Motorists ignore NZTA
The NZTA says it has no legal powers to force people to get their cars affected by dodgy warrant of fitness (WOF) assessments rechecked.
Late last year it was revealed the agency had not been enforcing its transport regulations properly. This neglect has led to many businesses in the transport sector flouting regulations and – specifically – about 25,000 vehicles needing WOF retests.
According to Radio New Zealand, as of January 9, just over 4,000 vehicles had been reinspected with 60 per cent failing their first recheck.
Law firm Meredith Connell has been hired to lead the regulatory function in the NZTA, which regulates all vehicles on the roads and licensed workers in the transport sector.
Steve Haszard, managing partner at Meredith Connell, is urging the affected vehicle owners to get their vehicles rechecked.
“We can’t legally compel owners to get their vehicles rechecked, but it is important owners of these vehicles understand they may not have been properly inspected during the previous WOF check carried out by suspended providers,” he says.
“All we can do is continue to strongly encourage by way of writing to people, social-media campaigns and interviews to let people know that it’s in their interests – and every other road-user’s interest – for those cars to go in and get rechecked.”
The NZTA is covering the costs of reinspection, and has been contacting affected owners in writing and by phone.
Timeline of events
- Late August: Dargaville Diesel Specialists suspended – 1,956 vehicle owners urged to get WOFs rechecked.
- Late September: NZTA hires law firm Meredith Connell to review its open-compliance files and regulatory function.
- October: Orient Motors – 3,494 affected owners.
- October: Te Aroha Automotive – 613 affected vehicle owners.
- November 23: Westland Mechanical and Tyre – 3,721 affected vehicle owners.
- November 30: Auckland’s Jet Tyres and Wheel Alignment – 993 affected vehicle owners.
- November 30: Onehunga’s Church Street Motors and Tyres – 4,053 affected vehicle owners.
- December 4: El’s Auto Services in East Tamaki – 3,783 affected vehicle owners.
- December 5: Super Cheap Tyres and Auto Services in St Johns – 2,443 affected vehicle owners.
- December 10: NZTA chief executive Fergus Gammie announces his resignation.
- December 14: Stephen Upson and Sunnybrae Auto Services - 747 affected vehicle owners.
- December 20: Sayad Hussein and Frankton WoF and Tyre Station - 2,836 affected vehicle owners.
- December 21: Patrick Chu of Transport & Structure Ltd – numbers of potentially impacted vehicles yet to be confirmed.
- December 21: NZTA appoints former Chorus CEO Mark Ratcliffe as interim chief executive until a permanent replacement is found.
- December 21: Consulting firm Martin Jenkins hired to provide support for the Ministry of Transport’s review into the NZTA’s regulatory function.
