Old enough? A minefield of maturity

At 17, you can join the army but can't buy an Instant Kiwi ticket.

At 16, you can buy a gun but not fireworks. You can also work full-time and pay taxes but don't get a say in who runs the country.

The minimum ages set out in New Zealand law are not only confusing but, as proposals to raise the driving and drinking ages show, can also be contentious.

Former Labour cabinet minister David Benson-Pope, who successfully lobbied for an increase in the minimum age for buying fireworks, says while politicians setting minimum ages do look at research, ultimately they are forced to make decisions that are politically pragmatic.

"You'd like them to be based on good reason, logic and carefully considered advice, but at the end of the day they're political decisions and governments, because they want to be re-elected, respond to political and public pressure."

For some, like soldier Cameron Ackroyd and schoolboy racing driver Mitch Evans, age is not that important.

Cameron was 18 when he served in East Timor, while Mitch was just 14 when he competed in last year's Australian Formula Ford Championship.

The irony of being able to drive a V8 supercar at 250kmh but having to have a parent with him on the open road is not lost on Mitch (now 15).

He upgraded from a learner's to a restricted licence earlier this year but still has to be accompanied by a fully-licensed driver when carrying passengers: "It is a bit crazy," he acknowledges. "It's quite difficult to stick to the speed limit as well."

The year 11 pupil, who still pays reduced prices at his local pool and movie theatre in Auckland, was the youngest winner of an Australian Formula 3 Super Prix race. He is also leading this year's Toyota Racing Series, having received special dispensation to compete - the minimum age is usually 16.

Next year, he hopes to be in Europe competing in the GP3 series and his ultimate goal is a Formula One drive by the time he is 19.

New Zealand land speed record-holder Owen Evans says his son's age is not an issue because he is mature for a 15-year-old, and his youth could in fact be a "huge advantage". Drivers need three or four years in other classes overseas before advancing to Formula One and are unlikely to be signed if already in their 20s.

Asked if he is mature enough to be racing, Mitch says he tended to take more risks when he was younger but now tries to think about the bigger picture rather than just one race or one corner. He also thinks young people can have more ability than drivers who are older.

Private Cameron Ackroyd's only concern when joining the army at 17 was that initially he could not drink and "go out on the town" with most of his friends.