Learning to drive can be hard, but learning it in a new language is almost impossible. But that’s changing for refugees in Hamilton. Made with funding from NZ On Air.
Speaking Spanish while on the road has made Hamilton resident Tina Castro feel at ease as she learns to drive.
She's about to sit her full licence and has only lived here for four years, having moved here as a refugee from Ecuador.
Ms Castro says using Spanish behind the wheel has made her more comfortable.
She says it's opened up an opportunity to have some independence to get to work and the grocery store at her own leisure.
"For me [having a licence has] changed my life a lot, making my life easier."
He came to New Zealand with his family after his father disappeared and his brother was killed at home in Columbia, and, like Tina, lived in Ecuador before getting refugee status in New Zealand.
But now he says he enjoys being able to support other learner drivers in his community by speaking Spanish and being a fully licenced driver for learner drivers.
"It is clear in the same language," he says.
Passport 2 Drive manager Tania Pointon helps maintain the vehicles and runs the company that supports the refugee driving programme.
She says it's rewarding being a part of "their journey to a life-long skill." And she says teaching them to drive helps them integrate into the community and makes getting a job easier.
For other refugees Mrs Pointon says public transport isn't a viable option, and teaching refugees and migrants to drive means "refugee mums" can take their children to school, and go to the supermarket.
"When you have four to five kids, the bus isn't cheap."
Omar Martinez is a part-time instructor for Passport 2 Drive. He speaks Spanish too and says he understands their difficulties with the language barrier "because 10 years ago I was a migrant too".
He says the geographic and weather conditions on New Zealand roads are an added challenge, aside from everything being in a foreign language.
"It's my duty to make sure they've got everything sorted and okay, and [they're] confident enough for the test."
Ms Castro says she is excited to sit her full licence, and says she's not nervous, because learning to drive in her home language, made everything easier.
Since the scheme began last year in Hamilton, 47 refugees have received their restricted licences.
The taxpayer-funded programme costs $1600 per participant.
