I can't get my bike certified

[DEMONICST8]

I have a bike that was brought into the country 6 years ago, I have the ownership papers and a letter from the previous owner selling me the bike, I have also had it viewed by VINZ to verify that the Chassis number has not been tampered with, what I am missing according to Land Transport are the MAF or Customs documents stating how and when the bike entered the country. I've been told that without these I cannot get the bike certified/registered in New Zealand.
The previous owner moved over here and brought the bike over in a container along with all of his possesions, the bike has been in storage for 6 years and has never been registered.
He has since moved back overseas and has told me over the phone that all he was told was that he was not allowed to sell the bike within two years, so after three years he threw all the documents away, as far as he was aware selling me the bike and giving me the ownership papers was all he needed to do to allow me to register the bike on our roads.
As you can imagine I'm gutted, I have a bike that I paid for and have just had serviced and has only done 13000k's sitting in my garage.
Any ideas what I can do? is my only option to sell it off as parts?

[judecatmad]

The shipping company should have copies of the import docs - assuming they keep their files for a reasonable period of time. Failing that, MAF/Customs should certainly have some record of the vehicle entering the country as part of the guy's shipment, surely? It all depends on whether anyone wants to play the game tho and help you out.... You might need a letter from the guy who did the import authorising you to view copies. It might be worth a shot.....

[Ixion]

You defiantely can register it, it's a "standard" model. At worst you might have to register it as a "sratch" model , ie as if you had built one from parts.

It's a LOT more complicated though, that way , you'll need to get a police release (they check with Interpol!) and jump through lots of hoops.

Biggest problem by all accounts is that NOONE you encounter will want to help you or tell you what you need to do. But there are people on this site who ahve done it, hopefully they'll chip in their advice

[DEMONICST8]

I really hope there is a way I can get it registered, since I got the bike I havent been able to stop thinking about it, I went out and got some new riding gear and I'm all ready to go riding only to get shot down by Land Transport

[Paul in NZ]

If you are still in contact with the last owner it gets easier. You need a letter from the last registered owner and proof it was de registered in it's country of origin and that no one owes any $$ on it, the police are not looking for it and hopefully some shipping papers.

If you have no way of contacting the guy or at least getting some sort of sworn statement covering the basics, you could be in trouble.

After all - all this is designed to make is harder to ship stolen bikes off shore.

Basically you did a very silly thing and something I narrowly avoided doing myself recently. Its getting harder and harder to rego these bikes without all the proper doccuments and a trail of ownership. Chances are the guy sold it to you knowing full we it could not be registered so don't expect him to be too helpful.

Another option is to obtain a local frame from a similar bike and rebuild it with your stuff. Or take up racing.

[Harry33]

I have to agree with most of the above. What you need to do is contact the last owner find out the container number and then phone MAF they should have records reguarding the motorbike as it would have had to been cleared,inspected before been unloaded into storage. MAF check's for bugs, dirt etc.

The MAF inspector would also have filed a log sheet saying if it can be released.

If the last owner doesn't know the container number, find out who delivered the container (As well as a Date)they should have a copy of the delivery docket with the container number. All trucking companys who deliver and pickup containers have to keep records just incase MAF does a Audit.

I hope this helps

[Steam]

Or... buy a bike exactly the same, but a rooted and dirt cheap one maybe from the wreckers or on Tardme, reregister it if needed, and then rip the VIN and plates off that one and stick it on your fine new one. Illegal sure, but there'll be no trace except a bit of welding, maybe not even that if you get it done nice enough.

[DEMONICST8]

I am still in contact with the previous owner, he is going to the shipping company he used and is trying to find out the container number but remember it was 6 years ago, I dont hold much hope of him finding out, it would be like trying to get proof of delivery for a carton sent 6 years ago when you dont have a tracking number. He knows the date it was shipped and the rest of the details so hopefully there is still a chance.
He's a good friend and I know he didnt sell me the bike knowing I would be stuck.

[James Deuce]

Shipping records are pretty tight. I'd be surprised if he can't get the details together.

[Harry33]

I'm not to sure how long MAF keeps the records for to be honest so I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

[James Deuce]

Government records are usually archived in perpetuity. Just takes a bit of work to dig them out, but that is becoming easier and easier thanks to scanners, SANs, and systems that record data direct to archive during processing at the actual time.

[DEMONICST8]

Well he came back to me by email and mentioned MINTO 134, buggered if I know what he means, maybe its a boat, I asked him what he means but with time lines and all I probably wont get an answer for a few days.
He also tells me the container arrived into NZ at the start of August 2000.
I'm not going to give up on this I really want this bike on the road.

[Paul in NZ]

Start caputring as much info as you can. The previous rego number, sworn statements etc. End of the day someone will have to make a call on it and the more objective evidence you have the better off you will be.

get this stuff asap

[iwilde]

Easy, get him to fill out and sign a declaration from stating the details, ask the local court or JP for advice. I can't see it being a big deal for you.

[Paul in NZ]

Easy, get him to fill out and sign a declaration from stating the details, ask the local court or JP for advice. I can't see it being a big deal for you.

Not quite that simple. You usually need something from the previous country of origin, ie an unbroken string of ownership, registration etc. Something 'official'