44 Bowen Street 
Private Bag 6995 
 
Wellington 6141 
New Zealand 
 
T 64 4 894 5400 
 
F 64 4 894 6100 
 
www.nzta.govt.nz 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
26 April 2024 
 
 
 
  
Cody C 
[FYI request #26282 email]> 
REF: OIA-15043 
 
Dear Cody 
 
Request made under the Official Information Act 1982 
 
Thank you for your email of 1 April 2024 requesting the following information under the Official 
Information Act 1982 (the Act): 
 
I understand that as a Quadricycle, a “Citroën Ami” may not meet NZ frontal impact standards, 
for example, and so would need to receive an exemption before being permitted to be 
registered in New Zealand. 
 
Please provide further details on the process for said exemption and how that might occur on 
registered said imported vehicle. 
 
Please also advise if you have any information on approximate numbers of already-registered 
Quadricycles, or similar. 
 
Quadricycles are not currently a defined vehicle type in New Zealand. This means that a quadricycle 
would require an exemption for permanent registration.  
Exemptions from the Land Transport rules are considered under 168D of the Land Transport Act 1988 
(LTA). The Director of Land Transport needs to be satisfied that, in granting an exemption to a 
regulator or rule (in this case, the Land Transport (Motor Vehicle Registration and Licensing) 
Regulations 2011, that the exemption is no broader than is reasonably necessary, and it is appropriate 
to grant the exemption considering: 
- 
the Agency’s objective in section 94 of the Land Transport Management Act 2003; and 
- 
the need to maintain or improve land transport safety; and 
- 
whether the exemption supports the response to an emergency or other event; and 
- 
any other matter that the Director considers appropriate in the circumstances. 
 
This means that an exemption would be considered favourable if the vehicle meets or exceeds current 
vehicle standards. The public interest is considered, along with any risk factors that need to be 
mitigated. 
 
 
 
   

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An application can be made for an exemption from legal requirements that normally apply to vehicles 
using a CA11 Application for an exemption. You can find the application form here 
https://vehicleinspection.nzta.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/32862/CA-11-Application-for-
exemption-from-Land-Transport-rules.pdf.  
 
Frontal impact standards are an important consideration for vehicles that you may wish to use on the 
road. You can view the rules at this link https://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/rules/frontal-impact-2001/.  
 
To date, no quadricycles have been granted an exemption for permanent registration. The only trial of 
a quadricycle that we are aware of did not involve a Citroën Ami. We are not able to comment on 
whether this quadricycle would meet impact standards or not, nor whether this would be the only issue 
that might need to be addressed before an exemption may be granted. 
 
A review of our regulatory framework is expected to be underway soon to confirm if our current 
approach to vehicle regulation continues to be sufficient. This is expected to include considering what 
vehicle classes are accepted for registration, and what warrant or certificate of fitness arrangements 
would be required. 
 
In the meantime, if you are looking to import a quadricycle and would like to receive guidance or, you 
would like to discuss this reply with NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), please contact us at 
[email address]. 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
 
 
Nicole Botherway 
National Manager  
 
 
 
 
 
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