Samoans sending cars home as nation prepares to drive on the left

Samoans in New Zealand are buying cars for their families in the islands, because of the imminent switch there to driving on the left-hand side of the road.

The move, planned for September 7, means up to 20,000 vehicles with the driver's wheel on the left will need to be replaced.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Samoa, Leasi Papali'i Tommy Scanlan, said many NZ families were sending vehicles rather than cash.

In Auckland yesterday, he said there was a feeling the road switch would lead to many people having to finance new cars.

Kathy Xi, owner of New Century Autos in Otahuhu, said she had many Pacific customers - particularly Samoan - wanting to send vehicles to the islands.

Shipping costs and customs duty averaged $3500 for a normal car, on top of buying the vehicle.

Many customers were opting for larger vehicles, such as 4WDs and mini trucks - ideal for island life - which cost more to ship and incurred higher customs duty than a regular-sized vehicle, Kathy Xi said.

"People don't like [small cars]. They're buying the big ones, 4WDs, Jeeps. They know it's expensive, but they want to send something nice, top quality, for their family."

The changeover was announced by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoli'ai Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, in 2007.

"It's pure commonsense," he told AAP at the time. More than 90 per cent of Samoan migrants shift to Australia or New Zealand, "so having the same traffic laws will just make it less complicated when they go, and when they come back to visit".

The cost of the changeover, including new signage and disposing of left-hand-drive vehicles, has been estimated by the Chamber of Commerce at up to 790 million tala ($488 million).

Last year, up to 20,000 business people marched on Parliament to protest that replacing business vehicles would cost them thousands.