Vehicle traders news

18 September 2025

Kia ora

In this edition of Vehicle traders news, you’ll read about:

• Clean Car Standard (CCS) updates
• Sentencing of car dealer for Clean Car Discount fraud
• Emissions standards changes coming for some heavy vehicles
• Change in WoF and CoF frequency for some vehicles
• NZTA certification officer in Japan
• Replacing the fuel tax with RUC
• Other news from NZTA

We welcome your feedback or suggestions for topics, as it helps us tailor the newsletter to you.

Ngā mihi

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

Clean Car Standard (CCS) updates

Changes coming 

The Minister of Transport announced some proposed upcoming changes to the CCS (also known as Clean Vehicle Standard) following the first reading of the Land Transport (Clean Vehicle Standard) Amendment Bill (No 2). 

Improvements to Clean Vehicle Standard to benefit Kiwis at the pump 

The main changes include: 

• allowing credits to be transferred between used vehicle importers and new vehicle importers 
• extension of the expiry date of credits from 3 to 4 years  
• vehicle importers will have greater flexibility in how they meet annual CO2 targets 
• enabling CO2 targets to be set that are not adjusted by vehicle weight in the future.  

The Government needs to update the CCS legislation this year so that, starting in 2026, vehicle importers can transfer CO2 emission credits between new and used vehicles. 

Deadline for public submissions to the select committee on the Bill is 26 September 2025. You can provide feedback as an individual or on behalf of an organisation:

Make a submission

Check the CCS account register

To help importers contact each other if they are interested in trading CO2 credits, NZTA publishes a list of CO2 account holders who have provided their consent and their contact details.

The register is available online.

CCS Account Register [PDF, 153 KB]

If you’d like to be added to or removed from the CCS account register, or if you'd like to update your information, email CCSImporter@nzta.govt.nz

Fleet average account holders can now defer charges

Fleet average account holders have until midnight 30 September 2025 to apply to defer charges for this year.

The option to defer can be found under ‘settings’ in the account owner’s CCS account. Only the CO2  account owner can apply to defer charges.

South Island car dealer sentenced for Clean Car Discount fraud

NZTA is welcoming the sentencing of South Island car dealer Hamish Gardyne for dishonestly claiming the Clean Car Discount rebate on more than 100 vehicles.

Appearing in the Dunedin District Court, from a starting point of 2 years and 10 months imprisonment, he was sentenced to 9 months and 2 weeks home detention, plus 200 hours community work.

To arrive at the sentence, District Court Judge D Robinson considered the seriousness of offending and the scale of the fraud.

NZTA National Manager Road Safety Regulations Brett Aldridge says sending a very clear message to the wider industry that this type of behaviour is unacceptable is a priority for NZTA.

‘This sentencing was the result of many months of meticulous work. The scale of the fraud was significant, and this sentence should send a strong warning to anyone considering fraudulent activity in the vehicle industry that we will investigate and prosecute when we find breaches,’ says Mr Aldridge.

The Clean Car Discount rebate could be claimed from April 2022 to December 2023 by low emission vehicle owners. Dealers were only allowed to claim a rebate for cars they registered to themselves and used as a company car, courtesy car or demonstration vehicle for at least three months. 

Between March and April 2023, Mr Gardyne applied to get rebates on 119 Nissan Leaf vehicles, claiming they were demonstration cars. The rebate for a Nissan Leaf of $3450 per vehicle amounted to a total claim of $410,550.

Concerned about the number of claims for demonstrator vehicles from Mr Gardyne’s company, HVS (Hamish Vehicle Sales Ltd), NZTA began an investigation. It found that the claims were false, and that he had already sold and exported 90 of these vehicles to Australia.

NZTA recovered the one claim paid out to Mr Gardyne, who later also withdrew his other 118 claims through his lawyer.

The Japan 2016 standard codes are represented by 2xx on the export certificates.

If you have any questions, email vehicleemissions@nzta.govt.nz

WoF and CoF frequency changes for some vehicles

The Minister of Transport has amended the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002 to reduce the frequency of warrant of fitness (WoF) checks on light vintage and veteran vehicles and certificate of fitness (CoF) checks on privately owned heavy motorhomes.

The frequency changed from every 6 months to every 12 months. The changes took effect from 1 September 2025.

Evidence suggests these types of vehicles are involved in fewer serious crashes - including those involving vehicle faults - when compared to newer light vehicles.

We consulted the public and industry about the proposed changes earlier this year and received over 13,000 submissions. Submitters showed strong support for moving to 12-month checks: 98% supported the WoF change and 89% supported the CoF change.

More information is available on the NZTA website:

NZTA consultation hub

NZTA certification officer in Japan

Since June 2025 we've had a certification officer based in Japan carrying out vehicle re-inspection audits across all NZTA appointed border inspection sites.  

Our certification officer carries out audits of NZTA’s border organisations in Japan to check their compliance with the Vehicle Inspection Requirements Manual (VIRM).  

This aligns our Japanese operations to what we do in New Zealand, resulting in a consistent approach to regulating border inspecting organisation appointments in both countries.

It will also help to prevent incorrect vehicle flagging which will mean fewer vehicles will need repair certification in New Zealand. This is a trial to assess its effectiveness.

Replacing the fuel tax with RUC

The Minister of Transport has announced the next steps for replacing petrol tax with electronic road user charges. Key legislative changes the government is progressing include:

• Removing the requirement to carry or display RUC licences, allowing for digital records instead.
• Enabling the use of a broader range of electronic RUC devices, including those already built into many modern vehicles.
• Supporting flexible payment models such as post-pay and monthly billing.
• Separating NZTA’s roles as both RUC regulator and retailer to foster fairer competition.
• Allowing bundling of other road charges like tolls and time of use based pricing into a single, easy payment.

No date has been set for the full transition of the light vehicle fleet. The Minister expects to pass new legislation in 2026.

Next steps on replacing petrol tax with electronic road user charges

Did you know?

Vehicle safety ratings: Our Rightcar website is New Zealand’s official source of vehicle safety ratings and safety features information. Used car safety ratings will be updated in December. The latest ANCAP ratings released are:

• 5-star ANCAP safety rating: Hyundai IONIQ 9, Skoda Superb; Mercedes-Benz E-Class; Cupra Terramar; Kia K4 (excluding S model without safety pack), Kia Carnival and Kia Tasman ute (excluding X-Line and X-Pro); Polestar 3 and 4; Subaru Forester, Crosstrek and Impreza; Volkswagen Tiguan and Multivan; Audi A5 and Q5; Omoda 9 and LDV Terron 9.
• 4-star ANCAP safety rating: Kia K4 S model without safety pack; Peugeot 3008 and 5008 (hybrids); Hyundai Inster.
• 3-star ANCAP safety rating: MG 5.

Visit the dealer portal on Rightcar for more information and the EECA website to generate vehicle safety rating labels to display.

Rightcar - dealer resources
Label generator

ADAS code: The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association has launched a new code of conduct to help provide practical, sector-specific guidance on calibrating Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), also referred to as crash avoidance features. Developed by the Automotive Repairers Council of Australia it may be of interest to workshops, windscreen services, collision repairers and tyre specialists in New Zealand.

ADAS Code - Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association

Distractions campaign: Our latest marketing campaign encourages drivers to “ghost” their mates and loved ones by putting their phones on ‘do not disturb’ and driving distraction-free. Developed with ACC, the ‘have a hmmm’ campaign is targeted at young people – who have the highest frequency of fatal or injury crashes from being distracted while driving – but the underlying message applies to everyone.

Distractions campaign: Have a hmmm

More information

For more information on Rightcar, contact us at vehicletraders@nzta.govt.nz

For more information on the Clean Car Standard, contact us at CCSImporter@nzta.govt.nz