Contents

Objective of the Rule

Extent of consultation

Section 1     Application

• 1.1     Title
• 1.2     Date when Rule comes into force
• 1.3     Scope of Rule

Section 2     Amendments to Rule requirements

• 2.1     Fuel tanks and fuel lines
• 2.2     Exhaust systems

Section 3     Amendment to Definitions

• 3.1     Substitution of definition

Objective of the Rule

Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Equipment Amendment 2011 amends Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Equipment 2004 (the Vehicle Equipment Rule). The Vehicle Equipment Rule sets out safety and maintenance requirements for the following equipment fitted to motor vehicles: warning devices, speedometers, sun visors, mudguards, footrests on motorcycles and mopeds, child restraints, televisions, fuel tanks and fuel lines. The Rule applies to all motor vehicles except power-assisted pedal cycles.

The objective of the amendment Rule is to amend the Vehicle Equipment Rule to:

• transfer two provisions relating to a specific component, namely alternative fuel systems, from Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002 to the Vehicle Equipment Rule where they should be found;
• allow a vehicle with a motorsport authority card that is being used on the road for the purpose of inspection, certification and repair of the vehicle to exceed the noise levels applying to vehicles normally used on the road;
• revise the definition of 'speedometer' to include displaying the speed at any given moment and align it with international standards, specifically ECE 39.

Extent of consultation

For the purposes of consultation, amendments proposed to Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Equipment 2004 and five other Land Transport Rules were combined into a single draft Rule, Land Transport Rule: Omnibus Amendment 2010 (the Omnibus Amendment Rule).

On 23 November 2010, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) sent details of the amendment proposals by letter or email to approximately 1800 groups and individuals who had registered an interest in the Rules to be amended. The draft Omnibus Amendment Rule was made available through the NZTA Contact Centre and, together with Questions and Answers, was also made available on the NZTA's website. The availability of the draft for comment was publicised in the metropolitan daily newspapers in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin and in the New Zealand Gazette. The NZTA received 26 submissions on the draft Omnibus Amendment Rule, of which 13 commented on the proposed amendments to the Vehicle Equipment Rule.

Following consultation, the provisions in the draft Omnibus Amendment Rule were split into six separate amendment Rules, including this Rule. The submissions that were received were taken into account in drafting this amendment Rule before it was submitted to the Minister of Transport for signing.

Section 1     Application

1.1     Title

This Rule is Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Equipment Amendment 2011.

1.2     Date when Rule comes into force

This Rule comes into force on 1 April 2011.

1.3     Scope of Rule

This Rule amends Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Equipment 2004.

Section 2     Amendments to Rule requirements

2.1     Fuel tanks and fuel lines

2.1(1)     Clause 2.6 is amended by substituting “2.6(4)” for “11.5 of Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002” in subclause 2.6(3).

2.1(2)     Clause 2.6 is amended by inserting the following after subclause 2.6(3):

• “2.6(4)     Subject to 2.6(6) and (7), the Agency may, by notice in the Gazette, approve an alternative fuel system or a component of such a system for fitting in a vehicle on any condition the Agency thinks fit.
• “2.6(5)     Without limiting the general power conferred by 2.6(4), the Agency may impose as a condition of the approval:
  • “(a)     a condition that an alternative fuel system or component of such a system may be fitted only in accordance with a standard issued under the Standards Act 1988 or any other standard recognised by the Agency;
  • “(b)     a condition that any component of an alternative fuel system may be fitted only in the same system as any other specified component or components;
  • “(c)     a condition that any component of an alternative fuel system may not be fitted in the same system as any other specified component or components;
  • “(d)     conditions relating to the testing of any component of an alternative fuel system.
• “2.6(6)     The Agency must not approve an alternative fuel system or any component of such a system under 2.6(4) unless satisfied that:
  • “(a)     the identity of the manufacturer and the country of origin of the system or component can be established; and
  • “(b)     the system or component is likely to be manufactured in accordance with specifications recognised by the Agency as being appropriate for the manufacture of that system or component; and
  • “(c)     quality control procedures recognised by the Agency as being appropriate for the manufacture of that system or component are likely to be used in the manufacture of that system or component.
• “2.6(7)     As a condition of the approval of any component of an alternative fuel system and any application for such an approval, the applicant for the approval must, at any time when requested to do so by the Agency, and at the applicant's own expense, submit to the Agency or a nominated testing authority sufficient samples of that component to enable proper testing of that type of component.
• “2.6(8)     The Agency may not make any request under 2.6(7) except:
  • “(a)     in the course of considering an application for the approval of that component; or
  • “(b)     if the Agency has reason to suspect that a component does not comply with any approval granted under 2.6(4).
• “2.6(9)     The Agency may, by notice in the Gazette, vary or revoke an approval granted under 2.6(4).
• “2.6(10)     When an approval is varied or revoked under 2.6(9), the Agency must take such steps as the Agency considers necessary to ensure that publicity appropriate in the circumstances is given to the variation or revocation.”

2.2     Exhaust systems

Clause 2.7 is amended by substituting the following for subclause 2.7(9):

• “2.7(9)     Subclause 2.7(8) does not apply to a Class MA or Class MC motor sport vehicle that complies with Motorsport New Zealand rules and regulations and is:
  • “(a)     competing in an event that has been permitted by Motorsport New Zealand, or is being driven directly to or from competition in such an event; or
  • “(b)     being used on a road for the purpose of inspection, certification, servicing or repair of the vehicle.”

Section 3     Amendment to Definitions

3.1     Substitution of definition

Part 2 is amended by substituting the following for the definition of 'speedometer':

• “Speedometer means an instrument in a motor vehicle that continuously indicates to the driver the forward speed of the vehicle in either kilometres per hour or miles per hour.”