Exemptions legislation changes 1 April 2021

From 1 April 2021 the legislation governing some of the exemptions granted by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has changed.

The change is to the exemption powers granted to Waka Kotahi under section 166 of the Land Transport Act 1998. From 1 April 2021 section 166 is replaced by a new set of provisions in section 168D. The significant aspects of this change is that Waka Kotahi now must consider the need to maintain or improve road safety, and that class exemptions can now be granted.

Exemptions under s166 are mostly used in relation to exempt some vehicles from the standards they would normally have to meet (usually at the point they are imported).

Section 168D of the Land Transport Act:

• requires a holistic assessment of whether an exemption should be given in a particular case (previously a case had fit within one of four defined types)
• allow for Waka Kotahi can now grant exemptions for whole classes of people, vehicles, or components.

Application forms that were for exemption under section 166 have been updated.

Request for an exemption to remove trim on an imported used and parallel imported new vehicle (CA04)

Application for exemption from Land Transport Rules (CA11)

Application for exemption from border check requirements (CA99)