Migrants in Rotorua can learn more about buying used cars

Buying a used car can be hazardous but an information session for new migrants will provide advice and information on what to look for. Photo/Supplied

New migrants living in Rotorua wanting to buy a car will get a helping hand to avoid some common pitfalls at an information session on Wednesday next week.

The Citizens Advice Bureau Rotorua is running the session.

The bureau has been providing a face-to-face information service for new migrants under a contract with the Ministry of Immigration for four years.

The purpose of the service is to arm new migrants with information on all the issues they need to know about to make settling into the New Zealand way of life easier and as stress free as possible.

As part of the contract the bureau is also required to provide new migrants with the opportunity to find out more in depth information on topics that are both of interest to them and relevant to settling in to the Kiwi way of life.

For the next session the bureau will be running a seminar all about 'Buying a Used Car' – what you should do before agreeing to a buy, what your rights are if something goes wrong and how to deal with a dispute.

"The bureau volunteers frequently assist clients who have just purchased a car and within days it breaks down," says Jane Eynon-Richards, manager of the Citizens Advice Bureau Rotorua.

She says they are seeing more young migrants, particularly international students, who do not know if they have any rights when this happens.

"There are a lot of pitfalls to buying a car, so if you are aware of your rights before you make a purchase, then you probably have a better chance of making a successful decision.

"Hopefully this session will give new migrants some tips and information they can use when they decide it is time to buy a car."

The session is for an hour and is going to be held in Room N222 at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology on Wednesday March 28 at 12pm.

Participants should let the Bureau know they will be attending by registering with the Citizens Advice Bureau by March 26.

To register call (07) 348 3936 or email rotorua@cab.org.nz.