Why is this petition on regulations impacting collectible cars important?

Consider the story of Alan Bowden’s Classic Car Restorations Ltd in Penrose Auckland that was placed into liquidation in 2009. Bowden’s shop was one of the top restoration shops in NZ. He had a large staff, his works was first rate and a lot of global barn-find cars drove out of his shop as superb restorations. In wondering what happened, we came across the liquidator's first report that said "The director of the company has advised that the reason for failure of the company was a decline in business activity".

Why the decline sufficient so bad as to liquidate? Most likely because, in a knee-jerk reaction to sleazy used car importers who were buying flood-damaged late-model cars in Japan and selling them as good daily drivers in NZ, Bowden’s collectable-car customers were collateral damage.

Back in the day, NZ was renowned for Kiwi enthusiasts searching the world for barn-finds… not the perfect show car that costs the moon, but the one that needs some work. NZ had some of the most talented restoration experts, and their prices were less than half of what one would expect to pay in the Northern Hemisphere. Then after enjoying their restored barn-find for a while, quite a few were exported again, sold overseas at a considerably higher price as show cars, contributing to a positive balance of trade: one restored vehicle at a time.

But with the new rules, 99% of new-import collectibles are an automatic VIN fail, meaning write off the $500 inspection fee. Then the collector has 28 days to come back with a repair certifier’s certificate, or expect a second $500 inspection fee. But the killer is what happens in between. It doesn’t happen in 28 days and it is a whole lot more expensive than the inspection fees. 

The collector discovers the standards the certifier must achieve means invasive destruction, beginning with sand blasting off all protective coating to see the state of the metal. Some (and we speak from personal experience) then demand cutting holes in the chassis to inspect the inside cavities. The standards applied are supposed to be the manufacturing standard when the car was made, but too many inspectors have no clue what those standards are, so they set the bar anywhere they choose. The upshot is the first $10,000 (or more) is not to make the car better, but just to get a Rego plate.

This invasive VIN certification does nothing to improve the car, but it is the first $10,000 the collector has to pay. No surprise then that Kiwi collectors lose interest, resulting in “a decline in business activity”. 

New Zealand has a strange relationship with regulation. It’s a bit like rust. Every few decades, Kiwis realise the rust (regulations) is getting bad and politicians get elected to cut it out. In the 1980’s the economy was so regulated the country was on the verge of bankruptcy. Now, in the recent election, a majority of voters made it clear regulations are out of control once again. We now have a new Minister of Regulation, David Seymour, who is taking on the job of vetting the regs, restoring common sense and affordability to rule making. The UK has done it – no drop-dead import barrier and for vehicles over 40 years no WOF (MOT) and no road tax (rego).

We need to rebuild our collectible motor vehicle industry and to do that we need to eliminate the artificial barriers of VIN & WOF on collectible vehicles.

With over 5,700 signatures as of today, our challenge will be to capture David's attention to eliminate the barriers on collectible motor vehicles. If any of you happen to know him, send him the link. https://www.change.org/De-RegNZTA