Government Announces Changes to Courtesy Coach Rules

17 September 2026

Clubs New Zealand welcomes today's announcement by the Government confirming changes to passenger service rules that will make it easier for clubs and hospitality venues to provide safe transport services for their members and guests. The announcement was made at the Upper Hutt Cosmopolitan Club, with Regulation Minister David Seymour and Transport Minister Chris Bishop outlining the next steps arising from the Ministry for Regulation's Hospitality Sector Review.

For many clubs, courtesy vans and coaches are far more than a transport service. They are an important part of host responsibility, helping ensure members and guests can get home safely after visiting the club. They also play a vital role in reducing isolation, particularly in rural communities where taxi, rideshare, and other transport options may be limited or unavailable.

Clubs New Zealand has advocated for changes to these rules for many years and recently highlighted the issue again in our submission to the Ministry for Regulation's Hospitality Sector Review. In that submission, we noted that passenger service licensing requirements, including P-endorsement requirements in certain circumstances, were creating unnecessary barriers for community-based transport services that exist primarily to support member safety and wellbeing. We recommended that clubs providing safe transport services be exempt from passenger service rules while still being able to recover reasonable operating costs through small fees or donations.

Importantly, courtesy vans are used for much more than getting members home after a night at the club. Across New Zealand, clubs use these vehicles to support sporting adjuncts, transport members to events and activities, assist older members to remain connected with their communities, and in some cases help people access medical appointments and other community services.

This announcement recognises what clubs have long understood: these services provide a community benefit and should not be burdened by regulatory requirements designed for commercial passenger transport operators.

Clubs New Zealand is pleased to see the Government adopting a practical, common-sense approach that supports both harm minimisation and community connection. While the change may seem small, it will make a meaningful difference to clubs across the country, particularly those in regional and rural communities where providing safe, reliable transport can be the difference between someone participating in their community or becoming socially isolated.

We would like to thank Ministers David Seymour and Chris Bishop for recognising the value of these services and for progressing a change that will help clubs continue to support their members and communities.

For more information you can read the Government announcement on the Beehive website and RNZ's coverage of the announcement on the RNZ website.