Importing a 4 Wheel Drive Diesel Vehicle Question?

From Japan. Has anyone one done this recently? How do you navigate your way around the Land Transport Web site to arrive at a vehicle which is compliant?
Asking customer service directly over the phone it seems they cannot advise which vehicles are suitable for importation. Why is this and why does it seem so difficult for them to point you in a ball park direction?
Confusing much!

Ok a bit of a background fill in
You can import any vehicle you want to at any time No age limit of any sort,.
But if you want it to be allowed to be driven on public roads then it needs to pass frontal impact and emission laws OR be over 20 years old.
So for example 1994 bighorns,safaris and landcruisers can be purchased and come in.
but if you are thinking newer then the important number is the vehicles emission code. it must have a three digit code.
What year is that for a Diesel 4wd? ---I dunno !
for a DIESEL 2007 is a safe cut off year that it WONT be older than.
But after that it comes down to individual vehicles--not even models or years.
One example with product Im familiar with.
Nissan sylphy (petrol) 2004.
Easy hu--every 2004 will or won't comply?
NOPE some do and some don't -two identical cars one chasis tagged on a Friday the other the next monday--one complies one doesn't
Often though the model change is the year they do or don't comply
That said if you are looking for a specific vehicle it wont take very long to work out the change over year or model.
The magic number to remember is three digit emission code

They will not advise you because when it dosn't comply you will blame them. Read the rule very carefully. As you said not clear cut. Gamble. If its over so many years old then can be imported ( 20 ). Is it worth it . Might be better to get a good deal here. Less stress/worry.

Is it worth the shag round for a one off in the first place ?

Long story short - as far as diesels from Japan are concerned, there are very few that were made according to the new 3 letter codes for the Japan Domestic Market. Very few indeed. The Japanese tended to mainly go petrol and/or hybrid from about 2005 onwards. In 99% of cases (other than the 20 year rule) you will be looking only at the petrol and hybrid versions. One of the few exceptions over there that passes muster here in the diesel version is the newer Mazda CX5. Some of the later model Hiace vans are OK in diesel. But the likes of Prados etc, not available in diesel over there in the correct emissions codes.

Thanks so much for all the informative replies so far. It sounds like not many diesels will comply now?
When you are looking at a diesel vehicle in Japan where do you find the 3 digit code? and the frontal impact code?
We were unaware of the 20 year rule so 1995 Diesels are OK to import now? What's the reasoning behind this rule? Cheers

Is there a list of newer model that do comply? I maybe heard wrong but thought that there was a list of newer vehicles that will always comply, or is that safety standards I'm thinking of.
Brother offered up 3 yr old discovery in UK, tempting to bring it home with me?

Of course theres a current list, but they won't release it partly because . >
1: The govt agencys don't want to be caught out on that list each time the rules chance ever so slightly & THEM getting the blame.
2: They want some money off you 1st while hunting for correct advice
3: They don't want joe blogg's importing single vehicles because it's almost as much work for the agencys, as bringing in a truckload

poster 2 has given you all the info you need.
Diesel is euro 4 and euro 4 is way more tuff on diesel then it is on petrol.
Any euro 4 diesel has a dpf diesel particular filter or it wont be euro 4 it will be euro 3 and wont ever be registered with current rules. there is no secret list there is just the odd older diesel who has a dpf and no you cant just bolt one on to make it comply it must be factory euro 4 emission compliant with nz rules as they are when i last looked.
post 2 has it covered exactly how it is.

There is no "list".
MOT through NZTA work on a standards-based entry regime- a vehicle has to meet the standards criteria (whatever they may be, depending on the vehicle type) to be compliant for registration in New Zealand.
It's up to the importer to determine if they think a vehicle will meet the criteria and bring to New Zealand accordingly.
The TSD agent (VINZ,. VTNZ, AA or DriveSure) inspects the vehicle and paperwork to ensure they meet with the appropriate standards when complying, if they do, it passes through that particular compliance hurdle. If it doesn't, it fails.
In reply above:
1- there is no list- just standards. NZTA have no interest in what individual models or types may fit within those criteria.
2- There's no money to be made by NZTA in supplying you that information- they are simply the rulemakers. And the TSD's are the gatekeepers. If your vehicle requires a Statement of Compliance, this fee (if applicable) is charged by third-party providers, not by NZTA or the TSD. The Government does not have a fee-based Statement of Compliance service.
3- There is no more, or less, work in processing one or a hundred vehicles from an importer. Each compliance inspection is a set event, it can't be streamlined in bulk. Some compliance shops prefer not to deal with public one-off entries, only because of the hassle of explaining everything to a newbie. Some make it a part of their trade, and price accordingly.

Hope that clears it up.

Im sorry mate but you are really totally off the mark here
Of course theres a current list, but they won't release it
There is NO "list"
1: The govt agencys don't want to be caught out on that list each time the rules chance ever so slightly & THEM getting the blame.
you are probably right--which is why the list doesn't exist
same way as there won't be a list of esc equipped cars
2: They want some money off you 1st while hunting for correct advice
Nope--its up to you to check if an individual vehicle is compliant."they" don't do it at all--most likely for the same reason as in 1
3: They don't want joe blogg's importing single vehicles because it's almost as much work for the agencys, as bringing in a truckload.
By "they" if you mean LTSA etc they couldn't care less if its a private buyer bringing in one vehicle,a "private buyer bringing in a few at a time for his "family" or a big car dealership bringing in 100 at a time.
The import agents such as autohub etc don't really care
The calculation of customs gst is done individually for each car
The compliance guys tend to prefer dealing with professionals for the same reason parts guys prefer dealing with workshops not the public.professionals know the system so theres no mucking around.

Just to correct- there is no LTSA agency, this was dissolved back in 2009 or so when the NZTA (New Zealand Transport Agency) was created, rolling a number of previous organisations into the one umbrella.

MOT (Ministry of Transport) are the rule-makers, under the direction of the Minister of Transport at the time.

NZTA are the rule-keepers; i.e. once a rule or law has been passed by Parliament (like mandatory ESC) with MOT, then it is up to NZTA to implement the law, and prepare whatever changes are required to the VIRM or similar.

VINZ, VTNZ, AA and Drivesure are the next rungs on the ladder- they are independent commercial operators contracted to NZTA to provide transport inspections and services (including drivers licence testing), audited by NZTA's own Inspectorate, who also act as gatekeepers to issues such as damage flags, engineers inspections etc.