Make sure the car is largely un modified (ask your freight forwarder before u buy if u r concerned) - they dont like mods. (make sure they r nice and clean before they sail - or else they will hit u for fumigation and / or steam cleaning). U have to own the car before dotars ( the relevant govt dept) will process the request (bad luck if they dont approve it but usually they do..).  I use a frieght forwarder - Smith International - in Castlemaine. They need some ID and details of the car(s), and proof of ownership ( a reciept is fine). They do everything. I imported 2 x capris in a 40ft container - these were the costs:
ocean frieght 2000 USD
local NZ charges 1500 NZD
local (Aust) charges (port charges, unpack, customs clearance, initial quarantine  2900 AUD
then u pay 10% GST  - on the cars and all landing charges
duty free if cars r over 30yrs old
U wait until they notify u that import approval has been given, then they r ok to load in NZ (if they land here without approval they destroy them and make u pay for them to do it).  I bring the cars out of christchurch (but u can have them moved out of auckland etc) - they will tell u where to have them taken and when. They usually take @ 10days - 2 weeks to arrive.  U will be notified when the car(s) arrive and when they r cleared. Pay the frieght forwarder.  When they r cleared, go and grab em and take em ome! Then u have to get a VASS cert - @$250 each - they want Aust/NZ approved seat belts, child restraint fixtures in the back (rivet in a couple of fixtures), intrusion bars in the doors and Aust/NZ approved windscreen. Get a roadworthy and register it! If its a post 1976 build u have to comply with emissions and the old essex v6 can be a headache - it depends on the guy - i got my 1981 mk3 essex registered with just a charcoal canister fitted. But some guys end up making u put it on gas (if your really unlucky). The cologne engine is fine. I told them i would fuel inject the essex and do everything to decrease emissions but they like that even less.
Thats about the whole process. Obviously less for a single vehicle in a 20ft container ...
 
 
 

Hi Spud15,
 
Thanks heaps for taking the time on your answer, much appreciated.  It does sounf like Russian roulett money wise.  Suddenly that $43000.00 Mk1 RS 2000 in Australia sounds a bargain..

my 74 gt project vis on the way - all of the body work is fnished ..

will on sell t - but a very nice car - have a couple more i want to buy

well the boot lid is painted! I know its not the old silver colour but the original colour was stardust blue. Since that didn't appeal im painting it blue ice - for nostalgic reasons - I had a blue ice v6 in the 70's. I naughtily put twin round headlights etc into it because I liked facelifts - now heres my chance to have a facelift in this colour. The panel beater who prepped it is actually a coach builder - a real wiz - so...
 

its been a while but finally in colour. A few bits and pieces have been painted over in the process but ill be replacing them anyway.
 

The car behind this one is a 4cyl facelift - got it for $450 - ill post some pics next. I had the silver around the tail lights re-done - $60/unit - very nice. The car had only done 15000km so still has the original exhaust system

i know its only a 2000 gt - but $450 - man, u dont see that in aust....