NZTA water damaged repair rules tightened
New rules requiring repairers to strip out water damaged imported Australian cars may kill the trade.
Registered repairers say the rules will make it too expensive.
The New Zealand Transport Authority now requires all freshwater damaged light vehicles be given full replacement of electronic safety components such as airbags, sensors, seatbelts and seatbelt pre-tensioners and wiring.
Auckland-based Bob Kistemaker, is one of the most experienced NZTA-certified specialist repairers who said the Australian classification of ‘‘statutory write off’’ was more to do with the insurance and repair industry in Australia than the condition of the cars.
Kistemaker cited several cases of written off Australian cars he recently repaired where damage was minor.
Kistemaker’s company repairs to manufacturers’ standards and records and photographs the work for buyers as well as auditors.
All entry level cars coming into New Zealand from any country were scrutinised and their history available to purchasers, Kistemaker said.
But the Automobile Association’s motoring services general manager Stella Stocks said she knew of some people who have had electrical issues, and problems with rust.
Tony Burrowes of Ozcars, which sells repaired water damaged cars, said the Australian statutory write off classification included cars where paintwork had been vandalised or seats damaged.
‘‘We have to strip them back to a shell.’’
Any damaged or doubtful part or wiring is replaced rather than repaired, and cavity wax is applied to the body.
One of the supporters of the tighter NZTA rules is the chairman of the Repair Certifiers Association Tony McHugh.
McHugh said NZTA had been forced into a corner by a few unscrupulous operators.
‘‘Seventeen thousand cars were written off in the Queensland floods of 2011. They did a blanket write off of car yards because they couldn’t inspect each one.
‘‘Our inspection system required them to prove where the water had come up to on the cars and that’s where the problems arose. Some unscrupulous operators began disguising them by cleaning them before they arrived in New Zealand,’’ McHugh said.
Insurance Council chief executive Tim Grafton said there had been cases where damage was discovered during maintenance or repair of cars
Car checks are available from V.I.R (Motorweb), Carjam, AA Vehicle History Report, and Motochek.