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Issue 20-2014 6 November 2014
Huge hikes in fees aim to ‘cover costs’
In this issue
harges levied by the NZTA for warrant and certificate of fitness (WOF and COF) labels have been increased in the first overhaul of vehicle certification administration fees in more than a decade. The new certification payment for a WOF is $1.78, which is a 114 per cent increase from 83 cents, and the charge for a COF label has climbed by 205 per cent – from $2.45 to $7.48. Other changes have been made to the system for the entry and
p20 Changes at top of Holden
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oversight of vehicle inspectors and their companies, and other certification services. Application fees for inspecting organisations, which ranged from $509.07 to $834.13, have been replaced with a higher one of $1,437.50 that includes one site assessment. The NZTA has also widened the scope of its new $184 hourly rate to include when certification services provided for organisations, vehicle inspectors or applicants don’t warrant charging the full application fee.
The same rate is chargeable for non-routine reviews of inspecting organisations. The agency says the review has been “driven primarily” by changes to the WOF and COF systems as agreed by the government in January 2013 as part of the Vehicle Licensing Reform (VLR). They include an annual WOF inspection cycle for all light vehicles first registered on or after January 1, 2000, and allowing a greater and more convenient range of COF inspection options
p10 MTF views on judgement p12 Profile on VTNZ’s boss p17 Dealer goes under cover p18 Record set for safety test
p22 Traders have to list faults
Specialised training to increase your sales Find out more on page 9
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Electric vehicles ‘game changer’
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ighty River Power is planning to convert 70 per cent of its 100-strong fleet to electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids. Chief executive officer Fraser Whineray describes the growing market for the two types of cars in New Zealand as a possible “game changer”. “The technology, performance and costs of plug-in vehicles are
changing rapidly,” he told the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting. “EVs were odd and impractical propositions a few years ago, but there are now some excellent models on the market that suit our lifestyles. “They look and perform like ordinary cars and, in many instances, they are better. “They are quieter, better for the environment and run for
about one-quarter the cost of fossil fuels, less than one-quarter for a plug-in hybrid, and – in the case of a pure EV – that would be about seven times better than petrol.” Whineray says for many would-be EV owners, the cost savings from fuel – about $2,500 per year – will more than offset the difference in upfront expenditure.
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VF range gets high-tech upgrade
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