences and registrations required to drive on New Zealand roads. In addition, you may be classified as providing a passenger service, which requires additional licensing (see below).

Under the Land Transport Act 1998, a transport service is deemed to be a passenger service if it involves the carriage of passengers on any road for hire or reward by means of a motor vehicle. This includes where:

• there is a specific charge on passengers for transport (whether separately itemized or specifically included in the bundled price), including part payments to cover fuel and donations (which are expected as a condition of carriage); or
• the carriage of passengers is an integral part of, or reasonably necessary to provide, another service or activity (other than a transport service) for which payment is made.

This means that if you provide ground transportation services as part of a broader Experience package you can still be considered as providing a passenger service. As the scope of ‘passenger service’ is intended to be broad, unless your carriage of passengers is truly incidental, it is best to first speak to your local transport agencybefore you decide to offer transport to your guests.

There are some very limited exemptions from being classified as a passenger service, such as where you have a genuine cost-sharing arrangement with the guest. However, as these are unlikely to apply to most general situations, you are encouraged to seek clarification from your local transport agency as to whether these exemptions would apply to you.

Here is an example where you are likely to be providing a passenger service:

• I am a foodie and would like to bring guests on a food tour. As part of the food tour, I will be driving them to several food stops.

Here is an example where you are not likely to be providing a passenger service:

• I am conducting a yoga class for guests in my home. As an exception I offer to pick up a couple of guests from a nearby train station to my home for convenience. No separate fee will be charged for the ride.

If you provide a passenger service you must:

• hold a (P) endorsement driver licence which qualifies them to carry passengers in return for any type of reward;
• have and display a current driver identification card;
• have a current driver licence of the appropriate class for the type of vehicle they are driving;
• have and display a current certificate of fitness (‘CoF’) label;
• hold a passenger service licence (which includes a certificate you apply for declaring you know of all the required laws and practices relating to safe, efficient and proper operation of a transport service);