well said dan_fjt

You know when your Taxi driver is waarking on about his investment properties that it's time to stay right the hell away from real estate...

Middle NZ is a shallow, self centred society. Anyone perceived as 'different' is shunned..

And Yay the labour government for saying ' awww, those poor ol boat people that mean ol OZ wont let in. Why dont we give them houses in NZ and put up the tax rate for those obscenely rich yuppies who earn over 60k a year to pay for it. They can pay for all the dole bludgers to sit around and get high too'...

We'll be moving to OZ in the next few years I reckon....

Now that I have said my peice, heres what Im gonna do about it . Im gonna write to the transport minister( and get my well educated girl friend to check the spelling etc so I dont come off as yobbo with a big mouth) and tell him of my concerns, outlining things that MUST be taken into consideratoin. then I will request a response from him within 14 days . if he doesnt Im gonna write to all the car clubs and raake up everyone who gives a damn to pester the hell out of him untill we get some assurances that we're not going to get sh1t on yet again.

Its like any law change, if it's fair (which it is in theory) and put into practice well then it will probably benefit most people. However knowing the NZ government they'll rush it through and make a cock-up of it as usual. If it is across the board and not applicable to the year of production then it will be a total disaster. Imagine an old 1200 (like mine) which had virtually no emmissions equipment new trying to reach the same emmissions as a late model EFI car. Not even the best catalytic converter is going to help there. Imagine all the classic/vintage car owners that would be screwed over. I'd imagine ultimately its another way to get more money from already ripped off NZ'ers, just like radars and increased traffic cops who are 'saving us from the deadly boy racers'. Mind you the NZ govt are closing schools and spending $40million restoring an Antarctic explorers station, or the thousands of bludgers this country seems to have (its amazing how many sickness beneficaries can still commit crimes ) -great priorities. Seems like in the car community here there are a lot of idiots and only a few enthusiasts, so we all get screwed over.Why even own a different car when you can buy a white Toyaota Excelsior/ Merino/ Romney ? Why modify your car at all when you can renovate your house and increase it's value- just like Auction Squad -wow! Then you can sit round with your friends and have sad-ass conversations about how much equity you've built up and talk about real estate like everyone else, it's just SO fascinating after the first hour.. Maybe they might print a booklet "how to life your life in NZ" and then we won't have to make any choices at all. Screw the NZ govt. and screw all the conservative, lazy old-fashioned,narrow minded NZer's and their #### attitudes.

David, you would be dissmally apaulled by some of the hucked out puss buckets on our roads. some of them are so fumey they would give the commandant at aushwitz a woody. (sorry about that remark) there are laws in place giving the cops powers to fine people driving smokey sh1tboxes, but I feel there are too many of them on the road.
espeically trucks and busses. I look forward to theese being pulled it line , BUT with out input from people with some foresight and lateral thinking all old car owners are going to be shafted by the govt AGAIN!!!!!.

maybe Guy Fawlkes was right

The purpose of emissions testing is not primarily to remove "smoking" cars from the road. Existing laws cover that -- as I'm sure is also the case in New Zealand. The testing is so invisible polluters can be identified and forced to be repaired.

Remember that a 1972 Datsun 1200 in good condition with perfectly working emissions controls pollutes about 50 times more than a new vehicle.

The laws in the states I'm familiar with also have exemptions, primarily to help poor drivers: If more than so many dollars are spent on repairing the engine, and it still doesn't pass, the owner gets a waiver until the next year. For example, $250 dollars.

Worst case scenario...

Recondition your engine, then get EFI.
or a CA18

I wish EFI A14s were more common. That would be the best option.

NZ does have some crappy cars getting around. When I was there, it reminded me of the early eighties here in Australia.

In Sydney you are lucky to see any car made in the 70s on some days.

My 2 cents..

Hey Bart, I agree that the government can be over zealous with their laws at times and can take a couple of years to perfect them, and your right that the car enthusiast clubs etc, need to have some input. I am all for emission testing, hell, I wouldn't mind sticking a catalytic convertor to my Datsun. I think the main aim for the government here in nz is to eliminate those smokey toxic vehicles that you see driving around, it has to be better for everyone. It's better to go overboard than to have some lame law that doesn't accomplish anything. I am a vehicle inspector myself, some cars just need to be removed from our roads because the only way vehicles are kept up to scratch is to spend money on them. If you can't afford to maintain a vehicle, you shouldn't have one

Thanks for the the input dude, the nz govt is notorious for raping petrolheads , by passing unfair illconceived laws . Just because those crooks can afford new cars.
(of my four cars the newest is a 1979 datto sunny, ind I have no desire to own any thing newer)

US Federal law is fair:

- No cars are exempt from emission control laws. It is against the law to remove or defeat emissions controls (no matter what the age)

- Older cars are not required to retro-fit newer controls, or to upgrade to newer limits. For example, a 1970 model only has to meet the 1970 requirements

- There is no federal emissions test

- When importing a non-US model into the US, an emissions waiver is automatically granted if the car is more than 25 years old (or somewhere thereabouts)

Each State has their own rules. Some states have no periodic vehicle tests, other do. For example:

- usually only in urban areas

- usually only for a limited time. In California, 1974 and older are exempt from testing. In Washington, 1978 and older are exempt from testing

- Washington's test is "every two years"

- Washington doesn't open the hood and visualy inspect the systems. California performs a visual inspection

- dyno testing or static test (idle + 35mph)

- Washington recently moved to testing the fuel cap -- does it hold the correct pressure and relieve excessive pressure?

This has to be said . As many of you are buy now hopefully aware, our govt is planning to introduce emissions testing as part of our six monthly WOFs. I think that this is a god thing, Im sick and tired of being gassed by run down 1980s sh1tbox jap imports. (mostly mitsubishis and old style 323s. but no brand is blameless) How ever going by how disgracefully the govt handeled the removel of lead from our petrol,and more recently the poorly thoughtout way in which the exaust noise laws were introduced. (for those outside nz the govt just forbode cars from being any noiseyer than brand new ,at the descression of the wof man/police man,no max DB limit)
Now IM in favor of sensible laws, I was sick of kids with open pipes making too much noise, but what they did was a f*ck up.
Back to my point, when this law about car fumes comes in if there are not exceptions/ or threshholds for older cars(not just dattos but V8s, vintage cars classics mussle cars and etc) will all be put off the road !!!!! imagine being made to fit a cat converter to your falcon GT or aan original 1200sss. in the usa I belive that cars before 1980 are exempt? we need to ensure that tolorances are put in place before its too late!!!!!!!!! From previus experience our govt are quick to pass laws that are flawed, but reluctant tofix them.
THE TIME FOR US TO ACT IS NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
we MUST petition our transport minister and make sure that what is passed as law is going to work for EVERYONE . It will do us NO GOOD to cry into our beer after the fact
If you know exactly what has been proposed , please PM me with the info . This could effect ALL CAR ENTHUSIESTS in NZ. Mark Goshe has to informed of my|our concerns. Think of ralley classes where your cars gotta be road legal, forget haveing a big over lap cam, or your car will put out too much carbon at idle.

thanks for reading this , I am passoinate about my right to own a sik car!!!!!!

Bart