• New Zealand Regions
      • Hawke's Bay
      • Bay of Plenty
      • Waikato
      • Whanganui
      • Manawatu
      • Northland
      • Auckland
      • Gisborne
      • Taranaki
      • Wellington
      • West Coast
      • Nelson
      • Canterbury
      • Otago
      • Marlborough
      • Southland
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      Hawke's Bay

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      Beaches, wineries and Art Deco. The Hawke's Bay has a diverse economy, including business services that support its sectors to be the second largest contributor to regional GDP in the country. A popular tourist destination, the region has some of the countries best restaurants as well as stunning scenery, markets and festivals.

      Districts

      HastingsNapier

      Bay of Plenty

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      The Bay of Plenty is officially New Zealand's sunniest destination, enjoying short-lived winters and long summer days. The Region offers some of the country's most spectacular views and many ways to enjoy the pristine scenery and natural wonders. Visitors also enjoy exploring the Bay's Māori heritage and pre-European roots.

      Districts

      OpotikiOpotiki iSiteKawerauWhakatane

      Waikato

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      The Waikato is known for its rolling plains, fertile land and the mighty Waikato River. The region is the fourth largest regional economy in New Zealand, with a strong focus on primary production and associated manufacturing.

      Districts

      South WaikatoWaikato District

      Whanganui

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      Welcome to Whanganui. This is our place; where history is full of stories, legends and rich legacy. Where a thriving arts scene, creativity and evolving culture inspire our modern lives. Where breath-taking natural landscapes capture imaginations at every turn.

      Manawatu

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      Located in the lower North Island, Manawatu is heartland New Zealand, offering an authentic Kiwi experience.

      The main in the region are Palmerston North, most notable for Massey University. Palmerston has a vibrant, arts and culture scene.

      The region's economy is based on food production and processing, research and education. The region is also home for the New Zealand defence force.

      Northland

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      Northland was originally home to some of our country's first human inhabitants. Today, it is one of the fastest growing regions in New Zealand and home to nearly 189,000 people. Rich in culture and history, the region boasts a stunning natural environment.

      Auckland

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      Auckland Region stretches from the the beaches of the Pacific Ocean in the east to the expansive beaches of the rugged west coast of the Tasman Sea. Auckland City, the largest urban area in New Zealand is considered the main economic center of New Zealand and a popular destination for international students and travellers.

      Gisborne

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      Gisborne is a Region on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. It's known for wineries and surf beaches such as Makorori. The region has maintained a strong Maori heritage. The region's economy is made up mainly of agriculture, horticulture and forestry.

      Taranaki

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      Taranaki is a coastal and mountainous region on the western side of New Zealand's North Island. Its landscape is dominated by Mount Taranaki, its namesake volcano, which lies within the rainforested Egmont National Park.

      The port city of New Plymouth is the area's cultural and commercial hub. Taranaki's economy is diverse and includes dairy, oil and gas. The region is the highest contributor or national GDP per capita. 

      Wellington

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      The Wellington Region covers Wellington city in the south, Upper and Lower Hutt valleys to the north-east, and Porirua to the north-west. The region takes its name from Wellington, New Zealand's capital city.

      Wellington is famous for its arts and culture scene and is also the centre of New Zealand's film industry.

      West Coast

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      The West Coast, or as some locals call it, the "Wild West", is a long thin region that runs down the South Island's west coast.

      The region has the lowest population in all of New Zealand. It is famous for its rugged natural scenery such as the Pancake Rocks, the Blue Pools of Haast, and the glaciers.

      The main industries in the region are dairy farming and mining. Tourism also plays an important role.

      Nelson – Tasman

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      Nelson Tasman is an extraordinary, vibrant region where art and businesses thrive together among a stunning natural landscape. With one in five people internationally born, Nelson Tasman has 48 different cultures living in its environs.

      The region prides its self on being New Zealand’s leading Research and Development areas, with the highest proportion of people working in the research, science and tech sectors out of anywhere in New Zealand.

      Canterbury

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      Canterbury is a region on New Zealand’s South Island marked by grassy plains, clear lakes and snow-capped mountains. Its largest city, Christchurch, is famed for its art scene and green spaces.

      Otago

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      There are few places in the world which will leave you with a lasting sense of difference. Central Otago is undoubtedly one of them from its landscapes, its seasons, its people, its products and experiences.

      Marlborough

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      Marlborough Region is on the north-eastern corner of the South Island. The region is well known for its winemaking industry, and the Marlborough Sounds, an extensive network of coastal waterways, peninsulas and islands.

      Apart from the wine industry, aquaculture, agriculture and tourism play an important role in the local economy.

      Southland

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      Southland is New Zealand’s most southerly region and includes the World Heritage ranked Fiordland National Park.

      The region's only city Invercargill offers a relaxed pace of life with wide streets, little traffic, spacious parks and gardens, striking Victorian and Edwardian architecture and impressive sporting facilities including New Zealand’s first indoor velodrome. Southland's location is such that views of Aurora Australis or the Southern Lights are common.

      Tooltip

Buying a car

New Zealand’s large geography and sparse population mean it can be challenging to get around if you do not own a car. Big towns and cities have public transport, and there are many intercity transport options like buses however, owning a vehicle makes travel more convenient.Almost all towns will have car dealerships selling new and second-hand cars. There are a variety of ways to buy a used car in New Zealand.

  • Trade Me is New Zealand’s online auction marketplace and has a large selection of used cars. You can also check online travel guide sites like backpackerboard.
  • Car Fairs are held in main cities. Auckland’s Ellerslie Car Fair is the largest in the country.
  • Turners car auctions
  • Newspaper classifieds
  • Car dealerships

Car inspection

Outside of the Car
When looking outside of the car that you want to buy, look for any signs of damage. If the car has been in an accident, there could be other hidden damages that could cause the car to breakdown.
Those signs are:

  • A difference in the colour between panels
  • Bumps or major scratches covered with paint
  • Kick the shock absorbers a little to see if they are holding on

Once you feel confident that your potential future ride did not have any major accidents, have look for:

  • Rust that may affect the value of the car
  • Chips in the windscreen, as it may not pass the WOF and it could crack at the first pothole
  • The gaps should be even between the doors and the car, you obviously want the car doors to work properly.

Now that you’ve had a look outside the car, time to get a bit dirty. Get on the floor and look under the car. You will need to check the tyres, check for leaks, the exhaust pipe and most importantly check for rust!

 

Check the Tyres
First, you will have to pay close attention to the tyres:

  • Make sure that they are worn evenly. Uneven wear will show wheel misalignment
  • Check that they are all the same type of tyre
  • Check the spare tyre is in good condition
  • Check that the tread (the crack in the tyre) is over 1.5mm the legal requirement.

After you have decided the tyres look good, check:

  • That there are no leaks: look at the bottom of the car and on the floor where it is parked
  • Check also that the bottom of the car does not show too much rust either
  • Finally, give a gentle kick at the exhaust pipe (tailpipe) to see if it is well fixed. If it flies off, you know the car is not worth buying and it will be hilarious.

 

Under the Hood/Bonnet
You don’t need to be a mechanic to avoid most scams, simply open the bonnet of the car and look at the following:

  • Check the oil level. If it is too low, it may show a leak
  • In fact, check all fluid levels: brake and power steering too
  • Make sure that there are no leaks of oil, water or gas
  • Look at the radiator for rust
  • Any obvious signs of repair

Asking to look under the hood of the car in itself shows that you are a conscious buyer. If the seller starts getting stressed about it and pressuring you, it may show that they are trying to sell you a dodgy car.

 

Inside the Car
Finally, you can sit inside! By the way, make sure that you can sit inside by adjusting the seat and check the legroom.
Some things like smelling of cigarette smoke are pretty obvious and may put you or future buyers off.

 

What Else to Check Inside the Car
Also, check the following:

  • Controls: indicators, locks, lights (including warning lights) and heater.
  • Lift up the corners of the carpets and check for rust again.
  • Check that the seat belts work fine and are not worn out.
  • Make sure that the windows open and close easily and close completely.

Test drive

Choose the Best Route for a Test Drive
Ideally, you will want a bit of highway to take some speed and a hill to test the engine. Luckily, New Zealand has almost only that, so the mix should not be hard to find.
Ask the seller, as they should know the area well and can guide you to the right place.

 

Before Driving
Aside from checking the comfort of the car and placement of the controls, you will want to pay attention to:

  • The steering wheel, it should not have too much play.
  • How easy is the engine to start, the harder it is, the less you want the car.

 

During the Test Drive
Off you go, the road is yours! You will have a bunch of things to check before feeling confident that this will be a decent ride.

 

What to Check First
Before taking to the open road, drive around the car park or street to see if:

  • The car goes straight when the steering wheel is straight.
  • The steering wheel stays straight if you let it go while the car is moving.
  • The brakes are not too loose, so you don’t have to put your feet down to the floor when you want to stop.
  • Check that the car stops straight.

 

What to Check When Driving Uphill
Driving up a hill is your best chance to test the engine and handbrake, so here is what you need to be aware of:

  • Listen for unusual engine noises.
  • Check that the car doesn’t have too much of a hard time going uphill.
  • The brakes are not too loose, so you don’t have to put your feet down to the floor when you want to stop.
  • Try to stop uphill and use the handbrake, it should hold the car even on a hill.
  • On the way down, check the suspension a little to see how rough itis and test the brakes again.

 

What to Check When Driving on the Highway
Driving on a highway will allow you to get some speed and test the engine another way. Again, pay attention to the noise that the car makes. Your checklist for the highway test drive should be:

  • There are no fuel or oil smells.
  • Check that the car doesn’t have too much of a hard time going uphill.
  • The brakes are not too loose, so you don’t have to put your feet down to the floor when you want to stop.
  • Test the gears again it is always better to test twice.

 

After the Test Drive
Now you need to check the last couple of things:

  • Make sure that when you turn off the engine, it stops running. Duh!
  • Check also if the car does not make smoke of any colour.

Documentation

Vehicle Ratings
Sitting down and looking at the paperwork is your chance to check the rating of the car that you are buying. There are five different ratings that you may want to have a look at:

  • ANCAP test
  • Used car safety rating
  • Fuel economy rating
  • Air pollution rating
  • CO2 emission rating

Ask your seller or search online for the model of the vehicle so you can get accurate ratings.

 

Warrant Of Fitness(WOF)
Any vehicle sold in New Zealand should have a valid Warrant of Fitness less than one-month-old. (Or a COF, which means Certificate of Fitness, that is used for heavy vehicles like campervans). A WOF is a document certifying that the car has passed the inspection of safety and road-worthiness.
Be aware that a WOF is not a pre-purchase inspection, it is merely a compulsory check to see that the car meets the compulsory standards.
Our advice: do not buy a car without a WOF.

 

Consumer Information Notice(CIN)
If dealing with a professional car dealer, you should be given a Consumer Information Notice (CIN). This document will only be provided by a professional dealer, not a private seller. It includes the price of the vehicle and all information relating to it.
The Information Included on the Consumer Information Notice (CIN)

  • Year of registration in New Zealand
  • Odometer reading
  • Mention of damage recorded at importation
  • Make, model, year of manufacture and other legal info about the vehicle
  • Dealer’s contact details and registration
  • Any securities registered on the vehicle.

 

Debt Check
When buying a car from a private seller, we strongly advise you to run a quick debt check on the car that you want to buy. It will allow you to see if the car has been used as security for any credit. Remember, if there is any outstanding debt on the car that you are buying, even if the debt isn’t yours, your car could be repossessed and you will have no way to contest it.
Run a vehicle history check online for free on the New Zealand Ministry of Business’ Personal Property Securities website.

 

Sales Agreement
The sales agreement is an agreement that will disclose all the terms of the sale. It will only be provided by professional dealers.
There may be a fee along with it called a “documentation fee” as part of the negotiation. However,it may be waived, so try it. As with any agreement, make sure to read it carefully before signing it.

 

Certificate of Registration
This is a very simple form that will display the list of all the current owners of the car. You simply have to compare it with your seller’s ID and see if it matches to make sure that you are buying the car from its rightful owner.
On the subject of ID, make sure you have a valid driving licence for driving in New Zealand, whether it is a driver licence in the English language, an international driver licence, or a New Zealand driver licence.

 

Change of Ownership
This is one of the most important documents of this list. The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) Change of Ownership form will state who is responsible for the car and who will pay fines and other fees. This can be done online on the NZTA website (note that you will need to a New Zealand driver license to complete the form online). You and the seller will have to complete this form.
If you prefer good old paper form or if you don’t have a New Zealand driver license, you can find the paper forms in any NZ Post office or AA insurance centre.

  • Buyer’s form: MR13B
  • Seller’s form: MR13A

 

Get Insurance
Although it is not mandatory to get insurance when driving in New Zealand, it is strongly recommend that you get some. New Zealand’s roads are not the easiest to drive on. Even if you are a cautious driver, the person behind you might not be.

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