New Zealand is one of the most sophisticated export car markets. There have been 8,000 cars a month going to N.Z. Every month for the last 15 years and this is to a country that only has 4.0 million people. Since the government opened the door and let cheaper imported cars in, the cost of a used car has dropped by half! Even new car prices have come down in order to compete and yet good savings can still be made.
There are no barriers to import cars into New Zealand and as of early 1998 there is no import duty. One do not need to own or use the car before sending it home and you can buy a car for somebody in New Zealand and ship it to them with out any problem, even though they may not be in Japan. GST of 12.5% of the landed cost of the vehicle is payable on importation. But vehicle testing standards and registration requirements are strictly enforced in N.Z and may change from time to time.
