Requirements for seatbelt repair

A seatbelt may only be legally repaired by the seatbelt manufacturer or their authorised agent.

There are currently no mass-manufacturers or agents repairing seatbelts in New Zealand.

Re-webbing a seatbelt is considered to be a repair.

Waka Kotahi has provided an exemption to the following companies to re-web seatbelts manufactured by other seatbelt providers:

• APV Australia
• Autosafe Ltd, Christchurch
• Belt Tech NZ Ltd, Wellington
• Seatbelts NZ Ltd
• Seatbelt Manufacturers NZ Ltd.

Further companies will be added to this list as they are approved.

Identifying compliant re-webbed seatbelts

To be compliant a re-webbed seatbelt must have a label with an exemption number (Figure 16-1-1) and either an exemption letter (paper copy in the vehicle) or be confirmed on the websites below.

• For Autosafe use the 'Look Up REGO' function found on the Autosafe website
• For Seatbelts NZ Ltd use the check vehicle function on the Seatbelts NZ Ltd website
• For Belt Tech NZ Ltd enter the last six digits of the vehicle's VIN to look up the vehicle on the Belt Tech NZ Ltd website
• For Seatbelt Manufacturers NZ Ltd an exemption letter is required
• APV are not actively re-webbing seatbelts but these must also have an exemption letter.

Identifying non-compliant re-webbed seatbelts

Seatbelts that are re-webbed without an exemption from Waka Kotahi may not be accepted for a WoF or CoF.

Most non-compliant re-webbed seatbelts are done in a way to hide that they are re-webbed. The following indicators are the best way to identify a non-compliant re-webbed seatbelt:

• incorrectly fitted hardware such as buckles on webbing that looks new
• new webbing, or webbing that looks newer than the other seatbelts in the vehicle, with the same compliance tags as the original seat belts
• the same identification tags as the original belts with a different stitch pattern
• a compliance label that is different to the other seatbelts that is not from a typical manufacturer
• no compliance labels fitted on new webbing or a new seatbelt.

Getting a seatbelt re-webbed

If you are trying to help a vehicle owner to get their seatbelt re-webbed it is important that you only use an approved company. Waka Kotahi is aware that there are other companies who re-web seatbelts - this is an illegal activity. Autosafe Ltd, APV, Seatbelts NZ Ltd, Seatbelt Manufacturers NZ Ltd and Belt Tech NZ Ltd have been granted exemptions to re-web seatbelts, having been granted these exemptions under strict conditions.

Autosafe has a list of seatbelt installers on its website that is regularly updated. There are three specialist installers in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and a number of other organisations that can assist with seatbelt installations. The list is available at www.autosafe.co.nz

Sample labels

Figure 16-1-1. Sample Autosafe Ltd, Seatbelts NZ Ltd, Belt Tech NZ Ltd and Seatbelt Manufacturers NZ Ltd labels