Seat belts and child seats in New Zealand (2026)
Last reviewed: 30 October 2026
In short: In New Zealand children under 7 must use an approved child restraint, and those aged 8 to 14 must wear a seat belt where fitted. Everyone aged 15 or over must wear a seat belt in a seat that has one.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Seat belt compulsory in front seatsPassenger cars | Yes [1] |
| Seat belt compulsory in rear seatsPassenger cars | Yes [1] |
| Child restraint required untilPassenger cars | Every passenger under 7 must be properly restrained by an approved child restraint appropriate for them. A passenger aged 7 must use an approved child restraint if one is available in the vehicle, otherwise any child restraint or seat belt that is available. Passengers aged 8 to 14 must wear a seat belt where the seat has one. Child restraints include child seats, booster seats and child-fitting seat belts. [1] |
| Children in the front seatPassenger cars | A driver must not permit a passenger under 15 who is not properly restrained by an approved child restraint or seat belt to be alongside the driver, unless the vehicle has no seating positions behind the driver's seat or all of those positions are occupied by passengers under 15. [1] |
| Rear-facing child seat in front with active airbagPassenger cars | ⚠ Not yet verified |
Notes
- Applies in any seat fitted with a seat belt while the vehicle is in motion on a road. Medical certificate and other exceptions are in clause 7.11; the child restraint and belt clauses 7.6, 7.7, 7.8 and 7.10 do not apply to the driver of a bus.
- The Rule text read does not address rear-facing seats and airbags.
Sources
- New Zealand Legislation (Parliamentary Counsel Office): Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 (SR 2004/427) (as at 30 October 2024) (Internet Archive snapshot of 4 April 2025) (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.