Getting to where he needs to be

My name is Harrison Wigzell, I am 17 years old and live near Waiau.

Back in August I successfully gained my Restricted Licence with the help of Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) and Hurunui District Council’s Driver Mentor Programme.

Getting my restricted licence has been really useful for me, as I can now drive myself to and from work. I currently work part-time at Rodin Cars as well as at Mt Lyford Lodge, so having my licence gives me a lot more independence. Before getting my licence, I had to rely on the generosity of other people to get to work and other places I needed to be.

Living in a rural area near Waiau also made learning to drive more difficult. There aren't many options for driving lessons locally, meaning that without the Driver Mentor Programme, I would have had to travel to places such as Rangiora or Kaikōura to get regular driving lessons. The Driver Mentor Programme provides a really valuable option for people living in rural areas like ours.

When I first started learning, I was quite nervous about driving. I didn't have much experience behind the wheel, and I think a lot of that nervousness came from worrying about making mistakes and dealing with other cars. Ken, my mentor, was really helpful in building my confidence and gradually getting me more comfortable behind the wheel.

We started out doing what we jokingly called "left-right, left-right" around Culverden, getting the basics down and slowly building up my confidence. Eventually, we worked our way up to driving in Rangiora, where I had to deal with traffic, traffic lights and all the other complications that come with driving in a more built-up area. Being able to progress gradually like that made a huge difference to me.

One of the things I enjoy most about driving now is how freeing it feels. There is a strange but really good feeling about sitting in the car on your own and being able to drive yourself to work or wherever you need to go. Having that independence is something I really appreciate.

My message to anyone considering the Driver Mentor Programme would be not to stress about how long it has taken you or how many setbacks you have. Every failure and mistake is an opportunity to learn and grow. It can be frustrating at times, trust me, but you will get there in the end. The mentors are incredibly helpful, patient and kind, and having someone there to support you through the process can make a huge difference.

MTFJ has also been really helpful to me beyond the Driver Mentor Programme. It has helped me with employment opportunities and provided support with additional courses such as first aid and forklift training, which can help me develop useful skills for my workplace. Having that support and knowing there are people willing to help me develop my skills and find opportunities has been great.

Overall, getting my restricted licence is something I'm really happy to have achieved, and I'm very grateful to MTFJ, the Driver Mentor Programme and Ken for helping me get there.

To learn more about the Driver Mentor Programme, please visit https://www.hurunui.govt.nz/community/driver-mento...