As you will begin to see, your local kart shop will now be charging a Tyre Stewardship fee on all purchases of karting tyres. This fee is a governmentally regulated fee that all wholesalers and retailers of pneumatic tyres must identify and charge to customers. It’s important to note that KartSport New Zealand retains no part of this fee and is charged the equivalent immediately following importation of tyres.

Under the Waste Minimisation (Tyres) Regulations 2023 act, a schedule sets out the pricing of each tyre category, with the importation of karting tyres currently affected by a $6.65 plus GST charge per tyre. To limit the impact to competitors, KartSport NZ has taken steps with its trade suppliers to reduce the overall wholesale price by $3.33 plus GST per tyre, being 50% of the tyre stewardship fee. A reminder though that retail pricing for tyres is set by the individual retailer. KartSport NZ is also working through the appropriate channels to have the sport’s current category placement reviewed, ie, the cost reduced. 

These regulations support an accredited priority product stewardship scheme for tyres known as Tyrewise. The aim of Tyrewise is to:

1. Provide a free, convenient and accessible take-back service for all end-of-life tyres across New Zealand.
2. Improve the rate of re-use, recycling and repurposing of end-of-life tyres.
3. Reduce the number of tyres entering landfill and illegal dumping through a free tyre take-back service.

These regulations come into effect in two phases as outlined below;

Phase 1

1. Tyres must be sold in accordance with the accredited tyre scheme.
2. A Tyre stewardship Fee will be paid by the Importer (KartSport NZ), on all tyres when they enter New Zealand, either loose or attached to a vehicle.
3. The Importer then passes on the Tyre Stewardship Fee onto the retailer (your local kart shop), who is then required to on-charge the Tyre Stewardship Fee to the customer (the competitor).
4. Regulation states that the Tyre Stewardship Fee must be shown as a separate line on all sales invoices.
5. This fee is effectively a prepayment on the new tyre to cover the cost of disposal at tyre end-of-life.
6. No Tyrewise funded collections undertaken under Phase 1.
7. Current disposal fees are charged for disposing of end-of-life tyres, which have been removed and will continue to be charged until the transition period finishes 31 August 2024.

Phase 2

1. From 1 September 2024, Tyrewise will commence free collection of end-of-life tyres, so disposal fees will cease to be charged.
2. Tyrewise has determined the fee per tyre type as shown via the regulations. Note, pricing is subject to change by Tyrewise.

If you require any further information, it can be found on the following websites:

https://environment.govt.nz/acts-and-regulations/regulations/regulations-supporting-tyre-product-stewardship/

https://www.tyrewise.co.nz/

Further information for Trade

As well clearly identifying the Tyre Stewardship fee as a distinct invoice entry, this should also be accompanied by the following note:

“Tyre Stewardship Fee - For more details on this fee, please visit the Ministry for the Environment website at www.environment.govt.nz/tyre-stewardship.”

Clubs/Tracks Tyre Drop Off

All KartSport New Zealand clubs with their own venue are encouraged to reach out to Tyrewise if you wish for your track to become a drop off point for end-of-life tyres. Register as a collection point via: https://www.tyrewise.co.nz/register-now/

Article added: Wednesday 10 July 2024