The service technicians referred their concerns to the Registrar of Motor Vehicle Traders through NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.
An MBIE (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment) investigation then confirmed the odometer had been tampered with.
Two charges were laid under the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003 for tampering with an odometer without reasonable excuse, and for aiding and abetting the company in the offending.
Nagasinghe appeared for sentencing in the Tauranga District Court, where he was ordered to pay $1000 in reparation for emotional harm. His company was fined $5000.
MBIE said in a statement today that Carporium sold the Toyota in February 2024 after buying it at an Auckland car auction in December 2023.
In May 2025, the tampered odometer reading was detected.
Before sentencing, Nagasinghe agreed to buy back the vehicle for $24,000, matching its original sale price.
Bevan Yee, the national manager of occupational regulation, a business unit in MBIE, said it was the first successful prosecution that demonstrated MBIE’s commitment to upholding the law and maintaining fair standards across the motor vehicle sales sector.
“This case sends a clear message that odometer tampering and other deceptive practices will not be tolerated.
“Accurate vehicle information is fundamental to fair trading. When odometer readings are altered, consumers can end up paying more for a vehicle than it is worth and may be misled about its safety, reliability and maintenance needs.
“Most traders do the right thing and deserve to operate in a marketplace where unlawful behaviour is identified and addressed. MBIE will continue to take enforcement action where conduct undermines consumer confidence and damages the reputation of the industry,” Yee said.
Brianna McIlraith is a Queenstown-based reporter for Open Justice covering courts in the lower South Island. She has been a journalist since 2018 and has had a strong interest in business and financial journalism.