The physical process of importing a vehicle is
fairly straightforward.... This is how we did it this time last year.....
If your Disco will fit into a container, that would be the best option. Our campervan was too big for a container, so it had to come on a Roll-On/Roll-Off ferry. We used Bargates, who (despite problems reported elsewhere on the forum) were spot on. Unless it's in a container, the cost will depend on the cubic volume of the vehicle. As a rough guide, you're looking at around ?100+ per cubic metre.
Before the vehicle leaves the UK, make sure you get a Statement of Compliance (SoC) from the vehicle manufacturer. This proves that the vehicle is fit for use on the road in NZ.
Not all vehicles are allowed into NZ, so make sure you get this before you leave the UK . Check the LTNZ website which has got lists of the vehicles that are (and aren't) allowed in.
You get the SoC from the Homogulisation Department at the manufacturer's Head Office - not your local dealer. Fiat do them for free, can't say about any other rmanufacturers. You will also need to supply copies of your passport and proof of ownership to the shipping company. Keep the originals because you'll need them in NZ.
We insured our van with a Maritime Insurance agent for damage in transit. We had to have it inspected and get a vehicle condition report. Luckily, our old neighbour was an authorised vehicle examiner so he did it for a few beers. We also took loads of photos just in case.
The ship took 42 days from Southampton to Auckland. Fortunately, the van arrived in NZ with not so much as a scratch
When the vehicle arrives in NZ, you will have to get Customs clearance. If you've owned the vehicle for more than 12 months and are coming with PR or can show that you intend to settle here, you won't have to pay any GST or import duty.
You will have to show your original documents and pay for (and sign) a Declaration of Undertaking (DoU) to say that you won't sell the vehicle for 2 years. If you do sell it, you will have to pay Import Duty and GST on the price of the vehicle at time of import, plus the shipping and insurance. Owch! If you don't meet these criteria, you'll have to pay the GST and Import Duty. As I remember it, the DoU cost about $60.
You'll also have to get release authority from the shipping agent in NZ, which cost about $300. This covers the port movements when they get the car off the ship. The port will give you three or four days free storage to collect the van. After that, they'll charge you 'wharfage'. You can get the rates online from the Port company's website, but it will be about $100 per day........
Once you've got your customs papers and shipping release forms, you can go to the docks and arrnage to collect your car. Customs will check it for contraband and MAF will check for dirt. It will probably have to be steam cleaned, which cost me $150 and was done at the port there and then.
When that's all done, the wharf manager will stamp your forms and you're free to leave. You have to take the car to a Vehicle Inspection Station for compliance checks, registration and Warrant of Fitness. We borrowed some trade plates from our car hire place and just drove there. You might have to hire a transport company which will be about $100 for a 10km trip. In Auckland, there's a VTNZ station right next to the docks.
Inspection, registration and WOF cost about $1000. We had to have an engineer's report done on our camper which cost another $450, but you might not need that on a Disco. All that took us about three days because our engineer had gone fishing, but can usually be done in the same day...
When you've done all of that, you can fit your plates, put the stickers on your windscreen and drive away.
Apart from using Bargates to book the space on the ship, I did ewverything else myself. Like I said, it's fairly straight-forward if you do your homework and get the right papers before you leave the UK.
One other thought......
We met some Aussie bikers at the Burt Munro museum in Invercargill who had brought their motorbikes over from Queensland and were touring NZ for three months. They said they had to get a
CARNET which is like a temporary registration because they weren't intending to stay and were using the bikes for leisure purposes. I can't tell you any more than that and don't know if it's a special thing between NZ and Australia or if you can do it from other countries as well. You might get more info from the AA or LTNZ - both have got good websites.
Hope that helps