2019 Novel Coronavirus Covid-19 Discussion

Forums › Health and fitness › 2019 Novel Coronavirus Covid-19 Discussion

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#2694696 19-Apr-2021 10:04

Fred99:

During and following lockdown last year, an extension was given for car WOFs until (IIRC) October - you wouldn't get prosecuted for an expired WOF.

My SO's car warrant expired a few weeks ago - my bad - I hadn't noticed. I got it checked this morning at the local workshop that also does mechanical repairs and tyres. The shop was empty - the only job they had booked was the WOF on our car, they expect to have a very lean few months as warrants won't start expiring until after October, much of their mechanical repair and tyre sales work also follow on from WOF inspections. Then I guess from October onward, there'll be a mad rush. So a follow-on economic effect from lockdown that's probably going to take a few years to normalise.

For garages doing WOFs it will be a very slow process, the October crunch will continue to years until those cars are either scrapped, or the rest of the car fleet continues to grow and active steps are made to slow new registrations around October...

Ours expired in May during the lockdown, but we got it done in June, so it should be shouldn't be too busy when we do it again, But yes as you say anyone who has an October expiry is gonna have a headache....

Scott3

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#2694708 19-Apr-2021 10:27

Fred99:

During and following lockdown last year, an extension was given for car WOFs until (IIRC) October - you wouldn't get prosecuted for an expired WOF.

My SO's car warrant expired a few weeks ago - my bad - I hadn't noticed. I got it checked this morning at the local workshop that also does mechanical repairs and tyres. The shop was empty - the only job they had booked was the WOF on our car, they expect to have a very lean few months as warrants won't start expiring until after October, much of their mechanical repair and tyre sales work also follow on from WOF inspections. Then I guess from October onward, there'll be a mad rush. So a follow-on economic effect from lockdown that's probably going to take a few years to normalise.

That wasn't such great policy in hindsight. Having roughly half the fleets WOF expire at a set date was always going to hammer the industry. And not just the WOF industry, all the flow on stuff. A lot of people don't replace the likes of their tires until they get a WOF fail, plus there all the stuff that you can't easily see without a pit / hoist like suspension bushings, ball joints etc.

As most of the fleet is on a 12 month cycle, there will be an annual surge & stall for the industry for perhaps the next decade due to this. Giving every car in the fleet a 3 month extension would have been a lot better for the industry as it would have kept WOF expirey dates roughly evenly distributed around the year.

martyyn

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#2694717 19-Apr-2021 10:51

No one is saying there aren't businesses and individuals who have really suffered and I genuinely feel for them. But I'm challenging the view the whole country is in turmoil as some would lead you to believe.

My clients include builders, sparkies, plumbers, driving instructors, retail stores, garden stores, building inspectors, vehicle sales, leasing companies, road maintenance, traffic management, civil engineering, towing companies, counsellors, lawyers, accountants, yoga teachers, sports clubs, sports stores, food wholesalers, manufacturers and car mechanics, from Wellington to Auckland.

They are all operating as normal (expect for the obvious scanning and masks where appropriate). Every one I've spoken to took advantage of the wage subsidies so none we're forced to lay off staff and several have taken on more staff in the last couple of months.

House prices are going through the roof (if you'll excuse the pun) around here and it's noticeable how the local car fleet has been upgraded in the last 12 months. People are spending money which is a sign they feel comfortable with the future.

In the last six months I've travelled four times to Auckland, twice to Napier, once to Hamilton and New Plymouth. We've been through Picton, Nelson, Kaikoura, Christchurch, Mt Cook, Cromwell, Dunedin, Greymouth and Blenheim. I think I've seen a handful of masks (mostly on bus/taxi drivers) and the number of people not scanning QR codes is really quite shocking.

But IMO that just goes to show how normal people think everything is, not that they necessarily think the rules don't apply to them or they are thoughtless of those under any kind of restrictions.

martyyn

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#2694729 19-Apr-2021 10:54

Scott3:

That wasn't such great policy in hindsight. Having roughly half the fleets WOF expire at a set date was always going to hammer the industry. And not just the WOF industry, all the flow on stuff. A lot of people don't replace the likes of their tires until they get a WOF fail, plus there all the stuff that you can't easily see without a pit / hoist like suspension bushings, ball joints etc.

As most of the fleet is on a 12 month cycle, there will be an annual surge & stall for the industry for perhaps the next decade due to this. Giving every car in the fleet a 3 month extension would have been a lot better for the industry as it would have kept WOF expirey dates roughly evenly distributed around the year.

The new expiry date didn't stop anyone from getting a new wof in the meantime did it ? I mean, there was nothing stopping people from getting a wof before the new date ?

frankv

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#2694747 19-Apr-2021 11:29

martyyn:

People are spending money which is a sign they feel comfortable with the future.

I think it's as much due to people not being able to spend their money on overseas trips, and near enough to zero interest rates; might as well spend your money on assets and/or toys. So for anyone involved in selling those things (especially real estate and building), business is not back to normal, it's booming.

Anecdotally, a boat sales business in Turangi sold more boats in 2 months than they normally do in a year. And now can't buy more new boats to sell because of logistics problems.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/432855/record-demand-for-boats-and-water-craft-as-sales-soar

wellygary

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#2694756 19-Apr-2021 12:00

martyyn:

The new expiry date didn't stop anyone from getting a new wof in the meantime did it ? I mean, there was nothing stopping people from getting a wof before the new date ?

No, you were free to go an get a WOF anytime, but many just wanted to drag it until the last minute,

But hey it was another great decision by Mr Kiwibuild Phil Twyford,...

martyyn

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#2694761 19-Apr-2021 12:11

wellygary:

No, you were free to go an get a WOF anytime, but many just wanted to drag it until the last minute,

But hey it was another great decision by Mr Kiwibuild Phil Twyford,...

So you don't blame those who took advantage potentially putting other people on the roads at risk by not having a warrantable vehicle ?

What are your thoughts on businesses who took the wage subsidy but didn't need it ? Should they have to pay it back or are they simply taking advantage of the opportunity as well ?

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Scott3

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#2694780 19-Apr-2021 12:58

martyyn:

The new expiry date didn't stop anyone from getting a new wof in the meantime did it ? I mean, there was nothing stopping people from getting a wof before the new date ?

People are quite welcome to get WOF's as frequently as they like. However for many it is a pure compliance task, therefore doing it only when required leads to the lowest cost outcome.

As such a sufficient number of people did delay their WOF to cause issues for the industry.

Just like when the time period between WOF's changed from 6 monthly to annual (or three years for a brand new car). Workflow for WOF centers dropped by roughly half as most only renew when due.

martyyn:

So you don't blame those who took advantage potentially putting other people on the roads at risk by not having a warrantable vehicle ?

What are your thoughts on businesses who took the wage subsidy but didn't need it ? Should they have to pay it back or are they simply taking advantage of the opportunity as well ?

If there vehicle was driven on the road when not up to WOF standard (say bald tires, blown head light bulb etc), it is already illegal and police can take action.

Should note that many already either personally keep a close watch on safety critical elements of their car, or undertake regular services at a mechanic who along with stuff like changing oil undertakes numerous checks of the vehicles condition. Shouldn't be much of a safety concern for the people in these camps.

But yes, given there is a flow on impact to places like tire centers (tires have to be one of the easiest things to keep an eye on your self), it is clear that many people just drive their cars untill they fail their WOF's (which they do as infrequently as allowed), then have the issues sorted. Obviously there is a risk here that we took as a community in return for eliminating the risk of covid-19 spread due to compliance related personal contact during our level 4 lock down.

I'll ask if you "took advantage" of the change from 6 month WOF's to annual (or 3 years for new cars) when it came in, or if you still take your car's for 6 monthly WOF's? if not, it is a bit hypocritical to call people out for taking advantage of this change.

Ultimately this was poorly done by the government, but there was little that could be done to avoid an annual hole in workflow for the auto industry at the month of the 2020 Level 4 period.

martyyn

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#2694822 19-Apr-2021 15:04

Scott3:

I'll ask if you "took advantage" of the change from 6 month WOF's to annual (or 3 years for new cars) when it came in, or if you still take your car's for 6 monthly WOF's? if not, it is a bit hypocritical to call people out for taking advantage of this change.

Nope, my car is 30 years old so it's always checked every 6 months.

Scott3:

Ultimately this was poorly done by the government, but there was little that could be done to avoid an annual hole in workflow for the auto industry at the month of the 2020 Level 4 period.

I'm sorry but I don't buy it. There was nothing stopping people from taking responsibility and getting their cars checked as soon as the mechanics opened. The fact they didn't is on them.

freitasm

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#2694824 19-Apr-2021 15:10

Wait a minute folks. WOFs were extended until 10 October 2020. Is this discussion about people renewing their WOF with the new October expiry or are you assuming existing WOF are extended further?

Confusing - but in any case shouldn't be discussed in this thread anyway - more appropriate for its own topic in the Transport sub-forum.

Handle9

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#2694895 19-Apr-2021 17:30

Meanwhile on the muppet show

Fred99

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#2694978 19-Apr-2021 19:08

Handle9:

Meanwhile on the muppet show

Oh dear...

Judge Fitzgibbon strongly urged Rupa to see a legal advisor.

I think even 99.9% of ordinary people who'd have to use "IANAL" as a disclaimer would give him better advice than whatever the voices in his head are telling him what to do.

Handle9

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#2695015 19-Apr-2021 20:48

Fred99:

I think even 99.9% of ordinary people who'd have to use "IANAL" as a disclaimer would give him better advice than whatever the voices in his head are telling him what to do.

He's appears to be a genuine fruitloop - he's on conspiracy youtube channels, arrest John Key for treason Facebook groups, the whole nine yards.

cshwone

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#2695085 20-Apr-2021 06:08

At Masterton Station this morning there was a lady handing out very professionally produced leaflets about why we should not be wearing facemasks. She was also supplying credit card sized "I am exempt from wearing a face mask" cards which were done with all the right colours, fonts etc to look almost official.

I despair....................

Edited to add that they are being handed out at Carterton Station as well. Obviously co-ordinated.

Handle9

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#2695092 20-Apr-2021 07:01

Biden announced on Twitter today that the US has opened up vaccination to the general public. Very good news.

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