An international non-governmental organisation (NGO) known as CITA is appointing Vehicle Testing New Zealand Limited (VTNZ) chief executive officer Mike Walsh to its board.
He is the first New Zealander to hold such a position.
Based in Brussels, CITA represents vehicle inspection companies and government authorities involved with vehicle safety and roadworthiness standards.
It was established in the late 1980s and has observer status with the United Nations.
Walsh was elected to CITA’s permanent bureau at the Zagreb general assembly this month.
He joins the team that provides the strategic direction of the organisation and supervises the work of the CITA Secretariat.
“It’s a tremendous honour that recognises the professionalism and quality of New Zealand’s vehicle’s inspection industry,” says Walsh.
“Technologies such as autonomous vehicles and other driver assistance systems are revolutionising driving – vehicle inspection standards and techniques need to evolve with them to keep everyone safe on the roads,” he says.
“CITA’s role is helping ensure the upholding of high inspection standards and safety benefits are understood and valued by governments and regulatory bodies all around the world,” says Walsh.
VTNZ operates vehicle inspection and licensing facilities with more than 80 branches around New Zealand.
Based in Stuttgart Germany, vehicle inspection company DEKRA has a 60% shareholding in VTNZ. It employs more than 39,000 people in more than 50 countries and carrying out 26 million vehicle inspections each year.
