The AA Driving School is passing the keys to its newest Driving Instructor, Meng Fon, former Mayor of Gisborne, and now the first AA instructor to hit the road in the region.   

From this week, Meng is providing driving lessons in Gisborne and neighbouring towns for learner drivers or anyone who wants to brush up on their road skills.  

Raised on the East Coast and serving as Mayor from 2001 to 2019, Meng has a deep connection with his community and is thrilled to be providing new learning opportunities to benefit his hometown and Aotearoa’s road safety.    

“I’m very proud to be a part of the driving journey for the next generation of learners in our Gisborne whānau. 

“Learning to drive and getting a driver’s licence is a significant moment in a person’s life leading to more freedom and career opportunities. Getting professional training means more confident drivers who have a solid foundation of experience beneath them to ultimately benefit everyone on our roads.” 

Meng, who also served as New Zealand’s Race Relations Commissioner for four years, is fluent in English, te Reo Māori, Mandarin and Cantonese. He is eager to instruct Kura Kaupapa students in te Reo, and can instruct in whichever language his students prefer. He offers lessons in automatic, however can teach manual if a student provides their own car.  

AA Chief Mobility Officer Jonathan Sergel is looking forward to the AA Driving School expanding its services into the Gisborne region.  

“Meng will be our first Driving Instructor we’ve had in Gisborne and we’re looking forward to seeing our network grow so more Kiwis have access to the high-quality driving tutelage the AA is known for. 

“Not only is Meng a proficient and versatile Instructor, he has his community’s best interests at heart. Professional training means more competent and safer drivers which leads to less injuries and deaths on our roads.  

“We’re very pleased to welcome Meng to the AA Driving School team.” 

The AA Driving School currently has more than 90 Driving Instructors throughout New Zealand, delivering over 100,000 lessons per year. Bookings can be made online at https://drivingschool.aa.co.nz/Book-Driving-Lessons