Hard Yaka
I have found this document written by Peter Vahry in April 2003 and it is quite clear where the idea came from.
In 2003 the NZFWDA technical review panel were working up to two nights a month reviewing and ensuring that document that became the NZ Hobby Car Manual, was being inclusive of requirements for 4x4 vehicles. Every sentence and chapter were read and implications to our vehicles were considered. I also attended monthly meetings of the LVVTA TAC to put the 4x4 points of view.
Among the many aspects of building and modifying a 4x4 are considerations around the stability and height. The work being done on the Hobby car manual made the TRP acutely aware of the risk of NZ regulators slapping at any time, a limit on lifting vehicles.
To cover that risk, the TRP did wide research on worldwide regulations around vehicle heights, I recall the file of paperwork being almost 2" thick.
We came up with a proposal that was raised with LVVTA at the time for 'proof of concept' oversight, but was then put aside as a 'readymade' answer, if the NZFWDA were hit by a government proposal to limit lifts.
Many years later, that became a reality and the original proposal was put forward in response. That original was not fully accepted, but the fact that we had already recognised the issue and considered solutions, tempered the debate and rather than a government edict, the NZFWDA were able to work on changes to that original lift proposal to find a way to get the NZTA acceptance. Thus the authority card system.
There are some very well executed lifts to 4x4's but unfortunately a large proportion of badly done projects that the NZTA consider an unacceptable risk to other road users.
The NZFWDA did not incite the NZTA plan to regulate lifts, but always anticipated the possibility, since it occurs in many other countries. There are NZTA staff who regularly attend meetings with their equivalents in Australia and many NZ four wheelers will be aware of moves over recent years in NSW and elsewhere, to restrict 4x4 lifts.
