日照翻译公司-译声翻译博客

由各缔约方政府授权其交通管理部门按照公约中规定的式样向出国旅行的本国驾照持有人签发一种证明文件，来向其他国家的交通管理机构证明该驾车人拥有该国颁发的合法驾驶执照。这个证明文件在公约中被称作International Driving Permit，简称IDP，中文里翻译成“国际驾驶执照”，或“国际驾照”

国际驾照不是一个驾驶执照。它只是由驾驶员本国的官方机构或经其授权的其他机构根据该国政府所参加的联合国道路交通公约、以公约中规定的标准式样、用英/法/俄/中/阿拉伯/日等多种语言为驾驶员出具的证明该驾驶员持有该国有效驾照的一份证明，其主要通途是帮助其他国家的警察读懂驾驶员的姓名、地址、准驾车型等必要信息。

http://baike.baidu.com/view/322324.html?wtp=tt

这是新西兰道路交通局的一些解释
a current and valid* overseas driver licence or international driving permit

*A current and valid overseas driver licence means that your licence allows you to legally drive in your own country. If you are disqualified from driving or your licence is currently suspended, expired or revoked, then you are not allowed to drive in New Zealand.

If you do have a current and valid overseas driver licence or international driving permit, you can drive using that for a maximum of 12 months from the date you arrive in New Zealand. Note: if your overseas licence or permit isn't in English, you must carry an accurate translation.