At a recent industry meeting with Waka Kotahi and key service delivery partners (KSDPs), we discussed a number of changes that could be made to the VIRM: Entry certification, including some ‘quick win’ items.

As a result of that meeting Waka Kotahi has prepared a short amendment package for the VIRM encompassing some of these quick win items. The changes are explained and shown in the August 2021 entry VIRM changes document

On 1 May 2021 a number of Land Transport Rules are being amended by way of the Amendment (Omnibus) Rules 2021. These are minor or technical amendments to keep the Land Transport Rules up to date with developments and current practice in the road transport sector and are intended to contribute to a safer, more accessible transport system.

This amendment includes:

• new content about the introduction of the low volume vehicle electronic data plates
• changes to who can be a quality assurance controller when a VIN is being affixed
• changes to the quarantine system when repair certification is also involved
• a new technical bulletin regarding the process when a vehicle is fitted with an ITS Connect system
• a number of clarifications and changes to documentation requirements.

In this amendment:

• Irish Certificates of registration can now be accepted for proof of meeting exhaust emissions standards requirements
• Clarification about keeping evidence that a PVIO has been carried out.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has amended the VIRM to allow for some inspection and certification documents to be presented electronically. This is to assist businesses with contactless operation. The following documents will be able to be emailed:

• LT400s, chassis ratings and professional opinions from heavy vehicle specialist certifiers, and
• LT308s, LT307s and professional opinions from repair certifiers, and
• chassis ratings from Waka Kotahi.

Introduction 5-1 General duties and responsibilities

This amendment contains the itewms held over from the 1 April amendment:

• General clarifications
• A number of changes to help clarify processes and requirements for pre-delivery inspections (PDIs)
• Updated emissions codes table.

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the 1 April 2020 VIRM amendment has been modified to only include the 1 April 2020 legislated changes regarding ABS requirements on motorcycles. The other amendment changes are now delayed until the level 4 restrictions have been lifted.

In this amendment

• General clarifications
• Change to entry certification requirements for motorcycles regarding ABS from 1 April 2020 and 1 November 2021
• A number of changes to help clarify processes and requirements for pre-delivery inspections (PDIs)
• Updated emissions codes table.

• Changes as indicated in the March consultation document, including:
  • Updates to the Annex C process including an update to the Annex C permit
  • Clarifications around wheelchairs and seating position numbers
  • General clarifications
• Change as a result of the Land Transport Rule: Regulatory Stewardship (Omnibus) Amendment 2018. For insights behind the changes, you can read the summary of submissions document

Due to safety risks, a three-point seatbelt imported and distributed from Business Ventures Limited (BVL) and manufactured by Jiang Su Jiu Jiu Traffic Facilities Co. Ltd. is not allowed to be installed and a vehicle with this kind of seatbelt cannot be entry certified.

This is in addition to the 19 October amendment.

In this amendment:

• Incorporation of interim amendment (increase of ‘delivery miles’ for heavy vehicles, heavy trailers and class NA motorhomes to 1000km)
• An otherwise new any vehicle that has been damaged to the point that it requires any specialist certification for the repairs must be treated as used
• Certified English translations must be provided for all documents not provided in English
• Clarifications about meeting lighting standards
• References to VIA added.

Due to safety risks, a three-point seatbelt imported and distributed from Business Ventures Limited (BVL) and manufactured by Changzhou BWD, China is not allowed to be installed and a vehicle with this kind of seatbelt cannot be entry certified.

• See also the Safety alert: Seatbelts imported by BVL (Business Ventures Limited) and manufactured by Changzhou BWD, China

In this amendment:

• Extra models added for some heavy vehicles from the USA that might be presented as light
• When you can change a vehicle class from MD2 to MD1 (with reference to wheelchair and dickie seats)
• Diesel vehicles registered in Singapore on or after 1 October 2006 will meet the Euro 4 exhaust emission standard
• Addition that ESC is not required for immigrant’s vehicles
• New technical bulletin regarding rust prevention and under-sealing on late model cars from the UK.

The  compulsory ‘Takata alpha airbag inflator recall order 2018’ becomes effective from 31 May 2018.

As this has ramifications for the entry certification process the Transport Agency has developed a new technical bulletin to assist entry certifiers with with what to do.

• Introduction 5-7 Establishing weather a vehicle may be inspected and certified for entry into service
• 7-6 Airbags
• Technical bulletin 43: Takata airbag recall

• A number of changes (including a rewrite of Technical bulletin 41) relating to the Transport Agency acceptance of certain overseas modifications rather than the vehicle having to go through specialist certification
• Clarification that the tow bar load isn’t included in the GVM rating
• ESC added to statements of compliance
• An EC whole vehicle approval plate can be evidence of frontal impact compliance for a class MA vehicle.
• Changes regarding what is acceptable for proving stability compliance
• Clarification that Technical bulletin 2 regarding fire and water damage applies to vehicles undergoing re-entry too – ie does apply to vehicles written off in New Zealand.

Changes to recording engine type for electric vehicles from 1 July 2017

• VIN assignment clarifications with scratchbuilt vehicles
• Incorporation of LVV changes from December 2016
• Clarifications around modification declarations
• Clarification around acceptable proof of brakes rule compliance for new or used vehicles manufactured for the Australian market

In this amendment:

• New way to accept electronic deregistration and technical letters from Singapore Land Transport
• Clarification around frontal impact standards with regard to complying with seat and seat anchorage standards
• New test regime codes for exhaust emissions standards
• Notes added regarding when some vehicles are not required to meet some standards
• New section linking to new VIRM: In-service certification section on hybrid and electric vehicle electrical systems
• ESC added into declarations technical bulletin (updated form also)
• New bulletin identifying vehicles as class MB or MD1 with regard to the number of seats listed on the deregistration certificate
• New bulletin regarding conversion vans (AKA day vans) and how they must now be LVV certified.

The 1 March 2016 VIRM amendments were issued to correct a discrepancy between VIRM: Entry certification with the Land Transport Rule: Seatbelts and Seatbelt Anchorages 2002. However, a result of the amendment is that it immediately invalidated certain existing motorhome seatbelts, which was not the intent of the amendment.

As a result of the repercussions, the Transport Agency is working to effect a Rule change that will clarify the intent of the Rule and not disadvantage owners of existing motorhomes. In the meantime, please refer to the modified VIRM amendments, which will be retroactively effective 1 March 2016.

• Definitions added
• Clarifications to seatbelt requirements in motorhomes
• The second phase of changes related to electronic stability control (ESC) – used class MC vehicles inspected at the border from 1 March 2016 must have ESC fitted.

Important: See also 11 March corrections amendment.

• General changes and tidy-ups
• Clarifying that PDIs apply to light vehicles only
• Proof of emissions compliance letters issued by VTNZ can be accepted (sample also added for reference)
• Incorporation of Certifier memo Clarification of Euro 4 Emissions Standards Requirements.

• General amendments with updates across multiple sections
• Changes due to the PSV Rule amendment
• Clarification on heavy vehicle specialist certification.

• This is a general amendment with updates across numerous sections
• Three new reference materials including the Fuel Consumption Import Statement System
• Re-arrangement and updates to the structural damage and corrosion images in Reference material 71.

Cover letter

Technical bulletin 2 Water- or fire-damaged vehicles

• General amendments with updates across multiple sections
• Updates due to agricultural vehicles changes
• Several new reference materials
• Introduction of the synthetic greenhouse gas (SGG) levy from 1 July 2013.

Questions and answers about the Rule changes are available on the NZTA website here.

This amendment covers a number of changes to the Land Transport Rule: Passenger Service Vehicles 1999 which came into effect on 1 October 2012. The main changes relate to passenger loading to include driver and crew (now called occupant loading), various PSV dimension changes, extendable steps, removal or reduction of actual weight on the front axle and requirements for dedicated wheelchair positions.

This amendment only covers PSV entry inspections.

1 October 2012 list of changes