Car seats & tether/bolt system in NZ / Aus?

[2point4pets]

Hi
I will be in NZ next week for first trip home with 3 month old. I will take my maxi-cosi car seat (not isofix), but my sister keeps on talking about some kind of bolt/tether system for car seats there. It's not an isofix-type thing, the bolt actually goes onto the side of the car (station wagon) or seat (sedan) and the car seat gets tethered to this as well (I think) as using the 3-point harness.
Does anyone know a)why this is b) why UK doesnt do this c)if I can use my maxicosi as usual with the 3-point harness in the back?
Usually we find UK to be further ahead than NZ in terms of car safety - it is still legal to use a mobile while driving for example, so the whole thing intrigues me.
I also don't want to break any laws if my car seat isnt up to scratch- maybe I should hire one when there?
any advice for fellow expats or 'people in the know' appreciated!

we went down to Australia and NZ when our DD1 was 4mths and just used our normal car seat (Non isofix). The only issue was that we had to check our rental car had a rear seatbelt long enough to wrap round and tether the carseat properly (some japanese cars are a bit short on length ahem, but we didn't have a problem)

I know in Oz they have some sort of 3-point car seat tether thing for infants seats, but i don't remember seeing anything special on my friends next-stage car seat for her toddler last Nov so I think it only applies to infant seats. Hopefully somebody actually in NZ will come along to correct me!

I'd say the UK doesn't have this cos we have isofix available?!

We live in NZ and have used a variety of car seats as our children have grown.I understand if a car seat has a Tether strap you must use it. This is a webbed strap that fixes with a clip to a bolt located usually on the parcel shelf, boot floor or roof depending on your cars design. Our car did not have one, but the car seat did so we had to have a bolt installed. There are car seats sold here (all stages) that are not made with tether straps and fit correctly/safely using the existing 3 point seat belt - this is fine to do here providing it is fitted as per manufacturers instructions. Isofix does not exist.
We have found that some car seats do not fit in our car(honda CRV) due to the seat belt length/position- a seat belt extension could fix that problem I believe. Sorry I have no idea about the maxi-cosi in terms of it fitting with the usual seat belt.

Australia require you to have a car seat that conforms to the Aus Standards which basically means you can only use one manufactured in Australia.

Enjoy NZ

Tis true that you have to have an Australian carseat in Australia. I had to abandon my maxicosi and the carseat I have now is rubbish in comparison.

We have an old Golf and the car seat seems to be tethered to a rail that runs across the car underneath the parcel shelf. Couldn't give you any more detail, I'm afraid, as we had it fitted by a mechanic as we're both useless with such things.

Not sure about mobiles, btw. It is illegal here in Australia but you see so many people yapping away it must never be enforced.

You can bring your UK seat and use it and nobody will care. Honestly. A baby in a car seat that is appropriate for age is required.

If you lived here all the time then yes you would get a bit fitted to your car (my car has them as it is newer) and attach a tether strap.

It's only worth hiring one once here is you know that the cars you will be in have the other bit of the connection, and that it is in the place you want to put the child seat.

We are strict (at least for those living here) for two years and then basically it all goes pear shaped with children sitting in cheap polystyrene seats that they can submarine in. And at 5 everyone abandons seats altogether and let the kids sit in the front seat of cars with airbags.

If you do decide to hire - your sister can sort you one out from Plunket, or maybe buy you one on Trade Me. I think neither of these options is ultimately as safe as using your own.

Would you consider hiring a carseat in NZ?

I've used these guys before and can recommend them, they have up-to-date gear and reasonable rates.

Thanks for all the comments, I think my biggest problem now is making sure that my sister's car has belts long enough to go around my maxicosi, but I know you can buy extenders if need be (although I hope I dont have to find out where at 6am next Thursday morning from AKL international!)
what a faff! will stick to the maxicosi non-tethered while I am there I think. I trust that compared with hiring one to be honest.
I know what you mean about all going pear-shaped at 5 (thirtypence)... when I last lived there (90's)it was really common to see kiddies in the front seat sitting on the passenger under their belt, or just running loose in the back seat. Sad it hasn't changed much apparently.