A moped is a small motor vehicle, and riding one comes with its own licence, gear and road-position rules. Here's what applies from the day you get on one.
What counts as a moped
A moped is a motor vehicle — not a power-assisted pedal cycle — with two or three wheels, a maximum speed of 50 km/h, and either an engine of 50cc or less or a non-piston power source.
Licence and conditions
To ride a moped you need a class 6 motorcycle licence or a class 1 car licence. On a class 1 or class 6 learner licence you must display an L plate, and on a learner or restricted licence you must not ride between 10pm and 5am or carry passengers. You and any passenger must wear an approved motorcycle helmet.
Where and how to ride
Don't ride on a footpath or cycle path — unless a road controlling authority allows footpath use for delivering newspapers, mail or printed material to letterboxes. At an intersection, either follow the rules for motor vehicles or get off and walk across. You may ride beside another moped or a cyclist, but not beside other vehicles, and you must pass other vehicles in single file. Don't park a moped on the footpath.
Towing and passengers
A moped must not be towed by any vehicle; it may tow a trailer, but must not have a sidecar. To carry a passenger you need a pillion seat and footrests — and for a child, the pillion seat must protect the child's legs from the wheels. Any load must be tied on firmly and must not touch the ground.
Lights and equipment
Turn on the headlight during darkness (from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise) or any time you can't clearly see a person or vehicle 100 m away; in daylight, if the moped was made on or after 1 January 1980, use the headlight or its daytime running lights. A moped must have a rear red light visible at 100 m, a headlight showing 30 m ahead, a horn, good tyres with clear tread, a not-excessively-noisy exhaust, safe steering, mudguards, good front and back brakes, and a red rear reflector. If first registered in NZ after 1 January 1991, it must also have one or two red rear stop lights.