What are the advantages of importing a car to New Zealand?
Posted on 26th August 2021
If you have ever considered buying a car from overseas and then privately importing it to New Zealand, you may have wondered whether it’s really worth it. Here are some of the advantages we have observed when it comes to buying a car offshore then getting it shipped to NZ.
Read more
The Lighter Side of Car Shipping
Posted on March 1, 2014 – Shipping Vehicles
We take shipping very seriously at McCullough, which doesn’t mean that we don’t have a sense of humour! Like many people working in offices – you know who you are…-, we find ourselves irresistibly drawn to silly videos occasionally. So, make sure the boss isn’t looking over your shoulder, and enjoy those delightfully distracting videos!
That shipping company has clearly taken the concept of “door-to-door freight-forwarding” a bit too literally. How this vessel came so close to the coast without any of the crew noticing defies understanding! Maybe they were watching YouTube videos too…
We know how keen you are on being reunited with your collectible car or your possessions, and we are as keen on getting them back to you as soon as possible, but the captain of this ship seems to have decided to skip Customs clearing and all those other tedious administrative procedures. We understand where he/she is coming from, they can be seen as tiresome sometimes – not to us of course, we love them…-, but we’d rather make sure that they are done and dusted promptly by producing the right documentation than attempting to “discreetly” dock somewhere else! Call us boring, but we think it is a better way to go about things!
Rest assured that we won’t turn up on your doorstep with a ship parked on your street, or moored on your jetty if you live by the sea. Granted, this would certainly create a sensation among your neighbours and be a very interesting party topic, but, sadly, this is not quite what we have in mind when we talk about comprehensive service!
We tailor our services to what you need, which can be as much as collecting from your front door – with a demure truck or a driver – and delivering it to you at your new home, or port-to-port shipping if you are really desperate to get close to one of those gigantic ships now that you have watched that video!
Whichever option you choose, we will advise you every step of the way and assist you in getting the right documentation so that we don’t have to resort to drastic measures such as having the ship docked by a football field!
Now, why is it that we can’t help laughing when someone falls, hurt themselves, or experience similar misfortunes? No doubt, we feel very guilty about – or at least we should - but even the most charitable of us can’t stop themselves.
Modern shipping and transporting are a feat of ingenuity, and it is easy to forget that it took decades to standardise all equipment involved so that containers could be loaded and unloaded in any country, ports, and onto any truck or other vehicles. Fast and economical transport basically relies on the fact that boxes can fit into larger boxes (containers) which fit snuggly onto ships.
This man has certainly lost sight of the fact that despite the all-singing all-dancing technical advances shipping has benefited of over the last half-century or so, the law of physics haven’t changed and even the most modern truck isn’t any bigger than it is.
YouTube doesn't allow us to embed his video, but follow the link below, it is well worth it! Then come back to us!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io_YxoG3dTU
One has to wonder why you would transport liquid in a container without a lid in the first place, and hopefully this zealous employee will bear that in mind next time.
Joke aside, this illustrates to perfection the importance of packing your belongings appropriately for transport. You do it with cardboard boxes, and we do it with containers. During their voyage, your possessions will be handled on and off a ship, or possibly several, onto trucks and through ports for clearance. All staff, including McCullough’s, is trained to do so with care and skills, but better safe than sorry, and safely secured inside containers, your belongings will be protected against inclement weather and being moved from one place to another.
Ships are sometimes caught in storms, and some do sink, but statistically, this is a fairly rare occurrence. However, this video is also a reminder of how easily an accident can happen, and this is why we always advise clients to organise marine insurance – this is not usually included by default in a shipping quote. Again, all personnel involved in shipping understand the importance of careful handling, but human beings are fallible, and in those cases, you will be able to make a claim against any damage.
If you are looking for a shipping company to transport your belongings or cars overseas, call us on +64 9 303 0075 or get a free quote.
Related articles
How to Buy a De-registered Car in NZ
Posted on 1st October 2018
If you are looking into purchasing a second-hand vehicle, you may come across so called de-registered cars. Their great advantage is that they can be a bargain. Although there are legitimate reasons why a car may be de-registered without it hiding anything sinister, you should however exert caution and do your homework as it can also be a sign that the vehicle is a lemon.
Read more
The Challenges of Ship Recycling
Posted on 15th September 2018
A thousand ships are dismantled every year, 86% of them in Southeast Asia often in conditions dangerous to workers and the environment.
Read more
What is a Warrant of Fitness and Can I Arrange It Myself When Importing My Car?
Posted on 1st June 2018
During the certification process, your car will be issued with a Warrant of Fitness – also called Certificate of Fitness depending on the vehicle’s size - which is a key document when importing a vehicle into New Zealand.
Read more
Our easy - 3 step shipping process
×Tell us the pick up location and we'll arrange a date & time
We handle all customs & shipping including insurance
Enjoy your toy, after it's delivered to your door anywhere in NZ.