Funding for heat-treatment unit

The new and used-imports sectors have been working together to find about $70,000 a year to keep a heattreatment facility operating at Ports of Auckland.

Although the equipment is seldom used, it plays a critical role in keeping the supply chain moving if a biosecurity threat is found.

David Vinsen, chief executive of the Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association, says VIA and the Motor Industry Association (MIA) have agreed to share the costs of keeping the service in place.

BioVapor, which operates the facility, approached the two associations for financial support after its port ground rent was increased.

“We got together with the operator, ports and shipping lines, and did some analysis,” adds Vinsen. “From that, the MIA agreed to pick up its share and the usedvehicle people will possibly do likewise.

“We’ve got agreement in principal from the used-vehicle industry, but this is not yet finalised. It’s most likely logistics companies will collect it from customers and it will work out at about 50 cents a car.”

Used imports from Japan are heat-treated before being shipped here. But the Auckland facility is a contingency in case any infestation, such as stink bugs, or contamination is found in a vehicle by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) on arrival.

“If something was found by MPI inspectors that was considered a biosecurity threat, it would mean trucking every car from that shipment off the port in covered wagons to be heat-treated inland,” says Vinsen.

“Having this facility at the port means any affected vehicles can be treated on the spot, which speeds up the process.

“We want to have that insurance because we’ve been through some challenging times such as the stinkbug crisis, Covid-19 interruptions and the MPI moving its staff back to New Zealand from Japan.”

There were 11,445 used passenger vehicles imported during March to bring the year-to-date total to 24,194 units.

That represents an increase of 10.1 per cent compared to 2022’s first-quarter total of 21,972. Japan, with 11,225 units, accounted for 98.1 per cent of all used cars imported last month.