Chris B44

Hi, I'm looking to make the move to NZ in the near future, I have 7 classic bike that I am looking to bring with me, trouble is only 4 are in one piece and running at the moment. Do they have to go for inspection immediately on arrival or can it be done at a later date?

MrsFychan

they will have to go for inspection immediately and you will have to register them before they will release them to you. Not sure about the ones in pieces. best contact AA.nz and ask them, they were very helpful with info on getting our car out.

escapedtonz

Nah.

Once the bikes arrive in NZ, they will be due for inspection by Customs and MPI. Just like everything else you own, once you have the clearance paperwork the goods become your responsibility again. MPI may elect to inspect the bikes away from the port of entry - at your chosen residence or holding storage place and if that's the case your shipper or international removals specialist will be instructed to drop the items to you at that address and you will be instructed to NOT touch until MPI have been to inspect (at your cost).
Once you have all the paperwork you are free to take the bikes away. It wouldn't be wise to actually ride them as they aren't yet approved for use on NZ roads so as long as you keep them off the road you can do with them as you please. You may wish not to go through compliance or registration ? You may want to just use them offroad, on track or in a museum? It is entirely your decision.

To ride the 4 running bikes on the road, they must all pass a compliance inspection both physically and document wise, they must all pass a WOF inspection and then they can be registered where they will receive a registration ID and vehicle licence card. Your WOF sticker and rego card must be displayed on the vehicle along with a rego plate. Once that is done you are able to use on NZ roads.

There is no requirement that forces any vehicle to pass compliance and be registered immediately at point of entry and until it will be released to you.
NZTA compliance, WOF, registration is completely separate to that of Customs and MPI.

cym

I brought in a classic Duke which was broken. The customs ******s (sorry for the language but that's what they are IMO) said the bike and boxes of bits were not clean - which was b**cks as they all were cleaned with steam and ed-gresser and then siliconed to stop any rust - as advised by someone from NZ house no less!
Anyway after being held up for ransom by the legal highwaymen that customs are - like what are you going to do, say "narh, stick it back on the boat mate"! - and paid a small fortune to get then to use their "official' cleaning service I had my bike released.
I was told if I sold it within a few years I'd have to pay duty on it but there was no mention of 'having' to get it registered.
And a small ad on to this tale.
I never got it registered as I never got to reassemble it as some scumbag stole it. Reported it to the cops and their response was, "Oh well no Rego just means it's impossible to trace, sorry! Oh and close the door on the way out, there's a draft!"

Justcol

I brought a bike over. It had been in an accident and was not registered. some parts came with it in separate boxes. Was delivered straight to my house with the rest of the container. No customs hassles. I rebuilt it, got it rego'd (about $300 at the time) and away I went. All I has to replace for compliance were the braided lines on the front.
Kiwis are paranoid about cleanliness and rightly so. Its thought some contaminated pollen from Oz almost wiped out our kiwi fruit industry a few years ago and finding a single fruitfly can put whole suburbs into high alert. A little tolerance and understanding of the bigger picture is all that's asked for.

cym

Yeah, good point Chris, and I wouldn't want to see NZ crippled by the importation of some creepy crawly either......BUT my point was even after following the advice of someone from NZ house no less, customs and their thieving ways did me for a considerable amount of money - despite me knowing full well that they were talking utter bo**ocks - unless of course someone from the boat it came over on covered it in mud.
What's even more galling is when I said I'd come and clean it to their satisfaction they told me it had to be done by an appointed official company.
But hey, I hope the OP does bring his bikes in, the more the merrier.

BEVS

Sorry about your bike cym & it obviously left a huge bad taste in your mouth & I am not surprised at that. However the telling of the rotten deed is of no use to the OP even if you may mean it as some sort of cautionary tale perhaps. I'm not sure.

ChrisB44 is asking a simple question about procedure.

This depends on what you mean ChrisB44.

1 - Do you mean compliance inspection for Customs and MPI where goods are assessed as to whether they pose some sort of contamination risk ?

In which case the answer is yes. All your worldly possession will be assessed as to whether or not they need inspection . From there it will be decided whether or not items will pass , need cleaning or destruction.

The way to go is to ensure you have your paperwork up to scratch . Keep copies for yourself . Ensure your shipper knows what to do & that they are to present the paperwork with bill of lading listing etc. Declare the bikes and attach copies of your paperwork, including cleaning steps.
In other words, ensure it is all squeaky clean.

2 - Or do you mean compliance to be road worthy ?

In which case those that have brought in road vehicles, including classic bikes may be able to answer.

Chris B44

Thanks for you replies, I was more concerned if they needed rego/compliance inspections immediately. I am aware of the MPI/Customs inspections and to that end I am looking at getting some Virkon S rather than Jeyes Fluid to clean the bikes down with going to the extent of wheels out and scrub inside the mudguards etc.

cym

Chris & Admin...
understand how you think I went of the range with my reply, I suppose I did really, but I thought I did answer the question with Para 2
I was told if I sold it within a few years I'd have to pay duty on it but there was no mention of 'having' to get it registered.
so - NO - there was no requirement to get it inspected for compliance etc. Just have your V5, receipts if you've got them, and bob's your uncle.
incidentally Chris, to save you heartache I had I'd get it in writing what customs want.....as previously ranted about, I had my bike cleaned by high pressure hot (130c) water and then i covered it in silicon spray and that wasn't considered suitable! Just saying

BEVS

My understanding is that you will need NZ rego/compliance before you can use them on the road.
Until then it would not be required.

From here

Are you thinking more of any import issues? I do not mean cleaning and fumigation.

Are these motorcycles something you have bought recently and with a view to possible resale?
Or have they been in your possession some time and you can prove that with paperwork ?