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New border-inspection appointments

Five out of eight companies secure appointments as Waka Kotahi steps up regulatory oversight and demands higher standards.
Posted on 02 July, 2021
New border-inspection appointments

Five organisations have been appointed by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to carry out border inspections for vehicles coming to New Zealand following a revamped application process to help lift the capability of the sector.

Automotive Technologies Ltd (ATL), Bordercheck, JEVIC NZ, Independent Verification Services, and New Zealand Biosecurity Services have taken up the new appointments from July 1.

All have been appointed for five years with the exception of NZ Biosecurity Services, which has been granted a three-year contract.

Waka Kotahi announced the successful companies after receiving eight applications in late 2019. It is still working through the appointment process with two of those companies, while one other chose not to progress its bid.

The agency says the role of border-inspection organisations (BIOs) is to confirm vehicles that require border inspection and identify damage to vehicles that needs to be flagged for further scrutiny at the compliance stage. 

Sue Hardiman, senior manager of vehicle and driver licensing, says the appointments mark another step in a wider project to strengthen regulatory oversight of border-inspection activities following a review of the sector in 2019.

“To ensure imported vehicles are safe, the inspection functions need to be rigorous and protected from inappropriate influence,” she explains. 

“The organisations we have appointed have demonstrated through the application process that they are highly competent organisations and have shown strength in inspection, information, quality assurance and managing conflicts of interest.

“We expect high professional standards at all times, particularly with protecting the independence and impartiality of inspections. We also expect the organisations to be expert and vigilant in self-monitoring their inspection activities.”

Hardiman, pictured, adds that as with the used light vehicle entry certification process, which was completed in March this year, the agency worked with applicants to make sure they will deliver robust services.

“This allowed us to get a complete picture of their operations to give Waka Kotahi confidence in their ability to carry out their duties and, subsequently, contribute to a safer land transport system in New Zealand.”

Waka Kotahi says it will maintain oversight of the companies through a new border inspection and entry certification compliance team that was created last year.