what I mean is, due to the lack of a domestic production market in NZ, cars that we regard as special imports in Australia aren't that special in NZ. Stageas here are rare and if you own one, you treat it like a newborn child. In NZ a stagea is just another station wagon, like the Mitsubishi Legnum and the Toyota Caldina etc. As such, its usually put through the same sort of everyday life that an aussie would put a Holden Commodore wagon through. There are the good examples around, and ones owned by enthusiasts, but still, it'd work out much cheaper to import one from Japan, than from NZ, as the same impot laws apply regardless of source.
The only way you can get a personal import into australia from NZ and "dodgy one in" is by providing paperwork/evidence that you are permanently moving here. The loophole was exploited a while ago, and DOTARS clamped down on imports through NZ as a result. So if your friend already lives here, he cn't bring one into the country and if he's just a visitor, then he's not eligible.