Reasons for rejection

Mandatory equipment

1. A vehicle does not comply with the requirements relating to mandatory equipment set out in:

• VIRM: In-service certification, section 11-1, general vehicles
• VIRM: In-service certification, section 11-1, heavy vehicles
• VIRM: In-service certification, section 11-1, light PSVs
• VIRM: In-service certification, section 11-1, heavy PSVs.

Compliance with approved standards

2. A class LC, LD, LE, MA, MB, MC, MD1, MD2, MD3, MD4, ME, NA, NB or NC vehicle, other than one listed in Table 11-1-1, manufactured on or after 1 January 1985 and certified for entry on or after 1 June 2008:

a) did not comply, or cannot be demonstrated to have complied, with at least one of the approved standards listed in Table 11-1-2 at the time the vehicle was manufactured, or

b) exceeded the noise limits in Table 11-1-2 when it was tested in accordance with the standards in Table 11-1-2 at the time the vehicle was manufactured, or

c) does not have evidence that the vehicle has passed an LVVTA objective noise test, for instance:

i. the owner cannot produce a valid ‘Objective exhaust noise emission test certificate’ (Figure 11-1-1), or

ii. the exhaust system tailpipe is not fitted with a valid LVVTA noise test label (Figure 11-1-2).

Condition and performance

3. A vehicle does not comply with the requirements relating to condition and performance set out in:

• VIRM: In-service certification, section 11-1, general vehicles
• VIRM: In-service certification, section 11-1, heavy vehicles
• VIRM: In-service certification, section 11-1, light PSVs
• VIRM: In-service certification, section 11-1, heavy PSVs.

Table 11-1-1. Vehicles deemed to comply with approved noise standards and drive-by noise limits

Evidence of compliance with an approved noise standard and noise limit is not required for the following vehicles:
any vehicle that may be entry certified because it already meets all other approved vehicle standards applicable to the vehicle any vehicle manufactured for a market that requires compliance with FMVSS, ECE, EEC, ADR or Japanese standards

Summary of legislation

Applicable legislation

• Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Equipment 2004.

Mandatory equipment

1. A vehicle must comply with the requirements relating to mandatory equipment set out in:

• VIRM: In-service certification, section 11-1, general vehicles
• VIRM: In-service certification, section 11-1, heavy vehicles
• VIRM: In-service certification, section 11-1, light PSVs
• VIRM: In-service certification, section 11-1, heavy PSVs.

Compliance with approved standards

2. A class LC, LD, LE, MA, MB, MC, MD1, MD2, MD3, MD4, ME, NA, NB or NC vehicle manufactured on or after 1 January 1985 and certified for entry on or after 1 June 2008 must comply with:

a) an approved standard and not exceed the relevant noise limit, as specified in Table 11-1-2, or

b) the LVVTA objective noise test.

Condition and performance

3. The exhaust system and silencer must comply with the requirements relating to condition and performance set out in the relevant section of the VIRM: In-service certification, section 11-1.

Modification

4. A vehicle must comply with the requirements relating to modifications set out in:

• VIRM: In-service certification, section 11-1, general vehicles
• VIRM: In-service certification, section 11-1, heavy vehicles
• VIRM: In-service certification, section 11-1, light PSVs
• VIRM: In-service certification, section 11-1, heavy PSVs.

Reasons for rejection

Compliance with approved standards

1. A vehicle that is required to comply with an approved exhaust emission standard did not comply or cannot be demonstrated to have complied with at least one of the standards listed in the following tables at the time the vehicle was manufactured:

• Table 11-2-1. Approved exhaust emission standards for used vehicles certified for use on New Zealand roads before 3 January 2008
• Table 11-2-2. Approved exhaust emission standards for used petrol-, CNG- and LPG-powered vehicles certified for use on New Zealand roads on or after 3 January 2008
• Table 11-2-3. Approved exhaust emission standards for used diesel-powered vehicles certified for use on New Zealand roads on or after 3 January 2008
• Table 11-2-4. Approved exhaust emission standards for new petrol-, CNG- and LPG-powered vehicles
• Table 11-2-5. Approved exhaust emission standards for new diesel-powered vehicles.

Performance and modification

2. A class MA, MB, MC, MD1, MD2, MD3, MD4, ME, NA, NB or NC vehicle does not pass the prescribed metered emissions test (see section 11-3, Metered emissions test specifications).

3. The exhaust system does not comply with requirements relating to performance set out in the VIRM: In-service certification, section 11-2.

Table 11-2-1. Approved exhaust emission standards for used vehicles certified for use on New Zealand roads before 3 January 2008

Petrol-powered vehicles
UN-ECE Regulation No.	EEC/EC Directive	ADR	Japan	Others
15 83	70/220	36 37 79/00 80/00	Japan Safety Regulations for Road Vehicles, Article 31	Federal Regulation 40 CFR Part 86 Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations Mean Value Standards for Motor Vehicle Exhaust Emissions, No. 129
Diesel-powered vehicles
UN-ECE Regulation No.	EEC/EC Directive	ADR	Others
24 and one of: 15 83 49	72/306 and one of: 70/220 88/77	ADR 30 and one of: 70/00 79/00 80/00	Federal Regulation 40 CFR Part 86 Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations The Mean Value Standards for Motor Vehicle Exhaust Emissions, No. 129 Japan Safety Regulations for Road Vehicles, Article 31
Low volume vehicles
As defined in the Low Volume Vehicle Code

Summary of legislation

Applicable legislation

• Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Exhaust Emissions 2007.

Compliance with approved standards

1. A used vehicle of class MA, MB, MC, MD1, MD2, MD3, MD4, ME, NA, NB or NC, less than 20 years old and:

a) certified for entry into New Zealand before 3 January 2008 must comply with one or more of the approved exhaust emission standards in Table 11-2-1

b) powered by petrol, CNG or LPG and border checked for entry into New Zealand on or after 3 January 2008 must comply with one or more of the approved exhaust emission standards in Table 11-2-2 (Note 1)

c) powered by diesel and border checked for entry into New Zealand on or after 3 January 2008 must comply with one or more of the approved exhaust emission standards in Table 11-2-3 (Note 1).

2. New petrol, CNG or LPG powered vehicles of class MA, MB, MC, MD1, MD2, MD3, MD4, ME, NA, NB or NC, less than 20 years old must comply with one or more of the approved exhaust emission standards in Table 11-2-4.

3. New diesel-powered vehicles of class MA, MB, MC, MD1, MD2, MD3, MD4, ME, NA, NB or NC, less than 20 years old must comply with one or more of the approved exhaust emission standards in Table 11-2-5.

4. The following vehicles are not required to meet an emissions standard:

• Class MA or MC motorsport vehicle
• Class MA special interest vehicles
• Immigrants’ vehicles
• Mobile cranes (does not include a truck mounted with crane apparatus)
• Low volume scratchbuilt and modified production vehicles that comply with the emissions requirements of the Low Volume Vehicle Code.

5. A vehicle more than 20 years old is not required to comply with an exhaust emission standard

6.The Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Exhaust Emissions does not apply to ancillary engines that do not power the vehicle’s wheels. eg refrigeration units, motorhome electricity generators

7. A vehicle used exclusively by the New Zealand Defence Force may be fitted with a defeat device to override an exhaust emissions control on the vehicle

Performance

8. Class MA, MB, MC, MD1, MD2, MD3, MD4, ME, NA, NB or NC vehicles manufactured on or after 1 January 1990 and first certified for entry into New Zealand on or after 1 May 2008 must pass a prescribed metered test (see section 11-3, Metered test specifications).

9. The exhaust system must comply with requirements relating to performance set out in the VIRM: In-service certification, section 11-2.

Applicable legislation

• Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Exhaust Emissions 2007, section 3.

Application

Group M or N vehicles less than 20 years old (Note 4) and certified for entry on or after 1 May 2008 must pass a prescribed metered exhaust emissions test, according to the following procedures and requirements.

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Procedure for measuring exhaust emissions of petrol, LPG or CNG vehicles

1. The test equipment must be warmed up and calibrated before use, in accordance with the equipment manufacturer’s instructions.

2. Ensure the vehicle has reached normal operating temperature, as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

3. Insert the sampling probe (ie the exhaust gas sampling part of the measuring equipment) far enough into the exhaust pipe to prevent the admission of open air. This is to ensure that only exhaust gas is sampled.

4. For the duration of the test:

a) the vehicle’s engine must be idling, and

b) the acceleratior pedal must be released, and

c) the handbrake must be applied, and

d) the vehicle’s transmission must be

i. in neutral, or

ii. if the vehicle is an automatic, in park.

Pass requirements

A petrol, LPG or CNG vehicle must not exceed the applicable maximum carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions limits set out in below.

Vehicle	Carbon monoxide	Hydrocarbons (parts per million)
A motor vehicle powered by a four-stroke or rotary engine	1%	300
A motor vehicle powered by a two-stroke engine	4.5%	7800

Re-testing

If a vehicle fails the test, it may be necessary to ensure the vehicle has reached normal operating temperature, as recommended by the manufacturer.

Procedure for measuring exhaust emissions of diesel vehicles (using an opacimeter)

Pre-testing

1. The vehicle must be brought to the normal operating temperature as recommended by the manufacturer.

2. The equipment must be readied before use, in accordance with the equipment manufacturer’s instructions.

During testing

For the duration of the test:

a) the vehicle must be stationary, and

b) the handbrake must be applied, and

c) the vehicle’s transmission must be:

i. in neutral, or

ii. if the vehicle is an automatic, in park.

Operation of the vehicle while testing

During the test procedure, the vehicle operation cycle must follow these phases (refer to Figure 11-3-1):

1. Purge

a) Residual smoke must be purged from the vehicle’s exhaust system before the vehicle’s diesel smoke is sampled.

2. Inserting probe

a) The probe (the exhaust gas sampling part of the measuring equipment) must be inserted sufficiently into the exhaust pipe to prevent outside air from entering the probe and ensure that only exhaust gas is sampled.

3. Idling before testing

a) The engine must be run at idle for five or six seconds before the first test cycle.

4. Test cycle

a) The accelerator pedal must be fully and rapidly depressed, held in this state for two seconds, then released for three seconds (refer to Figure 11-3-2).

b) Despite the above, if the opacimeter has a function allowing the measurement of the engine revloutions per minute (RPM), the accelerator pedal should only be depressed until the maximum available RPM is indicated by the opacimeter (rather than for the fixed period of two seconds).

c) The exhaust emissions must be sampled throughout this (five-second) period.

5. Idling between test cycles

a) The engine must be run at idle for 4–10 seconds between each test cycle that is performed.

Measured values

1. One, two or three test cycles must be performed as necessary.

a) If the result of measurement 1 is:

i. less than or equal to an optical absorption coefficient (OAC) of 0.64m-1, the vehicle passes the test,

ii. more than an OAC of 0.64m-1, the test cycle must be repeated.

b) If the result of measurement 2 is:

i. less than or equal to an OAC of 0.64m-1, the vehicle passes the test,

ii. more than 0.64m-1, the test cycle must be repeated.

c) If the average of the three measurements is:

i. less than or equal to an OAC of 0.80m-1, the vehicle passes the test,

ii more than an OAC of 0.80m-1, the vehicle fails the test.

2. To avoid doubt, if the vehicle does not meet the prescribed standard after three test cycles, the vehicle fails the test.