The NZ Transport Agency has completed the first of three planned workshops with stakeholder groups over changes to the certificate of fitness (CoF) system.
Held earlier in June, the first workshop opened discussion on potential changes to the way the CoF system is managed.
The CoF changes are part of the wider ‘reform’ of vehicle licensing systems which cabinet reviewed in January 2013.
The NZTA noted its intention to review its policies relating to approving and managing CoF providers to enable inspections to take place at a wider range of sites including bundling inspection and repair together, and to explore whether operators could be accredited to manage their own vehicle safety.
The government also decided to extend the variable CoF inspection from three to nine monthly to three to 12 monthly, with the default remaining at six monthly.
Celia Patrick, the NZTA’s group manager of access and use, says the workshops were held with three separate groups – current providers, which include the transport service delivery agents (TSDAs), vehicle servicers and repairers, and customers.
“The first set of workshops discussed the background to current CoF service provision, requirements for a future service delivery model, and criteria against which potential future models could be evaluated,” says Patrick.
“The information gathered at the workshops will help us finalise evaluation criteria for assessing future service delivery model options. The next stakeholder workshops, due to be held in early July, will focus on what the desirable features of any future model would look like.”
Patrick says maintaining safety outcomes is the key measure of any changes.
The workshops included a discussion on the extension to the variable CoF inspection frequency, which may increase incentives for operators to maintain their vehicles.
“Although currently available, variable inspection frequencies are not extensively used,” says Patrick. “This work will look at developing a process for implementing the variable frequency in a consistent and effective way.”
The next round of consultation will be held in July to discuss a draft service delivery model, while a third round will be held late August to discuss the NZTA’s preferred options.
