Certificate of steam cleaning. Required?

[kjames]

Evening all…

I’m just in the process of moving to NZ and more importantly sorting out the paperwork to bring my bike over.

Most of it seems straight forward. Ownership, receipts etc…. compliance certificate.

Now my movers have thrown in a curve ball and said I need a certificate of steam cleaning and it needs to be steam cleaned in Dubai before its packed.

I’ve looked on all of the NZ government websites and the best I’ve found is that MAF might steam clean it if it arrives dirty and charge me for it.
I only use my bike in desert sand. So it all hoses off very easily and the bike is immaculate. I really don’t want someone steam cleaning my bike and blowing all the grease out of the bearing, especially if its not needed.

Has anyone who imported their bike had to have it steam cleaned? Or is it just my movers trying to make an extra few $$$

thanks

Karl

[The Stranger]

Evening all…

I’m just in the process of moving to NZ and more importantly sorting out the paperwork to bring my bike over.

Most of it seems straight forward. Ownership, receipts etc…. compliance certificate.

Now my movers have thrown in a curve ball and said I need a certificate of steam cleaning and it needs to be steam cleaned in Dubai before its packed.

I’ve looked on all of the NZ government websites and the best I’ve found is that MAF might steam clean it if it arrives dirty and charge me for it.
I only use my bike in desert sand. So it all hoses off very easily and the bike is immaculate. I really don’t want someone steam cleaning my bike and blowing all the grease out of the bearing, especially if its not needed.

Has anyone who imported their bike had to have it steam cleaned? Or is it just my movers trying to make an extra few $$$

thanks

Karl

Had a guy stay with us who was doing a world tour.
As NZ was the last leg, he brought his bike in and had it vinned and registered here, paid his GST with a view to selling it here before he flew back to England.

Steam cleaning (of the bike) was a requirement on arrival also in this case.
However when it was checked locally the inspector said it was clean enough and deemed it not necessary.

My impression was that they say it is a requirement on the basis you know up front rather than giving you a nasty surprise should it in fact arrive dirty.

[Mully]

Hiya,

There is no requirement to have a Steam Cleaning certificate per se. (for one thing, MAF can't monitor the job they are doing, thereby meaning they'd have to inspect anyway)

As you have seen, MAF will inspect any used vehicle and assess it for cleaning on a case-by-case basis. Cleaning here is time-consuming and usually expensive (only approved people can be used, they have to catch the run-off for treatment, etc), so make sure it's spotless before it's loaded.

Your movers are having a go. If you want to have a laugh, ask for proof of the requirement of a certificate and watch them squirm when they can't provide it.

[kjames]

thanks for your help guys.... i'm pretty sure the movers are just trying it on.

the bikes really clean, the only bit that needs a bit of work is inside the air box. which is a nice mix of sand and air filter oil.

Time to get the marigolds out i reckon.

thanks again.

k

[tigertim20]

thanks for your help guys.... i'm pretty sure the movers are just trying it on.

the bikes really clean, the only bit that needs a bit of work is inside the air box. which is a nice mix of sand and air filter oil.

Time to get the marigolds out i reckon.

thanks again.

k

I do a bit of part time work for an international furniture removal company. My advice, fuck the 'certificate', but DO get it steam cleaned before packing. Steam cleaning costs bugger all, but if MAF decide it is a little bit dirty, they will charge you for it. and they charge like a wounded bull when it suits them. They are more picky depending on what country you are coming from, so dont take a chance, just get it steam cleaned, and pack it up. no certificate needed. good luck, safe trip, and hope you enjoy NZ when you get here!

[emaN]

I gave 'er a good going over before crating 'er up.
But I missed under the front guard, and being wintry London weather, there was salt 'n all under there.
They were going to steam it, but I assured them it was just salt 'n road grime, so they let me take her home 'dry'.

[YellowDog]

When I brought my bike over my Dad cleaned it before it was crated up.

I got him to write a note certifying what he had done and MAF were happy with that and passed the bike through.

[NOMIS]

Hiya,

There is no requirement to have a Steam Cleaning certificate per se. (for one thing, MAF can't monitor the job they are doing, thereby meaning they'd have to inspect anyway)

As you have seen, MAF will inspect any used vehicle and assess it for cleaning on a case-by-case basis. Cleaning here is time-consuming and usually expensive (only approved people can be used, they have to catch the run-off for treatment, etc), so make sure it's spotless before it's loaded.

Your movers are having a go. If you want to have a laugh, ask for proof of the requirement of a certificate and watch them squirm when they can't provide it.


Listen to this guy , i have reason to believe he may no what he is talking about... but can never be to sure..

Do I have to steam clean milk when I export it Mully?

[Hitcher]

Make sure your bike has no mud, plant or animal matter on it, and it will pass inspection here just fine.

If you want chapter and verse, read this: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/imports/non-organic/standards/bmg-std-vehil.htm

[Shadows]

Scorpions? We don't need no stinkin' scorpions!

[The Stranger]

Your movers are having a go. If you want to have a laugh, ask for proof of the requirement of a certificate and watch them squirm when they can't provide it.

There is a reason I have Hanlon's razor as my sig.

[Mully]

Do I have to steam clean milk when I export it Mully?

You could - but you'd probably end up with a cappucino.

[Mort]

I brought two enduro bikes over. I just made sure they were clean. Didn't steam clean them and wasn't asked for a certificate. the MAF official just looked them over and passed them. My advice : just clean the bike thoughly.

[Molly]

Same as Mort said. I've brought two bikes over (in '05 and '09). Just cleaned the living shit out of them, put them in the crates, and let MAF inspect them on arrival. No problems.

MAF inspected both of my bikes at home by the way. This was preferable as I had other personal belongings and wasn't keen on the crate being cracked open in some or other warehouse and therefore being vulnerable in the time between the inspection and delivery to my home.

[Voltaire]

Brought my Kombi van back in 2004, following a 30 000 km trip around Europe , drove it into a container as is in London and when it arrived MAF made me empty all our stuff out and he went over it with a fine tooth comb.
Result: Pair of dirty trainers and a Somme shell casing needed to be steam cleaned, re packed Kombi and drove it away. ( it was NZ registered so I could).
Have also borught in 4 motorcycles in over the years and no 'hidden' charges.
Customs.....now thats a different story, they try to hit you with GST ( VAT) unless you can prove you don't have to pay it. Thats my experience, good luck.
Tip for dealing with NZ officials,( or officials in general) always be nice and friendly, if in doubt plead ignorance....be prepared to get the run around.
But hey comming from an Arab country you should be good at this, no backsheesh required here.

[crazyhorse]

I moved both car and bike back from Oz last year, and yes, they needed to be cleaned professionally - not so much as a certificate, but invoice to show it had been done. yes, MAF do check here too - but not sure about Dubai's rules.

[kjames]

thanks for all the advice guys...

i think the plan is to get the bike 'washed' at a local place, so i get a reciept showing it has been cleaned. Then i take it apart when i get it home and just give it a second going over and take a few pics.

The bike really looks like new, i only ride in very dry sand.. so mud and plant matter don't really apply. I dont think i'll have a problem :wacko:

next question... I'm planning on draining the petrol, and disconnecting the battery. Is that all that is required? Can all the other fluids remain in the bike... can the battery remain on the bike?

thanks

karl

[Mort]

yeah you'll be fine with that.... worry about other suff

[longwayfromhome]

See my experience here.....
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=89108

The actual requirement is to have a clean bike. This can be achieved by you prior to arrival in NZ or, if necessary, by a MAF-arranged (and priced!) steam-clean once in NZ.

I had ridden my bike for a year in the dry weather of CA before shipping, including the ride from SanFran to LA on the day I dropped it off. It went thru MAF fine, so its not like it has to be pristine, just reasonable.

[Bat]

Hello there.
I'm hoping to get over to NZ @ the New Year and I see that my bike has to be cleaned before going into the crate?


Are there any other requirements by the MAF or Customs?
I think someone said to drain off the petrol and disconnect the battery?

How does the MOT/inspection system work over there?
If I have a UK MOT will I be OK for the first six months?

I toured the top half of the North Island (in a hired camper, though:sick:) the other year and know how good your roads are: brilliant.:yes:

Roll on the new Year!

[YellowDog]

Hellow and Welcome to KB.

Usually your shipping firm will remove the fuel and disconnect the battery prior to loading, but it DOES have to be done by someone.

You will need a document stating that the bike has been cleaned. This can be an invoice from the cleaner, or in my case, just a signed note from my Dad who did it for me (as I had long since left).

The UK MOT means nothing out here. It's called a WOF in Kiwiland and not at all tough to pass. It is more of a revenue collection scheme.

To make your bike NZ legal, you will need to put it through a compliance check. It needs to be as original as possible, so this can cause some issues whilst they tick off the VIN against the original spec. This process is quite strict and you may be given some work to do before it can pass.

Once you have passed the compliance, you will then be allowed to buy a Registration sticker (same as UK Road Tax) and also a Warrant of Fitness (WOF or MOT).

There is not such a panic on this process. Once the bike has passed the MAFF inspection, you can then ride it on the road whilst you sort out everything else. I rode my UK bike for a few months without ever getting stopped or questioned, before going through the compliance check.

BTW: Insuring your vehicle is an optional luxury.

Good luck.

[Supertwin Don]

You will need a document stating that the bike has been cleaned. This can be an invoice from the cleaner, or in my case, just a signed note from my Dad who did it for me (as I had long since left).


I'm due to have my bikes shipped over at the end of November - I haven't seen any reference to having to have "a document" about the cleaning - where has this come from?

[Blackbird]

Here's some general info that you might find useful: http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/importing/.

[Bat]

Hellow and Welcome to KB.

Usually your shipping firm will remove the fuel and disconnect the battery prior to loading, but it DOES have to be done by someone.

You will need a document stating that the bike has been cleaned. This can be an invoice from the cleaner, or in my case, just a signed note from my Dad who did it for me (as I had long since left).

The UK MOT means nothing out here. It's called a WOF in Kiwiland and not at all tough to pass. It is more of a revenue collection scheme.

To make your bike NZ legal, you will need to put it through a compliance check. It needs to be as original as possible, so this can cause some issues whilst they tick off the VIN against the original spec. This process is quite strict and you may be given some work to do before it can pass.

Once you have passed the compliance, you will then be allowed to buy a Registration sticker (same as UK Road Tax) and also a Warrant of Fitness (WOF or MOT).

There is not such a panic on this process. Once the bike has passed the MAFF inspection, you can then ride it on the road whilst you sort out everything else. I rode my UK bike for a few months without ever getting stopped or questioned, before going through the compliance check.

BTW: Insuring your vehicle is an optional luxury.

Good luck.

Sounds good to me: thanks for the info!

[YellowDog]

You will need a document stating that the bike has been cleaned. This can be an invoice from the cleaner, or in my case, just a signed note from my Dad who did it for me (as I had long since left).


I'm due to have my bikes shipped over at the end of November - I haven't seen any reference to having to have "a document" about the cleaning - where has this come from?
Your shipper won't accept the bike without then paperwork being in order (in case you stole it).

The bike will be inspected by MAFF at this end. Cleaning in those important little places, like under the mud guards and anywhere else where dirt can sit out of eye site is very important:

Or it will fail and you will have to pay heaps of cash for a ministry funded clean at this end.

[Supertwin Don]

Yellowdog, I've got all the "legal" papers to prove that I own my bikes, what I was worried about was having to get yet another bit of paper signed by someone else to "prove" that I'd cleaned them.
My bikes aren't "showroom" clean, 'cause I use them, but I have my own little jet wash and a big tin of solvent/detergent, so I'm planning on doing it myself.

[YellowDog]

Yellowdog, I've got all the "legal" papers to prove that I own my bikes, what I was worried about was having to get yet another bit of paper signed by someone else to "prove" that I'd cleaned them.
My bikes aren't "showroom" clean, 'cause I use them, but I have my own little jet wash and a big tin of solvent/detergent, so I'm planning on doing it myself.
That's great and I am sure you will be more thorough than a professional cleaner anyway.

All you need to do is to produce your own document to give the shipper to certify that you have thoroughly cleaned it with a steam cleaner and solvents. Date and sign it. Make sure you have a couple of copies and also keep one for yourself as they do have a habbit of losing important pieces of paper.

Job done!

[Molly]

Hi. Can't be arsed to read the other replies but can say that if the bike is thoroughly cleaned MAF will be happy to sign it through as OK. No certificate of steam cleaning has been required for either of the bikes I've brought from the UK. Also, you can elect to have the bike checked at your NZ home. I went this way with both of my bikes.

If making your own crates do your homework on the wood they'll permit. PM me if you want more details (though it's all covered on the MAF website).

Lastly, MAF are good to deal with so don't stress too much.

[Bat]

Thanks, Molly, I think I'll give mine a good wash down and 'create' a nice receipt ................
Thanks for putting my mind to rest.
How's the weather down in Christchurch?
Are the roads OK? I hear the views are good?