The Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (VIA) has criticised the use of the phrase “dumping ground” in transport policy debates, saying it misrepresents the role of used imports in New Zealand’s vehicle market.
VIA chief executive Greig Epps said the term is being used to justify tougher rules on used vehicle imports without evidence that they pose greater risks.
“‘Dumping ground’ is a bogeyman by those opposed to Kiwis owning used import vehicles. It’s a phrase, not a standard,” Epps said. “It has crept from a few submissions into policy summaries and political speeches, but it muddies the conversation and distracts from what actually matters.”
Evidence on Used Imports
Epps said Japan’s emissions standards are internationally respected, and New Zealand’s entry compliance checks are among the toughest in the world. He argued that most used imports are hybrids or smaller petrol vehicles with lower emissions than many cars already on New Zealand roads.
“Once inspected and approved, a ten-year-old Japanese import entering the New Zealand fleet is safer and cleaner than the older vehicle it replaces,” he said.
On average, New Zealand vehicles remain in use for around 20 years before being deregistered. Epps warned that restricting imports could delay renewal and keep older, higher-emission cars in the fleet for longer.
Risks of Tighter Rules
“If you over-tighten the import gate, you don’t magically improve the fleet. Instead, you stall its renewal. Families hold on to older vehicles longer, which slows scrappage and raises the average fleet age,” Epps said.
He called this a paradox, where efforts to avoid a so-called “dumping ground” could have the opposite effect by limiting access to newer, safer, and more affordable vehicles.
Policy Concerns
VIA has also raised concerns about recent changes to emissions testing. Previously, new vehicles could comply with Euro 5 or Japan 2005 standards. Under new rules, used imports must meet Euro 5 or a version of Japan 2005 that is 75 per cent stricter than the baseline.
Epps said this requires Japanese imports to meet a higher bar than many new vehicles sold in New Zealand over the past decade, without clear evidence of environmental or safety benefit.
“Instead of targeting real-world emissions outcomes, we’ve seen a focus on lab test formats, a clear counter-evidential bias for European standards over Japanese standards. That’s not smart regulation; it’s risk aversion dressed up as progress,” he said.
Priorities for Policymakers
Epps urged decision-makers to avoid misleading slogans, ensure new and used imports are treated consistently, and support fleet renewal at scale.
“New Zealand’s import standards are strong,” he said. “But when rhetoric starts driving policy, you risk distorting settings and harming the very outcomes we all want to improve; emissions, safety, and affordability.”
“It’s time to move past slogans and return to facts. Let’s dump the phrase and lift the debate.”
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