Limited Licence for Hospitality Workers: Late Finishes
Chefs, bar staff, baristas and front of house teams keep the hours most people avoid. The cafe opens at 6am. The bar closes well after midnight. That makes getting to work without a licence hard, and a Limited Licence application needs to show exactly why.
Your hours are the evidence
The order sets out the days and times you can drive [1]. Hospitality hours are often irregular, so the court needs a clear picture:
- your usual start and finish times
- whether shifts run past midnight
- split shifts, with a break in the middle of the day
- weekend and public holiday work
- how often the roster changes
Past rosters and payslips are better than a rough guess. If a shift starts on Saturday and ends at 2am Sunday, the order needs to cover both days.
Show the gap in transport
Hardship in hospitality often comes down to the hour. Compare your finish times with the last bus or train. Explain whether a taxi or rideshare is affordable on your wage. Being safe walking home late is a fair point to raise. Expect the court to ask about every other way of getting there [3]. See proving you have no other transport.
Ask only for what you need
The court can only allow the driving needed to ease the hardship [1]. If the morning commute works by bus and only the late finish does not, ask for the late finish only. Narrow requests are easier to justify.
More than one job
Plenty of hospitality workers hold two jobs. Both can be covered if both are needed. Read two jobs, one Limited Licence.
Employer affidavit
The practice note expects an affidavit from your employer for work hardship [2]. Your manager should confirm your role, hours and what happens if you cannot get there. For roster patterns, see Limited Licence for shift workers.
Alcohol and the order
If you lost your licence for drink driving, be aware the court must consider public safety [1]. If your disqualification came with an alcohol interlock sentence, you cannot get a Limited Licence [4]. Disclose all previous driving related convictions [2].
Every affidavit is signed only in front of the person who witnesses it, and the easiest place to do that is at the court when you file. Never sign one in advance.
Sources
- Land Transport Act 1998, sections 103, 104 and 105, New Zealand Legislation, https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1998/0110/latest/DLM434582.html (accessed 2 November 2026)
- Practice Note: Applications for a Limited Licence (24 May 2024), District Court of New Zealand, https://www.districtcourts.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Publications/2024/Limited-Licence-Practice-Note-FINAL.pdf (accessed 2 November 2026)
- Applying for a Limited Licence (2024 guide), Community Law, https://www.justice.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Publications/Applying-for-a-Limited-Licence-Guide-CL-2024.pdf (accessed 2 November 2026)
- Limited Licence, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, https://www.nzta.govt.nz/driver-licences/driving-offences-and-penalties/driving-offences/limited-licence (accessed 2 November 2026)
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive to pick up supplies for the restaurant?
Only if that driving is part of your proven hardship and the order allows it.
What if my roster changes weekly?
Show the pattern with past rosters, and the range of times you are likely to work.
Can the order cover a shift that ends after midnight?
Yes, if the days and times in the order are set out to cover it.
More on driving for work at our Limited Licence for work page.
We prepare Limited Licence documents. From $645 + GST. Call 0800 437 005 or start at nzlimitedlicence.co.nz/apply.
Checked by Guy Hollister, Director, NZ Limited Licence, on 10 Nov 26