- A US report on workforce injury costs highlights trends relevant in NZ too. It was expected that older workers would be more expensive to recover, which is correct, but not due to injury impairment. The impairment rates were similar for under 29 years olds as over the 65s. The study showed that the longer workers have been on the job, the safer they work. The three factors that affect the cost of injury with older workers are: 1. longer recovery time; 2. co-morbidities (other diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, etc), and 3. wage levels.
- The Australian MTAA (Motor Trades Association of Australia) has rejected the proposed draft Motor Vehicle Insurance and Repair Industry (MVIRI) Code of Conduct. MTAA made recommendations to the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) as part of negotiations to finalise a revised Code. MTAA submitted that rather than addressing concerns around fairness and transparency, the draft risks entrenching insurer dominance and undermining professional repairer judgement. Without meaningful reform, the draft Code will fall short of delivering the balanced, future-focused framework that industry and consumers expect.
- MTAA says its objective is to ensure the Motor Vehicle Insurance and Repair Industry (MVIRI) Code of Conduct is fair, enforceable, and workable for all parties. Negotiations with the ICA are expected to conclude by the end of 2025, with the revised Code scheduled for implementation in early 2026.
- CRA has received a grant from IFF (Inspiring Futures Foundation) to make a video encouraging young people to pursue a career in collision repair. Focusing on what possibilities a trade qualification can offer, we are looking for role models to feature in the video. People who started as an apprentice and have excelled, in the industry or outside, in any area where having qualified, the apprenticeship provided a good base for their future success. Send suggestions to stewart@collisionrepair.co.nz
- Golden Gun, Golden Hammer 2026 applications are now open. The CRA Apprentice of the Year awards are the pinnacle of the collision repair apprenticeships. Awarded to the top performers in panel and refinishing, previous winners have gone on to successful careers, both in the industry and outside. The judges evaluate applicants on MITO course work, personal interviews, feedback from mentors, and reviews from employers before selecting 3 finalists from each category to travel to Auckland for a day of competitive practical evaluation at the I-CAR Training Academy of Excellence for panel and RA Johnstone Ltd refinishing centre for refinish. Applications close 5 pm Friday, 17 October 2025. The Nominations Forms are at the bottom of the CRA-6.
- NZ insurance premiums rose 51% since 2022, according to insurance comparison site Quashed. General insurance costs comprising one house, one contents, and one comprehensive car policy have risen 51% since 2022. Car insurance has risen 56%. The effect is a drop in NZers insuring their assets and a trend of New Zealanders looking beyond the big-name insurers. More people are adjusting their policy details, experimenting with excess levels, and considering smaller insurance providers to find better deals.