Would You Buy A Used Car From Rick Barker?

Since July 1999, New Zealand Customs has sold more than 1,000 "unsafe" motor vehicles to unsuspecting New Zealanders and the Crown has pocketed the money, ACT New Zealand Transport Spokesman Deborah Coddington said today.

"Answers to Parliamentary Questions I asked of Customs Minister Rick Barker show that, since July 1999, Customs has seized 1,391 imported vehicles because it believed their odometers had been tampered with.

"The majority of these vehicles were sold at auction, but the importers have not been compensated. The Motor Vehicle Dealers' Institute has commenced litigation to prevent sale of these vehicles to the New Zealand public.

"Representing all licensed car dealers, the institute is understandably incensed about these vehicles - mostly cars - being seized ostensibly because they are unsafe, then sold to an unsuspecting public.

"While the first owner can check the authenticity of the car's record, subsequent owners are unaware their purchase may have travelled a greater distance than that recorded on the odometer. Furthermore, the Government is sanctioning the use of `unsafe' cars on New Zealand roads.

"Customs are, in fact, doing exactly what they accuse importers of doing. This is just more evidence of the Labour Government's hypocrisy, and the cavalier manner in which it regards New Zealand enterprise," Ms Coddington said.

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