Testimonials from our clients

We would love you to have a look at what past students have thought!

Kia Ora my name is Carlos,

I started my driving journey with Henare in August 2024, working towards my restricted license from my learners license. In the beginning my confidence level with driving was very low, however I found that driving with Henare elevated my confidence and turned that around. Henare is a very easy going character which made my learning experience very comfortable. I really liked that I was able to have normal conversations about day to day life.

At the start trying to find a time slot to have a lesson with Henare was challenging because of my commitments, but Henare was so accommodating around that. He made it work! 

We set a goal- that goal was to get my restricted license within the same year so I could be able to take myself to training, school, games, without relying on my mum or my mates. 

The level of training that Henare gave me I felt to be higher then the restricted test itself.  I didn't realise how well he had prepared me, until I took the test.

I am extremely grateful for the time Henare has invested in me to achieve my goal and I'm glad to have been able to meet someone that I vibe with. 

Thank you bro

Summah Whyte

I just wanted to thank TeAraHidriving and Henare for helping me gain my Restricted driving license.

I grew up in a small North Island town without traffic lights, where cows and horses were commonly seen on the roads. Moving to Christchurch for my studies, I wanted to get my restricted license to open up new opportunities, but I was very anxious about driving in the city. Henare, my instructor, taught me many things I didn't know, and I gradually became confident driving in busy conditions. On the day of my test, I was very nervous, but thanks to the knowledge I gained from driving in Christchurch, I passed my restricted driving license. For students from small country towns moving to cities, or anyone not confident driving in busy conditions, I highly recommend Te Ara He Driving. I've learned so much and can now drive comfortably in the city.

Melanie Nathan

My experience with Te Arahi driving education,I have learnt things that i wasn’t able to be taught by other I was finding it hard learning to drive and to make sure I was doing it safely.H the instructor is very comfortable to be around which made things easier as to being nervous at making mistakes, he always ensured that after I made a mistake he would talk it over to make sure I fully understood what I could do to eliminate or minimise the hazard or problem,H has been an amazing driver instructor and with all my hard work at being consistent to what he had taught me I was proud to say that I passed my restricted test!

Cheyenne Ranga

I’m glad and very thankful that I jumped on this waka even with all the nerves I felt at the start, it has all been worth it. I still remember the first hui I had with Te Arahi Drive. On the day I was so nervous about going to the hui, however I knew that this was an amazing opportunity to finally gain my full license. So there I was, outside in the car park, seeing if I could see anyone else entering. Some time had passed and I was still sitting in my car and I thought, get over it, just go in and check it out. So I did. As soon as I got into the grounds I could see everyone from a distance and boy if you thought I was nervous before, man I definitely was then. However as soon as I entered the room , I was instantly welcomed in, I didn’t even get the chance to feel shy. At that point I knew I would be in good hands. 

Fast forward to my lessons with Henare. I knew that these would help me especially with the habits that I have picked up over the 4 years I have been driving on my restricted. It was great having some reassurance that my driving was good, especially the tips and tricks while driving. The lessons that I had definitely helped me on the day of my test as by then, I felt comfortable driving while someone was in the car observing. Although I was pretty confident that I would pass the test, I still didn’t want to tell anyone. I think I only told a couple people when I had my test, just in case I didn’t pass.

Now I'm proud to say that I have got my full license. The opportunities that this has brought for me has been huge. I’m now able to help out at mahi and drive the vans. I feel like I’m able to be a role model for the tamariki I work around and for my whānau.  I don’t think I could have done this without the tautoko from Te Arahi Drive along the way, so once again a big Thank you!!

Ngā mihi 

Cheyenne 

Yash Naicker

My lessons with H were really good for me. Before I had struggled with parallel parking as well as being confident when changing lanes, but the lessons made it so much easier and H really helped me to improve on these things. I remember feeling nervous before my test, but once I got in the car and started driving I realised it was just like the lessons I'd had and it really helped me to pass. I felt really good during my test and I am so grateful to H for helping me with everything. With his help I have successfully got my restricted license and I feel a lot better when driving now. It's so much better having the extra independence with my restricted license and I owe it to H.

Thank you so much H

Romeo Potae

Mt driving lessons were really helpful for me and made me feel more comfortable on the roads. I am now also more confident when I drive alone, parallel park, drive through big roundabouts and much more. Henare is a really good teacher and after lessons with him I feel so grateful that I have now achieved my restricted licence.

Pene Timihou

Taking this driving course was a great experience. I was quite nervous about my ability to get my license, however, the help of my driving instructor - Henare, who provided me with practical driving tips and lessons in a supportive way, really helped build my confidence which made all the difference.

I have now successfully gained my restricted and I feel well prepared to gain my full license.

Thank you very much for running this course, it has benefitted me.

Nga mihi - Pene Timihou

Dylan

Dylan got his learners license at 16, three years ago. At the time he was working on a farm milking cows and going to school as well as playing loads of sports. So it made sense for him to have a moped to get around. It was a perfect solution at the time but on reflection it gave him his independence and meant he didn’t get many actual driving hours as he was always so busy. Living in a small town and being independent he didn’t rush to get restricted as it didn’t matter. Until school ended and he needed to think about his future.

He had 2 attempts to sit his restricted and failed. Just rookie errors. In the mean time he moved from our small West Coast home town to ChCh to start an apprenticeship, and lived out of town with family. It was really hard being stuck with no ability to go to the gym or get to his friends at uni. He was struggling. We had decided the only option with starting a new job was to sit restricted in chch. But Dylan literally had no experience driving in the city and no ability to practice as now living away from home and isolated.

After some searching websites and reading tutor profiles, I came across one from H and felt he sounded like a good fit for Dylan’s interests and personality.

We booked 3 lessons with H leading up to sitting restricted. H was really accommodating and said he could book his vehicle to sit the test as he had no vehicle.

The weekend before the first lesson Dylan tore his calf muscle playing rugby. So came home to the coast to recover. We had to cancel lessons and come up with a new plan. He needed license for work and sanity, the wait time to rebook is so long, and still no experience driving in chch!! Traffic is no issue at home, we have no traffic lights, lanes, or roundabouts even.

We all put our heads together and came up with a new plan. H was incredibly accomodating and went over and above to help Dylan get the lessons. In the mean time while he was home he brought his first car ready to head back to work once healed, and passing restricted.

Dylan got on the shuttle at 7 in the morning the day before his test and went back to ChCh. He arrived about 15mins before his first lesson. H picked him up and had a 2.5hr driving lesson. The following day picked him up early again for another lesson practicing all the things he’d never done and only learnt the previous day. Although he could drive already it was still a lot to cram into a short time frame.

Dylan had thought it wasn’t necessary to have lessons in ChCh, but rang me after the first lesson to tell me all the things he had learnt. He said how great H was, enjoyed chatting about sports and he really made him feel comfortable. He said H was very focused, chatted and made him comfortable then said time to focus and got on with important stuff. He really liked how supportive he was and especially the “we” attitude, we are doing it together, we’ve got this. He felt like this is a job that H takes seriously and really loves doing.

I sat nervously waiting on the day of the test to hear how he got on, it was still only about 4hrs practice in the city and a lot different to home! The lil beauty passed with flying colours!

Thank you so much H for going above and beyond to teaching him what he needed to learn in 1 and a bit lessons! Dylan has had everything against him for reasons out of his control all the way through. H did everything he could to make it work, and accomodate our out of the norm situation.

When Dylan drives himself back to ChCh for work in a week he will be mobile he will be able to take his golf clubs, join a gym, visit friends, and drive himself to work, it will be life changing for him. 

Thanks so much for your help H it was worth every cent - Amy

Haylee Tomlinson

I choose H, (Henare) when I booked my lesson. I came into the lessons with no confidence left within myself, very anxious, shy, low self-esteem, depression you name it.


My very first lesson with H, he instantly made me feel comfortable. Throughout our lessons we laughed, we talked, we even panicked together when my daughter was late home from school as I was leaving for my lesson.


H made everything okay. The support he gave me, the comfort I felt. It was more like a Sunday drive with a friend. He even set up a mock test with John, in which I passed. Today I sat my full licence and I passed. No errors, no notes to take home. I thought I was going to fail due to nerves and no confidence in myself. But H kept reassuring me I'd be fine. I did start getting anxious and at that time I remembered John saying in my mock test it's okay to breathe, so I did. I couldn't have done it without all your help Henare. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And thank you John for the advice, I might have turned blue.

Thank you

Kelly Brown

I don't normally do reviews but this time I wanted to share my bit of my story and in particular my instructor Henare Kiri-Kiri.

Yesterday I passed my full drivers license and even tho I haven't won lotto before that is how I felt. I got my restricted license 20 years ago so this was a long time coming, over the years I lost a lot of confidence not with driving but in myself but I decided as I came up to turning 40 that I would push thru my fears and as a single mum (one of which just turned 16) i wanted my kids to see me follow thru with my license. It's also given me the confidence to do more things I've put off.

Go see H or Henare Without the teaching and encouragement I wouldn't be sitting here this morning with my full license.

Thanks Henare

Hi H,

I have been wanting my restricted license for three years and without Henare’s incredible driving education and support, I would never have done it.

As soon as I turned 16 I got my learners as I was excited to learn to drive but unfortunately got concussed and didn’t make recovery until 9 months later. When I wanted to start learning to drive, I didn’t have anyone to teach me to drive.  

Fast forward two years, still on my learners and had moved to Christchurch. I was struggling to get a job to support my studies and needed to rely on others to help me get places. I discovered Te Arahi Driving which gave me the opportunity to finally gain my restricted license. 

When I began my lessons I was extremely anxious and nervous about driving. I had been in a car crash the year prior which completely destroyed my confidence. But with Henare’s help I learned to be calm and confident while driving. He completely changed my attitude towards driving.

Now that I have my restricted license, my life has completely changed. I now have more job opportunities, and I feel so much more independent. 

H has been an amazing driving instructor and I highly recommend Te Arahi Driving. 

Thank you for everything Henare..”