NZTA suspends two garages
The NZTA has suspended vehicle inspector Mohammed Hussein and his inspecting organisation - Autozone Services Ltd - from issuing warrants of fitness (WOFs) after it was found 1,607 vehicles were improperly inspected.
Following another site visit, the agency also suspended vehicle inspectors, Graeme Jordan, Peter Flannery and Michael Urquhart and their inspecting organisation - Peninsula Motors - from issuing WOFs.
"During a recent site review, sole director Graeme Jordon admitted to incorrectly issuing a WOF to a vehicle with serious defects, on the basis of customer assurances that they would fix the mechanical issues following the inspection," the agency said in a statement.
"Additionally, the review raised concerns about Mr Flannery and Mr Urquhart’s inability to correctly inspect a vehicle."
It was found that 1,170 vehicles were improperly inspected by the Whangaparaoa-based inspecting organisation.
At Autozone Services in Ōtāhuhu, the inspector and company director Mohammed Hussein has been suspended.
"Over the course of five site reviews beginning in 2018 ... Mr Hussein continued to display an inability to undertake Warrant of Fitness inspections in accordance with Land Transport rules and regulations," the agency said.
"Most seriously, he failed to properly inspect vehicle safety systems including seatbelts, steering and brakes."
The NZTA will contact all 2,777 affected vehicle owners individually as soon as possible to advise them on recheck options, with vouchers provided.
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.
- January 25, 2019: NZTA extends expiry date of all unused vouchers
- February 4, 2019: Manufacturers call on the NZTA to pay for customers’ towbar re-certifications.
- February 7, 2019: NZTA announces it will cover costs for towbar recertifications.
- February 12, 2019: NZTA welcomes findings of an independent report on regulatory compliance.
- February 13, 2019: Donald Steward McLean and The WOF Man Ltd. - 3,515 affected vehicle owners.
- March 22, 2019: Rajesh Singh and Gravity Services Ltd - 5,740 affected vehicle owners.
- April 8, 2019: Patrick Chu of Transport and Structure Ltd - 300 affected drawbars and draw beams on heavy vehicles and trailers.
- April 12, 2019: Mohammed Hussein and Autozone Services Ltd - 1,607 affected vehicle owners.
- April 12, 2019: Graeme Jordan, Peter Flannery and Michael Urquhart and Peninsula Motors - 1,170 affected vehicle owners.
