Banned trader cops $10k fine
An unregistered car dealer has been fined $10,000 after continuing to illegally sell vehicles despite receiving a five-year ban in 2021.
Kenneth James Michael Cumming, of Timaru, received his latest penalty after illegally selling 40 cars on Facebook Marketplace from 2022 to 2024.
The 44-year-old beneficiary appeared in Timaru District Court on October 9 for sentencing after pleading guilty to three charges under the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003 (MVSA) of participating in motor vehicle trading while banned.
Cumming was previously convicted in 2021 for illegally selling 38 vehicles from 2017 to 2020 and was fined $100 and banned from trading cars for five years.
The latest charges, laid by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), related to Cumming selling 19 vehicles in 2022, eight in 2023 and 13 in 2024.
MBIE investigated after an anonymous complaint about large-scale sales on Facebook Marketplace. It sent a compliance letter to Cumming in March 2025, which he ignored, before taking the matter to court.
Under the MVSA, it is an offence to sell more than six vehicles in a 12-month period unless you are a registered trader. The penalties for breaking the rules are fines of up to $50,000 for an individual and $200,000 for a company.
Judge Dominic Dravitzki said Cumming had “essentially ignored” his ban, which ran until 2026, and his response to questions from MBIE had been “belligerent”, reports Stuff.
He ordered Cumming to pay his $10,000 fine off at $20 a week, noting the man had limited financial circumstances on a benefit income and “may not have made a lot of money out of this car dealing”.
Jyoti Issar, investigations manager, occupational regulation at MBIE, says the ministry has noticed a concerning increase in unregistered trading, particularly online.
He adds such activity puts consumers at risk and undermines the integrity of the motor vehicle industry.
“This case sends a clear message that repeated offending will not be tolerated, and significant penalties will apply to those who ignore the law,” says Issar.
