Consultation on new light entry certification appointments

Submissions for this consultation have now closed

Consultation on  proposed changes to the New Light Entry Certification appointment process closed on 8 December 2025.

The feedback we received was supportive, so NZTA decided to adopt the proposed changes.

The changes align with sections 2 and 6 of the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002 and other certification categories, and also ensure the inspecting organisation takes greater responsibility for overseeing the certification process and verifying that vehicles meet New Zealand standards.

What we sought feedback on

As part of our commitment to improve consistency, transparency, and safety across the certification process, we’ve recently reviewed our new light entry inspection and certification appointment process.

As a result, we consulted on updating it to align to sections 2 and 6 of the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002 (the Rule), and to align with appointment periods and performance reviews in other certification categories.

After our internal review and engagement with the Motor Industry Association (MIA), we proposed to:

• appoint an inspecting organisation (IO) who will have a vehicle compliance inspector (VCI). This would replace the current new entry certifier appointment.
• extend the appointment period to 10 years.
• move performance reviews from the current Performance Review System (PRS) system to the Quality Management System (QMS).

Consultation document [PDF, 302 KB]

If you have any questions about this consultation, email borderandentry@nzta.govt.nz