Barriers to the Workforce: Funding Axed for Hutt Valley Youth Driving School

Hutt Valley youth charity Youth Inspire has been denied government funding for its free driving school, threatening to lock Māori and Pacific rangatahi out of the workforce.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 14, 2026, 3:43 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

The Funding Blow

Youth Inspire CEO Zainab Ali confirmed that the program, which has helped over 1,200 young people over seven years, was recently denied a three-year funding renewal from Waka Kotahi’s Road Safety Fund.

The Impact: The program is currently free for rangatahi, covering all training and testing fees (which can cost $96 for a learner’s licence alone).

The Waitlist: Demand is at an all-time high, with dozens of young people currently preparing for their learner, restricted, or full licences.

A "Catch-22" for Employment

Driving School Manager Kinder Khakh highlighted that approximately 70 percent of jobs in the current market require a driver’s licence. For many Māori and Pacific families, the cost of licensing and the lack of a vehicle in the household create a "cycle" of unemployment.