Correct as at 29th March 2024. It may be superseded at any time.

Extract taken: from Vehicle Inspection Portal > VIRMs > Entry certification (new light vehicles) > Introduction > Definitions and abbreviations

7 Definitions and abbreviations

Agricultural

in relation to purposes or operations, means connected directly with the operation or management of a farm.

All-terrain vehicle

means a special purpose vehicle, with or without motor cycle controls and equipment, that:

a) is principally designed for off-road use, and

b) has three or more wheels, and

c) has an engine capacity exceeding 50 cc, and

d) has a gross laden weight of less than 1000kg.

Alternative fuel inspection certificate

means evidence of vehicle inspection relating to the periodic in-service inspection and certification of an alternative fuel system.

Alternative fuel installation certificate

means an inspection and certification document relating to the installation of an alternative fuel system.

Alternative fuel system inspection and certification

means inspection and certification of an alternative fuel system comprising either:

a) specialist inspection and certification required for the issuing of an alternative fuel installation certificate;

or

b) in-service inspection and certification required for the issuing of an alternative fuel inspection certificate.

Applicable requirement

means any requirement specified or incorporated in an Act, regulation, code or rule that applies to the design, construction, condition, equipment, modification, repair or maintenance of a specific vehicle. All applicable requirements for in-service inspection and certification are contained in this manual.

Articulated vehicle

means any motor vehicle with a semi-trailer attached so that part of the semi-trailer is superimposed upon the motor vehicle and a substantial part of the semi-trailer and its load is borne by the motor vehicle.

Authority

means the NZ Transport Agency constituted by section 184 of the Land Transport Act 1998.

Certify

means:

a) in relation to a vehicle, or specific aspect of a vehicle, to make a record of determination that confirms that the vehicle inspector or inspecting organisation has determined that the vehicle or specific aspect of the vehicle complies with the requirements in this rule, or

b) in relation to a vehicle’s loading and weight limits, to make a record of a vehicle’s loading and weight limits.

Class

in relation to vehicles means a category of vehicle of one of the Groups A, L, M, N or T, as specified under 3.2 of the Introduction.

Combination vehicle

means a towing vehicle in combination with one or more trailers or other motor vehicle that is being towed.

Compliance label

means an attachment to a vehicle in the form of a label that confirms compliance of the vehicle or a specific aspect of the vehicle with requirements in the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002.

Compliance plate

means an attachment to a vehicle in the form of a plate that confirms compliance of the vehicle or a specific aspect of the vehicle with requirements in the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002.

Conditional permit
(or permit)

means an inspection and certification document that confirms that a determination has been made that the vehicle is safe to be operated under specified conditions.

Corrosion damage

means the metal has been eaten away, which is evident by pitting. The outward sign of such corrosion damage is typically displayed by the lifting or bubbling of paint. In extreme cases, the area affected by the corrosion damage will fall out and leave a hole.

De-registered

means that a vehicle’s New Zealand registration has been cancelled.

Determination

means a record, in paper or electronic form, that a vehicle or specific aspect of a vehicle complies or does not comply with requirements in this rule.

Electronic stability control (ESC)

means a system that electronically regulates the stability of a motor vehicle and, as a minimum, has the following attributes:

a) improves vehicle directional stability by at least having the ability to automatically control individually the braking torques of the left and right wheels on each axle, or an axle of each axle group, to induce a correcting yaw moment based on the evaluation of actual vehicle behaviour in comparison with a determination of vehicle behaviour demanded by the driver, and

b)is computer-controlled, with the computer using a closed-loop algorithm to limit vehicle oversteer and to limit vehicle understeer based on the evaluation of actual vehicle behaviour in comparison with a determination of vehicle behaviour demanded by the driver, and

c) has a means to determine directly the value of the vehicle’s yaw rate and to estimate its side slip or side slip derivative with respect to time, and

d)has a means to monitor driver steering inputs.

Enter service

in relation to a vehicle means to begin to be operated in-service on the road in New Zealand for the first time in compliance with registration requirements of the Transport (Vehicle and Driver Registration and Licensing) Act 1986.

Evidence of vehicle inspection

in relation to a vehicle, means any certificate, label, or document issued as evidence of the completion of the periodic vehicle inspection requirements in respect of that vehicle.

Full trailer

means a trailer with two axle sets, the foremost of which is steered by a drawbar, and includes a semi-trailer with non-steering axles coupled to a converter dolly.

Goods vehicle

means a vehicle primarily constructed for the carriage of goods.

Gross vehicle mass

means either:

a) the maximum permitted mass of the vehicle, which includes the mass of the accessories, the crew, the passengers and load, and is, unless (b) applies, the gross vehicle mass specified (subsequent to the latest modification, if any) by the manufacturer of the vehicle, or

b) if a person approved for the purpose by the NZ Transport Agency determines that the gross vehicle mass should differ from that specified by the manufacturer, taking into account evidence on the capability of the systems and components of the vehicle, or the effects of any modification, that mass determined by that person.

Gross weight (or
gross mass)

in relation to a vehicle or combination of vehicles, means the weight of the vehicle or of the vehicles comprising the combination, together with the load the vehicle(s) are for the time being carrying. The gross weight may be determined by adding the weight on the axles or groups of axles.

Heavy vehicle

means a vehicle that is either:

a) of class MD3, MD4, ME, NB, NC, TC or TD, or

b) a vehicle not listed under 3.2 of the Introduction of this manual with a gross vehicle mass that exceeds 3500kg.

Heavy vehicle specialist inspection and certification

means specialist inspection and certification of specific aspects of a heavy vehicle.

Hours of darkness

means:

a) any period of time between half an hour after sunset on one day and half an hour before sunrise on the next day, or

b) any other time when there is not sufficient daylight to render clearly visible a person or vehicle at a distance of 100m.

Inspecting organisation

means a person or organisation appointed by the NZ Transport Agency who is responsible for inspection and certification outcomes.

Inspection and certification

means the performance of two or more of the following, for the purposes of determining compliance with applicable requirements:

a) examining vehicles

b) determining whether or not a vehicle or specific aspect of a vehicle complies with applicable requirements

c) issuing evidence of vehicle inspection, a conditional permit or a certificate of loading

d) recording and making available information about vehicles (including their systems, components, devices, fittings and equipment).

Inspection and certification document

means a document required, produced or issued in the inspection and certification process, including a plate, a label, an electronic record, and a checksheet.

Inspection and certification outcome

in relation to a vehicle means:

a) production of a record of determination as appropriate to the inspection and certification activity, or

b) provision of other records and information about the vehicle to the NZ Transport Agency or other persons, or

c) production of evidence of vehicle inspection, conditional permits or certificates of loading.

KSDPmeans key service delivery partner. They are defined as organisations that are contracted or appointed by the Transport Agency to delivery regulatory products or services and who have sufficient market share and/or are of sufficient size and standing within an industry segment to be able to represent and influence the customer expectation of that industry segment.

Light vehicle

means a vehicle except one defined as a ‘heavy vehicle’.

Low volume vehicle

means a vehicle of a class other than class MD3, MD4, ME, NB, NC, TC or TD, that is:

a) manufactured, assembled or scratch-built in quantities of 500 or less in any one year, and where the construction of the vehicle may directly or indirectly affect the compliance of the vehicle with any of the vehicle standards prescribed by New Zealand law, or

b) modified uniquely, or in quantities of 500 in any one year, in such a way that the compliance of the vehicle, its structure, systems, components or equipment with a legal requirement relating to safety performance applicable at the time of the modification may be affected.

Low Volume Vehicle Code

means the Code of the Low Volume Vehicle Technical Association Incorporated.

Low volume vehicle plate or authority card

means a plate or authority card issued in accordance with the Low Volume Vehicle Code.

Low volume vehicle specialist inspection and certification

means specialist inspection and certification of a light vehicle as specified in the Low Volume Vehicle Code.

Manufacturer’s operating limits

means:

a) in relation to a vehicle, the allowance provided by the vehicle manufacturer in terms of performance capability and dimensions, relative to deterioration, malfunction or damage beyond which the safe performance of the vehicle, as defined by the vehicle manufacturer, is compromised, and

b) in relation to a system, component or item of equipment, incorporated in or attached to a vehicle, the allowance provided by the system, component or equipment manufacturer in terms of performance capability and dimensions, relative to the deterioration, malfunction or damage, beyond which the safe performance of the system, component or item of equipment (and consequently the vehicle) is compromised.

Modify

in relation to a vehicle means to change the vehicle from its original state by altering, substituting, adding or removing any structure, system, component or equipment; but does not include repair.

Motor vehicle

means a vehicle drawn or propelled by mechanical power, and includes a trailer but does not include:

a) a vehicle running on rails

b) an invalid carriage

c) a trailer (other than a trailer designed solely for the carriage of goods) that is designed and used exclusively as part of the armament of the New Zealand Defence Force

d) a trailer running on one wheel and designed exclusively as a speed measuring device or for testing the wear of vehicle tyres

e) a vehicle designed for amusement purposes and used exclusively within a place of recreation, amusement, or entertainment to which the public does not have access with motor vehicles

f) a pedestrian-controlled machine.

New

in relation to a vehicle, means a vehicle that:

a) has not been registered and operated in New Zealand or any other country, and

b) has not been operated on a road in New Zealand or any other country as a demonstration or courtesy vehicle, and

c) has not been used for training or testing purposes, and

d) is not a scratch-built vehicle that contains components that have been fitted to a vehicle that has been operated on the road in New Zealand or in any other country.

NZTA

means the NZ Transport Agency.

OE

means original equipment fitted at the time of manufacture of the vehicle, or a part supplied by the vehicle manufacturer.

Operate

in relation to a vehicle means to drive or use the vehicle on a road, or to cause or permit the vehicle to be on a road or to be driven on a road, whether or not the person is present with the vehicle.

Operation

in service in relation to a vehicle means to be operated on the road in New Zealand after having been registered in compliance with registration requirements.

Passenger vehicle

means a vehicle constructed primarily for the carriage of passengers.

Passenger service vehicle (PSV)

means a vehicle used to carry passengers for hire or reward, or a passenger vehicle with 13 or more seats.

PRS Manual

means the Performance review system manual.

Re-enter service

in relation to a vehicle previously certified for entry into service on the road in New Zealand that has been de-registered, means to begin to be operated in service again.

Rental service vehicle

means a vehicle used or available for use in a rental service for letting on hire for the carriage of passengers or goods, or both, to a person who drives the vehicle or provides a driver for the vehicle.

Repair

means to restore a damaged or worn vehicle, its structure, systems, components or equipment; and includes the replacement of damaged or worn structures, systems, components or equipment with equivalent undamaged or new structures, systems, components or equipment.

Safe tolerance

means the tolerance within which the safe performance of the vehicle, its structure, systems, components or equipment is not compromised, having regard to any manufacturer’s operating limits.

Scratch-built vehicle

means a vehicle that is either:

a) assembled from previously unrelated components and construction materials that have not been predominantly sourced from donors of a single make or model and that, in its completed form, never previously existed as a mass-produced vehicle, although the external appearance may resemble or replicate an existing vehicle, or

b) a modified production vehicle that contains less than the following componentry from a mass-produced vehicle of a single make and model:

i. 40% of the chassis rails and 50% of the crossmembers, or alternatively 40% of a spaceframe, or 40% of the floorpan of a unitary constructed body, whichever is appropriate, and

ii. for light vehicles, 40% of the bodywork (based on surface area of body panels but not including the floorpan, internal bracing, sub-panels, bulkheads or firewall).

Specialist inspection and certification

means inspection and certification of a specific aspect of a vehicle.

Trailer

means vehicle without motive power that is constructed for the purpose of being drawn behind a motor vehicle.

TRC

means the Transport Registry Centre of the NZ Trasnport Agency.

Used light vehicle

means a light vehicle, including a light vehicle that has been used for the purpose of demonstration in connection with the sale of a similar vehicle, that has, at any time before being offered or displayed for sale:

a) been registered under:

(i) the Transport Act 1962, or

(ii) the Transport (Vehicle and Driver Registration and Licensing) Act 1986, or

(iii) any corresponding legislation in any other country, or

b) been used for a purpose not connected with its manufacture or sale.

Vehicle identification number (VIN)

means a group of letters and numbers consisting of 17 characters that:

a) is affixed to a vehicle in accordance with the relevant standard prescribed under the Traffic Regulations 1976, and

b) is capable of being decoded to provide identifying information about that vehicle.

Vehicle inspector

means a person appointed by the NZ Transport Agency to carry out inspection and certification activities in accordance with requirements and conditions imposed by the NZ Transport Agency.

Vehicle recovery service vehicle

means a vehicle used or available for use in a vehicle recovery service for towing or carrying on a road any motor vehicle.

Warrant of fitness (WoF)

means evidence of vehicle inspection issued to a vehicle listed under 3.3 of the Introduction.

Warrant of fitness inspection and certification

means periodic in-service inspection and certification of a vehicle listed under 3.3 of the Introduction.

Page amended 1 July 2015 (see amendment details).