RachelV

Hi

We are moving to Auckland in 2 months time, so we're about to start shipping our belongings out there now. We have 3 kids under 3.5 years old. We will be buying a car when we arrive, although haven't decided on a make and model yet. We currently have a maxi cosi with isofix base for our 9 week old, and 2 britax car seats for our 2 year old and 3 year old. One uses an isofix locking system, and the other is just secured by the adult seatbelt. The 3 year old is almost ready to move up a car seat style, as getting a bit too big for the 5 point harness style.

Are these car seats compatible with NZ cars and seatbelts? Shall I ship them out with our belongings or sell them here, and buy new car seats in NZ?

Anyone know? The reason I ask is I seem to remember the car seats in the rear of our hire car when we did a recce trip last year were different to UK style ones.

Many thanks

Rachel

Synky

With 3 under 5yrs I feel your pain! Sorry I don't know about the car seats but I'll be interested to know. Good luck with the move.

GoingIn2011

They almost certainly will be compatible with most cars over here so you should ship to save money on buying ones here. Most cars here are of Japanese origin and are the same models as the ones in the UK (albeit rebadged). Rules over car seats are no more strict - in fact, probably more relaxed, so I would guess that they would not violate any safety rules (although you would have to check).

RachelV

Many thanks - I just didn't know if NZ cars had the isofix points in the car, and I seem to remember car seats were "top tethered" which I didn't know if you could do with UK car seats...

GoingIn2011

My point is that there is no such thing as NZ cars, they are the same models as UK/Japanese car models.
So, I can't be definitive without checking but I find it highly unlikely that the Japenese cars in the UK aren't capable of isofix. Given they would have the isofix points in the UK, they would also have them here as they are the same models.

After a quick look - this is indeed the case. A quick list:
Makes & Models of cars you might find fr around $8,000 that should have the ISO-Fix/LATCH system installed include:
- Honda Fit/Jazz,
- Mazda Demio, 6/626
- Toyota Echo/Vitz, Raum, Corolla

See also:
http://www.childrestraints.co.nz/isofix-latch.php

And click on Safety here:
http://www.toyota.co.nz/NewVehicles/...c/Interior.htm

etc

TommyLuck

I have taken 3 separate car seats from the UK to NZ all have been fine.

dannigirl

I think you would be fine, however, it may decide which car you have having to fit three carseats in! Just be careful with the Isofix - we have a 1997 Subaru Forester and it will not take Isofix. We had a Gracco infant carseat (for baby in UK) and it had a click in seat (like Isofix) but it was a leg thingee that the carseat clicked into. You are right, lots of carseats are tethered here. Our two kids were on the verge of both moving up to the next size of carseat so we just bought a booster seat for our four hear old here and we have hired a rear facing carseat for our one year old. I sourced them online (paid over the phone easily). You can also hire carseats very easily here too.

We got ours from this store. They were brilliant and will fit carseats no problems. One thing that is great here is you seem to be able to get rear facing carseats, seemed to be fairly standard at this shop.

http://www.babyonthemove.co.nz/index...egion=Auckland

Charismatic

Hmmm...don't know if they'll work upside down without a gravity converter.

Seriously though as the others said, same models of car here as Europe.

dannigirl

And no point having an Isofix carseat if your car doesn't work with Isofix. It is quite a big deal as I'm sure the OP wouldn't want to drive without a proper carseat for her child (unless it can go in manually too)

simonsi

Some do, some don't. As an example our 2000 Estima doesn't have isofix points but our 2002 does. Boath are Japanese market-only models so isofix is a global standard, the only important thing is whether the car has it, and intro age seems to be around 2001/2 which is the same as Europe first saw them I think.

GoingIn2011

I guess that's one of them in your avatar. I just noticed underneath where you're living now - that's a bit of a change...?

RachelG12

If as everyone says, standards are same as UK then ALL cars from 2007 onwards will have Isofix as standard. Many car companies introduced them before then though. Fingers crossed you find something x

simonsi

Yep thats the 2002. We moved 25mins closer to schools, work and the girl's social lives...still have the Whangaparaoa house but have rented it out and renting in Coatsville....

sirplug

If a car doesn't have Isofix, the conversion kit can (generally) be fitted. We fitted one to our courtesy car, at work, without too much hassle

GoingIn2011

loving the username!