Radiator - July 2024

SMART AS, BRO!

PLUS: NEW POLITICAL COLUMNISTS JOIN RADIATOR WHAT DOES AI MEAN FOR THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY?

Spend on participating brands this June and July to be into win the Ultimate Bathurst Experience or one of the below amazing prizes! For full details check out the latest Repco Trade catalogue today.

“I wanted more time – not more time wasted on paper invoices and booking jobs. And I wanted it to be easy. Auxo Workshop is all that, and more.”

Hamza from White Swan Autos

Radiator

Editor Gerald Rillstone

027 252 3229

gerald.rillstone@mta.org.nz

Postal address

PO Box 9244, Marion Square, Wellington 6141

Physical address

Level 5, AIA House

34 Manners Street, Wellington 6011

E: mta@mta.org.nz W: www.mta.org.nz

Printing & Production Vertia, Wellington Mailhouse

Orange Box, Wellington

Radiator Magazine ISSN 1179-7800

The Motor Trade Association (Inc) (MTA) is not responsible for statements, opinions or factual matters published in Radiator magazine, nor do they necessarily reflect the views of MTA, its Board of Directors or its advisory/specialty committees, unless expressly so stated, and does not endorse advertisers.

Market

Radiator magazine is available free to all members of MTA. Information on products and services contained in the editorial and advertising pages of this magazine is published as a service and no responsibility will be taken for inaccurate information.

Radiator magazine does not imply the endorsement of any product or service.

The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising and editorial at any stage.

Copyright: No part of Radiator magazine may be reproduced in part or in whole without the written permission of the publisher.

EAP phone 0800 327 669 any time

Confidential and free mental health advice to all MTA members and their families, plus your staff and their families.

Select 2 (or 9 for an emergency). Tell them you are an MTA member.

Revisiting the right to repair

The Consumer Guarantees (Right to Repair) Amendment Bill – legislation proposed by Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson – will be up for debate in the coming months.

As the name suggests, the bill aims to make the concept of ‘right to repair’ a legal requirement. Right to repair is a consumer rights movement that challenges a growing trend in manufacturers seeking to protect their intellectual property by restricting who can repair their products.

This protection also serves as a framework for vertical integration, or ‘proprietary exclusion’, where a product can only be serviced by the original manufacturer when problems arise.

Arguably, the key driver behind Davidson’s proposed law is that of waste, especially with small consumer electronics. Damaged or non-functioning products often head into landfills, due to real or perceived limitations in having them repaired. Davidson seeks to address that by promoting more consumer choice of repairer.

In theory, MTA would support such legislation because we support right to repair. We recognise the importance of supporting consumers, promoting competition, and ensuring fair access to repair services.

Nonetheless, we are concerned that this proposed law treats all consumer products as equal and simple to repair. With the average product cost and growing complexity in our industry, this could not be further from the truth. An automobile is not a toaster. There is no doubt that ‘right to repair’ is becoming a prominent issue in the automotive industry as the

technical complexity of vehicles continues to grow.

We are frankly concerned that Davidson’s proposal, assuming it fails to become law, risks putting the wider concept of right to repair on ice.

Modern vehicles are marvels of engineering, equipped with intricate electronics, software, and specialised components. While these advancements enhance safety and user experience, they also pose challenges for independent repairers. Accessing repair information, parts, and diagnostic tools becomes crucial, but striking the right balance is essential.

Understandably, manufacturers want to guard proprietary information closely. Their concern lies in maintaining a competitive edge while protecting intellectual property – research and development is a significant investment.

Further, many manufacturers link warranties to consistent dealership servicing and repair. This ensures their standards are met, but it also discourages or prevents consumers from seeking out independent repairers. This is more of a short-term consideration, as once a warranty period expires the consumer is free to go elsewhere, assuming repair and diagnostic information is available.

Developing legislation that mandates fair access to repair information is a powerful step, but we do not believe this proposed legislation is currently in the shape it needs to be for our industry. There is absolutely the ability to introduce substantive changes in select committee, but we are certain that automotive needs to be legislated separately.

MTA agrees that by requiring manufacturers to share technical data with independent repairers, we

empower consumers and level the playing field. Collaboration with all stakeholders – policymakers, manufacturers, importers and repairers – will help us to achieve common ground and empower consumers without damaging businesses.

MTA stands ready to assist with making right to repair work for all, and we will be continuing our advocacy to that end. Last week we spoke to the Minister of Transport in person about right to repair, and he was receptive to our views.

Top political insight for Radiator

I’m pleased to announce that Radiator has secured two new political columnists, from both sides of the political spectrum.

This month, former Transport Minister Michael Wood writes his first column, to be followed next month by current ACT MP Simon Court, who has a strong interest in our sector.

Michael will be well-known to many of you, and was an ally to our industry on several issues, including adding important automotive roles to the immigration Green List.

Simon will be able to offer insights to the current Government’s work affecting the automotive industry.

Our advocacy team’s work with whoever sits in the Beehive is an ongoing important focus for us, and an important way we represent you.

My thanks to Michael and Simon for coming on board and sharing their insights. I look forward to reading them.

Noho ora mai, Lee Marshall

James.mcdowall@mta.org.nz

James McDowall, MTA Head of Advocacy

Brace for impact: AI is coming here

Artificial Intelligence. You’ve probably heard of it –maybe even used ChatGPT software.

But if you think it’s just a handy tool to help you write emails, think again.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the automotive industry, from design and production to repair and beyond – in most part, for the better. So, what is AI? AI creates systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. This includes understanding language, recognising patterns, solving problems, and even making predictions.

For instance, ChatGPT is being incorporated in the latest Volkswagen models, allowing the driver to not only operate many of the car’s functions by voice but providing information on tourist attractions, report on past sports events or even help solve maths problems.

Global Design Director and Vice-president of Icona Group Samuel Chuffart says AI can reduce human error and inconsistencies in design.

“For example, if I want to put the number plate on the bumper during the design process, the lights have to

be moved and recessed. All of this I know by heart from designing many cars.

“AI will already have this information and will assist an engineer who doesn't have my background, and will show them how it needs to look inside the rules of safety.

“Now imagine that for the full engineering of the car.”

It’s a good example of how AI doesn’t replace humans, but works with them. Also forecast:

• Less failure in machines on the assembly line, resulting in predicted improved efficiencies of 10% or more

• Robots that collaborate with humans which may boost productivity by 20% by helping with tasks that can’t be performed by fully automated robots

• Vastly improved detection of mechanical and design faults

• Streamlining supply chains by taking the guesswork out of ordering and forecasting

• Improving business support by improving office systems

• Predictive maintenance already maximises vehicle efficiency and reduces downtime, while cars are likely to get much safer and personalised to their driver.

By 2032, the automotive industry to expected to be worth an incredible US$6678 billion, much of it driven by China as an automotive superpower.

By then, one in ten cars is expected to be self-driving and self-navigating, and growing. Like robo-taxis, basically an Uber on steroids.

“The real danger is not coming from the electric car, it is coming from the robo-taxi,” Chuffart said in an interview with Radiator.

“They are the potential death of the car industry.

“Today as a consumer the most expensive thing you buy after your house is your car. Tomorrow, if you just have to dial a car that comes to your door, and it cost you less than owning one, why would you bother owning one?

“You don’t have to pay for parking and there are no speeding or parking tickets.”

New generation Chuffart says the concept will appeal to younger consumers.

“Already today, you see a new generation that is not interested in owning a car or driving, and the point is going to come where it is cheaper to hire a robo-taxi than own a car.

“That’s the true danger the dealers and the repair shops will face.”

At that point, driving a car will become “ridiculous”, Chuffart says.

“The only reason to drive a car would be to go and rent a Porsche Boxster for the weekend and drive it in the country - that would be a real pleasure - but to drive a car to commute will become a stupid idea.

“Owning a car will become a luxury and once that happens there will be no Suzuki Swift anymore, if people are going to buy a car it will be because they fancy it, and it is something special.”

Douglas Blair, European Motor Distributors general manager of parts and distribution, is more optimistic.

“This type of technology tends to be used in big builtup cities where nothing is going to change and the roads are well sorted from a strategic point of view,” he says.

“They are easy to map, but here it would be much harder from a logistic point of view and a financial point of view.”

But he does agree AI is changing things for the better in parts of the industry although at this stage AI and machine learning doesn’t really feature in the warehouse space for operations here.

“It still only really exists in large scale where automation is necessary and possible,” he says.

Samuel Chuffart in the design studio at the forefront of automotive design developments.

ChatGPT has been incorporated in the latest Volkswagen models.

Future survival

Looking to the future, Chuffart says businesses will need to adapt.

“For those that own body shops, aluminium is becoming the main material used in building cars. Make sure you have the systems and agreements to repair the new models,” he says.

“With AI it is becoming simpler for dealers and owners. Cars are becoming just like mobile phones, it is not the end of the world for repair shops, it means you need the right guy to fix these things.”

So just as EVs are here for good, so is AI.

“The advice for future survival I am giving my brother, who owns a dealership in France, is to put in electric charging stations, employ an EV technician and get an agreement for servicing and repair from a manufacturer.”

• What do you think of Samuel Chuffart’s comments? Science fiction or science fact? Let us know! Email gerald.rillstone@mta.org.nz

About Samuel Chuffart

Samuel Chuffart is the Vice President and Global Design Director for Icona Design Group in Torino, Italy. He was also one of the company’s founding members in 2010. He manages a team of 74 designers across three continents and dozens of projects simultaneously. Icona has created iconic and successful designs including the revered Fuselage, the Maxus SUB D90 concept, the Nucleus, and the Vulcano Titanium, the world’s first titanium supercar.

Samuel has worked at Nissan’s European design studio, was a Senior Designer at Jaguar Land Rover, and Chief Designer at Stile Bertone in Italy.

Chuffart is based in Shanghai for most of the year but has a home base in Wellington, where he can indulge his love of classic cars.

Al’s Future in the Automotive Sector

AI and automotive technology have produced innovative solutions that enhance driving, increase safety, and pave the way for driverless vehicles. AIpowered systems and algorithms in cars enable them to process vast amounts of data swiftly and make intelligent decisions.

Self-driving cars

Self-driving cars rely on artificial intelligence to navigate roadways, identify obstacles, and make decisions without human assistance. Autonomous vehicles may have advantages including fewer accidents, better traffic flow, and more accessibility.

The Vulcano, a one-off creation designed by Samuel at Icona. It has a unique titanium and carbon-fibre body, and it got its name partly because the titanium welding process required a special vacuum chamber so it wouldn't combust, like a volcano.

Samuel Chuffart enjoys getting home to Wellington.

A robo-taxi already in use in China.

Samuel Chuffart with the Nucleus design vehicle.

Shhh ... AI is quietly learning

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools promise many benefits for all sizes of business, increasing efficiency, saving money, giving better customer service and growth opportunities.

It permeates many areas of our day to day lives working aways 24/7 and with each task it’s improving getting faster and more efficient.

It’s been in our vehicles for quite a few years and with each development it is making life easier, businesses can use it as an assistant across a range of areas such as accounting, customer service, marketing, security, and recruitment.

While removing the human factor it makes businesses more efficient, assisting with data analysis for cash flow forecasting, accounts payable and accounts receivable processing.

What is becoming more and more common for many businesses is the adding of a chatbot (a software program that simulates human conversation

through text or voice interactions) to a website can assist businesses in fielding common requests from customers.

What tool

When choosing AI tools, consider factors such as budget, specific business needs, ease of implementation, scalability, and its ability to integrate with current systems and technology.

To maximise the effectiveness of any AI tool, it can be helpful to think of it like any other process or technology being introduced to the business.

Do your research As there are many different tools available, comparative research on features and pricing can be helpful to ensure you are choosing the right one for the desired application and outcome. It’s also important to check that the tool can be integrated with current systems and scaled according to the needs of the business as it grows.

What you're telling us

Every month we reply to members’ questions and comments drawn from conversations with the MTA team. Do you need advice or an answer on something? Radiator would love to hear from you. Please email simon.bradwell@mta.org.nz.

You can tell how good a worker will be by how he or she sweeps the floor. It shows that the worker doesn’t think they are better than everyone else, and can pay attention to small details on things he/she might think are otherwise “not their job title”.

That is a great tip for employers and pointing it out to staff occasionally may also make a difference around the workplace also.

NZTA and MTA from a glance both seem to heavily support the green side of the motor trade. Does MTA not think there’s still a place for ICE vehicles still? If so, how can you show that to us?

MTA absolutely believes ICE vehicles play a massively important role in our industry and indeed our country. We dedicate a great deal of time and resource supporting members working with them, whether they be service stations, general repairers or collision repairers. ICE vehicles will be on our roads for a long time yet, and actually have an

There have been a number of questions around the registration fee and Tyrewise. The Tyrewise fee is only applied at the time of first registration for new or used freshly imported vehicles, and there is no further fee applied at re-registration, number plate change or change of ownership.

All tyre sales should have the Tyrewise fee applied at point of sale and that must be passed onto the customer when purchasing/fitting new or second-hand tyres if a fee has been applied to the core product at time of entry at the border. If the second-hand tyre is already in the country, then the Tyrewise fee is not required.

important role to play in building a cleaner fleet. But electric vehicles are here to stay and many of our members have invested in these new technologies.

We support those members, and that side of the industry as well. It’s interesting to get this viewpoint, but I would strongly reject the suggestion we favour the “green” side of the trade over ICE, whether in Radiator, media, advocacy or any other area of our work for members. Our work is always geared to what’s best for members, industry, and New Zealanders.

– Simon Bradwell, Media and PR Manager.

Many years ago there was a push to keep unlicenced Motor Vehicle traders going. They cause more mediation cases than are necessary for MTA and give the whole trade a bad name.

MTA requires motor vehicle traders to be registered as part of the membership requirements. Unregistered traders are not permitted to be members and therefore our mediation team are not involved in any disputes that arise between unregistered traders and their customers.

Brian Rumbelow MTA ICT Manager and Group Privacy Officer.

Govt passes its Warrant of Fitness - just

MTA Media and PR

Manager Simon Bradwell

The Government is roadworthy, but is failing in several key areas that need urgent attention.

MTA gave the Government a friendly Warrant of Fitness (WoF) inspection after six months in office – an innovative and slightly lighthearted way of drawing attention to serious issues.

And while it’s a pass overall, Chief Executive Lee Marshall says the Government is failing in three key areas affecting thousands of Kiwis: Industry Training, Crime and Immigration.

“Te Pukenga appears to have stalled at the lights,” Lee says.

“Industry training for the automotive sector is in limbo – and with it, thousands of learners.

“Automotive industry training must be returned to the Motor Industry Training Organisation (MITO).

“MITO was a proven success, equipping thousands of people for careers in the automotive industry, and performing strongly financially. Learners need to know this will continue.

“But since this Government took over – crickets.”

The WoF was the idea of Media

and PR Manager Simon Bradwell with input from Head of Advocacy James McDowall, and designed in-house at no cost.

“Sometimes the news cycle just moves away from automotive matters, and when that happens it’s not always easy to get media coverage,” Simon says.

“This was a creative way of getting issues that are important to members under the eyes of journalists.”

The WoF also got the attention of several MPs, who contacted MTA about it.

Lee says MTA’s service station members are particularly worried about crime, and MTA is urging the Government to take action.

“There’s been more than 60 violent attacks on service stations this year. Each one leaves hard-working Kiwis injured, traumatised and out of pocket.

“It’s a frightening industry to work in and the Government must move swiftly to reduce crime and protect people from offenders.

“We’re ready to work with them on this extremely important issue.”

MTA has other plans for addressing

retail crime – watch this space. Immigration is another important matter that the WoF addressed.

In April, the Government repealed the planned addition of two key automotive roles (Panel Beater and Vehicle Painter) to the immigration Green List – a shock and blow to the industry.

“We know the labour shortage is still the number one concern for many of our members,” Lee says.

“Having the ability to hire skilled overseas workers while Te Pukenga is being sorted out is absolutely essential. We urge the Minister to revisit that decision.”

On the plus side, the Government gets ticks for its action on the Clean Car Discount and Standard, Road User Charges, EV Infrastructure and the Warrant of Fitness.

“Credit where it’s due, the Government has made good calls around big roading projects and how we pay for them,” Lee says.

“But we’ll be keeping a close eye on how they address the areas we’ve highlighted.”

warrant of fitness CHECK SHEET

Crime X Urgent: Must work with industry and accelerate plans to protect vulnerable service station workers from crime.

Immigration X

Clean Car Discount

Clean Car Standard

Industry Training

WoF Review

Road Charges

Infrastructure

Settings on immigration have been wound back. Must reconsider, and consult with sector to address labour shortage urgently.

Showed good judgment to follow MTA advice to put misfiring ‘Ute Tax’ in the rear-view mirror and shift priorities to EV network.

Has indicated turning towards more realistic, industry-friendly targets aligned with Australia.

No clear direction of travel, Te Púkenga plan appears stalled at the lights. Maybe someone in the Beehive needs a rev up.

Showing interest in modernising the dated regime and standards, to keep Kiwis travelling safely.

Extension of RUCs to EVs showed good judgment as well as lane change on PHEV calculation - after listening to industry.

Jump-starting EV charging network, and taking progressive approach to funding major roading projects.

This Government is roadworthy - but key areas need attention. Highly revved in infrastructure and roading plans, but out of tune and idling on issues affecting hard-working Kiwi businesses. Needs to take foot off the brake and move forward on crime, immigration and industry training in the next six months.

The repairer business in recessionary times

Automotive industry expert

Peter Morton contributes a monthly column to MTA’s Drive to Thrive series.

Looking at recent quarterly results in the repair industry, the turnover numbers are similar to last year. Make sure you know what these numbers are. Your computer software program can you the numbers. This is a great indicator to how your business is travelling. Most still have advanced bookings of up to a week or even two weeks but it has shortened in the number of days. Leave enough time in the bookings to take on your current customer urgent work and the odd Warrant of Fitness. Looking after your current customers is the key to keep them and keep your business going well.

What has gone out is the servicing intervals. It looks like these have gone out to an average 18 months from 12 months prior to Covid. This is partly due to Covid and partly due to the perception that we are in recession.

Your marketing to your current customers needs to get real savvy about now. Make sure you are getting the service reminders

and WoF reminders out on time to your customers. These are a life blood of the repair industry.

Once you get them out there, them monitor them to see who has booked or contacted, and follow up those who have not booked or contacted. This follow up is very important.

The follow up can either be by text and by email , whichever is your customers’ preferred method. You may even wish to phone them so you can get a verbal discussion with the customer as to why they aren’t booking.

If they say can’t afford it, then try and get a later date to get the booking or another reminder date. It is a safety item to get the car warranted and serviced so future repairs don’t get bigger than they need to be.

And remember - your current customers know where you are and what you are like. They are the easiest to get back into your business to get WoFs and services completed.

You should look at each vehicle that comes into the workshop and have a system to check for future work. Every job that comes into the business has at least three other jobs to be completed now or in the future.

An example: tyres may not be quite ready to be changed but will be in the future. Add a reminder to your computer system to remind the customer to pop and in and get a free tyre check in so many months’ time.

Talk to the customer about this future work so they do now OR in future. Customers think you are looking after their needs by this service. They decide when to do it BUT with your help.

The key is to use your reminder system to use to get future work. It is the best marketing tool you have in the tool box.

Peter Morton is roving ambassador for Automotive Solutions Ltd, and a life member and former director of MTA.

“Let us help fix

those raised eyebrows.”

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Industry consultation is crucial

I’d like to look at three important issues in this column.

First off, MITO.

The key issues are stability and industry voice.

Any employer or apprentice in the sector wants to know what the structure is, how to engage in it, and to have some confidence that it will not constantly chop and change.

Given this, it would have been good for the government to have had a clear alternative plan before abolishing Te Pῡkenga. In the absence of that, it is critical for government to get all of the industry players around the table to establish as much consensus as possible about a new structure. It will be better to take a few months to do this and get it right, rather than have a reactive process like we did with immigration settings, that cuts the sector voice out.

The sector itself needs to be at the centre of the new structure. As MTA members know, there are a diversity of voices and needs. They all need to have a say in how industry training is developed and delivered to ensure that workforce needs are met. This should include different sub-sectors, and a voice for both employers and workers.

Clearly stand-alone industry entities can have the benefit of a

strong sense of industry ownership and there can benefits from economies of scale with a linkedup structure. I would hope that a pragmatic approach is taken.

Now some thoughts on the Clean Car Discount.

If the objective of the government to increase the sales of fuel-efficient vehicles, then the Clean Car Discount was a runaway success. It boosted the sale of cleaner vehicles, EVs and hybrids, faster than nearly any other jurisdiction around the world and put our uptake rate up there with the Europeans outside of Scandinavia.

The government’s repeal of the discount has led to an absolute crash and we have gone from being one of the best-performing to one of the worst-performing. It has been a resounding failure.

One of the difficulties we have now is that the Clean Car Standard is in place as an incentive on importers to bring cleaner vehicles, but there isn’t a corresponding incentive for consumers to buy them so we have an incoherent policy. The shift to lower emission vehicles will happen, it’s a question of accelerating the benefits and easing the costs of transition.

Finally, road user charges.

Nearly everyone agrees that we needed to move to RUC for EVs as fleet numbers grew. Labour signed off on this change before the election. The issue is around implementation.

There is a legitimate question around whether the RUC rates have been struck correctly, with the government having to make rushed changes during the legislative process.

This has occurred because of a rushed process and a lack of industry consultation. I always found the likes of MTA, MIA, VIA, and Drive Electric would pick things up and provide very useful feedback which would result in changes to the rules we were making.

If this had been undertaken when the RUC rules were being decided there would have been a more balanced outcome.

• Michael Wood served as an MP from 2016-2023 and held a number of Ministerial roles including Transport and Immigration in the Labour government. He is currently Negotiation Specialist at E tūῡunion.

Michael Wood

Bapcor Drive Expo 2024.

MTA was among the 60 plus exhibitors at this year's Bapcor Drive Expo 2024 conference held at the Due Drop Events centre in Auckland. The massive two-day event was filled with product showcases and a new product and equipment sales sections.

There were technical and free business training seminars from local and international experts with 24 seminar sessions covering 17 topics.

MTA CEO Lee Marshall joined EGM-Bapcor New Zealand Martin Storey and Government Relations Director for the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association Lesley Yates for a discussion on the Navigating the Road Ahead.

Education, the right to repair and the ongoing labour shortage were all discussed as well as their shared perspectives on the rapidly evolving landscape of the industry, discussing emerging technologies and the shift in consumer preference.

Smoko Stumpers

Test your knowledge with our five-minute monthly motoring quiz.

1. What make of car is the standard issue for NZ Police vehicles?

2. Honda was the biggest-selling motorcycle manufacturer in 2023. But which one came second?

3. And how many did Honda sell in 2023? 18.4m, 180.4m, 1.80b.

4. What is the name of the car museum north of Wellington that houses 450 vehicles?

5. What is unique about the Sunswift 7 vehicle? Answers on page 56.

Auto Super Shoppe apprentice Louis Straker gets into the spirit of competition at the MTA booth where anyone could take a drive in a racing Holden on the famous Bathurst track, with prizes for the top three fastest times.

Over 60 suppliers set up stalls at Bapcor’s Drive Expo 2024.

MTA’s booth at the Bapcor Drive Expo offered attendees the chance to go into a draw for a $100 voucher when they entered their details.

MTA Sector Manager – Dealers & Specialist Services, Larry Fellowfield discusses MTA membership with Brett Parsons.

Bapcor EGM Martin Storey, AAAA’s Lesley Yates and MTA CEO Lee Marshall lead the discussion on the road ahead for the industry during the two day event.

Reaching for the stars

the core of a revolutionary parts distribution facility at European Motor Distributors (EDM).

The $40m, 6000 m2, Auckland building’s design goes above and beyond New Zealand building standards garnering five stars under the Green Star Building Council.

EDM parts and distribution service general manager Douglas Blair wanted the new facility to be a benchmark for automotive parts and service distributors in the country and it certainly ticks a lot of sustainable boxes.

“We always try and lead the industry and be world class, that’s just how we operate,” says Douglas.

EDM is part of the Giltrap Group, which was the source of inspiration for the building.

“If we think about Giltrap Group values, it is the right thing to do. One of our values is around community and doing the right thing by other people and that was part of the consideration when we designed the building,” Douglas says.

“The building is 6000 m2 of warehousing and we still have the 3000 m2 of the old building next door, so we are now a 9000 m2 facility.”

was sourced from manufacturers that use alternative fuels (nonfossil fuels) in the manufacturer of their cement and waste materials from the building process saw 79.5 tonnes of concrete reused. Construction waste was diverted from the landfill and only 17.1 tonnes of clean fill dumped.

There are a number of sustainable features: the water on the expansive roof is harvested, filtered for use in the building. If you take a shower, flush the toilet, wash your hands or make a coffee, it’s all recycled water.

“According to the builders it is one of the first buildings in the country that uses the water for everything,” Douglas says.

And there are a range of features

that help make it a desirable place to work.

“One of the things that the building needs to do is provide an environment where people don’t want to leave.

“The whole place is doubleglazed, and it is a very pleasant place to work. The warehouse has a massive glass wall with natural light coming in, so it doesn’t feel like a dungeon.”

Infrared heaters were installed that heat the person not the air.

A large screen in the lobby constantly monitors the buildings performance, from power usage in specific areas to water usage, temperature control and adjustments can be made if they are needed.

Change and calm

The design started to have pay back from day one, with a 20 percent increase in efficiency of staff in the first three months, with the warehouse processing around 80,000 items a month.

“The new building has solar panels also and operationally that is a 53 percent reduction of our power use from the grid.

“My longer-term vision is to use some of our used EV batteries as power storage, Skoda and Porsche have done something like that at their factories.

“It’s been a massive change for people in the office. They seem to be calmer, and you feel calmer, and the warehouse is quieter.”

It is also nod to the confidence they have in the future of the industry, forecasting for sales of their popular brands to increase substantially over the next decade.

Gaining green stars

It’s no easy task to gain five stars in commercial building design. Every detail of the new facility was put under the microscope to qualify for the rating.

“Six stars is the best globally and we are at five stars. Earning stars all starts at the beginning of the development,” Douglas says. Low CO2 concrete and cement

Green Star accreditation

Created by the Green Building Council Australia in 2003, and adapted for New Zealand, Green Star provides a rating of up to six stars based on a building's key sustainability credentials.

Green Star certification is available for every commercial building type; from schools and hospitals to office buildings, shopping centres, and industrial warehouses. It can even be used for large-scale community developments.

Aspiring to “do the right thing” is at

Douglas Blair wanted the new facility to be a benchmark for automotive parts and service distributors.

The new office space is a massive change from the previous one, Doug says the staff are a lot calmer.

The $40m, 6000 m2, Auckland building’s design goes above and beyond New Zealand building standards garnering five stars under the Green Star Building Council.

A start of the art picking system is all part of the new build and productivity increased by 20 percent in the first few months.

Keeping the faith

Many MTA staff love vehicles as much as you do and have a story to tell about them. This month, James McDowall, MTA Head of Advocacy.

My family has owned (hoarded?) a fair number of older BMWs over the years We tend to work on our cars ourselves as much as possible, from basic maintenance to the more back-breaking ‘why am I attempting this on jack stands and an old wheel at 1am’ kinda jobs. While our love for these cars can be tested when tackling a third rocker cover gasket or disassembling most of the engine bay to replace a $10 part, we work through our emotions –usually verbally – and keep the faith!

Back in high school, while all the cool kids were showing off their JDMs with ‘pretty legal, officer’ modifications, I was cruising around in my grandad’s old silver E28 520i before eventually graduating to a 90s 318i that served me well until I crashed it.

For this article, I thought I would talk about a particular car that we’re very happy to have in the family – in this case owned by my

brother Scott. It’s an E31 from the early 90s – specifically an 850i in Calypso Red.

Back in its day, you could buy either a house in Auckland or a new 8-series, which is probably why you don’t see too many of these on the road. On that note, I believe there are fewer than 50 E31s in New Zealand, most being one of the two versions of the 850i and a handful of its sibling, the V8-powered 840ci. The flagship 850csi is a very rare beast indeed. These cars look awesome to this day, in my humble opinion. The attention to detail? Impeccable. The over-engineering? Yes. The cupholders? Non-existent. But hey, who needs a latte when you’ve got 300 horses and are reliving the 80s with your pop-up headlights?

With its 5.0L V12 engine (M70B50) and Vokke V2 chipset, it’s not exactly the most environmentally conscious car in the fleet, but RightCar.govt.nz doesn’t actually provide any data

for fuel economy, carbon emissions, or air pollution, so we’re all good to go. In any case, it’s not a daily driver, it’s a ‘special occasions’ car – just like that expensive bottle of wine you save for… well, special occasions.

It’s really fun to own this unique piece of history. As Scott says, the satisfaction of ownership is measured in ‘Smiles per Mile’. The timeless coupe shape, combined with the pillar-less design, still turns heads wherever it goes. Apart from the chipset and stereo, it’s all stocked with original electronic suspension damping and ASC. Interestingly, this car was first registered in Germany, and then after a year imported to New Zealand. We’re not entirely certain why a factory right-hand drive 850i with NZ options would be registered in Germany – flick me an email if you know the answer to that!

WoF Online replacement coming this year

We have exciting news to share with you, NZTA is working on a replacement for WoF Online. The new system will be called Vehicle Inspection and Certification (VIC) and will be more intuitive and easier to use. It will also be accessible from different types of devices.

In the first release of VIC, planned for later in 2024, you’ll be able to record the outcome of warrants of fitness (WoFs) and pre-delivery inspections (PDIs) in a similar way to how you do now in WoF Online.

New features will include the ability to search and view vehicle details including the previous WoF inspection information, vehicle warnings will be displayed upfront, and you’ll be able to add comments for WoF fails.

We’re working with MTA and the wider industry to develop the system, and already have tested mock-ups of the screen flows with a few inspecting organisations to make sure it will work well for you.

There’ll be a transition period to manage the migration of inspecting organisations to the new system, so it won’t happen all at once.

We’ll keep you updated on our progress. Together with MTA, we’ll run workshops to show you how the new system will work and share training material. We’ll also update the vehicle inspection requirements manual (VIRM) to reflect the changes.

Inspecting organisations enter 20,000 WoFs and PDIs each day. It’s an essential system used to keep the vehicles on our roads safe, so it’s important we provide a modern solution for you to use.

If you would like to contact us, email modernisingvehiclecertifications@nzta.govt.nz

Our E31 850i in Calypso Red. Brand-new, they were around $200,000.

It’s a timeless coupe and a ‘special occasions’ car.

From spray paint to spray tans

Jasmine Tane’s an expert at spraying bodies – both human and cars.

The unlikely – but successful –combination began when Jasmine took starter courses in beauty therapy and spray painting while at college.

“They were totally opposite things to look at, but I always had an interest in cars, so I decided work in a panel shop to suss out if I wanted to do an apprenticeship as I wasn’t sure if I wanted to commit to giving it a go,” she says. She scored an apprenticeship with Sovereign Panel and Paint in Tawa, north of Wellington, and as a bonus fell in love with workshop manager Joel Briggs.

Soon after getting married and with their first of two daughters on the way, Jasmine left the automotive trade and redirected her skills to retrain and qualify as a beauty technician.

“Instead of spray-painting cars I was spray-painting people,

tanning them, and giving advanced body and facial treatments,” she says.

The pair have gone into business with longtime friend Jan Van Vuuren, buying Manawatu Autobodies, a Palmerston North panel and paint shop taking on challenging projects, and earning the trust of the classic car community.

“Joel and I have had all sorts of experiences in all sorts of fields and that brings great strength to the business,” Jasmine says.

Jasmine’s job now is mainly front of office dealing with customers and quotes, but if needed she can still grab a spray gun – the automotive kind - and help out when things get busy.

“It’s great to have Jasmine dealing with clients,” Jan says.

“She has all the knowledge because she has done the work and knows what she’s looking at when a job comes in. It’s hard to train someone up when they

Meagre beginnings

Friend and business partner Jan came from South Africa 15 years ago for a holiday. He liked it, and on a whim, decided to stay.

A $20 note and a suitcase were his worldly possessions at the time. Despite the meagre beginnings he did well, and as a reminder and talisman Jan has a framed $20 note and sketch of a suitcase on his office wall along with the South African flag.

He worked hard and eventually bought a panel and paint shop in Seaview, Lower Hutt. Then around three and a half years ago, he decided to look for a new business in a smaller city.

Joel and Jasmine were also looking for a change and together the trio bought Manawatu Autobodies.

job painting robotic arms for a local manufacture.

haven’t done it before.”

Jasmine hadn’t completed her apprenticeship when she became pregnant and the first thing she did when she and Joel bought the Palmerston North business was to get fully qualified.

Jan says it’s been enjoyable from day one. There’s always banter between them which makes the whole process of owning a business with friends enjoyable.

Since taking over they’ve added a WoF bay to the workshop, upgraded the whole look of the business, knocked a wall out to increase the workshop floor and delved into all parts of panel and paint from insurance work to classic restoration.

Jan also has a background in aircraft painting - he worked painting aeroplanes in the UK, and they recently took on a specialist

“They are a product that goes to the States, and they need to be clear coated with an aircraft clear coat. They came to us and liked the job we did for them,” he says.

Jan and Joel also enjoy working on their own classic cars. There’s Joel’s 70s Corolla that is fitted with a rotary engine, Jan is working on a 60s Ford Anglia for his wife, and they jointly own a 60s Chevrolet Impala they are rebuilding.

Jasmine has her own favourite car too, a candy red Mitsubishi Evo 8.

As Joel says: “We will work on anything really, a cool car is a cool car there are really no favourites.”

Jasmine’s career has taken her form the panel shop to the beauty industry and back to her love of cars. A favourite is her Mitsubishi EVO 8.

Jasmine’s job now is mainly front of office dealing with customers and quotes, but if needed she can still grab a spray gun.

Jasmine and Joel have experience in all sorts of fields and that brings great strength to the business.

Proud South African Kiwi Jan Van Vuuren with memorabilia from his past.

They all love classic cars and Joel is currently rebuilding a rotarypowered Corolla.

The 1960s Ford Anglia that Jan is working on for his wife.

The team at Manawatu Autobodies.

2024 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance

It’s a big call, swapping out a bellowing V8 for a four-pot screamer. Has Mercedes-AMG done the right thing?

Well, as anyone with any interest in C 63s will know by now, the king is dead, long live the king.

When we last reviewed a C 63, a wagon in 2019, we mentioned “this is likely the last V8 for the C 63. Enjoy it while you can then. Rest assured, the next iteration won’t sound this almighty.”

The rumours were correct – the V8 has gone – and in its place a fourcylinder donk that powers all the AMG compact cars.

Only this one has electric turbocharging and delivers even more power; would you believe 350kW and 545Nm? Strewth, that’s some mumbo from a four-pot 2.0 litre engine.

We were sadly right about the sound too. While there is a replacement for displacement –you just double up on your power sources – it’s hard to replace the

character of the V8.

And let’s face it, the sonics have been going backwards since the C 63 that was powered by the 6.2 naturally aspirated mill back a decade ago.

So, the hybrid era is here and with that even more power and torque.

How about 500kW and 1020Nm?

Unreal, given the old car did 375kW and 700Nm.

But it’s needed. Back in 2019 the C 63 weighed 1800kg. Now it’s almost 2150kg.

To achieve all that output, the AMG team has supplemented the fourpot up front – still handbuilt – with a rear-mounted electric motor that chimes in with 150kW and 320Nm of twist.

So there’s that change, and with it a marked difference in how they sound; there’s the whir of the electric and blat of the four pot on the upshift.

But is the added output enough to compensate for the change in how the car both sounds and drives?

gubbins and fiery engines in modern hot shot supercars. A sprint time beginning with a two was once a rarity, but not any more.

And the trimotor and quadmotor electric hypercars are in another league of accelerative authority altogether.

And impressive times are increasingly common with electric gubbins and fiery engines in modern hot shot supercars. A sprint time beginning with a two was once a rarity, but not any more.

And the trimotor and quadmotor electric hypercars are in another league of accelerative authority altogether. Anyhow, another rather big difference is that this has a plug for an electrical cable and you can drive it for a short while on electric energy only. Figure on around 15km from the 6.3kWh battery pack.

Which is pretty much next to nothing. But that’s not the point of this P3 hybrid. It is all about assisting the engine with ‘fast power delivery and draw’.

Other significant changes

There’s one other major difference between the old and the new; this now has fully variable AWD, just like its rivals. So the rear-drive point of difference is no longer.

Unlike the four-ringed car, however, you can unbolt the frontwheel drive aspect of the Mercedes and drive it in drift mode if you so desire.

The company recommends doing that under strictly controlled closed road conditions, for obvious reasons. And no, we didn’t.

On road then this has gobs more peak power and torque than before, and with AWD it’s much faster in a straight line. The gain on the sprint front is the better part of one second.

It was fast before; in 2019 we managed 0-100 in 4.17sec. The latest C 63 M-AMG claims will get the job done in 3.4sec, which is hiking.

And impressive times are increasingly common with electric

The battery (89kg) can deliver up to 150kW for 10 seconds, and regen of up to 100kW can be fed back in.

There are four levels of regen possible, activated by pushing the button attached to the wheel. The top level is not quite single-pedal driving but certainly slows the car appreciably on the go, while coasting is also possible on the lowest level of regen.

t’s just a pity that making these changes isn’t as simple as it is with, say, paddles. Only here, they’re for shifting gears and we used them quite a bit…for noise enhancement purposes mainly.

Outside there are minor styling changes, featuring a more cab-rearward stance and slightly more width, while inside is relatively familiar.

There are new digital instruments but unlike other Mercedes models, the infotainment system and driver’s readouts are not under a single pane of glass. Instead the central touch screen looks to be integrated into the centre console.

Safe as it sounds

Can the C 63 still hike? Of course it can. With so much torque and traction available from the outset, it fair blasts out of the blocks in Race mode with Race Start activated.

You can feel your head pinned into the headrest. On the very first acceleration run this posted a time of 3.38sec 0-100, ending with a best reading of 3.14sec.

That’s not bad for something weighing over 2.1 tonnes but bear in mind that’s 300-400kg heavier than some of its key rivals.

The nine-speed MCT auto that features a clutch pack instead of a torque converter is a quick shifter but not blindingly so. We recorded a best overtaking time of 1.85sec but DCTs definitely shift a bit quicker.

Still, anything below 2sec for 80-120km/h we consider rabidly quick.

What about fuel use? This is one of the secondary reasons M-AMG has opted for this powertrain.

It is rated at 6.1L/100km overall but on a drive into the backblocks we never saw anything below 14L/100km, sometimes closer to

20. No real change there then.

Long term the figure was 12.5L/100km, about double the combined claim.

To be fair, this is a tester and the hybrid will likely do much better in town settings where it will both regen and run on electric power alone rather more often. Single figures are also possible on the motorway using adaptive cruise.

And yes, it really does handle, but without quite the pizzazz of before.

Now there’s the security of AWD and rear-wheel steering. Previous C 63s were pretty damn good on road, but this is almost foolproof.

There’s just 1.9 turns lock to lock and its change of direction with all wheels aiming is the very definition of live and direct.

You’d not credit how well this hangs on in the dry too with its sticky low profile Pilot Sport 4S tyres. With a 50/50 weight split it is just about neutral through corners.

Unlike the rowdy CLA we drove before this on the same exact brand of rubber, the C 63 doesn’t announce its presence with road roar – we recorded a worst in-car SPL reading of 73dB, five less than

Moreover, dealers were wondering how they would explain to customers why the CLE 53 has a six-pot twinturbo mill whereas the range topping CLE 63 gets a fourpot hybrid.

Now it looks as if the CLE 63 will go with a 4.0 twin-turbo V8 and a mild hybrid configuration. That would also give it an advantage over its six-pot turbo M4 rival.

The latest C 63 might not get the aural tick of approval then but it certainly is refined. Riding on steel suspension with adaptive damping, this is smooth and absorbent in the Comfort mode, and only slightly less so in Sport.

its compact sib.

So you get to hear more of the new drivetrain. And yes in the Sport modes there’s the cackle of the exhaust on the upshift but it’s still a four-pot.

The sonic character of yore is a distant memory. As is the rawness and throttle-led oversteer of the rear-drive C 63s.

The brakes are certainly effective, especially for something that weighs this much, but there’s not quite the pedal feedback of the old warhorse either. That’s due to the mixed regen/friction functions of the brake pedal.

Is a reset imminent?

It’s of note that Mercedes is having a rethink about its decision to go hybrid in its performance variants, and that’s about to come to fruition in the CLE 63.

This was initially going to pick up the same petrol-electric powerplant that the C 63 has but customers in Europe have given the GLC and this car a lukewarm reception. And Mercedes-AMG did formerly say “let the customers decide” when it comes to the driveline they prefer for the C 63.

These are the two modes most will only ever use. Even in Normal mode most others won’t see which way this went.

It’s easy enough to operate overall too, in that AMG way; once familiarised. It’s just the twirly knobs on the wheel take a bit of sorting.

There are two final aspects that might well prove a deal breaker for those considering the $199,900 C 63 S E. The multispoke wheels are impossibly difficult to clean; pay the kids to do it.

And that lithium-ion battery pack seemingly takes up about half of the previous boot space. There’s a pronounced hump in the floor that makes an area aft of the rear seat backs essentially unusable.

You might slot a few kids’ lightly packed backpacks in there but not much else. In total you’re looking at 279L of space – little more than a Suzuki Swift – versus 455L for the C 43.

So while there’s been some technological progress, MercedesAMG look to have overly tamed their wild child C 63.

Those with safety in mind might approve but have they simultaneously alienated former fans? It sure looks that way.

2024 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance

$199,900

1991cc, IL4, T, DI

350kW @ 6750rpm

545Nm @ 5000-5250rpm

150kW / 320Nm

8-speed auto, AWD

500kW / 1020Nm

6.1L/100km

223g/km

3.14 sec

f-265/35/R20 r-275/35/R20

60L

ABS, ESP, TV

AEB, ACC, BSM, LDW, RCTA, ALK, AHB 279L

Not rated to tow

12 months/25,000km

3 years/unlimited km

Weight

rating

5 Stars (2022)

2144kg (claimed)

Blast from the Past

Every month we revisit pages from Radiator's history.

Heavy-weight issues

In New Zealand, if you modify your light vehicle beyond a certain threshold, it needs LVV certification. If you modify your heavy vehicle beyond that threshold, it needs heavy vehicle certification (HVE). A heavy vehicle is NB, NC, MD3, MD4 or ME class – all of these have a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of over 3500kgs. Heavy vehicles must have their modifications or repairs signed off by a Heavy Vehicle Certifier, who issues an approval certificate known as an LT400. This is a separate system to LVV certification, with its own separate requirements and processes (as heavy certifiers can assess both modifications and repairs), and until recently there has been little (if any) overlap of these two systems. However, recently NZTA have allowed certain modifications to heavy vehicles to be assessed by LVV Certifiers to LVV requirements, to make it easier and more cost effective for heavy vehicle owners to have their vehicles certified where modifications cross over with requirements for light vehicles. For the most part, heavy vehicle certification relies on a qualified engineer making a determination on the suitability of a modification, based on complex calculations and engineering justification, whereas the LVV system has set ‘recipes’ for the modifications in question. The heavy system also allows a certifier to sign off individual modifications, so rather than an LVV Certifier assessing all the modifications to a vehicle as one and signing them off (as they would with a light vehicle), because their certification of the vehicle is the basis on which the LT400 is issued, they can sign off individual modifications. This does mean that a Heavy Vehicle Certifier may still need to be involved in the certification process of the vehicle, if it has modifications outside the scope of what the LVV Certifier is permitted to cover (like changed wheels, or chassis modifications, for example).

Only certain LVV Certifiers have the ‘HVEC’ category necessary to inspect and certify heavy vehicles, and the modifications they can assess are limited by type and vehicle weight. The modifications permitted and the limitations are as follows:

• Seat and seat anchorages – no vehicle limits.

• Seatbelt anchorages – no vehicle limits.

• Right-hand drive conversions – provided the vehicle has a maximum of GVM of 6000kg, and a hydraulic braking system with either electric or vacuum assist.

• EV conversions - provided the vehicle has a maximum of GVM of 6000kg, and a hydraulic braking system with either electric or vacuum assist.

• Suspension (including supplementary load assist air springs) - provided the vehicle has a maximum of GVM of 6000kg, and a hydraulic braking system with either electric or vacuum assist, and the chassis cannot be modified.

• Powertrain/engine/driveline modificationsprovided the vehicle has a maximum of GVM of 6000kg, and a hydraulic braking system with either electric or vacuum assist.

• Fuel systems – provided the vehicle has a maximum vehicle GVM of 6000kgs.

• Disability transportation and control adaptation - provided the vehicle has a maximum of GVM of 6000kg, and a hydraulic braking system with either electric or vacuum assist.

• Braking systems - provided the vehicle has a maximum GVM of 6000kg, and a hydraulic braking system with either electric or vacuum assist.

The modifications listed are aimed at heavy vehicles that use the same methods and technologies found in light vehicles, so it makes sense to allow light vehicle certifiers to assess modifications to these systems. Often these vehicles are simply a larger version of a light vehicle, such as higher payload Ford Transits or VW Crafters, and are identical to their lighter brethren aside from heavier axles, wheels, and suspension to increase the payload. Others use carlike technologies, such as smaller Japanese buses (Toyota Coaster, Mitsubishi Rosa, Nissan Civilian etc), which are often shared with light vehicles across that manufacturer’s model range.

Seats and seatbelt installations are not limited by vehicle type or GVM, as LVV requirements and designs for these can be applied to nearly any vehicle with car-like panel steel construction. This is particularly helpful for owners of motorhomes based on buses where added/changed seating positions are needed, as there is often a significant time and cost burden involved in booking a Heavy Vehicle Certifier.

For an AVI (COF-B) inspector, a heavy vehicle certified to LVV requirements will (like a light vehicle) have an Electronic Data Plate (EDP) riveted to a structural area, which contains photographs of the modifications the vehicle is being LVV certified for, and a scan of the LT400 for the modifications the LVV certification covers. In lieu of a heavy vehicle certifier signing off the LT400, LVVTA issues this on behalf of the LVV certifier – so the LVV certifier’s signoff is used as justification to issue the LT400. As stated, because of the way the heavy certification system works, this LT400 only applies to the specific modifications listed, rather than the entire vehicle. As part of the COF-B inspection, an AVI needs to look at the information on the EDP to ensure the modifications present on the vehicle match those recorded on the LT400, in addition to any other LT400s present for the vehicle.

Light Vehicle Repair Certifiers have also been permitted to use a similar system, to certify repairs to heavy vehicles. The Repair Certifier must have category ‘H’ approval, which means they are permitted to certify repairs to monocoque structures and cab panels for all heavy vehicles that are not subject to Passenger Service Rule requirements. The same process applies – vehicles will be fitted with an EDP, which has details of the repairs and the LT400 to cover them. If there are other issues with the vehicle outside the scope of what the Repair Certifier is permitted to cover (such as chassis repairs, or mechanical repairs), the vehicle will need to be referred to a Heavy Vehicle Certifier for signoff of those issues. A recent example of this new system in action was an NB-class Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, which underwent repair certification for cracking in the B-pillar. As a heavy vehicle that shares its design and construction with a light vehicle (there are multiple variants of Sprinter, many of which have a GVM lower than 3500kg), this is an ideal use of the new lightvehicle repair certification system for heavy vehicles.

The Mercedes Sprinter B-pillar undergoing repairs.

Northern Region Bingo Night

An amazing night was put together for our northern members at the Dickens Inn with the Bingo Ladies! It was nothing short of spectacular with Bingo Ladies, Ethel and Bethel keeping everyone entertained. The room was filled with laughter, joy, delicious food, and delightful drinks, everyone who came along made the evening an unforgettable one.

A huge thank you to everyone who came out to support the event and congratulations to all the lucky winners who took home prizes. Stay tuned and keep an eye out for our next Northern event—it's going to be another fantastic event you won't want to miss.

and

MTA Northern Region members enjoyed a night of numbers and hilarity at the Dickens Inn.

Bingo ladies Ethel

Bethel present one of the prizes.

Always use the right tools

By Tony Hutchinson, HSE Connect CEO

Ever used a wrench as a hammer?

Seems a bit silly saying that, but we’ve all been there, and we all know it’s wrong. But when does wrong become dangerous? Consider the case of the workshop I called in at, and to my horror discovered something which could kill.

Now, the reasons we do silly stuff that we know is wrong often comes down to a quest for convenience. That’s a nice way of saying we’re being lazy and cutting corners, despite knowing better.

But when lives are endangered, laziness is no excuse. Nor, for that matter, is ignorance, particularly not in the eyes of WorkSafe or the law. The incident

As a health and safety advocate, I’ve spent a fair bit of time around the workplaces of our customers. On one such visit, going around the back revealed a car body propped up on four 44-gallon drums. You know the ones, 200 litres in the metric system, but absolutely not a viable alternative for jack stands.

(If you didn’t already know, jack stands hold a car up after lifting with a floor jack. They can't lift a car as high as a car lift but are inexpensive. Always use jack stands to manufacturing standards).

The initial shock was compounded when looking at the owner and asking quite reasonably, ‘shouldn’t that be on jack stands’, and the reply came “Don't worry, if it starts crumbling the guys will have plenty of time to get out”. Um, no.

What WorkSafe recommends (and the consequences of failure)

None of us here would expect any sort of structural integrity from an empty oil drum (though it should be noted that the Industrial Steel Drum Institute does have recommendations on safe stacking of up to 4 high when filled with a liquid not exceeding a specific gravity of 1.5 in a set temperature range. There’s actually a lot of science and maths that goes into these calculations – and none apply to random vehicles!)

There are also recommendations from WorkSafe, and if they spotted such an injustice, the consequences are severe, even if something doesn’t go wrong, and someone isn’t injured or killed. Which, of course, is the worst possible outcome.

It’s likely that a vehicle inappropriately supported would fall under WorkSafe’s Section 47 – Reckless Conduct exposing an individual to a risk of serious injury, illness or death. The consequences? Up to 5 years in prison, and a fine up to $3 million. It isn’t worth it

Jack stands are just one particularly serious example of using the wrong tool for the job. A wrench for a hammer isn’t as bad, with the potential consequences probably no more severe than a damaged workpiece and perhaps skinned knuckles.

The bigger lesson, though, is that cutting corners almost always results in a poorer outcome. Maybe a rounded off nut, maybe someone dead. It just

Always use the right tool for the job

isn’t worth it, particularly when lives are literally at stake. There’s a correct way of doing things for very good reason.

Tony’s top tips

• Always, and I mean ALWAYS use the right tool for the job. Don’t have the right tool, or the right knowledge? Then you’re not ready for the job. Get one, and take it up in your next Toolbox Talk

• It’s not just WorkSafe you should worry about. The bigger concern is the safety and wellbeing of your people.

• Shortcuts are often longcuts which end up costing more, causing damage, or causing injury.

Peace of mind, thanks to HSE Connect.

Built specifically with WorkSafe in mind, HSE Connect’s easy-to-use software already provides peace of mind to hundreds of MTA members. Members get discounted pricing and free set-up. Find out more here: www.hseconnect.co/mta or call HSE Connect on 022 643 1832

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Mastersofworkwear rental&cleaning.

If you want your staff to look clean and professional and save your company money with the least amount of hassle, talk to Apparelmaster. We buy any kind of workwear and rent it back to you, professionally launder and repair it and make sure you get the right gear where and when you need it.

If you want your staff to look clean and professional and save your company money with the least amount of hassle, talk to Apparelmaster. We buy any kind of workwear and rent it back to you, professionally launder and repair it and make sure you get the right gear where and when you need it.

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To find out more, call 0800 808 820 or visit online at apparelmaster.co.nz

Automotive events 2024

JULY

2024 WinterJam: I Am Hope Meremere Dragway

WinterJam returns again with all proceeds going to I AM HOPE! Come and show your support for a great cause. Together in 2023 we raised $6,872.50 for I AM HOPE! A massive contribution exceeding our expectations and also considering the short 4-week preparation. For 2024, we've got more time to prepare so we can smash last year's total.

Downtime Entertainment presents: 2024 WinterJam : I AM HOPE Saturday 20th July 2024 NAPA Auto Parts Dragway, Meremere Gates open 10am-3pm

AUGUST

Palmerston North HRC Swap Meet & Car Display

This event is an annual event run by the Palmerston North Hot Rod Club, it is always held on the 1st Saturday in August. This year’s event marks 50 years of this club running this event.

Automotive only and dubbed ‘the only real hot rod swap meet left. Food and Refreshments available.

Swap plots $10.

Venue: Manfeild Park, Feilding

Times: Gates open 8.00am

For further information please visit their website or contact: Vicki Connors - 027 304 2109 or Tim Olsen - 0274 577 994.

Apprentice Joins Motorsport Elite

With support from MITO Ambassadors and Rally Drivers, Hayden Paddon and Emma Gilmour, MITO selects several apprentices to attend New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) events throughout the year. They spend time with the team, support Hayden and Emma with technical requirements and get to experience behind-thescenes of professional motorsport.

MITO’s first 2024 appearance kicked off at the Otago Rally with Brooke Harris, a light automotive engineering apprentice from Invercargill. Motivated by her deepseated passion for motorsport and a desire to carve out a niche in the industry, Brooke took the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with New Zealand's top rally team.

"I'm really passionate about motorsport. I’d love to make a career out of it," she explained. “With motorsport, a lot of it involves who you know and making connections. I thought, what a great experience with the best Rally Team in New Zealand.”

“I was a bit of a fan girl! I’ve looked up to Hayden and Emma for so long, so it was just so cool to get involved, being in the middle of everything, all the crowds.”

The nitty gritty of the rally involved a lot of servicing, often within a small amount of time. “Sometimes, we only had an hour to work on the car. Sometimes it was forty-five minutes. Sometimes it was fifteen minutes!

It was a real time crunch and you just had to focus on keeping calm, making sure you're communicating with the rest of the team to make sure everything gets done on time.”

“I was working on Emma’s car with Mercedes [who was chosen to represent MITO at NZRC in 2022] and our chief mechanic, Ollie. He looked after any big damage and the engine bay and then me and Mercedes took a side of the car each to change wheels, do bolt checks and clean the car. If we had time, we would swap and check over each other’s stuff.”

Brooke was able to draw from her previous involvement in motorsport,

including working as a mechanic at the Castrol Toyota Racing Series and volunteering her time on racing weekends, but explained that the team was helpful and supportive if she didn’t know how something worked.

"The team was so good to work for," she noted, highlighting the camaraderie and professionalism. “Everyone got on so well, I felt like I'd known them forever.”

Looking ahead, Brooke views her participation in the Otago Rally as a pivotal milestone in her career. "To have that as an experience will definitely give people a good idea of how I can work within teams.”

For MITO apprentices interested in applying for other rallies this year, Brooke says to just do it. “If you can take the opportunity, do it because it doesn’t matter if you're interested in motorsport or not, it's such a good experience and you'll learn so much. You won't forget it.”

Find out more about MITO’s attendance at NZRC at mito.nz/ rally.

prabha.raman@mta.org.nz

yulene.knight@mta.org.nz

Tackling poor performance

Every employee is expected to contribute their best to the growth of an organisation; however, sometimes some employees may not pull their weight. It is important to address issues of poor performance effectively and in a timely manner. Managing poor performance helps to get an employee to the standard of performance required; to ensure they can do their job fully and in the right way.

Performance management

It is important to build an environment of continuous improvement and not all performance issues need to be managed using a formal process. There are several informal and proactive ways to help an employee improve their performance, such as:

• tools such as a written task list/instruction manual/ process flowchart etc

• regular catch-up and feedback, including on-thejob feedback

• support of a work buddy

• changes to allocation of tasks

• relevant training, coaching and mentoring.

If an employer does not address concerns in a timely manner, they may become the ‘norm’, leading to a further deterioration of the employee’s performance and the introduction of bad work practices.

In some cases, informal meetings and additional support may no longer be effective in raising an employee’s performance to the required standards. In such situations, a formal approach may be warranted. You may need to invite the employee to a formal meeting to discuss poor performance and place them on a performance improvement plan (PIP), which is time-bound.

A PIP is a tool designed to help underperforming employees improve their performances and meet the required standards for their jobs. It involves clear, focused discussions and sets achievable goals.

The PIP process allows a fair and reasonable time for improvement. If an employee fails to reach the required standard, disciplinary action, including termination, may be considered.

When implementing a PIP, it’s essential to focus on current issues and avoid raising unrelated past concerns to maintain fairness and good faith. Remember that open communication and support are crucial throughout the process.

Crafting an effective PIP

1. Identify specific performance issues.

2. Set clear improvement goals and timeframes.

3. Provide support, guidance and training.

4. Schedule regular check-ins to assess progress.

5. Point out the consequences and potential outcomes.

6. Seek clarification if needed.

The difference

Difference between disciplinary and poor performance management processes Managing poor performance is different from managing misconduct. It’s important to use the correct process to ensure that you adhere to the principles of natural justice. A poor performance management process is primarily intended to be supportive, not punitive.

It is an employer's obligation to always act in good faith. In cases of poor performance management, good faith means giving an employee a real

opportunity to improve their performance and help them to do so, while making sure that they know and understand their performance expectations. In cases of misconduct, this means conducting a fair and full investigation, relying on evidence, and giving the employee the opportunity to explain.

Disciplinary action may be appropriate in both cases if the employee does not perform to expected standards.

Warnings and PIPs

If an employee does not improve their performance throughout the PIP period, an employer may decide to take disciplinary action at the end of the period.

Disciplinary action is usually a written warning for poor performance to be placed on the employee’s file for a stipulated period. The warning is intended to put the employee on notice and assert the importance of improving their performance to the required standards. Typically, a three-strike process is recommended:

• PIP 1: Standards not met – first warning

• PIP 2: Standards not met – final warning

• PIP 3: Standards not met – dismissal

While deciding on the type and number of warnings, consider things such as:

• he difficulty and type of tasks involved

• the employee’s length of service

• the effort and progress toward improvement

• whether the performance issue was contributed to by the employer (lack of role clarity, job structure, expectations not clear, cultural misunderstandings, etc)

• whether there were personal issues (physical or mental health, family).

In situations relating to misconduct, there is no requirement to issue a specific number of warnings before dismissing an employee. It is good practice to outline these processes in your employment agreement or code of conduct document and adhere to those guidelines. Always ensure your actions align with what a fair and reasonable employer would do in the circumstances. For further advice, contact the MTA HR team.

The road to success

Staying ahead of the competition and navigating the complexities of business in our industry can be challenging. Whether you're a start-up, an experienced business owner, or even contemplating retirement, having a seasoned guide can make all the difference.

A business mentor is an invaluable asset to any automotive entrepreneur aiming to steer their business towards success and in the right direction.

A business mentor brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table. These seasoned professionals have been through the highs and lows of doing business, and their firsthand experience is a resource that can enhance the success of your business.

In the automotive industry, where trends, technologies, and consumer preferences shift rapidly, having a mentor can provide the stability and strategic direction needed to navigate change and evolution effectively. For example, understanding how to manage cash flow during lean times, making informed decisions about inventory, or negotiating with suppliers are skills that can be honed with a mentor’s guidance. In the previous edition of Radiator, MTA, in association

Loretta.thompson@mta.org.nz

with Auxo Software, introduced a new member benefit, offering 10 sponsored mentorships in partnership with Business Mentors New Zealand (BMNZ).

BMNZ was founded in 1991, with the mission of helping businesses survive, thrive and succeed. You might be familiar with the Woolrest brand, an iconic Kiwi success story, founded by the late Bill Hall, Dr Grahame Craig and two other investors. Originally a company selling wool floor rugs at a time when international competitors were flooding the New Zealand market, the company was staring down the barrel of a $50,000 loss. Then a loyal customer suffering from arthritis wrote to Bill, remarking he had used the floor rug as an underlay on his bed and had the ‘best night’s sleep’ he’d ever had. The organisation went from selling floor rugs to selling ‘A better night’s sleep’ to the tune of $42 million per annum while making its way into the Wall Street Journal when the product launched in the US in 1982.

Bill Hall and Dr Grahame Craig had a vision to give back to other Kiwis in business, and in 1991 formed the Business Mentors New Zealand (BMNZ) charitable trust. Today BMNZ has a network of 1500+ mentors nationally

who ensure the right matches for productive and rewarding mentoring relationships.

BMNZ is an independent, notfor-profit organisation and costs $295 exc. GST for the first year. It has a close working relationship with MBIE, ensuring access to relevant business and development growth initiatives that complement businesses across the country. If you’ve been losing sleep over the future of your business, Business Mentors New Zealand can help. For more information on Business Mentors New Zealand or how to apply for a BMNZ mentorship, visit businessmentors.org.nz

Maximise opportunities

Following on from last month’s article, “fitting customer supplied parts” we look at the reasons why it is becoming more prevalent. Referencing a recent article in Autofile NZ, the information from stats New Zealand has shown that the cost of living is impacting our industry.

Retail card spending on motor vehicles fell by $9.5 million – or 4.8 per cent – in May, when compared with the numbers seen in the month prior.

May’s total also represented a drop of $20m, or 9.5 per cent, from the same month of 2023 when $210m was splurged on motor vehicles using electronic cards. This could also be the catalyst to why we have seen a reduction in WoF inspections since March this year. We have seen a reduction in around 50,000 inspections compared from March ’24 from March’23 and a further decrease from March into April 2024, and only a slight increase into May.

So, for some shops things are getting tight.

We need to look at quality over volume in this scenario, maximising the opportunities that may be presented when a vehicle is in for service or repair.

We are not suggesting in anyway to be aggressive or unlawful in

dealing with your customer, but double checking what is in front of you.

When was the last time the coolant was changed, the brake fluid?

Check OEM recommendations according to the owner’s handbook, is there a suggested service item you have overlooked?

Gear oils, spark plugs etc.

Double check before finishing that job, but also think of your customer.

You want to see your customer again, next time and in the future.

If you have maximised what is

coming into your shop, maybe look at your operating practices, workflows and processes.

Is there something you could change to increase your or your team’s efficiency, is there processes you can look at to reduce overheads or operating costs?

Now might be the time to look at implementing new initiatives for when the work volumes are back at 100% so you are ready, rather than trying to play catch up due to too much work.

Think positive and think to the future. Glen.mcgarry@mta.org.nz

Business mentors bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table.

Conference and fate

The CRA, Chapter of MTA, held its conference on the 7th and 8th of June at the Auckland Viaduct Events center. It was a major event, with 4 top speakers, the famous Bar room chats and a lively panel discussion, which included MTA CEO Lee Marshall.

One of the highlights of the yearly conference is the Awards Evening, where CRA members are recognized in various categories. Highlight awards are the Apprentice of the Year, with one awarded for paint (refinishing) and one for panel. This year was the first time two young women won the awards, Victoria Hine from A-1 Autofinish and Sidney Clow from Matamata Panel & Paint.

It is encouraging to see young women thriving in the collision repair sector and Sidney and Victoria had clear views on what needs to happen to attract and keep young people in trades in the industry. One factor is an inclusive environment, the other plenty of encouragement, both were important to them in their training. Encouragement is not just a pat on

the back, it is supporting people to have a go, to push themselves to do things they might be hesitant about or lack confidence in, to grow as a person and in skill as a trade person.

To get the trained people our industry needs we need to encourage more young new Zealanders into learning the skills we are so short off, listening to Sidney and Victorias views show what is important to them and therefore what we should ensure continues to happen in the industry. A conference allows people to get the views of specialist experts, we had Stewart Darling an ex British covert operations leader talk on leadership – learnt in the harsh reality of conflict zones. There were presentations on what future vehicles will becoming New Zealand soon, economic comments unravelling the budget and what the government must grapple with, along with an expert of running the numbers your business needs or should have to stay viable. I lump the speakers and award

stewart@collisionrepair.co.nz

winers into a heading called fate. The fate of the collision repair industry depends on talented new people coming into the industry, its viability depends on the talent and leadership of existing business owners and how well they understand the economy, what’s coming down the pipeline and how well they know their business numbers and what it takes to survive another 5 years. The 2024 conference got together a group of people who bothered to care about their business, the industry, and its future, to discuss what’s happening and what sort of things we can do to ensure businesses are viable and sustainable.

If you share the view we can determine to a fair degree our own fate, then awards, recognition, conferences with learning and engagement are all useful in creating the future we want. The 2024 Conference theme was sailing into the future, those that attended were making waves towards a better industry for Collision repair. – Stewart Gibb

Expos and Fieldays

June was a crazy month for the MTA team; we attended the Collision Repair Association conference, the Bapcor Trade Expo, the Auto Super Shoppe conference; we had a plastic bumper repurposing summit, and I took time to attend the 2024 Mystery Creek Fieldays with Nick Mills, MTA Central North Island Member Advisor.

It was great to catch up with so many of our members across all the events and see the automotive industry showcasing innovative equipment, products, and vehicles available in New Zealand.

At the 2024 Fieldays, motor vehicle manufacturers may not have been centre stage, but I think the automotive stands were the best at the show. Maybe I’m a little biased, but it was great to see the motor manufacturers showcasing cutting-edge technology, rugged performance and electrified and hydrogen vehicles on the very impressive stands.

Car, truck, motorcycle and marine manufacturers displayed their latest offerings, from sleek electric cars to powerful 4x4s, two- and four-wheel motorbikes, and boat motors.

As we headed to the gate we were greeted by the ‘win-me’ tough Isuzu D-Max ute. Visiting the stands it was great to see so many attendees on the sites exploring

Larry.fallowfield@mta.org.nz

a diverse range of vehicles and accessories in the great location that is Mystery Creek Fieldays.

Brands like Hyundai, Isuzu, BYD, Can-Am, Ford, GM, Hino, Honda, Ineos, Jeep, Kawasaki, LDV, Mahindra, Mitsubishi, Polaris, Ram, SsangYong, Suzuki and Toyota showcased their best, emphasising innovation and sustainability.

The Hilux Hybrid made its debut, and the legendary Land Cruiser 70 also stole the spotlight, appealing to those seeking rugged reliability. Additionally, the new-generation Land Cruiser Prado featured a hybrid electric powertrain for the first time ever.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E supported the ever-popular Ford Ranger, and the Silverado dominated the GM Specialty Vehicles stand.

Mitsubishi went back to the future showcasing the 2024 next-gen Triton ute, ASX, Outlander and Eclipse Cross next to a classic 80s L200 4WD ute and the V3000 police car.

Hyundai’s theme was ‘Future Positive’ with the new range of Kona, Ioniq 5N, and Nexo hydrogen-powered vehicle, along with Hayden Patton’s BEV rally car and a hydrogen fuel cell generator on display.

As we walked through the Isuzu stand, conversations buzzed, and the bell rang out for another sale of a D-Max ute; it was great to see so many ‘sold’ stickers on the vehicles and I know the thrill of the open road awaits the lucky winner of the giveaway D-Max ute. It was great to see so many people braving the Waikato winter to attend.

Increase the EV charging network

Energy Minister Hon Simeon Brown announced on 30 April 2024 the New Zealand Government's latest move in its plan to "supercharge" New Zealand's electric vehicle (EV) charging network. The announcement was for 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs between major urban centres, each with between four and 10 chargers. This is a small step towards the Government's stated goal of a charging network comprised of 10,000 EV chargers by 2030 (the National Party campaigned on, and adopted, a policy to establish a charging network of 10,000 EV chargers), from a base of approximately 1,200 chargers as at September 2023.

This is focused on public charging infrastructure, comprising roadside charging stations, charging stations in public places or commercial facilities open to the public, and charging stations in open car parks.

This announcement comes off the back of the Government's decision in late 2023 to end the Clean Car Discount that provided a rebate on EV purchases. The energy minister said at the time that the shift away from providing direct incentives to EV consumers would instead be channelled into strengthening the EV charging network nationwide. Specifically, the refocus is intended

Mathew.alderdice@mta.org.nz

to alleviate range anxiety by those who have not yet transitioned to EVs.

The EV charging market in New Zealand is lagging behind comparable countries such as Australia, Canada and the UK. It has been suggested that this is because of the difficulty in finding adequate locations for the chargers, and access to the electricity grid within the current regulatory market.

The Government intends to develop a new model to facilitate investment into new EV network infrastructure (the "Supercharging EV infrastructure work programme" Supercharging EV infrastructure), based on the model used for the roll-out of the fibre broadband network in New Zealand. This is intended to involve "clear standards and the use of limited public funds to attract private investment through a competitive bidding process to reduce costs and support investment in underserved areas,"(Supercharging EV infrastructure) and will also involve the development of a costbenefit framework for Government co-investment in public EV chargers (as was committed to in the National Act Coalition Agreement).

The announcement stated that decisions on this model will be confirmed late 2024, so this will be

Overseas investment implications

In particular, there has been no indication on whether there will be an exemption from the requirement to obtain approval under the Overseas Investment Act 2005, which is required for overseas investors investing in sensitive land, or where they wish to invest more than $100 million (the usual threshold which requires a "significant business assets" approval under the Act). In our view:

something for MTA service station members to keep an eye out for.

The Government's proposed work programme also encompasses several additional limbs, including:

• enabling standards to improve consumers capability to shift home EV charging demand away from network “peaks”.

• collaborating with the Electricity Authority on addressing barriers to EV charging connections across all electricity distributors (a key issue previously raised by industry participants).

• setting up a "Cross Agency Taskforce" to guide the work programme and engage with the industry.

Reducing red tape

EV infrastructure developers and investors will be pleased with the confirmation in the announcement of the Government's intention to reduce red tape and regulation, including the removal of the requirement for a resource consent for the installation of public EV chargers. The Minister's announcement did not provide any details of the proposed new regulatory landscape, or timeframes in which it would be implemented.

is required. For example, an individual plot of land on which chargers are installed in rural areas may not trigger the approval requirement, but a network of those plots could together exceed the sensitive land thresholds.

benefits to New Zealand arising from the investment, the approval process could impose unnecessary time and cost, when the clear intent is to get the chargers up and running quickly and efficiently.

• Such an exemption would be very beneficial in encouraging overseas investment in EV charging – this is because if the land is purchased freehold, or is subject to a long-term lease (as opposed to a licence), the Act aggregates such land interests for the purposes of determining whether approval

• In addition, the significant investment required to raise the number of EV chargers to 10,000 chargers may exceed the usual $100 million threshold at which a "significant business assets" approval would be required (the Government has proposed spending $257 million on the chargers itself, so multiples of that amount are likely to be required from the private sector).

• While we expect that approval under the Act would be able to be obtained given the

Cabinet has agreed to develop a new model to support investment in EV charging infrastructure in New Zealand by establishing a Cross Agency Taskforce including, the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, the Ministry of Transport and EECA (the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority), and Crown Infrastructure Partners to drive the work programme and engage with industry.

The MTA will be closely following developments in this space.

MTA member-only benef i ts and offers

Make the most of your membership and take advantage of the value on offer from our business partners.

New vehicles

Another very soft month for total new passenger and light commercial vehicle markets, which was down on May 2024 by 7.5 percent and down on June 2023’s exceptionally high volume by a whopping 60 percent. With half the year gone registrations are down YTD on LYTD by over 22,000 units or 26.3 percent behind.

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25 percent off terminal rental and free credit card surcharging

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Our HR team are on hand to help you with staff and employment issues

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These MTA products have been designed to keep the MTA brand in front of consumers and encourage spend back to MTA members

• Health, Safety and Wellbeing

We offer tools that help your business stay compliant and safe where staff are happy and well

• HSE Connect

An easy and affordable electronic H&S system that will save you time, money, and keep you compliant. Members get 25 percent off and free setup

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MTA have partnered with MTF Finance to provide a finance solution aimed to help your customers pay for repairs, maintenance, parts, and accessories that exceed $1,500

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Free access for members, last year members an saved an average of $7,566 using n3 suppliers

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New passenger vehicle registrations dropped by almost five percent on May 2024 to finish the month on 6,065 registrations and down by over 11,000 units on June 2023. Six months in the market is down over 34 percent on LYTD. New commercial registrations have also seen a dramatic drop, down 460 registrations on May 2024 and down 46 percent on June 2023. It is currently tracking at six percent behind LYTD. Battery Electric Vehicles had a jump up by 1.5 percent over last month to finish with almost six percent of the June 2024 registrations.

Brand performance

Isuzu doubled down on the J’s back in the Top 10 since its last appearance in January 2024 with 280 units registered. GWM rounded out the Top 10 with 3.1 percent of June 2024 registrations. Last month’s top five saw a 14 percent drop in June 2024 down by over 700 units on May 2024.

Mitsubishi again held on to third increasing by 13 units over May 2023 and the only brand of last month’s top five to show an increase.

Ford Ranger continued its hold on the top spot albeit 178 units behind last month, Toyota HiLux took second place with nearly 13 percent of June’s registrations down 118 units from May 2024 and the Rav4 rounded out the top three with 556 units down from last month’s 761. Suzuki Swift with 208 units and 4.5 percent of the June’s registrations was the only

Used import vehicles

The used import sector has continued its downward slide, with 8,271 units the lowest month Year To Date. YTD the sector is down 53 percent on June 2023 and behind May 2024 by 12 percent for passenger and light commercial vehicles registrations.

June 2024 saw 7,828 passenger vehicles registered, down almost 12 percent on last month, and over 1,000 units behind, with 443 light commercial vehicle registrations seeing a drop of 95 registrations on May 2024. Off the back of a big June 2023 the sector is behind by 53 percent or down 9,427 units from last year’s biggest selling month (June 2023) of 17,698 registrations. Currently now YTD it is down 11.5 percent on the same period Last Year.

Brand and model performance

Toyota was again the brand leader at 39.1 percent of the month’s registrations, albeit nearly 500 units behind last month, Nissan held second spot while also seeing a drop of 83 and Mazda dropped 91 units to round out the top three. BMW was the only brand in the Top 10 to see an increase over last month. The top 10 saw a drop of 962 units over May24. Even after last month’s publicity around the Toyota Aqua finding itself the most stolen vehicle for the second year running it still topped June 2024 registrations, but behind last month by 167 units. Toyota remained dominant with a third of the models in the Top 15 for June 2024, Mazda Axela held firm in third with 6.9 percent of the monthly registrations and the Toyota Prius held second spot with 584 units.

DRIVE TECHNOLOGY MIX

Top 10 Used Import Brands - June 2024

Motorcycles

Total new road motorcycle and scooter market saw registrations drop by 57 units over last month’s low of 578 to finish at 497. June 2024 is down 14 percent on May 2024 and down 33 percent over June 2023, and Year To Date the new motorcycle sector is down 14 percent on the same period last year.

Brand and model performance

Top 15 Used Import Models

CFMOTO had a big month taking top spot in both brand and model sales for June 2024. CFMOTO increased by 27 registrations to 11.3 percent of the monthly registration sand jumped up from seventh in last month’s brand section to a strong number one. June 2024 also seen Royal Enfield with 50 units, Yamaha with 47 and Honda with 46 units and 10.1, 9.5 and 9.3 percent respectively. June 2024 saw CFMOTO MT450 increase from 20 registered unts in May 2024 to 39 in June 2024, the Royal Enfield Himalayan backed up last months big sales to hold second on the model table followed by the ever-popular Harly Davidson Softail.

Top 10 Motorcycle Registrations by Brand

Top-selling Models

Situations vacant - North Island

Automotive technician/mechanic TARADALE

TM Autos require an experienced technician/ mechanic. We offer WoFs, services, pre-purchase checks in a well equipped workshop. WoF inspector authority preferred. Hold a full NZ drivers licence, and NZ residency. Email CV to: go.tmautos@ gmail.com, or see Matt at TM Auto’s Taradale. Automotive technician/WoF

TAUPO

Morrell Motors is an award winning, multi-franchise dealership requiring a qualified Automotive Technician to join our team. WoF certificate an advantage. Contact Mark Morrell, mark@morrellmotors.co.nz or phone 021 759 070.

Automotive technician

WELLINGTON

The role requires problem solving and diagnose faults in a wide variety of modern and classic vehicles. Work ranges from basic service and WoF through to engine and gearbox rebuilds, auto electrical, performance modifications and electric cars. Email CV and cover letter to office@powerhaus.net.nz. Phone: 04 499 8715. Automotive technician/WoF TAUPO

We are a busy workshop looking for a mechanic with recognised qualification in the automotive industry or acceptable time served. WoF certificate preferred. Must be a team player with excellent communication skills. Email CV to: office@mainlandeng.co.nz.

Automotive technician

NAPIER

T M Autos requires a technician. We are a small fully equipped workshop in the centre of Taradale. 3rd year apprentices will be considered. Must have Full NZ drivers licence.

Contact: Matt at go.tmautos@gmail.com

Senior technician

TAURANGA

Herbs Vehicle Repairs are in search for a Senior Technician to join our team in our Central Tauranga based workshop. If you are capable of carrying out all types of mechanical repairs in our busy workshop that will keep our customers happy then we would like to hear from you. Contact us at herbstauranga@gmail.com or call 07 577 6535. WoF Inspector/technician

TAURANGA

Earn more money then you are currently, come and work with us. We offer a family friendly environment. Email: tauranga@midasnz.co.nz. Phone: 021 102 9743.

Panelbeater

WANGANUI

We are seeking a passionate, qualified panelbeater or 3rd year apprentice for our small shop with BIG results. Small to medium repairs and restorations. Drivers licence and residency a must. C.V required. Contact tom.don66@mail.com or phone 027 308 0614.

Mechanic

PAPAKURA

Small busy workshop looking for a mechanic with recognised qualification in the automotive industry or acceptable time served. WoF authority a bonus. Great communication skills and able to work under pressure and without supervision essential. Phone Graeme 09 299 9706.

Qualified mechanic BIRKENHEAD

Busy workshop looking for a qualified mechanic to work on various makes of cars. Hours: Monday to Friday 8am to 4:30pm. WoF authority preferred, but not essential. Email CV to birkenheadcarrepairs@xtra.co.nz

Automotive technician

HAVELOCK NORTH

We require a mechanic with WoF authority, not frightened of being busy and can work on a variety of vehicles, be reliable and trustworthy. Email: mcclintockmotors2014@gmail.com if interested along with your c.v. Automotive technician

NEW PLYMOUTH

A great opportunity for a motivated, qualified technician to join our growing team. You will have a full drivers license, be trade and WoF certified or have the ability to obtain. No weekend work required. Phone: 06 758 3535.

Automotive technician/mechanic HASTINGS

We are Hastings’ VTNZ Certified Repairer. Full NZ drivers licence. NZ or equivalent automotive qualifications. (3rd year apprentices will be considered) Ability to work unsupervised. Email CV to admin@dcautocare.co.nz or contact Dylan 06 878 8138.

Automotive mechanic/technician

MANUKAU CITY

We are a busy workshop who prides themselves on quality workmanship and customer service. Needs to be able to work unsupervised, have good diagnostic skills and be able to work on a wide range of vehicles and a full driver licence with New Zealand residency or a valid work visa. Email: workshop@autoking.co.nz. or phone: 09 262 1271

Mechanic/WoF Inspector

AUCKLAND

Busy Automotive workshop - Auckland Howick Central. Are seeking a mechanic with any experience. Contact Vlad: 021 261 2604 or email: info@somarservice.co.nz.

Qualified mechanic

PORIRUA

Join our busy, friendly team at Porirua Motors. Contact Murray Phone: 04 237-4975 or directly to our workshop. Phone: 04 237-7979. Diesel mechanic

WYNDHAM

Enthusiastic diesel injection technician with common rail experience to join a thriving rural garage with a fully equipped diesel fuel injection facility. Generous package to reflect experience, with possibility for future investment into the business. Email: redbarron222@gmail.com or phone 0272 417 614.

Auto technician/WoF Inspector

PAIHIA

Want a job by the sea? We're looking for a qualified auto technician. Great remuneration and relocation support. E: brian@boiam.co.nz or call 029 238 4088

Automotive technician

PAHIATUA

We are looking for a motivated, qualified technician to join our small friendly team. A WoF authority is preferred but not essential. Contact Kevin at laskeysauto@xtra.co.nz. or 021 803 238.

Service advisor

PAPAMOA

To ensure customers have an excellent experience, you’ll be a person who is passionate about providing outstanding customer service. Email your CV to jobs@coastalautos.nz.

Automotive tech/WoF Inspector

TE AROHA

Immediate start. Qualified or equivalent experience and WoF authority are required. We offer excellent working conditions. Please email CV to: service@summitmotors.co.nz or call Garth on 021 511 911.

Mechanic –

TAUPO AREA

Qualified mechanic required for busy workshop. Must be able to work unsupervised. A WoF authority is preferred but not essential. Great team with new, well-equipped workshop. Contact Heather on 027 244 2331.

Mechanic

KUMEU, RODNEY

Small busy workshop seeking a mechanic with recognised qualification. WoF authority a bonus. Great communication skills and ability to work under pressure. Email Mike: admin@ manukaautomotive.co.nz.

Mechanic/WoF inspector –

KAIKOHE

Looking for a qualified automotive technician with WoF authority servicing and mechanical repairs. Clean New Zealand driver licence. Phone Richard 09 401 0155 or email CV to office@kaikohepanelbeaters.co.nz.

Automotive Technician

WHANGAREI

This is a wonderful opportunity if you are looking for a positive change in a rural environment surrounded by a wonderful community. Full-time or part-time considered. Please email chevaun@gasmgk.co.nz

Senior technician/ Foreman

PAPAMOA

Work, play and enjoy life on the beach. Relocation costs may be subsidised. For a qualified, 10yrs+ experienced mechanic, we offer competitive pay. Please send CV to jobs@coastalautos.nz.

Product Support Engineer

MASTERTON

AECS Equipment and Technical Support supplies equipment and support to the Automotive Industry across NZ. We are looking for someone to grow into our technical support team. The role could be based anywhere and includes travel and flexible hours. If you want to have passion for what you do, get in touch! For more information on the role please email jodie@aecs.co.nz

Situations vacant South Island

Mechanic/WoF Inspector

BALCLUTHA

Seeking a full time qualified, motivated Automotive Technician to join our friendly team at our busy workshop, hours: Monday to Friday. Preferably with WoF authority. Full NZ drivers’ licence. We service all makes and models. Phone Allan Finch on 027 768 6697.

Automotive technician

TASMAN

We are looking for a Senior qualified technician to join our team. Preferably with WoF authority. We are a mechanical workshop/service station and an AA Breakdown contractor. We would be willing to offer assistance with relocation and finding accommodation.

Email chris.perrysauto@gmail.com with CV or contact owner Chris Atkins 021 540 286.

Automotive technician

KAIAPOI

A busy general repair workshop looking for an experienced technician, with a current WoF certificate. Contact Jason on 027 918 8685.

Automotive technician

SOUTH CANTERBURY

South Canterbury Honda service centre, after hours AA roadside contractor and carry out salvaging throughout the district. Must hold a full driver’s licence, have excellent diagnostic skills, time management and be a team player. Call Alan on 027 228 9584 or email alan@vaughanmotors.co.nz.

Automotive electrician

INVERCARGILL

We are looking for a qualified automotive electrician to join our small friendly team. 40 hour weeks. Email: service@dominionelectric.co.nz with CV.

WoF Inspector

NELSON

With over 30 years of experience, DS Auto Ltd is a trusted name in the Nelson automotive industry. We are seeking a qualified and diligent WoF Inspector to join our team. Competitive hourly rate offered. For further information please contact Derryl Henman 029 2412839 or email: office@dsauto.co.nz

Automotive technician

DUNEDIN

Opportunity for a qualified/experienced Automotive Technician to join our friendly team in our busy Dunedin workshop. WoF Certified preferred but would be happy to help you get qualified. Competitive remuneration. Contact Garry 0274 545 040 or email: bgapplegarth@xtra.co.nz.

Automotive technician

INVERCARGILL

New car dealership, Southland Vehicle Sales has a long term opportunity available for a qualified mechanic to join the team working on Kia and Hyundai vehicles. Please contact Mark Lee on 021 0832 3373 or mark@leerecruitment.co.nz.

Motorcycle technician

NELSON

We require a qualified technician to work us in our well-established Honda dealership. The successful applicant will need to be honest and hardworking, have a clean driver’s licence, attention to detail and the ability to work with our existing staff of nine. Contact Ian on 027 221 9162.

Businesses for sale

Automotive Workshop/Service Station – TASMAN

Situated in Mapua in the middle of the Tasman Bay. Lots of opportunity to grow an already very busy business. All equipment has been replaced over recent years. 20k invested this year alone. AA roadside contractor. Owner prepared to assist with transition. For information call Chris 021 540 286 or email chris.perrysauto@gmail.com.

Automatic Transmission Specialist - NEW PLYMOUTH

Current owner for 40 years. A very successful family business now for sale so owners can retire. Automatic transmission repairs, Power steering and general servicing and repairs. Currently working out of two workshops with the capability of reducing to one. SAM computer system and Excel run through the accountant. All hoists, specialist tools. Grant: 0275 320 611 Email: automatics@xtra.co.nz

Automotive Workshop HASTINGS

Long established business since 1991 family owned and operated. 3-bay workshop all plant and equipment, SAM computer system, WoF, servicing, tyre sales and general repairs. Contact Clark 06 879 9487 email: clarkkelly@xtra.co.nz.

Automotive Workshop -

AUCKLAND (Howick Central)

Long time successful business. High customer base. 2x2 post hoists, one pit plus more. WoF site. For information email: info@somarservice.co.nz.

Automotive Workshop

NORTHSHORE (O rewa)

Retirement Looms

Prime location/Long established business 3 Bays 2x2 post Hoist, 1x4 post Hoist Wofs,Tyres,Batteries. Phone: 09 4265783 021 022 45219. Email: orewa.auto2016@gmail. com

Ludemann Motors, Weston, OAMARU

Modern 360m2 building, fully kitted out. Quality offices, spacious workshop, lengthy and profitable business history. Located on the main street of Weston, top-notch work environment. Asking $265,000 Plus GST (if any). Business only. Contact Tony 027 435 5275 or Sam 022 062 9782.

Services

VIRM In-Service Certification

Questionnaire pack

Training resource for prospective and current VIs. 14 questionnaires, marking and certificate of completion. Contact Fliss, Business Systems Sorted. Phone: 022 151 1243. Email: fliss@businesssystemssorted.co.nz. www.businesssystemssorted.co.nz.

Need some help?

Simple, personalised H&S system, documented policies and procedures, hazsub inventories and office optimisation service - clearing the clutter! Contact Fliss, Business Systems Sorted022 151 1243.

Email: fliss@businesssystemssorted.co.nz. www.businesssystemssorted.co.nz.

To advertise your Situations Vacant or Business for Sale in this section please email: radiator@mta.org.nz. Free for members up to 30 words.

Let us drive your recruitment success

At Muster, we understand that recruiting top talent in the automotive industry requires a winning formula: a blend of expertise and cutting-edge technology. What really sets us apart is our personal touch. We believe in building meaningful relationships and making sure every interaction is tailored to meet your unique needs in the automotive industry.

Reach out to our team today! Ph: 09 394 7444 Freephone 0508 MUSTER info@musterrecruit.co.nz - www.musterrecruit.co.nz

Andrea Andrew WoF Consultant

We encourage all members to attend the training courses, professional development opportunities or networking events taking place in their areas. Our region coordinators will let you know what’s on and when. They are also keen to hear your ideas for other training or get-togethers that you’d like to take part in.

The region executive committees meet approximately every six weeks and all MTA members are most welcome to attend. The more you get involved, the more you can benefit from membership. Just contact your coordinator or region chair to check the dates of the meetings in your region.

KAIMAI

Kim Preston Regional Events Coordinator Team Leader 027 280 0707 kim.preston@mta.org.nz

Jason Land Region Chair 0274 452 635 jason@collinsauto.co.nz

CENTRAL WEST

James Candish Region Chair 027 226 3053 jc@vva.co.nz natalie.campbell@mta.org.nz

NORTHERN REGION

Amy Lai Region Coordinator 021 292 7652 amy.lai@mta.org.nz

natalie.campbell@mta.org.nz

Rachel Beattie Region Chair 027 496 6275 rachel@neighbourhood mechanic.co.nz

Kelly Stephens Region Chair 027 366 0050 kstephens@hbtoyota.co.nz

UPPER NORTH ISLAND CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND

MIKE BURD Team Leader 027 539 4010 mike.burd@mta.org.nz

SOUTH AUCKLAND

MARK MOWBRAY 027 270 2665 mark.mowbray@mta.org.nz

LOWER NORTH ISLAND & UPPER SOUTH ISLAND

DANNY GARRICK 027 478 0593 danny.garrick@mta.org.nz

NICK MILLS 027 2099 494 nick.mills@mta.org.nz

LOWER SOUTH ISLAND

SHELLEY CARTER 027 497 1568 shelley.carter@mta.org.nz

MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT

Member support team: 0800 00 11 44 mta@mta.org.nz

Shannon Morbey Region Coordinator 021 031 0075 shannon.morbey@mta.org.nz

Region Coordinator 021 152 8232 jody.worsfold@mta.org.nz

www.evcity.kiwi

SOUTHERN MAINLAND

Katrina Garrett Region Coordinator 021 225 5528 katrina.garrett@mta.org.nz

Leslie Baxter Region Chair 03 208 1234 leslie@carnabycars.co.nz

Region Coordinator 021 152 8232 jody.worsfold@mta.org.nz

021 706 503 hamish.miller@op.ac.nz

L-R: Tony Allen, Grant Woolford, Bob Boniface (President), Sturrock Saunders, Ross Verry, Andrea Andrew, Joris Sanders.

Level up your career.

Take the next step in your career with MITO’s New Zealand Certificate in Business (First Line Management).

This programme is designed for current and aspiring managers, supervisors and administrators who would like to progress their knowledge and skills in team management and development.

Scan the QR code or apply at mito.org.nz/first-line-management

MITO is a business division of Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology. We support on-job learning and career development for the automotive, transport, logistics and extractive industries.