March 2024
Kia ora koutou
Welcome to the first edition of the Need-to-Know newsletter for 2024.
I hope many of you managed to spend some time relaxing over the summer with whānau and friends, refreshing yourself for the year ahead. For those of you who worked through, I hope you have a decent break planned in the coming months.
In this newsletter we have information from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) about upcoming changes to Road User Chargers (RUC) and to importing cars. Take some time to familiarise yourself with these changes to ensure you are compliant.
Take care, work safely, and thank you for taking the time to read this edition of the newsletter.
If you have any comments or suggestions for future editions, let me know by emailing the Motor Vehicles Traders Registrar.
Ngā mihi nui
Duncan Connor
Registrar of Motor Vehicle Traders
Recent Tribunal decisions
Two recent decisions made by the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal relate to traders not complying with section 6 and section 7 of the Consumer Guarantee Act. In both cases, the tribunal ruled in the customer's favour and the trader was ordered to pay.
Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles need to have a road user charges licence from 1 April 2024
From 1 April 2024, electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles need to start paying road user charges.
Turning tyre waste into opportunity
From 1 March 2024, when a vehicle is registered for on road use for the first time, a tyre stewardship fee will need to be paid. The fee for tyres attached to road registered vehicles will be collected by NZTA and will go towards collecting and recycling tyres at the end of their life.
New Zealand Transport Agency survey results and new campaign released
The results of the first nationwide study of registered motor vehicle dealers’ use of vehicle safety rating labels are in.
Vehicle exhaust emissions amendment changes coming
There are law changes to the exhaust emission standards for some used and new imported cars and trucks. These changes take effect from 30 April 2024. You need to understand these changes if you import any of the vehicles listed below.
- Petrol imported vehicles (except disability vehicles) of vehicle classes MA, MB, MC, MD1, MD2 and NA - commonly known as passenger cars, vans and utes from Japan - that are border inspected from 30 April 2024, must meet an exhaust emission standard of Japan 05 Low Harm or Japan 2018 or higher. Petrol vehicles with a Dxx emission code must be first registered anywhere on or after 1 January 2012. From 30 April 2024, these codes for petrol vehicles will be acceptable to import: Dxx (first registered on or after 1 January 2012), 3xx, 4xx, 5xx, 6xx, 7xx or higher.
- Diesel vehicles from Japan must meet an emission code of Lxx or higher. The codes are: Lxx, Fxx, Mxx, Rxx, Qxx, 3xx, 4xx, 5xx, 6xx, 7xx or higher.
- For other jurisdictions, like Europe and Australia, used petrol and diesel vehicles that have been border inspected or are newly manufactured from 30 April 2024, must meet emission standards Euro 5, US Tier II and ADR 79/04.
- Vehicles classes MD3, MD4, ME, NB and NC - commonly known as heavy trucks - that are border inspected from 30 April 2024 must meet Euro V, US Tier II or ADR 80/03. Used vehicles of these classes imported from Japan will need to meet the following emissions codes: Lxx, Fxx, Mxx, Rxx, Qxx, Sxx, Txx, 2xx, 3xx, 4xx, 5xx, 6xx, 7xx or higher.
- Vehicle classes LA, LB, LC, LD and LE - commonly known as motorcycles and mopeds - will need to meet and emission standard only from 30 April 2025. These standards will be Euro 4m, US2010m or Japan 2012m. The Japanese codes for these are: JBK, EBL, JBH or EBJ.
If you have any questions about this, email Vehicle emissions NZTA.
The Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Exhaust Emissions Amendment 2023 [PDF 537KB] - NZTA
