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Consultation closed on 29 September 2025 |
The Director of Land Transport is proposing two exemptions for class NB (medium goods) vehicles that have a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 3700kg or less – one for towbar certification and the other for driver logbook requirements.
The proposed exemptions aim to reduce some of the compliance burden for people buying new variants of hybrid ute that, due to the weight of their battery, are heavier than the 3500kg GVM light vehicle threshold.
This means these vehicles fall within the heavy vehicle category of class NB or ‘medium goods’ vehicles class and therefore must meet a number of additional compliance requirements.
The Director of Land Transport has the power to issue an exemption where he believes it is appropriate after considering matters including the effectiveness, efficiency and safety of the land transport system.
The proposed exemptions, if accepted as currently proposed, would be in place for 3 years.
The first proposed exemption is the Land Transport Rule: Heavy Vehicles 2004 (Certain medium goods vehicles towbar certification standard) Class Exemption Notice 2025.
This exemption would allow vehicles of the class NB that have a GVM of 3700kg or less (including when they are towing a trailer that has a GVM of 3500kg or less) to have their towbar be (approved as) compliant to standard ADR62/02 instead of NZ5467.
Currently, the certification standard for towbars is a New Zealand-specific standard that does not line up with the ADR62/02 internationally recognised certification standard that these vehicles’ components are manufactured to meet.
The second proposed exemption is the Land Transport Act 1998 section 30ZA logbook exemption for drivers of certain medium goods vehicles.
This exemption would apply to drivers of vehicles of the class NB that have a GVM of 3700kg or less (including when they are towing a trailer that has a GVM of 3500kg or less).
It would mean that drivers of this class of vehicle do not have to use logbooks unless they are being used for commercial purposes.
This exemption aims to remove this confusion about logbook requirements and make this vehicle category more accessible to potential buyers.
Read the following proposals:
We sought feedback and comments on:
The last day to share feedback was Monday 29 September 2025.
We are now considering feedback before making a final decision in November.
The information you share with us in the online form will be used by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) to help inform our consultation about the proposed Land Transport Rule: Heavy Vehicles 2004 (Certain medium goods vehicles towbar certification standard) Class Exemption Notice 2025 and the proposed Land Transport Act 1998 section 30ZA logbook exemption for drivers of certain medium goods vehicles.
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