The Mechanic Tapawera

21/05/2026

Winter prompts: When’s the last time your vehicle has had a service? 😬⛽️

Regular servicing and maintenance on your vehicle overall improves the function and longevity of your vehicle! 🥳

We often put it in the only when we have to do it basket! But regular servicing is going to keep that wagon running nicely and hopefully allow it to see you through many more years to come!

Looking at getting a service done? We can help 🥰

15/05/2026

How are those tyres looking 👀 With the chilly season coming in full swing, we will be putting up some wee visual prompts, to help get your vehicle ready for winter! Starting with those tyres! 🛞

It is really important to be looking at how much tread you have left on your current tyres and whether you have the right tyres to be achieving what your vehicle is being used for! Any bulging or exposed wires are unsafe and should be replaced!

If you are unsure on how to check your tread or wanting to order in some new tyres ahead of winter, swing in or give us ring! 🚘🛞💨

14/05/2026

Illustration of what may be happening to your engine oil 🤓

06/05/2026

22/04/2026

Before and after roof liner removal, reupholster and reinstall
Lovely job with comfortable results for the driver

16/04/2026

👀

We’re making changes to the warrant of fitness system. On 1 November 2026, these things will change:

• people who buy a new car will need to get their next WoF when the car is 4 years old (it’s currently when the car is 3 years old)
• people with cars between 4–14 years old* will need a WoF every 2 years (it’s currently yearly)
• people with motorcycles registered before 1 January 2000 will need a WoF every year (it’s currently every 6 months).

For a long time we’ve had very frequent vehicle inspections compared to countries overseas. Modern vehicles are significantly safer and more reliable. It’s safer to have less frequent inspections, and this’ll save you time and money.

Cars over 14 years old, and motorcycles registered before 1 January 2000, will move to an annual WoF (up from every 6 months for some vehicles).

If your car has Automatic Emergency Braking or Lane Keep Assist, WoF inspections will now check for warning lights (or malfunction indicators) for these systems.

It’s still your responsibility to maintain your vehicle to the WoF standard between inspections. To reinforce this we’re increasing fines if your vehicle isn’t compliant. From 1 November:

• If you’re driving a vehicle with a WoF that’s expired by more than 2 months, you may be fined $350 (up from $200).
• If you’re driving a vehicle with a wheel or tyre that wouldn’t pass an inspection, you may be fined $350 (up from $150) and up to $1000 (the maximum court-ordered fine).

We’ve made these change following us consulting you for feedback about this towards the end of 2025. Thanks to everyone who shared their feedback with us – we received over 5000 formal submissions, and overall people supported these changes.

Our website has more information about the changes, including a summary and analysis of your feedback to us about these changes: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/changes-to-light-vehicle-inspections

* We’ll be introducing the change for cars between 4–14 years old in phases. From 1 November 2026, cars first registered on or after 1 November 2019 become eligible for WoFs every 2 years. From 1 November 2027, cars first registered from 1 November 2013 to 31 October 2019 become eligible.

19/03/2026

🧘🏻‍♂️🚗😆

14/03/2026

Boy made his first relayed, switched light bar circuit
A proud moment 💚😍

04/02/2026

A bit bent ? 💀

29/01/2026

Scoping to see injector function