20 hours ago
VIA Applauds Government Move To Overhaul Land-Transport Rules
The Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (VIA) has welcomed the announcement by Transport Minister Hon Chris Bishop of a seven-stream Land Transport Rules Reform Programme, describing it as 'the breakout moment the sector has been waiting for.' The programme's sixth stream – a complete overhaul of the vehicle regulatory system – directly answers VIA's long-standing call for a simpler, outcomes-based rulebook.
'Right now we're forced to navigate more than twenty different Land Transport Rules, seven separate Vehicle Inspection Requirement Manuals, and about fifty technical bulletins tacked onto the Entry Compliance Manual,' says VIA Chief Executive Greig Epps. 'That's regulatory archaeology. Every layer of paper adds cost without adding safety.'
Mr Epps says the Government's pledge to streamline import requirements and recognise overseas standards is 'exactly the reset the industry – and ordinary Kiwi motorists – need'.
'If we focus on the result we all want – safe, clean vehicles at a fair price – then align the best international standards to that goal, compliance stops being a cost sink and starts being a productivity lever,' he says.
VIA has argued for a two-tier framework: one rule that states the desired outcomes, and a dynamic list of accepted global standards that inspectors and importers can reference in real time.
The Association will work with officials to uncover and fix duplicated rules and outdated requirements as consultation begins. 'We're ready to bring practical fixes to the table so the reform doesn't get bogged down in theory,' Mr Epps says.
Minister Bishop's plan signals most decisions will be made within 18 months, with public consultation on the broader overhaul scheduled for mid-2026. 'We'll be at the front of that queue,' Mr Epps says. 'This is a chance to cut red tape, lower costs for families, and keep the fleet moving toward safer, lower-emission vehicles.'
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VIA (Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association) represents businesses involved in importing, preparing, wholesaling, and retailing used vehicles into New Zealand, primarily from Japan, Singapore, and other markets. As the industry's collective voice, VIA engages with government and stakeholders to support fair regulation and sustainable practices across the sector.
