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 It may be superseded at any time.

Extract taken: from Vehicle Inspection Portal > VIRMs > Entry certification > Technical bulletins > Special interest vehicles

26 Special interest vehicles


Situation
Application

This document applies to any used or parallel-imported vehicle that is undergoing entry certification in New Zealand, which has been granted a special interest vehicle (SIV) or special interest motorcycle (SIMC) permit and is appropriate for certification to enter service in New Zealand.

Obtaining special interest vehicle and special interest motorcycle permits

To obtain an SIV or SIMC permit, an applicant must:

1. apply to Waka Kotahi before the vehicle is certified for entry into service in New Zealand; and

2. pay the appropriate fees (if any) specified in accordance with regulations made under the Act.

Note 1

All applications must have the applicant’s declarations witnessed by an entry certifier. The complete application with all the supporting evidence is then sent to the Transport Agency by the entry certifier.

Special interest vehicle permits

A special interest vehicle permit may be issued if:

a) is of historic value; or

b) meets three of the four qualifying criteria set out below

a) is a New Zealand citizen or resident, and

b) has another vehicle for primary use that is a class MA, MB, MC or NA vehicle registered in the applicant’s name, leased by the applicant or is a company car, and

c) has not been issued with a special interest vehicle permit in the last two years, and does not have any other special interest vehicle registered in his/her name, and

d) has submitted a complete and correct application, including a signed declaration, and

e) has paid the appropriate fees (if any) specified in accordance with regulations made under the Act.

Qualifying criteria for special interest vehicle permits

To meet qualifying criteria for a special interest vehicle permit, the applicant must provide evidence that the vehicle meets at least three of the following requirements:

1. The vehicle (or its make, model and sub-model) is identified as being a collector’s item in one of the following magazines, or its respective website (Note 2):

a) Australian Classic Car

b) Car and Driver (US)

c) Automobile (US)

d) MOTOR (Australia)

e) Motor Trend (US)

f) New Zealand Autocar

g) New Zealand Classic Car

h) Road and Track (US)

i) Top Gear (UK)

j) Top Gear NZ

k) Unique Cars (Australia)

l) Wheels (Australia).

2. The vehicle’s make and model has been (or was) manufactured in annual volumes of 20,000 units or less

3. The vehicle is, and was manufactured as:

a) a two-door coupe, or

b) a convertible

4. The vehicle is, or was, manufactured as a high-performance vehicle.

Note 2

This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of magazines in which special interest vehicles feature, but a list of magazines in which any special vehicle is expected to feature.

Conditions for special interest vehicle permits

1. Waka Kotahi may not issue more than 200 special interest vehicle permits in any calendar year.

2. A special interest vehicle permit ceases to be valid if the vehicle is not inspected at the border or certified for entry within six months of the date of issue.

Note 3

A special interest vehicle permit that ceases to be valid in the calendar year it was issued will not be counted as part of the quota of 200 per annum.

Special interest motorcycle permits

A special interest motorcycle permit may be issued if the applicant:

a) is a New Zealand citizen or resident, and

b) has another vehicle for primary use that is a class LC, LD, LE, MA, MB, MC or NA vehicle registered in the applicant’s name, leased by the applicant or is a company car, and

c) has not been issued with a special interest motorcycle permit in the last two years, and

d) does not have any other special interest motorcycle registered in his/her name, and

e) has submitted a complete and correct application, including a signed declaration, and

f) has paid the appropriate fees (if any) specified in accordance with regulations made under the Act.

Qualifying criteria for special interest motorcycle permits
Conditions for special interest motorcycle permits

1. Waka Kotahi may not issue more than 100 special interest motorcycle permits in any calendar year.

2. A special interest motorcycle ceases to be valid if the vehicle is not inspected at the border or certified for entry within six months of the date of issue.

Note 4

A special interest motorcycle permit that ceases to be valid in the calendar year it was issued will not be counted as part of the quota of 100 per annum.


Inspection

The following flowchart explains the procedure for processing a special interest vehicle for entry certification.

SIV and SIMC flowchart

Step 1 – Documentation

SIVs and SIMCs must still meet those standards applicable to the vehicle (according to age, etc).

The VIRM: Entry certification details the standards a vehicle and its components are required to meet. See Inspection & certification Table 1-1-3 (Inspection & certification section 1-1) for methods to demonstrate compliance with required standards.

Where compliance with an approved standard cannot be proven by these methods, the following methods are acceptable alternatives:

Step 2 – Submit to the Transport Agency for processing

The application and documentation for a special interest vehicle permit must be submitted to:

Exemptions and Registers Integrity
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
Private Bag 11777
Palmerston North 4442

A letter advising of the result (approve or decline) will be sent to the entry certifier for forwarding to the applicant.

Step 3 – Compliance inspection

SIVs and SIMCs must be inspected according to the requirements outlined in the VIRM: Entry certification.

If a vehicle has been modified, it must have LVV certification.

If there is evidence of previous structural repairs or structural damage to a vehicle, it must be referred to a repair certifier for inspection and certification.

Step 4 – MR2A completion and vehicle registration

1. Any original letters must be sighted, copied and returned to the vehicle owner.

2. If the vehicle has been issued a special interest vehicle permit and does not meet an approved frontal impact standard, and/or exhaust emissions standard, and/or is not fitted with electronic stability control (ESC) the following note must be recorded in the LANDATA notes screen:

‘Vehicle must remain registered in the name of >vehicle owner< for at least four years from
the date of first registration in New Zealand’.

The owner’s name must match the name shown on the permit.
If the vehicle does not meet an approved frontal impact standard, the FIS (frontal impact standard) field must be set to >N<.

3. Update LANDATA with special permit code SP.

4. The MR2A must be completed and printed in the name of the person registering the vehicle. This must be the same as the name shown on any exemption letter.

If an entry certifier wishes to deviate from these instructions, written approval from Waka Kotahi must be obtained.

Page amended 1 April 2020 (see amendment details).