Martin van Beynen got a tip about driving tests, so he set up his own test.

OPINION: While immigration and work permits bring a lot of welcome diversity and interest to New Zealand, we need to be vigilant about the corruption that other cultures seem to tolerate.

New Zealand often looks like a soft touch for practices that are endemic overseas but rare here.

An example cropped up recently in my work as a jobbing reporter. After a tip, I was surprised to find that people sitting driving tests could ask for an interpreter to sit in the back of the car to translate the instructions given by the tester.

There are strict rules about what the interpreter is allowed to say and do but the situation is clearly open to abuse.

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And even if the rules are adhered to, you have to wonder how a person who struggles with an oral phrase such as, "I want you to turn left at the next intersection" managed to pass their written tests.

I don't know if the concession is abused. Even if it is, I don't know whether these drivers who have cheated a little are dangerous.

Driving testers can be ridiculously pedantic and have every incentive to fail people because that means another fee for another test.

I wonder whether we have made it too tough for people to get a licence. We all recognise a driving licence can make a big difference to someone's life. It opens up employment opportunities and makes getting around easier if public transport is not available or convenient. Do we need to put up so many obstacles on the road to getting a permit to drive?

You don't become a good driver by passing a test. That only comes with time and experience, and plenty of people who pass the test probably shouldn't be on the road.

I don't expect many bad accidents are caused by drivers being careful, but not especially confident. The more scared you are, the more likely you are to concentrate.

Anyway, having interpreters in the car for a test seems like a recipe for cheating and may be a step too far to accommodate people who want to drive in New Zealand but don't have the language skills to follow instructions.

The tip also suggested a driving instructor who also frequently acted as an interpreter for drivers doing their practical tests was giving useful advice as well as translating.

So we set up our own little test. I rang him to say my wife was from the same country as him and was upset because she had failed her driving test again. Here are edited bits of the conversation:

Reporter: The trouble is she gets flustered in the test and she forgets things like slowing down and she forgets the right of way.

Mr X: I will explain all the things to her.

Reporter: Can you remind her of those things?

Mr X: Yeah.

Reporter: Won't the tester notice and be suspicious?

Mr X: I take her around and I will remind but during the test I just do the interpreting and explain all the situations to her.

Reporter: I guess what I'm asking, Mr X, is when you are going around with her in the back of the car interpreting – her English is very bad and she forgets things – when you are in the back of the car doing the interpretation, can you help her a little bit?

Mr X: Of course.

Reporter: How would you do that?

Mr X: I will explain to her when I meet her, when I see her.

Reporter: The tester, would they get suspicious?

Mr X: No, I know which way I should do it.

Reporter: You know which way to do it. So you can tell her?

Mr X: I will be great help to her. I will be great help.

Reporter: But if you tell only what the tester says, she will still get nervous. Can you help her a little bit by saying slow down, look in the mirror and that sort of thing?

Mr X (chuckling): I will tell you only that I will try my best. OK. You understand what I mean. I try my best. I can't say exactly what.

Reporter: For the extra help that you give in the back of the car, is there an extra charge?

Mr X: No, no extra charge for that.

I found myself quite liking Mr X, who appeared to genuinely want to help people, even if it was for a fairly generous fee, and probably wouldn't put a dangerous driver on the road.

Although he hadn't quite said enough for us to be confident enough to name him and publish a story, it is a great example of how our system is open to abuse.

To detect this behaviour is a big and expensive exercise, even for the authorities set up to do so. So I hope Mr X reads this column and realises, that if he has been up to no good, he has been very lucky.

Can you add to our information about possible corruption? Email martin.vanbeynen@stuff.co.nz in strict confidence.