Local MP James Meager - Changes to WOF and Ashburton Show

Luke caught local MP James Meager to ask about the Government's proposed vehicle testing changes 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Government's proposing changes to WAFT inspections. The Minister for Everything,
it seems, is James Mee. Good morning, Morning, Morning ocon
So proposing that for new vehicles it goes to four years,
those aged four to ten years every two years, and
then those over a decade old annually. What's spread all this?

Speaker 2 (00:21):
Yeah, well we're a bit out of step with the
rest of the world. So if you look at what
they do over in the EU there are four to
two as well Australia and Canada. If you look at
most of the estates and provinces, they actually don't have
regular wafts. They have a requirement like we do, to
maintain your vehicles roadworthy, but to do it once and
then do it again we new sell a vehicles. So

(00:42):
we're trying to find the right balance between safety and
the qualities vehicles and just the cost of living implications
on New Zealanders have to go and get a waft,
you know, every year when you're pass the flying colors.
So we're trying to see if we can make a
few tweaks there.

Speaker 1 (00:55):
Some of those countries you mentioned, European cars are pretty
well built. We've got mostly jet rolling around streets here.
I think I speak for many when I note there's
some pretty rough looking rides rolling around out on those streets,
and it makes me a little nervous that people might
not because the warr on fitness. If anything, it just
serves as that reminder to go, oh, I better check

(01:16):
the tread on the tires and the brakes, and if
that's left often, I don't know, it just makes me
a little weary.

Speaker 2 (01:23):
Yeah, they might be a bit fair. And if you
look at what the age of the vehicles we're looking
at doing this on, so it'd be extending it to
four years for new vehicles, and then as you said,
two years for age four to ten, and then one
year after that.

Speaker 3 (01:35):
So we are talking about those newer vehicles, the ones
that already come in with the high quality systems, with
the automatic breaking, the lane control, all that kind of stuff.
So in terms of a safety trade off, we think
it's probably got the right balance. But again that's why
it's out for consultation, so people can let us know
whether they think it's in the right space.

Speaker 1 (01:53):
I'm rather envious of you today you're heading out to
the lakes.

Speaker 2 (01:57):
Yeah, well, four cart seems good and there's probably still
a bit of on the ground there. But we've got
Chris Penkin Town who's the Minister for Land Information or
Minister for Lands, and he's going to be up there
talking to a few of the station holders up there
about past releases in Roma and all sorts of things.
So good to get him up there and show them
what the high country is all about. When there's been
a bit of snow around.

Speaker 1 (02:17):
Will you have the chance to go and cast a
rod or stalk something?

Speaker 2 (02:22):
Oh? Look that as part of my portfolio, so I
can sneak in a little bit of work in air
quotes here and there, then maybe I can. But it's
probably a lot more not more dedicated to Cresc and
his focuses at the moment, so maybe not, but definitely
looking forward to getting up over summer.

Speaker 1 (02:36):
Or maybe the socializing comes on said day or tomorrow
and said day. Are we going to spot you at
the Ashbrook name p show again?

Speaker 2 (02:44):
Yes, yes, we'll be there both days Friday and said day.
It's going to be actually a bit of a big
week because after the Lake says that today I'm off
to Mount College for the prizegiving, so we'll be back
and forward price giving amp Shows said day, I'm seeing
if I can bring the dogs along. They are getting
to be a bit of a handful, So those free
walks that people offer might need to come with some

(03:05):
public liberary insurance.

Speaker 1 (03:06):
They're getting quite big, now, are they.

Speaker 2 (03:08):
Oh yeah, I've had a hands. I can hear them
outside the door scratching away at the moment.

Speaker 1 (03:11):
Actually, oh no, but I need my Barney hugs. I
need I need my licks.

Speaker 2 (03:17):
You know what, you signed up for.

Speaker 1 (03:19):
Something to take the heat off after trying the chili
eating competition. So if you hear the whales, you know,
the the yelps of help from down the lane, it
may not necessarily be the dogs. It could be me.

Speaker 2 (03:31):
Well, yeah, I won't say what I was going to
say that make sure you clean up after your mist
like