RV COMPLIANCE
GENERAL:
All travel trailers being imported into New Zealand, irrespective of origin, must meet all New Zealand Laws and Regulations respecting road worthiness [Road Warrant of Fitness], electrical [WOEF], gas and waste containment.
The newest of these regulations, the waste containment, is designed to eliminate fouling and pollution of New Zealand’s pristine environment. With that in mind Global RV fully supports and endorses the need for all recreational vehicles, irrespective of age or type, to be modified to meet these new self-containment Regulations. All Global imported vehicles meet these Regulations in every respect, having been modified in New Zealand to these specifications, as outlined in the “New Zealand Standard for Self-Containment of Motor Caravans and Caravans, NZS 5465:2001”
With respect to the electrical conversions, in simple terms, no recreational vehicles, whether towed or self-propelled and if using 110volt power systems, complies with New Zealand Regulations. The issues and reasons are many-fold, but primarily relates to the use of single strand wire in the 110 volt systems that cannot handle the load of the 240 volt system, and frequently causes fires. As well, the design of the 110v distribution panel and its lightweight construction does not handle the more powerful 240volt energy without being compromised and increasing risk of fire. Step-down transformers or converters are not approved and are illegal for use in recreational vehicles, whether fitted as part of the units wiring or free-standing. There are many Regulations, reports and documents detailing the requirements for electrical compliance, and include Ministry of Economic Development Bulletin Issue #4, of December 2011.
Gas compliance is another critical consideration when buying a new or used imported recreational vehicle. Ministry of Economic Development Bulletin #5 of December 2011 provides references to the various Regulations regarding the requirements and means of ensuring compliance. Standards are outlined in AS/NZS 5601.1;2010 Gas installations; AS/NZS 5601.2 Gas installations; NZS 5261: Gas installations 2003 and NZS 5428 [2003]. Once again, in simple terms New Zealand’s specific requirements for gas safety in recreational vehicles means replacing the typical imported gas appliances with those manufactured in Australia or New Zealand and complying with the above noted Regulations.
A Road Warrant of Fitness states the obvious in that while the units imported may appear to be compliant, there are a number of changes necessary to meet New Zealand Transportation Regulations. One simple but essential example is to have all safety chains bolted to the chassis using high tensile bolts, rather than welded which is the more typical application used in North America. All Global RV units are fully compliant when offered for sale through its dealer network and carry with them a current WOF.
As a company which undertakes enormous effort and at the same time incurs considerable cost to ensure that all its units are fully compliant in every respect with all the above noted Regulations, Laws and general requirements to be legally allowed to be sold in New Zealand, it is recommended that under no circumstances should any recreational vehicle of any type which is not converted/modified [and Certified] to meet these requirements, be purchased privately when the seller cannot provide all required Warrants. Not only is it illegal for a seller to offer such a unit for sale, but there is substantial risk, as has been borne out by multiple instances of injury and death in New Zealand in the past. These instances of injury and worse, are what caused these regulations to be formed and implemented, with considerable input from numerous industry sources over many years of consultation and dialogue.
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