Radiator April 2025 Issue

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THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY WHAT TO DO WITH ONLINE REVIEWS THE MTA MEMBER MAGAZINE

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JUMP ON BOARD. GET QUALIFIED.

The benchmark for quality

Collision Repair Association Conference 16-17 May 2025, Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre

Get ready to be Absolutely Positively Inspired

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

e c n e r e f n o C n o i t a i c o s s A r i a p e R e c n er e f n o C n o i t a i c o s s A r i a p e

Become a qualified Motorcycle Technician with the New Zealand Certificate in Motorcycle Engineering (Level 3 and 4).

Learn how to safely and effectively diagnose and repair faults on motorcycles – including all-terrain vehicles, utility task vehicles and recreational off-highway vehicles.

at the 2025 Collision Repair Association Conference Presented by PartsTrader!

The CRA Wellington Branch is thrilled to host the 2025 Conference! Our theme, “Absolutely Positively Inspired,”pays homage to the iconic Wellington catchphrase, celebrating the city’s positive spirit and vibrant energy.

The conference programme will offer a range of speakers, from business coaches to economists. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to network with peers, join group discussions, learn from industry leaders, and discover new solutions to enhance your operations.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

e r t n e C n o i t i b i h x E & n o i t n e v n o C n o t g n i l l eW a n i k ā T , 5 2 0

, Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre WHY ATTEND?

Di Foster, an accidental business owner with a background in accounting and commerce, transitioned from the knitwear industry to become a business consultant and coach, inspiring others with her resilience after surviving breast cancer twice and her belief in the importance of perspective shifts to live a fulfilling life.

e r t n e C n o i t i b i h x E & n o i t n e v n o C n o t g n i l l eW a n i k ā T ,

mito.nz/motorcycle to apply.

Experience Wellington Like Never Before:

025, Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre

Scan the QR code or head to

Our state-of-the-art venue, “Tākina,” is centrally located, just steps away from iconic attractions like the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa, the Wellington cable car, Cuba Street, and Oriental Bay.

Repair Association Conference epair Association Conference Incredible Line-Up:

Join us for an incredible line-up of speakers, hands-on workshops, engaging activities, and lively chat sessions.

This is your chance to connect with industry leaders, share ideas, and get inspired.

Memorable Experience:

We can’t wait to welcome you to Wellington and create a memorable experience for everyone.

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION NOW OPEN Register now: Register before 11:59pm Friday 11 April to receive an Early Bird discount! https://twelve.eventsair.com/ cra2025/registration

Gavin McGahey, with over 40 years in the Collision Repair Industry, sold his business to start a relief management consultancy, later founding Planning Plus Software, where he helps Bodyshop owners globally improve profitability, culture, and mindset through his unique coaching approach, while enjoying water skiing and cycling in northern NSW.

CONFERENCE DETAILS All conference information, including the programme, speakers, social events, sponsors, registration, and more, is available on the CRA website: www.collisionrepair.co.nz/conferences/wellington-2025

MC TE RADAR

CONTACT US

We are thrilled to welcome back our popular 2024 conference MC, Te Radar, to this year’s conference.

Conference Organisers

Twelve Conferences + Events events@twelveconferences.nz Phone - 027 410 6567

MTA SECTOR REPORTS

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CE Comment: Safety, standards and systems

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MTA staff stories: Go-karts and stock cars

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Member profile: Eleven branches and counting

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Smoko stumpers

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What you're telling us

34

Road Test: Restrained yet dynamic X3

38

Blast from the Past

30

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Editor Gerald Rillstone 027 252 3229 gerald.rillstone@mta.org.nz Postal address PO Box 9244, Marion Square, Wellington 6141 Physical address Level 5, AIA House 34 Manners Street, Wellington 6011 E: mta@mta.org.nz W: www.mta.org.nz Printing & Production Vertia, Wellington Mailhouse Orange Box, Wellington

08 FEATURES

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Radiator

08 12 14 16 24 30

Star Power: All about Google reviews Full circle for former MTA award winner Sign of the times Last chance to register for Manfeild Mania!

Goodbye Mercedes Green cleaning gathering steam

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Advocacy: Safety first for CoF B Inspections

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HR Advice: Good faith and fair treatment

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Training & Development: Cost of living a barrier

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Repairer: Dealing with DIY videos

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Collision Repair: Not getting any benefit...?

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Dealer: Rough ride in the first quarter

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Fuel & Heavy Vehicle: Survey of independent fuel retailers

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Mediation: Worker liens

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Market Overview

FRONT COVER

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COVER

MTA member Jason Land shares the importance of online reviews and the benefits and pitfalls they have for all businesses.

Photo supplied.

Radiator

MARCH 2025 APRIL 2025

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THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

REGULARS

Radiator Magazine ISSN 1179-7800 The Motor Trade Association (Inc) (MTA) is not responsible for statements, opinions or factual matters published in Radiator magazine, nor do they necessarily reflect the views of MTA, its Board of Directors or its advisory/specialty committees, unless expressly so stated, and does not endorse advertisers.

Radiator magazine is available free to all members of MTA. Information on products and services contained in the editorial and advertising pages of this magazine is published as a service and no responsibility will be taken for inaccurate information.

Radiator magazine does not imply the endorsement of any product or service.

The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising and editorial at any stage.

Copyright: No part of Radiator magazine may be reproduced in part or in whole without the written permission of the publisher.

WHAT TO DO WITH ONLINE REVIEWS THE MTA MEMBER MAGAZINE

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

05

CE COMMENT

Safety, standards and new systems Raising the bar of the automotive industry through standards is a key pillar of MTA membership.

Unfortunately, nowadays, that means we reject more membership applications than we accept.

A failure to meet the basic health and safety standards inherent is the primary driver. As case point for why we take this so seriously, look no further than the landmark recent conviction of the former CEO of Ports of Auckland, Tony Gibson, as an ‘officer’ responsible for ensuring the business he managed met its requirements under the Health and Safety at Work Act. A quick Google will give you details.

While MTA cannot in any way warrant a business as meeting its legal requirements (that responsibility rests with the business owner/ managers), our Member Advisors frequently identify when things seem awry.

Our standards are of course about more than just health and safety. We would love to grow membership numbers, but we are more committed to ensuring the MTA brand – which we promote heavily, as you’ll see later in this magazine – continues to provide

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benefit to all businesses who proudly display the badge across the country, however painful that may be. Because without standards to achieve, what would the badge mean?

Lifting standards can be a thankless and expensive task. It requires MTA to make a substantial commitment in human resource, as well as patience to work with members who don’t always respond positively to the scrutiny. A handful of businesses who cannot, or will not, meet the necessary standard have their memberships terminated each month. It’s ultimately worth losing a few to ensure the badge continues to have value for the majority.

To make this process more efficient and effective, we’ve been out seeking out new systems to help.

We want our standards to be better tailored to sector, to be updated more frequently, to get better data from the process, and to allow members to complete large parts of the process at their convenience, prior to the in-person visit.

I’m therefore pleased to announce that in the coming months, MTA will begin the roll-out of an app-based

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

lee.marshall@mta.org.nz

self-audit system for members.

Because truthfully, there are many things we don’t need to ask you in-person where a photo would suffice. Likewise, other valuable but non-critical information could be entered by you, at your leisure, at a time that works for you.

All standards checks will still ultimately be signed off by a person on site. But where a member has completed the appbased survey beforehand, the inspector will do so with 80% of the information in-hand.

And this will benefit members by enabling MTA staff to spend less time ticking boxes during their visits, and more time helping members solve problems and run better businesses.

So in the next few months, look out for our announcement of the app for download. It can also do far more than standards forms, but more on that later.

Wishing all of you an excellent month ahead.

Noho ora mai; Lee Marshall

MTA MANFEILD MANIA Friday 9th May & Saturday 10th May 2025 Feilding & Palmerston North Friday, 9th May

Saturday, 10th May

Welcome reception - 7.00pm - 9.00pm

8.30am - 4.30pm

Distinction Hotel Coachman 140 Fitzherbert Ave, Palmerston North

Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon, Feilding

r o f s i h All t

ice ird pr b y l r Ea

pp 5 7 $1

• • • • • • • •

Rides in race cars Gallagher Insurance Show & Shine People’s choice judging Drifting demo runs Cruise sessions Catered lunch overlooking the circuit Fun zone - suitable for all ages Cars, trucks and motorbikes welcome

5.30pm onwards Early bird closes 18th April.

General registrations close 1st May, 12.00pm The option to register for individual events is available on the MTA Toolbox.

Orlando Country, 748 Rangitikei Line, Palmerston North • Celebration dinner • Keynote speaker, Steve Lange • Gallagher Insurance Show & Shine prize giving

Any questions email Natalie.campbell@mta.org.nz More information can be found at mta.org.nz/toolbox/membership/training-events/mta-manfeild-mania Radiator Magazine - April 2025

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inextricably linked. If you have a poor Google review history that suggests you are leaving dollars on the table everywhere.

“We live and die by our Google reviews.”

Breaking bad Getting a review is one thing.

Getting the best out of it is another – and it all comes down to how you respond. Even a bad review can become a good one.

Jason cites an example where

a customer’s initial review was negative – but after Jason reached out to him, he changed his mind, saying: “Jason the owner contacted me and we had a good chat.... as most of their feedback is very good, I now believe that this was likely just a one off.”

Jason advises members that including key words can make all the difference in terms of reaching new customers.

“I respond to each one in a personal way, using their name

and make a point of mentioning the kind of car they have, like Mitsubishi for example. If you use those key words in your response the Google algorithm will link it all together online for searches.”

Dave and Jason say Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a useful tool when it comes to getting customers to leave a review.

Jason uses a Google-based system where customer details are gleaned from the sales data once a job is complete, and they’re sent

Getting the coveted five star review is the aim if you want to see more customers through your door.

Star power: How to cash in on good (and bad) reviews Online ratings and reviews are a key part of succeeding in business.

How you deal with them – good or bad – is something every member should know.

We canvassed three members across the country to learn how they turn reviews and social media from minefield to goldmine.

Jason Land, owner of Collins Automotive in Hamilton and an MTA Director, and Dave Boot. owner of the EV City in Christchurch, both have well over 500 online reviews while Wellington’s Miramar Auto Centre owner Danny Toma has around

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120.

Despite the volume, they all take a hands-on approach, responding to each one personally, good or bad. All firmly believe a good Google rating is important to their business’s bottom-line.

Dave’s dealership currently rates online with five stars, Jason’s specialist mechanic business is around 4.5 stars with Danny’s workshop sitting at 4.9 stars.

“Reviews are super important,” Jason says. “When you go out to dinner or go to buy something the first thing you do is look at the reviews for the business and if they

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

are not four star or above, you’re going to go straight past it.

“It’s the same in our industry.”

Dave and Danny agree. They both keep an eye on what is being posted daily.

“We measure our success in reviews rather than financial,” Dave says.

“They are a big metric to our business and whether we are succeeding or failing. If we are not doing well in our reviews, I know the bank balance won’t be any good!

“It is important for any trader to understand that they are

In a niche market selling only EVs Dave Boot relies on Google reviews to boost the business's reach.

a text within 48 hours asking for a review.

“They are directed to a landing page that asks if they were happy or not and if they put thumbs up, they go to Google, if they put a thumbs down it takes them to an email review page so they get a chance to email us rather smash us with one star,” Jason says.

The AI then plucks four-star upwards reviews and displays them prominently on the Collins Automotive website homepage – they're among the first things customers see.

Dave uses an independent rating and review collection service for vehicle dealers called BuyerScore, an industry-led review system. A

customer must have bought from the business to post a review.

“It captures the customer’s first name, last name and email address and sends them a survey requesting feedback,” Dave says.

“On the back of the feedback we congratulate them and reach out by email or text. We thank them and ask them to share it on our Google

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or Facebook page. It works well if you have done the right job.”

Danny takes a more relaxed approach.

“Customers offer to post a review, which is great, but I never ask for them. People talk about their experience with other [businesses] and that with online reviews makes a big difference.”

Troll rolling None of the three businesses have perfect five-star reviews and all

have the occasional troll.

“I used to take one-star reviews so personally; they used to really hurt but I came to realise that you just have to suck it up and ask onestar reviewers to reach out to my email if they have got some more feedback, it just keeps the door open for them,” Jason says.

Danny also experienced a couple of bad review and came to the conclusion it was fake – a troll.

There was no record of the

Jason pays particular attention to the wording in a response.

customer coming to the business and what was being said made no sense.

“I tried to get it removed but got no response from Google. Thankfully it didn’t make any difference to the business and my rating is still really good,” he says.

“We provide a good service and if there is an issue we always keep the communication up and talk it through, I don’t argue even if I am going to lose a bit on a job.”

Jason has a couple of trolls too and although they are annoying, he has a strategy to deal with them.

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“We work hard to flood it with fivestar reviews so that occasional one star or troll has little effect on the overall rating.”

Dave also advises members not to get into an online argument over a sale.

“It might be unjustified and not within the realms of the Consumer Guarantee Act, but it is going to do a lot of damage if you get a bad review,” he says.

When he posted on the company Facebook page about their perfect score they had for online reviews Dave was hit with a malicious post

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

Dealing with online negativity Monitor your channels daily to maximise exposure of positive comments.

But what happens if the positive turns negative?

It’s happened – analyse the comment

• Don’t confuse a troll with a genuinely unhappy customer.

• Trolling behaviour could be considered online bullying.

A troll delights in offending, causing trouble, confusing you, attacking and getting traction by others spreading the content or engaging, or by you responding defensively. Don’t give them the satisfaction.

• An unhappy customer is someone who has dealt with your company and wants to be heard.

• If they’ve publicly commented, they usually want a response and/or a reaction.

• If the comment is visible to the public, do some research.

• Read it well – don’t skim.

• Is this comment on only one of your channels or on only one post? Some genuine customers feel the need to go on multiple channels to ensure they get the message across.

• Is it a genuine complaint related to a job or service you’ve provided? Do you need to find out more background from other people?

• Is it a genuine person? Be wary of fake profiles and bot activity.

A quick step-by-step guide:

1. Have a social media/online policy.

2. Monitor channels regularly.

3. Have an internal process should you receive negative feedback online.

4. Analyse the comment and determine what type of user it is.

5. Depending on the above, will you respond or not?

6. Determine your channel for responding – public or private.

7. Review and learn. Good outcome or should you tweak your process/approach?

- Stacey Neale, MTA Marketing Manager.

Danny Toma believes in giving the best possible service, and letting the customer do the rest.

with 15 minutes.

It didn’t include a comment but gave a zero-star rating which did thankfully little to affect the overall rating.

“It doesn’t really mean much because if someone took the time to read the other reviews, they would see it for what it is,” he says.

And a parting thought: all three say

if you’re offering good service and good workmanship, those five-star reviews will appear.

How you cash in on them is up to you.

Industry’s future drives Jason Land With over 20 years of experience in the industry, recently appointed board member Jason Land is genuinely excited to be part of MTA’s future.

The industry’s future fuels his passion, he says. Jason is committed to ensuring its continued growth by fostering great businesses that are recognised as professional, trusted and essential by the public.

“I began my journey as an autoelectrical technician in Gisborne

before moving to Hamilton in 2004. In 2011, I took the next step by acquiring Collins Automotive, which has grown to a team of around 20, giving me first-hand experience in the complexities and challenges of running an automotive business,” Jason says.

At the heart of his passion is the drive to elevate the industry’s profile, create genuine career opportunities that attract individuals at all stages of their professional journey, and empower businesses to thrive.

MTA President Sturrock Saunders is pleased to have Jason as part of the board.

“He has strong skills that will complement the board; he demonstrates industry leadership and drive to succeed in the industry.

“Jason was part of the MTA Aspiring Directors Programme, and his joining the board shows what a success the programme is,” Sturrock says.

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events, and by day I was working at Possum Bourne Motorsport. I learned all about vehicle tuning, ECG calibration and that sort of thing,” he says.

Life-changing All was going well for Julius; he was realising his dream, loving the job, and had developed a reputation for being good at tuning race cars.

“I had tuned a rally car for a guy, and it went really well, and he invited me to come in the car with him at his next event. This sounded good in theory – until the car crashed and rolled down a bank and I broke my back,” he says.

While Julius was recovering at home for six months, he spotted MITO’s advert for business management scholarships. He subsequently won one and returned to work at Possum Bourne Motorsport, and within a couple of years he was general manager of the organisation.

After a few years he left the industry to work as a business consultant but was drawn back into the fold while trying to buy a Porsche for his wife.

“We went hunting for one for her and we had an absolutely terrible experience buying one: every time we went into a dealership,

the experience was unpleasant.

I thought I could do a way better job of it.”

Julian was doing other things at the time and hadn’t thought of going back into the industry. However, he got talking to a sales manager at Continental Cars, where there was a vacancy, and, with the thought of getting to work with his favourite brand, he took up the job offer. He now says he couldn’t be happier.

“Now I am around the nicest cars you could ever drive every single day – and loving it.”

Julius has come full circle back to doing what he loves at Continental Cars selling Porsches.

Full circle for former MTA award winner When Julius Bloem won MTA Apprentice of the Year in 2013, his future was looking bright. He was doing something he loved and was working on high performance race cars.

A few years later his career came crashing to a stop following an accident that forced his career to veer off course. Now he’s back doing the job he loves, as Sales Executive for Continental Cars Auckland, working with his favourite brand: Porsche.

“My career has taken me on some incredible journeys – most of them outside the automotive industry,” Julius says.

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“I’ve genuinely loved every step, thanks to my passion for working with people, problem-solving, and learning.”

After Julian won the award 12 years ago, his career took off at full speed. He joined a motorsport race crew, was managing a workshop for racing cars, and fine-tuning his automotive skills.

“Off the back of winning the award, I ended up getting pretty heavily into motorsport,” Julius says.

Part of the prize package included a trip to Australia – travelling to Sydney to have some handson experience with a V8 racing

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team, as well as a ‘hot lap’ with Greg Murphy and $3,500 cash.

“I got on quite well with Kevin Murphy, Greg’s dad, and it was amazing – and I even wondered if I could get a job there.”

At the time, Julius was working for Pukekohe-based E&H Motors, specialising in high performance cars. Following the trip, all the stars aligned, and he was offered part-time work on the crew for the V8 Supercars in New Zealand with Murphy’s team. Soon after that, he secured a new job at Possum Bourne Motorsport.

“On the weekends I would work on the supercars and go to rally

A throwback to 2013 when Julius won the Apprentice of the Year award.

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Driving the message home around Auckland.

Trust is the key, and motorists trust MTA members.

Sign of the times One of the biggest benefits you get from being a MTA member is the commercial advantage of the blue MTA badge.

We do regular surveys to see how many people recognise and trust the MTA badge.

And in both cases, the numbers are high.

That’s good news for members.

Because it means motorists look for, and trust, businesses displaying the badge. Businesses like yours.

MTA puts a lot of resources and effort into keeping that recognition and trust high, by promoting the badge to as many people as possible. In the current economic climate, that’s essential.

Fan-fare for MTA at Sky Stadium.

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Radiator Magazine - April 2025

We want to make that blue badge hard to miss. And one of our latest marketing strategies does exactly that.

The giant billboard on State Highway 2 between Lower Hutt and Wellington city is seen by around 55,000 drivers every day.

Everyone of them will need a new car, Warrant of Fitness, collision repair or fuel at some point.

We’ve used billboards and space

on the back of buses around the country – a billboard in Palmerston North is seen by around 33,000 people a day. But MTA also promotes the badge on other channels.

Such as radio advertising, which more than 200,000 listeners every week. Or Facebook and TikTok, where our videos had more than 1.8 million views last year.

And the MTA website, where the

“Find a Member” search function was used 117,000 times.

All of which means MTA is committed to driving business to your door. It’s one of – but by means the only – the best reasons why your annual membership is a smart business decision.

It’s also a sign (pardon the pun) that working for you is our highest priority.

Reaching scrollers on social media.

More than 55,000 drivers on SH2 get this view every day.

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One of a range of attractions, the epically engineered Holden Commodore drag car known as Hotbox.

Jim McCurdy’s pride and joy, a restored Pacific P9 will be there on the day.

Last chance to register for Manfeild Mania!

Time is nearly up if you are still thinking about registering to attend Manfeild Mania – there really are no excuses not to get your backside trackside.

Registrations close at the end of the month (5pm, Wednesday April 30th) for what is going to be the biggest event on the MTA calendar this year!

There is something for everyone from drift demonstrations to rides in race cars to the interactive people’s choice judging for the Gallagher Insurance show and

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shine, to cruise sessions for your road car to the fun activity area (suitable for all ages) as well as inspirational guest speaker, Steve Lange, on Saturday evening. The MTA President is attending as well as members of the MTA board and senior leadership team!

We have some incredible vehicles coming to be put on display including an epically engineered Holden Commodore drag car known as Hotbox, a meticulously restored Pacific Truck, an International S Line truck and

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a 1973 Holden Monaro Central Muscle Car will be taking a few very lucky people for rides – alongside many other automotive treasures members are bringing along.

The event has also been joined by three partners to help make this weekend possible.

Thanks to Gallagher Insurance who are naming rights to the Gallagher Insurance Show and Shine. This is a people’s choice show and shine with the judging done by vote by everyone

who attends Manfeild Mania – there’s a heap of prizes in various categories. Prizes will be presented at the dinner on Saturday evening.

Auto Super Shoppes are supporting the catered lunch in the suite overlooking Manfeild Circuit

Chris Amon, where guests will hear from MTA President Sturrock Saunders who’ll provide an update on all things MTA as well as host a brief Q+A session.

And Auxo has come on board and is gearing up for some fun.

The Auxo team will be offering

attendees the chance to take on the Ultimate Hot Lap Challenge in their high-speed driving simulator, racing for a chance to win incredible prizes. The fastest lap winners will be crowned in both the 15 & under and 16 & over categories. And the little ones haven’t been overlooked, there’s also an exciting colouring competition with fantastic prizes to be won! Whether aiming for the fastest lap or just enjoying the fun, there’s something for everyone.

Don’t miss out—join the excitement at Manfield Mania for a day to remember!

To find out all the details, including special MTA accommodation discounts, log into the MTA member tool box and visit the MTA Manfeild Mania page.

Any questions feel free to ask MTA Regional Coordinator Natalie Campbell – natalie.campbell@ mta.org.nz 021 414 665 A McCurdy International will be another attraction on the day.

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Go-karts, stock and road cars Many MTA staff love vehicles as much as you do and have a story to tell about them. This month, MTA Strategy and Product Manager Lia Paddy.

I grew up in Palmerston North, where my parents owned a second-hand car dealership, so my life revolved around cars.

My dad was also involved in go-karting when I was a kid, as well as stock car racing, and this fuelled my fascination with cars.

As you would expect, my first job was cleaning cars in our family business.

My first car – a 1981 Escort Sport – was a trade-in to my parents’ car yard that had spent the better part of a decade in a chicken coop before Dad restored it for me. Even after the restoration, every time you put the blower on, chicken feathers would come flying out.

It’s hard to believe this 1981Escort coup was literally stashed in a chicken coup before Lia owned it.

I had the Escort until I went to Victoria University, when it was sold, and Dad gave me a 1988 Honda City. It was underpowered, only 1,000cc, which meant when I was out with my friends and we had to negotiate any steep hills, they would have to get out and walk while I drove up.

There was a constant stream of

cars through the family business, so I was given all sorts of different cars to drive; it depended on what had been traded in.

Some of the more memorable ones are the Mazda 5 convertible that used to leak so I had to carry towels in the car; a mint-green metallic Mitsubishi ute that we called Snifter; and a 1988 Ford

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POLITICAL COMMENT

STAFF STORY

Slippery polls and likeable leaders

Laser that an old lady had owned – she had been nervous about crossing busy intersections so had had NOS fitted to it!

After all that, I have found something reliable that is cheap to service: a Toyota Corolla Levin.

I bought it off my mum and I will never have anything else.

Simon Bradwell Members with long memories might recall former Prime Minister Jim Bolger’s famous line “Bugger the pollsters” after the 1993 election.

Bolger had reason to grind an axe.

He had just returned to power in a nail-biter, after polls had predicted a comfortable National win.

The reasons why those particular polls were so far out of whack with the results has never been satisfactorily explained. But the value and veracity of polls has long been in question.

On one evening in 2019, Newshub and TVNZ simultaneously ran poll results in their bulletins. Newshub declared National “in a tailspin”, while TVNZ conversely proclaimed: “National bounces back”.

For the record, history shows Newshub was probably on the money, with Labour thumping National in the 2020 election.

Media – especially TV broadcasters – love polls. Polls are self-contained packages that require very little work but guarantee headlines and controversy. It’s an easy way to lead a bulletin, especially at the weekend, which can be an otherwise empty cupboard on the news front.

Every poll has a winner and a loser.

The winner is given a chance to crow, while the loser mumbles something about internal polling telling a different story, and they don’t pay much attention to polls anyway.

The first statement is possible, the second is just a whopper. Every politician follows polls closely, including those in the news recently – which have been accompanied by some overblown commentary that would have you believe it’s doom and gloom for National.

But the Government won’t be panicking.

Bolger’s quip aside, the comment that’s often expressed about polls is that “the only one that matters is the one on election day”. And that’s undeniably true.

Labour and the Greens could form a Government now? So what. The election is roughly 18 months away.

National is banking on voters feeling better about life by then. And chances are, they will. Inflation should be under control; mortgage rates should be lower (thousands of homeowners have already refixed at 4.99% in the last month), growth should be coming back to the economy and job market.

And historically, New Zealanders generally don’t dump Governments after one term. Elected parties generally carry over enough residual goodwill from the electorate three years later.

Despite sleep-walking for the last year or so, Labour has been the lucky beneficiary of impatient voters wanting the good times back NOW. But come election time, they’ll have their own

problems – around leadership, tax and their ropey track record from their last term in office.

What will have National MPs whispering is the Prime Minister’s low personal polling. Leaders don’t have to be lovable, but it sure helps if they’re likeable. Just ask John Key. The polls suggest a lot of voters have gone a tad frosty on Christopher Luxon.

Personal unpopularity can be a hard ship to turn around, but Luxon and his team have plenty of time, especially if Government delivers the goods next year.

Traditionally, a change of leadership is of course one way to fix both polling problems. Look at how Labour came from nowhere in 2017 after Jacinda Ardern replaced Andrew Little.

In fact, both parties may face leadership questions next year. Chris Hipkins has the stigma of losing one election and a lack of big stage gravitas. Could we see two new leaders contest the 2026 election? It’s not impossible.

But for now, take the polls – and the media coverage – with a large pinch of salt.

• Simon Bradwell is MTA’s Head of Communications. He covered several elections as a journalist for TVNZ, Sunday News and Reuters. The views in this column are his own.

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19

Opening day celebration F1 style with Minister of Transport Chris Bishop.

Reputation and giving the best possible service is everything for AJ Motors manager James Jiang.

Eleven branches and counting Defying doom-and-gloom talk of slow economic growth, new MTA member AJ Motors has recently opened its eleventh sales yard since beginning trading in secondhand cars in 2018.

Last month the ribbon was cut on their new Petone yard with Minister of Transport Chris Bishop joining the celebration, popping corks and spraying champagne Grand Prixstyle over invited guests.

AJ Motors was founded by friends Daniel Chang and Steven Lu after the pair met while attending English language classes in 2002. The pair shared a love or cars and had dreams of going into business.

“We both liked cars and have been friends for a long time, but it took a lot of work to get to where we are now,” Daniel says.

“When I was at university, I would buy cars from Turners, do some reconditioning on them, and sell

20

them on Trade Me, and my interest grew.”

Following university, he went on to work in an import-export business and ran a restaurant. Meanwhile Steven had got into the industry after studying accounting at Canterbury University. He did a stint with Hertz as an accountant but decided to get out from behind the desk and follow his dream into sales.

“My personality didn’t suit the job, I’m not the kind of person to sit in front of a computer all day so I went and got a job with [a car dealer],” he says.

Steven spent the next five years working his way up the ladder from selling on the yard to branch manager and national sales manager.

He had hoped the next step would owning shares in the business, but it was turned down, so he took

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

the plunge into building his own business with his friend.

“It was time to start my own business and use my own ideas and with Daniel, our first priority was to provide good service and good quality cars,” he says.

“One of the things that I learned ... was honesty was paramount and looking after the customer was the key to success, and to have good after sales customer service.”

confident opening another branch was the right thing to do.

“We really wanted to have a branch in the capital city, and if I felt it was something we should be doing. Depending on the economy, we would like to open some more around the country.”

The now have roughly 100 staff and around 2000 cars in stock.

“We are growing fast but we are still a really young company, and what I have noticed is the most successful dealerships in New Zealand have been open for 20 to 30 years and they have done that by having a really good reputation.

We want to be successful too, so we are focusing on building trust with the public.

“Over the last five years selling

second-hand cars has become more difficult with the new government policy changes, but if we can continue past the ten-year mark, I feel we will be successful,” Steven says.

Proud members

Business partner James Jiang manages the new Petone site and the large Penrose branch in Auckland.

At first glance the location of the Petone yard seems a bit obscure.

It’s in a retail precinct, tucked in behind the Warehouse and PaK ‘n Save, with Briscoes around the corner, but James says it is perfect.

“It is like a main road there are people coming and going from the carparks all day every day,”

he says.

“My big focus is on doing the right thing for customers and working hard for repeat business.

We have already had a customer who bought off us in Auckland who now lives in Masterton come in and buy a car from us because he had a good experience last time.

“That really gave me a warm feeling and shows what we are doing is right.”

Now, James says they can’t wait to put up their new MTA signs.

“We really care about the reputation of the business and our customer service, and we are so proud to be members of MTA - it gives a lot of confidence to our customers.”

Hello AJ Motors

Together they bought an existing business, Good Buy Motors, overhauled the business model and renamed it AJ Motors.

“We started with four small branches with five staff,” Daniel says.

They expanded over the ensuing years and even though the economy has been tough for the last year, Daniel says they were James (second from the left) and his team during opening day celebrations.

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

21

Smoko Stumpers

Test your knowledge with our five-minute monthly motoring quiz.

1/5: Put your L plates back on.

2/5: Hit the books, rookie.

3/5: Middle of the road.

4/5: Close but no cigar.

5/5: Congratulations, you’ve outrun The Chaser.

.

1. What does ‘Volkswagen’ literally translate to in English?

2. Does traffic drive on the left or right hand side in Japan?

• ASURE Accommodation 10 percent off motels across New Zealand

• Interislander Ferries 10 percent off the best available fare

4. In last month’s Radiator, Transport Minister Chris Bishop said he loved his EV. What model was it?

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5. Who starred as Brian O’Conner in the original The Fast and the Furious film?

• Business Insurances with

Answers on page 60

Automotive events 2024 APRIL Car enthusiasts 26th of April 12pm to 8pm You’re invited to show off your pride and joy at the wonderful Original Kaipara Tavern!

We have the venue booked and there will be fantastic stalls and prizes for all car enthusiasts, whether you love hot rods and big body American cars, Japanese style cars, European classics, 4x4s and motorbikes it is all welcomed!

Fantastic garden bar, live music, cold drinks and yummy food will be available! Bring the family, friends and cars to enjoy this fantastic day.

26 Commercial Rd, Helensville Wanaka Wheels at Wanaka Wheels at Wanaka - Easter 2025 Earthmoving practise day: Friday April 18th Main Show Saturday 19 to Sunday April 20th. Wheels at Wanaka is proudly presented by ThreeParks Wanaka.

In 2025, we celebrate the final Wheels at Wanaka along with 100 Years of Caterpillar.

Wheels at Wanaka is an all vehicle, all machinery history-in-motion vintage fair - including steam engines, tractors

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Make the most of your membership and take advantage of the value on offer from our business partners. For more information visit the MTA Toolbox.

3. How often does a NZ driver have to renew their licence after the age of 80?

Ratings:

and farming heritage, cars, motorbikes, trucks, earthmovers and heavy machinery.

Mangawhai Easter HOP Easter Sunday 20th April.

South Island Franz Joseph 2025 Glacier Country Car Show We are back earlier this year for our 5th show! Saturday 17th May at the Franz Josef TOP10 Holiday Park.

Join us from 10am to 2pm, all vehicles and motorbikes welcome, the day will be followed by a cruise - more details to come soon!

Spot prizes and trophies - Peoples Choice, Entrants Choice, Committees Choice and a brand new trophy for motorbikes Franz Josef TOP 10 Holiday Park, 2902 Franz Josef Hwy, Franz Josef Glacier 7886, New Zealand,Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand, Methven.

Gold coin entry with all funds raised to go to our local South Westland Area St John's Ambulance.

All Ford Day Celebrating 100 years of the pickup truck. Sunday May 24th 2025

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

MEMBER BENEFITS

MTA member-only benefits and offers

Cars and drivers free, public entry $10, under 13s free. Ardmore Airport entry via Hamlin Drive.

May the Fords be with you.

National Park Rev your engines for the second Annual Alpine Vintage & Classic Autoshow Calling all car enthusiasts and motorheads!

Get ready for the excitement of New Zealand's 2nd Annual Alpine Vintage & Classic Autoshow, happening on June 1, 2025, during King's Birthday weekend. The cars will be on display from 9am - 1pm so come along and enjoy the atmosphere Join us over Kings Birthday weekend at the National Park Village school grounds, where classic beauties will line up at the intersection of Buddo and Carroll Streets. Entry for vehicles is free across seven categories, so bring your prized wheels and show them off.

There's fun for the whole family with raffles, awards presentations, coffee & BBQ stations, and much more.

National Park Village school grounds.

Saturday, 1st June 2024.

Awesome cars, fun, food, and festivities for everyone.

Gallagher

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• Regional Social events and training • Mediation Advice Our free mediation service can help you handle issues with customers before they escalate • MTF Finance MTA have partnered with MTF Finance to provide a finance solution aimed to help your customers pay for repairs, maintenance, parts, and accessories that exceed $1,500

• Eftpos NZ 25 percent off terminal rental and free credit card surcharging

•n3 Business Buying Power Free access for members, last year members an saved an average of $7,566 using n3 suppliers

• Employment Advice Our HR team are on hand to help you with staff and employment issues

• OurAuto Service repair data and diagnostics at great rates

• Gift Vouchers and Gift Cards These MTA products have been designed to keep the MTA brand in front of consumers and encourage spend back to MTA members

• SAM by AUXO Increase profits with workshop management software

• Health, Safety and Wellbeing We offer tools that help your business stay compliant and safe where staff are happy and well

• Triton Hearing Free hearing checks and an extra 10 percent off hearing devices and protection

• HSE Connect An easy and affordable electronic H&S system that will save you time, money, and keep you compliant. Members get 25 percent off and free setup

• Scenic Trains 10 percent off the best available fares

*All business partner offers are subject to their own individual terms and conditions.

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

23

GOODBYE MERCEDES!

Signing off Over the last few years Timaru’s Mercedes Mulder has shared her journey from apprentice to automotive technician. In her final column, Mercedes reflects on the highlights and looks to the future.

Our time together has come to an end, and what a ride it’s been!

Our journey began not long after I became an automotive technician apprentice in Timaru, where I won a competition thanks to MITO to hang out with Hayden Paddon for a weekend at the Ashley Forest Rally Sprint. That was my introduction to rallying and working in motorsport and I absolutely fell in love.

Following that weekend, I was hooked. I was so, so scared to attend that event that I nearly turned around on the highway.

Come Monday, all I wanted to do was go back. I told the team manager, “I don’t care if I’m grabbing coffees, I want to attend more events with your team.”

And that I did, but I didn’t grab coffees!

I attended one more event and then I was asked to become a casual contractor. Unreal. Getting paid to do something you love is extremely special and it is an incredible feeling to feel that someone values you enough to pay you for your time.

I have now been a casual contractor for PRG for almost two years, predominantly on Emma Gilmour’s car as the number two.

I love it. I love the family-like team I work with, I love the work, and I love the responsibility. I love how

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Where it all started at the Ashley Forest Rally Sprint.

rating Looking to the future and celeb with my work mate Becs.

Ollie (her number one) and I gel, and I love that I know what needs to be done and can get it done without harassing him to tell me what to do because our system is top tier (the A team). I am so grateful for this team, and I am very excited for the 2025 NZRC season to start up again on the first weekend of April.

Not long after my first event with PRG as a MITO student, I was

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

lucky enough to be approached

by MTA to write for this column. It’s been a very special thing for me to express my love for my job and industry, and I suppose to share the experience from a young female’s perspective, as well as babble on about all the exciting things that have gone on in my life outside of work.

The support I have received throughout New Zealand for my

column has been amazing – I have heard from people in the north and in the south reading it and enjoying it. I’m so grateful for every single one of you supporters, especially for the messages of support I received when I announced my qualification.

Early last year I won a second competition through Valvoline, where I was flown to Tasmania to attend the ‘GRM combine driven

by Marcos Ambrose’. I worked with Garry Rodgers Motorsport for a week and got to learn many mechanical skills and experience what it was like to be a part of one of the biggest Motorsport teams in Australia. Track racing was different from what I was used to with rally, but it was great to give something different a go and I loved every moment of it – although I still think I prefer the mud!

Last year PRG also flew me up north to a few of the NZRC rally events there. This was a massive deal for me as again it was a great feeling that the team wanted me there and it had been a secret goal of mine for a while. I loved travelling with the team, and I loved getting to check out some of the North Island.

2024 was also the year I became a qualified automotive technician! I worked hard for this. It was a great

feeling to get this off my shoulders and great for my confidence too to know that I am capable.

I still know that I have so much to learn. I also feel that some of the training industries could do with improving, but that is a story for another time and hopefully something that can be improved and maybe I can contribute to.

I started off as a lost freezing worker gal at 19 years old walking into the local Hyundai dealership looking for work experience. About a week later I had skipped the work experience and applied for an apprenticeship instead. With little to no mechanical knowledge, I got the job and away I went, working at the same company on the very same bay my dad worked on 10 years prior. When I was seven, I was running around the dealership most likely laughing, yelling and talking and honestly, I don’t think much has changed!

Four years later and I have no regrets about making the decision to join the Centra Motor Co team.

The journey has been challenging and not every day has been easy, but the results are an amazing feeling. I love my team, and I am very proud of what I have achieved.

Positive results don’t occur without

hard work, challenges and commitment, and honestly, I know I would have been bored without the challenge!

The last few years of my life have been incredible career-wise and in general. I am immensely grateful for all the opportunities that have come my way, and I know that I am very lucky. I will continue to aim high and strive for my best, whatever that may be, and I can’t wait to see where life takes me. I really hope you have all enjoyed reading along with me over the last few years.

Goodbye for now!

Mercedes x • MTA would like to thank Mercedes for her column, which we know has been enjoyed by many members. Best wishes, Mercedes!

More adventures in the future with best fury friend Skyla.

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25

What you're telling us

Every month we reply to members’ questions and comments drawn from conversations with the MTA team. Do you need advice or an answer on something? Radiator would love to hear from you. Please email simon.bradwell@mta.org.nz.

Why is there an order fee and a freight fee on MTA products?

The fees are part of MTA’s stationery suppliers’ order and despatch process.

MTA has worked hard to keep those costs as low as possible for members and subsidises part of this fee but has had to return a portion of these costs to members as prices have continued to increase.

Please note that neither the order fees nor freight costs are charged on orders for gift cards/vouchers as those are dispatched separately from MTA offices.

What is MTA’s opinion on EWoFs – is there one that MTA endorses? Should we trial the ones that are getting punted to us at the moment from independent outfits or check them with MTA first?

MTA and AUXO are working on a new digital EWoF in conjunction with NZTA. It is still in development, and we are working as fast as we can to develop a new tool that will utilise all the functionality of the new VIC system.

We will be looking for Beta testers when we are ready to start testing.

Tyrewise: who is getting the money from this and how does it work?

Tyrewise is a product stewardship scheme, which means there is a fee charged at the point of entry on tyres to pay for them to be collected and used for recycling.

Auto Stewardship New Zealand is the not-for-profit charitable trust that provides governance for the accredited product stewardship scheme, Tyrewise.

How do I find out what I order regularly, as my admin is away and I just want the same product again?

Once you have logged into MTA Toolbox, go to Member-shop and then to the Orders option on the left-hand margin. This will show previous orders, and it will also show where your current orders are at.

Buy any Castrol product in April & May 2025 and

Go in the Draw to

Win a Milwaukee Tool Pack*

MTA WoF training dates April May Hamilton – 14th Wellington – 21st New Plymouth – 23rd Rosedale – 26th Napier – 30th Tauranga – 30th

Is MTA still supplying the Code of Ethics certificate?

Due to increased costs in getting them printed, it was decided to stop producing the individual hard copy Code of Ethics certificates at the end of the 2024 financial year and use one certificate that members can download and print.

What is happening with the Green List? Are we getting the panel and paint jobs back on it?

MTA Head of Advocacy, James McDowall, is following up on this issue and understands the difficulties that the shortage of skilled staff creates for members. He says the government is aware of the need and is working towards a viable resolution.

*Terms - One entry per customer per month - Drawn June 2025 - Only one tool pack available

Taranaki/Central North Island: Waikato/BOP: Scott / 027 586 2625 Ella / 021 597 913 info@mccurdy.co.nz www.mccurdylubricants.co.nz 72 Connett Road, Bell Block, New Plymouth, 06 769 6506

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Radiator Magazine - April 2025

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

27

SUPPLIED CONTENT

Auxo Workshop helps MyServi Centre change gears.

“It’s a real game changer. I can now see straight away each invoice’s profitability.

It’s helped me identify areas where I was overcharging or massively undercharging. No more guesswork.”

Entrepreneur, Dan Waring, takes the next step in growing his business with a new generation workshop management system.

- Dan Waring, MyServi Centre

Starting a business is never easy, and for Dan Waring it’s been a long road to get to where he is today - one filled with successes and challenges. When you hear his story, you quickly realise Dan is an entrepreneur at heart and his career has been anything but traditional. After leaving school early, he trained as an apprentice mechanic and spent over a decade under the hood. While a lot of his career was spent racking up mileage in automotive, his experience is peppered with all sorts of ventures in banking, finance, real estate, and mortgage broking - just to name a few.

Despite the detours, he always knew he was destined for the sweet

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freedom and independence of business ownership, inspired partly by his father and father-in-law.

After managing a Mazda dealership’s service centre for several years, he finally decided it was time to take the wheel and opened MyServi Centre in Bunbury, Western Australia.

The first 9 months were a touch-and-go period, as they are for any new business, but as the new year rolled in, things started to gain traction. Already on the hunt for a Service Advisor to help with the reception side, Dan’s next goal is to expand the team, bringing in one or two technicians by Christmas. With his eyes set on the next steps, he knew it was time to take things up

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

a notch, and began his hunt for a workshop management system that would keep up with his goals.

When it came to managing his workshop, Dan needed more than just an invoicing system. He started with Square for invoicing, but it lacked the automotivespecific features he needed.

He explored some other options but wasn’t successful finding something that was both available in Australia and had the fresh, simple aesthetic he was after. That’s when he stumbled across Auxo Workshop. Initially, Dan was hesitant—after all, the software was still relatively new, and there weren’t many reviews online to guide him.

But after a test run, he found it ticked all the boxes.

What stood out to Dan about Auxo was its clean, intuitive design. With expansion in mind, he’s particular about his workshop’s branding and wanted something that was not only functional but visually appealing. Auxo fit the bill, and its simplicity, live chat support and detailed online manual meant onboarding the new Service Advisor and training future staff wouldn’t be a huge hurdle.

Currently, as a one-manband, Dan relies heavily on the software’s efficiency.

He uses the Weekly View to plan out his schedule and switches to the Workboard to track job progress. One of the stand-out features

for him is the ability to track live profitability on each invoice. This level of insight is something Dan never had before, and it’s helping him fine-tune his pricing strategy, which he knows will be vital for the growth of his business.

With Auxo Workshop, Dan’s been able to improve communication with his customers. The SMS and email features - which he uses to notify customers when their car is ready for pick-up, remind them of upcoming bookings or that they’re due for a service have improved customer satisfaction and helped speed things up. Customers now get fast, clear updates

that they appreciate.

Dan’s goal is an ambitious one, for the next 10-15 years he wants to expand MyServi Centre into a network of a dozen centres statewide. It’s poetic he chose Auxo Workshop to help manage his shop; a fresh new software, built by a company with decades of automotive experience and similar ambitions for growth and feature expansion. The software has already proven to be an invaluable tool, allowing Dan to focus on the big picture while keeping daily operations running smoothly. He’s looking forward to seeing what new features will be rolled out in the coming years that can help him on his journey.

Say hello to an easier way to run your workshop and goodbye to paperwork. Stay on top of your jobs, margins and communicate better with customers.

Scan and sign up for a 7-day free trial.

Your ultimate workshop guide.

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

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used, but as far as the washing goes very little water is needed,” Neil says.

dry steam at a constantly high temperature with enough pressure to remove dirt but is gentle on surfaces.

Simple process Ear plugs are needed as the steam There’s no need for pre-soaking or intensive scrubbing and the generator, about the size of a small domestic dishwasher, creates steam can penetrate small spaces

and fittings that traditional water systems can’t.

There is a bonus with the system as well. It can sterilise a car's interior, killing bacteria, germs and other nasties as well as effortlessly removing stains from upholstery

Porirua Autocrash owner Neil Butterfield sees value in keeping it green and sustainable.

Green cleaning gathering steam No run-off, no drainage consent needed, no detergent - steam cleaning is boosting green credentials and saving dollars for MTA members in the panel and paint industry.

Porirua Auto Crash Repair owner Neil Butterfield was an early adopter of the steam cleaning system. He was looking at putting in a wash bay at his busy repair shop a few years back and discovered he could save a large sum of cash and add to the business’s green credentials by installing a steam vehicle wash.

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He had gone as far as applying for the council-required consent for a wash-bay and was waiting for the decision to come back when he discovered the latest in steam tech for panel shops.

“We were looking at putting in a wash plant about 10 years ago and back then it was around $32,000, I would hate to think what the cost would be now,” he says.

“Then we discovered the steam machine for cleaning and that changed my mind. Why would we bother with all that when we can

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

Solar panels on the workshop roof make using the steamer even more economical.

have a small machine that does a better job and costs around a quarter of the cost?”

The big advantage with the steam clean is there is no run-off from the cleaning process so there is no drainage needed.

“The floor is dry when you clean the vehicle, and no detergent is used, and it can be used on the interior of the car too.

“After washing the vehicle window cleaner is used, and there is product we put on the tyres to get that new look shine. For the plastics on cars another is product

and caked-on mud and bird droppings.

Neil says the system fits in with the business’s green credentials as it is chemical-free and creates no wastewater, and uses around three litres of water compared to nine litres in a wash bay to get the averaged sized car cleaned and ready for the customer.

He does have a washing machine on site to clean the microfibre cloths, but it is only used around once a week and says the amount of water it uses is very little compared to putting in a wash bay.

Steam makes quick work of cleaning for groomer Claude Orupe.

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SUPPLIED CONTENT

The advantage of roller brake testers in ensuring precision and safety AECS Equipment has been New Zealand’s trusted provider of the Cosber roller brake testing equipment for over two decades.

With a reputation as high quality equipment, all models are gazetted by the NZTA for WOF and COF testing. Twenty years on and our earliest installations remain in daily operation which is a testament to the equipment as well as AECS Equipment’s nationwide aftersales maintenance and calibration support. No matter where you are, our team ensures that your equipment remains certified and continues to perform as it did on the day it was installed.

Safety The ability to consistently and accurately perform repeatable braking performance tests distinguishes a business that prioritises motorists safety from those that do not.

Customers value businesses that invest in equipment that offers

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Rolling resistance and brake ovality Rollers rotate the vehicle’s wheels while sensors measure drag, helping identify any unintended brake system resistance from sticking caliper guide pins or seized brake application pistons.

The tester then prompts the operator to apply the brakes lightly while it monitors the force sensors for fluctuations. Any variations in force indicate brake disc or drum distortion.

produce more force, the tyre’s grip on the roller (or road) limits it. Once the tyre slips, brake force decreases.

Service brake efficiency is calculated dividing brake force by axle weight and quality testers use weight sensors to account for dynamic weight shifts during braking, improving accuracy.

During testing the system graphs brake force and also calculates balance recording the maximum difference between wheels

Braking performance test The brake performance test determines maximum brake force.

The operator applies brakes progressively until lock-up where peak braking force is recorded when traction is lost. Speed sensors identify slip, relay data, and record max brake force. The system then stops the rollers to prevent tyre damage. While brakes can

Additional items: Side slip tester A simple drive across steel plate can register the sideways pull of the tyre and give an indication of whether it is tracking correctly or requires alignment.

Suspension tester The vehicle is driven onto the suspension tester and the weight

of that axle is recorded. An electric motor vibrates an eccentrically mounted weight at different frequencies, shaking the plate and wheel while monitoring how much of the original axle weight is kept on the tester. This determines how well the shock absorbers were able to dampen the spring oscillations and keep the wheel on the road surface.

Summary Roller brake testers can provide in depth information on vehicle braking systems that other forms of brake testing cannot. It can be done more safely in a matter of minutes. With additional items such as a side slip tester and suspension tester an efficient and effective inspection of vehicle running gear can be carried out offering evidence of repairs required for safe operation of the vehicle.

A recent install of the STT45, 18 tonne roller brake tester.

definitive results showing that a vehicle’s braking system is either performing or requires attention.

Roller brake testers are widely regarded as the gold standard in brake performance testing.

Beyond the increased safety benefits for road users and technicians, roller brake testers offer additional advantages,

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

making them an essential tool in any high-standard workshop.

Precision Roller brake testing provides detailed data on a braking system’s condition, offering increased information to that available from an on-road test.

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ROAD TEST

of the ‘Set’ button. Oddly however, it’s not easy to adjust your following distance to the car in front. You can by delving into the iDrive screen but that’s hardly user friendly, and even when you set the gap to ‘close’ it still leaves too much room, inviting others to push in ahead of you. Potentially it is BMW’s way of preventing its drivers from tailgating, which the Internet will

tell you is a well-known trait of Beemer owners. The cruise is also great at sorting traffic flows when they jam up thanks to auto stop start function.

You can also revert to regular adaptive cruise to help you keep speed in check, which we found preferable on highway-type roads. And the X3 is a good cruiser, quiet enough and riding well too.

Well controlled This might not be the sports model, but the 20d sure knows how to round up those bends with typical BMW control and composure. BMW continues with its My Modes button. Most of these are more about setting the mood in the cabin. But in the scheme of the drive, you switch between Personal (normal) or Sport (maybe Efficiency if you’re

after max range). Sport ramps up the enthusiasm and tightens the body control for maximum cornering effect.

If that’s a bit much, but you’re after a little more action, the auto can be amped up simply by clicking into its S mode.

The xDrive AWD system is a variable set-up, with a rear-wheel bias for added agility. Well balanced, and

with generous rubber patches, this X3 steers keenly through the curves. It maintains a nicely judged neutrality in the bends. The balance and controlled movements minimise the tendency to push into understeer. Even when you try to provoke it, BMW’s stability controls are top shelf, maintaining the X3’s dignity from such a heavy-handed approach. The torque is divided up front to rear via the electronically-con-

trolled multi-plate clutch in the transfer case, ensuring there’s always enough traction. Its wheel weighting is nicely judged, not too hefty with just enough sensation too.

Even the diesel performs admirably.

It can rev to 5000rpm, but really it’s done about 500rpm earlier. It has an interesting little rasp to it as well.

Rounding out a pleasurable drive, the

Restrained yet dynamic X3 BMW’s X3 enters a new generation.

It adds edgy styling, new tech and offers something unique in class with a diesel-powered entry model.

It seems I missed the memo on the BMW X3. When I clicked the key fob in order to find the X3 test car in the crowded BMW dealership car park, I was surprised when the front of this Fire Red SUV lit up. It looked like some kind of new energy i model. But then I remembered; the X3 had entered a new generation, the model adopting a more radical looking front end. Like others in the range, the grille has exploded, the kidneys lit up with ‘Iconic Glow’ contour lighting to really press the point. You won’t miss the X3 at night. In profile this new SUV is more restrained, yet still dynamic, as is the treatment of the rear.

It’s the fourth gen of the X3 and, as per the playbook, it’s a little bigger than the old one (4755mm in length), better equipped and more efficient.

The X3 20d xDrive is the entry point of the range, with a plug-in hybrid now

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available too. There is also the M50 xDrive and we can probably expect a full-blown X3M at some point.

Well oiled While diesel is no longer part of the passenger car line-up, oilers are still an option in the larger BMW SUVs. This one is the latest in a line of excellent four-cylinder diesels from the brand, the 2.0-litre unit making 145kW and 400Nm. As the xDrive badging suggests, it sends that out to all four wheels via the usual eightspeed auto. New is 48v electrification, which in the diesel means an 8kW/25Nm starter generator integrated into the belt drive helping both restart the engine without hesitation and giving a slight power boost from the off. That helps trim the lag from the getaway and its quickly into its plentiful reserves of torque. This is well managed by the auto, settling the revs into an easy gait while it’s quick to kick down when extra is needed.

Read more 2024 BMW i4 eDrive35 review

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

For efficiency it’s okay too. While consumption is rated at 6.5L/100km, a figure in the high eights is what a mix of urban and motorway use will return.

Adaptive suspension makes the standard item list, so the ride quality is as easy as the torque delivery here.

Couple that with lightweight steering and a manageable turning radius, and this is fuss-free premium motoring.

Well assisted There’s the usual onslaught of BMW connected services (which don’t really connect with us) but the more useful digital assistants are the ones that help the driver. BMW’s ‘assisted driving’ cruise control you’ll appreciate on the motorways. This expertly tracks the lane, and takes care of lane changes too. The safety beeps are all but non-existent and there are no constant reminders to keep your hands on the wheel if you are casually driving along with just one of your paws on the rim.

It’s quick to pick up speed limit changes and suggests adopting the new limit, which is easily done with a tap

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

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brakes get the solid pass mark too.

Well outfitted?

The 20d kicks off at $111,990 and is well specified as you’d hope for such an ask. There’s no real need to spend up on options, though they charge extra for any colour other than white.

Still, the test car had $10k of extras.

The $4k Comfort pack adds seat heaters to the rear and ventilation for those up front, along with privacy glass, blinds in the rear and a wheel warmer.

A further $6k Enhancement pack adds metallic paint, a glass roof, HK sounds and an alarm.

The interior gives a flashy vibe on first encounter. They may have overdone the ambient lighting (thick strips of it on the doors, the console, the dash) while there’s a mix of materials used about

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the cabin. Some are good, though there are too many plastic surfaces, while the door pockets are unlined.

Storage is adequate. There’s a spot for your devices that is given prominence at the front of the console. We are not sure why BMW persists with the iDrive controller on the console, taking up valuable real estate. It’s easier to use the touchscreen. This is quick enough, and well ordered considering the masses of stuff included. Who knows how useful it all is but the kids liked the interior camera which takes selfies of passengers.

There’s a good range of adjustment at the wheel (manual) and seat (powered) while forward vision is decent too.

It’s a tad compromised to the rear but a competent surround view camera is standard. Find it hard to park and

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

manoeuvre in tight spaces? The X3 has you covered with its parking assistant, including the reversing genie to get you out of tricky situations.

The seats are covered with a plausible fake leather, and while cooling ventilation is nice in warmer months, the fans are too noisy. As are the main vents when you have them up past level two on the fan.

The X3 is a good size, particularly if you’re a family of four. It’ll be big enough without it being cumbersome; it’s easy to park and manoeuvre around town.

The rear seat will welcome two adults in comfort, while further back the tailgate opens to an appropriately sized boot for the class. There’s a space saver spare under the floor,

Model

BMW X3 20d xDrive NZ

Price

$111,900

Engine

1985cc / IL4 / TDI

Power

145kW@4000rpm

Torque

400Nm@1500-2750rpm

Drivetrain

8-speed auto / AWD

Tyre size

f-255/45R20 r-285/40R20

Fuel Capacity

60L

Scheduled servicing

3yrs / unlimited km

0-100km/h

7.85s

80-120km/h

5.95s (168m)

100-0km/h

35.40m

Stability systems

ABS, ESP, TV

Safety

AEB, ACC, BSM, LDW, RCTA, ALK, AHB

Luggage Capacity

570-1700kg

Tow rating

750kg (2500kg braked)

Service intervals

Variable

Warranty

5yrs / 100,000km

ANCAP rating

Not yet rated

Weight

1890kg

while the rear seat is split 40/20/40 for added load carrying versatility.

When all sections are folded, you have a flat load space too. The factory fit tow bar ($2600 option) is rated to 2200kg braked (100kg down load) and appears magically from behind the bumper when required.

Well, what else is there?

The X3 is the newest member of the premium set where you might be tempted by the GLC, NX or Q5, which are all around the $100k mark, give or take. The GLC has a classy conservativeness about it, and is well refined, while the X3 leads the pack dynamically, and looks more edgy than the Mercedes or Audi (which has an update coming imminently). Guess it will all depend on your thoughts about that front-end styling.

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

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Blast from the Past Every month we revisit pages from Radiator's history.

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Radiator Magazine - April 2025

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SUPPLIED CONTENT

Small things have big repercussions Some recent events have brought into sharp focus the responsibilities of vehicle operators and AVIs. A little over a year ago, a scratchbuilt open-top exoskeleton type vehicle collided with a wire rope roadside barrier, killing the driver.

The incident prompted an investigation by the NZ Police Serious Crash Unit, with LVVTA experts called in to examine the wreckage and determine whether mechanical failure played a role in the crash. This was followed by a thorough coronial

investigation.

Originally, the scratch-built vehicle had been certified through the LVV process after its initial construction.

Three years later, it underwent its second Warrant of Fitness (WoF) inspection. However, in the time between certification and the crash, key components had been altered, and further modifications had been made—some of which could have played a role in the accident. This is then, a timely reminder of the responsibilities of modifiers and

vehicle inspectors when it comes to the maintenance and inspection of modified vehicles.

The boost controller The vehicle was fitted with a turbocharged Mazda BP engine, with a device to control the actuation of the wastegate, and therefore the amount of boost the turbocharger produced. This is commonly known as a boost tap, and consisted of a switch and solenoid mounted to the dashboard to change the level of vacuum the wastegate receives,

Spot the difference: the photo on the left is from the post-crash investigation, and the photo from the right is as the vehicle was LVV certified. The small device in the middle of the vacuum hose to the wastegate actuator in the left photo is a boost controller, which alters the amount of vacuum the actuator sees, and therefore when the wastegate opens (changing the engine’s power output).

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Radiator Magazine - April 2025

which changes when it opens. In this way, it increases the amount of boost the turbocharger produces, and therefore the amount of power the engine makes. The solenoid is adjusted to two positions – switch off (low power) and switch on (high power).

This device was not fitted in the photos taken at the time of LVV certification, and it was not mentioned on the LVV certification plate fitted to the vehicle. It is not clear whether it was fitted at the time of the last WoF, but if so, the vehicle should have been failed and referred for LVV certification. While physically small, the boost controller can have a big impact on the level of power the engine creates, and the rest of the car (including the brakes, tyres, and suspension) needs to be suitable for this.

this size with this type of tyre – they ranged between 13psi and 18psi.

Both right hand side tyres were around the 13psi mark, which may have caused the vehicle to handle in an unpredictable manner. The low tyre pressures could well have affected the tyre contact patch with the road, and therefore the level of grip available – causing the driver to lose control and hit the barrier. While this isn’t something that would be picked up as part of the WoF inspection, it’s a reminder to vehicle owners to stay diligent in the maintenance of their modified vehicle.

The tyres As part of the investigation, it was noted that the vehicle was fitted with high performance semi-slick tyres, which offer excellent grip once warm but comparatively poor grip until they get to temperature.

The pressures within those tyres were well below what would normally be expected for a vehicle of

The brake bias valve As it was certified, the vehicle’s dash-mounted adjustable brake bias valve was locked in position with a cover, as unless it has a valid LVV Authority Card, LVV requirements prohibit a bias valve from being adjusted while the vehicle is in motion. As part of the investigation, it was noted that since the LVV certification this valve had been uncovered, and could have been adjusted to affect the brake bias. It’s possible that with the bias adjusted incorrectly, the vehicle could have slewed sideways into

Land Transport Rule Vehicle Equipment 2004 Rule 32017/2004: Responsibilities of operators A person who operates a motor vehicle must ensure that the vehicle and the vehicle equipment fitted in or to the vehicle comply with this rule.

Responsibilities of modifiers A person who modifies an item of vehicle equipment that is specified in this rule, or who modifies a motor vehicle so as to affect the performance of that equipment, must: (a) ensure that the modification does not prevent the vehicle from complying with this rule;

(b) notify the operator if the vehicle must be inspected and, if necessary, certified, because there is reason to believe it is: (i) a light motor vehicle that has been modified to become a low volume vehicle; or (ii) a heavy motor vehicle that has been modified so as to adversely affect its safety performance or compliance with this rule While ultimately it was the collision with the wire rope barrier that killed the vehicle’s driver (note that the widespread use of wire rope barriers and the dangers these pose to some road users is an entirely separate issue, but has also been

the barrier when the brakes were applied.

Any one of these three things could have had an effect on how the vehicle behaved, and therefore why it crashed. The boost controller fitted to the wastegate actuator was a particularly important, if easily overlooked, part of the vehicle.

It’s entirely possible that the snap oversteer this caused as the switch was triggered (on the cold and underinflated tyres) meant the vehicle twitched sideways into the barrier.

All of these things are hypothetical though – the investigation did not find one definite mechanical reason why the driver lost control of the vehicle, nor that any of these issues were that the primary cause of the crash. They remain, however, a potential cause, and therefore a timely reminder of the responsibilities of modifiers and vehicle inspectors. As well as a moral obligation, there are actually legal obligations on the part of the vehicle modifier and operator:

pointed out as part of the investigation by LVVTA), this is an example of the big consequences that small problems can have, should the right circumstances align.

Got a question that needs answering?

Have a topic that you’d like LVVTA to cover?

Let us know what you’d like to see in an upcoming LVVTA column at: info@lvvta.org.nz.

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

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SUPPLIED CONTENT

k

End:

Yes, it is OK to query Health and Safety regulations. Here’s why

Signature

Tony Hutchinson, CEO HSE Connect Rules is rules! That’s something which has confounded everyone probably since high school days. When there are rules without (apparent) rhyme or reason, people get frustrated, and fast.

When required to take certain actions without the benefit of ‘why’ those rules are in place, we all tend to get a bit annoyed. Even worse, we might be tempted to ignore the rules in the interests of getting things done (at least in our own minds) faster and easier.

It's for exactly this reason that I want to talk about something potentially controversial. Questioning health and safety rules. While most might immediately say ‘that’s crazy and/or dangerous’, my view is that it’s anything but.

to be TheAction boat ramp I’ll taken illustrate my point with a situation familiar to most boaties. Even if you aren’t one, this example makes a good deal of sense in helping explain the difference between the ‘what’ and the ‘why’ of any regulation.

Boat ramps often have signs saying ‘no powerloading’. Powerloading is the practice of pushing the vessel onto the trailer using the power of the engine. Which makes sense: boats are heavy, it takes effort winching them on, and powering into the trailer makes use of the tens or hundreds of horsepower coming from the lump on the back.

Just telling a boatie ‘no powerloading’ seems petty and unfair. But dig a little deeper ‘why’ , and it all makes SE Connect oninto 022the 643 1832 sense.

The action of a propeller in the water near the end of a concrete boat ramp

sible

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stirs up the bottom, leaving a trench.

When launching a vessel, the trench catches the trailer wheels, making pulling the trailer out difficult or impossible.

When most boaties understand this, they won’t powerload – because doing so isn’t just bad for everyone else, it’s bad for them, too.

Back to the workshop Now, in the workshop there are plenty of H&S regulations, all of which tend to stress the ‘what’. I’ve written in the past about, for example, Machinery the necessity for guards on angle grinders and the like. That’s covered by Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016, Section 10 - Duty to ensure plant is safe.

The ‘what’ is that any machinery — hoists, grinders, lathes and so on — must be fitted with guards. The ‘why’ here is pretty simple: no guard could quickly mean no fingers, and every person needs training before using the machinery with no cowboy moves allowed. That keeps arms attached and WorkSafe off your back.

Encourage discussion and interrogation of EVERY regulation Rather than avoiding a culture of questioning, I believe encouraging your people to engage, interrogate and understand not only the ‘what’ but also the ‘why’ contributes to a truly sound H&S culture. Driving ‘sensitive’ topics underground or making certain questions unacceptable often has the opposite effect – and it can build resentment. Instead, go for an open environment where no question or comment around H&S is out of line.

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

Because, as one final point, when explaining it to someone else, you may very well come to understand it better yourself.

Tony’s Top Tips: Open communication means H&S should be queried • Crack the ‘Why’ Code: Don’t just nod at rules—dig into why they exist. Get the reason, and you’ll follow without the eyeroll.

• Make It Personal: Tie rules to what’s in it for you. Guards on machinery? They’re your ticket to keeping all ten digits. Selfinterest beats resentment.

• Question Everything (Yes, Really!): Open the floor—let your team grill every reg.

Why’s that hoist guarded?

Why train first? Answer it, and watch understanding click.

Peace of mind, thanks to HSE Connect.

Built specifically with WorkSafe in mind, HSE Connect’s easy-to-use software already provides peace of mind to hundreds of MTA members.

Members get discounted pricing and free set-up. Find out more here: www.hseconnect.co/mta or call HSE Connect on 022 643 1832

H&S RULES

HAVE GOOD REASONS Need help?

Go to www.hseconnect.co/contact-us or call HSE Connect on 022 643 1832 Radiator Magazine - April 2025

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Members know too well the importance of vehicle safety and the role inspections play in maintaining it.

Recently, MTA and VTNZ submitted a response to the Government’s consultation on its proposals to extend both private motorhomes (CoF B) and vintage cars (WoF) to 12-monthly inspections. With MTA’s membership and VTNZ’s own inspections, our joint submission represents approximately 90 percent of vehicle inspectors in New Zealand. We included several comments from members to support our submission – a big thank you to those who reached out to us on this topic.

On vintage cars, we expressed no opposition and understood the rationale behind the proposed change. These vehicles are usually well-maintained, and there is no evidence that extending their WoF frequency raises safety concerns.

Based on data and member feedback, however, MTA and VTNZ could not support the proposed broad shift to 12-monthly inspections for motorhomes.

Given the change is likely to nonetheless go ahead, we recommend that it should only apply to motorhomes less than

T S O M NZ’SBLISHED ESTARANGE OF WIDELTRATION FI

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Radiator Magazine - April 2025

Safety first for CoF B Inspections

0800 472 787

repcotrade.co.nz

ADVOCACY

REPCO YOUR CHOICE FOR FILTRATION

james.mcdowall@mta.org.nz

20 years old. The data shows a significant deterioration in the condition of motorhomes as they age, with a fail rate of 47.85% for those over 20 years old, compared to 25.91% for newer models.

Accidents involving motorhomes – being large vehicles – can result in serious consequences. Safety must be the primary consideration, and the current fail rates do not suggest a safe overall fleet. CoF B inspections are more rigorous than WoF inspections, requiring certified equipment and specific weight testing. Reducing the frequency of these inspections for older motorhomes would compromise the integrity of brake testing and overall vehicle safety.

The data indicates that older motorhomes, in particular, require more frequent inspections to ensure they remain roadworthy. The main reasons for failure include issues with the underbody, exterior, and brakes, often due to rust and lack of use.

Members provided much commentary regarding the variation and nature of kilometres travelled and especially the deterioration that can happen when left outside over winter. As motorhomes age, both the fail

rate and the number of fail items increase. This doubling effect underscores the need for more frequent inspections for older vehicles.

MTA and VTNZ believe that maintaining the current CoF B inspection frequency is important for addressing safety concerns.

While some motorhome owners maintain their vehicles scrupulously, the data shows that the condition of these vehicles deteriorates significantly with age. If the Government proceeds with the shift to 12-monthly inspections, it is our view that it should only apply to motorhomes less than 20 years old.

By ensuring regular inspections, we can help keep our roads safe for all users.

Submissions like this highlight the importance of collaboration and member engagement. We are looking forward to the first meetings of our new Expert Advisory Groups in April-May, which will position us well when the Government releases new policies or consultation documents, or for MTA and members to raise issues with officials. Thank you to all those who expressed an interest in joining these groups.

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

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HR ADVICE

prabha.raman@mta.org.nz

yulene.knight@mta.org.nz

Good faith and fair treatment Operating a business is no easy feat, and employers have a lot to manage. However, it's crucial to keep employees front of mind and meet the legal requirements to protect the business.

The Employment Relations Act 2000 (the Act) sets out the statutory obligations of parties in an employment relationship including good faith and fair treatment. Breaches of such mandatory obligations can lead to personal grievances and punitive MBIE, IRD and WorkSafe audits leading to heavy penalties for employers.

Here are some common areas to monitor: Written Employment Agreements Every employee must have a written employment agreement signed and dated prior to commencing work. No written agreement, no work!

46

Having a written employment agreement is a legal requirement fundamental to establishing clear terms and conditions of employment. It helps prevent misunderstandings as employees clearly know their entitlements and obligations. It helps employers as they can hold employees to account against the agreed terms and conditions.

It include essential clauses such as the type of employment, hours of work, wages, job description and mandatory entitlements. It should also outline the process for resolving employment relationship problems and timeframes.

Employers must negotiate terms in good faith and ensure that the agreement complies with the required employment legislation including the Act. Employers must also: •keep a copy of the employment agreement and subsequent variations for every current and

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

past employee (for up to 6 years after exit) •keep an 'intended/offered agreement' even if the employee has not signed it with proof of commencement of employment.

Changes to Terms of Employment

During the course of employment, both the employer and employee can propose changes to their agreed terms and conditions of employment such as hours of work, remuneration, job tasks etc.

Any changes to the agreed terms in an employment agreement can only be made by consultation and agreement; not unilaterally.

Employers can propose the changes with reasons for the proposal, engage with the employee formally to seek their views and alternatives before deciding to implement the proposed change.

These changes must be recorded in a variation to employment agreement and signed by both parties prior to implementation.

An employer can make changes to policies and notify their employees unless the employment agreement contains clauses that prevent these changes without consultation. In any case, it is a sound practice to consult with the impacted employees in good faith before making changes.

is $23.50 while the starting-out and training minimum wage are $18.80 per hour.

Employers must ensure that their payroll systems are updated to reflect these changes and that employees are informed about the new wage rates. It is also an opportunity for businesses to review their budget forecasts and consider the impact of wage increases on their overall financial planning.

Minimum Wage Increases The minimum wage is reviewed annually and adjusted to reflect changes in the cost of living and economic conditions. As of 1 April 2025, the adult minimum wage

Regular Audits Regular audits of employment documentation, policies and processes are crucial for ensuring compliance with employment standards and avoiding legal

penalties. Employers are required to keep accurate records of wages, hours worked, leave taken, and other employment-related details. These records must be maintained in accordance with the various pieces of employment legislation in New Zealand.

It pays to review company policies to reflect current employment law changes and be proactive by reviewing job descriptions as roles do evolve over time Find employment agreement templates in the MTA Toolbox and for further information, get in touch with the MTA HR team.

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The cost-of-living crisis is hitting young people hard, particularly those pursuing apprenticeships. Across the Tasman, Australia is grappling with the same challenge, with increasing numbers of apprentices struggling to make ends meet. Rising rent, food prices, and transport costs are making it difficult for young people to commit to training programmes that offer lower wages in the short term but promise long-term career stability. If New Zealand doesn’t take proactive steps to address these financial barriers, we risk losing the next generation of skilled automotive professionals.

Many young people are reluctant to enter apprenticeships because they perceive them as low-paying jobs.

However, there is long-term earning potential and career progression in the automotive industry, and the many examples of real success stories of former apprentices who have built thriving careers and even their own businesses can shift the perception that the trades don’t pay well.

There are reports in Australia indicating that apprentices are dropping out at alarming rates due to financial pressures, with low wages cited as one of the primary reasons, and that some young tradespeople are resorting to working multiple jobs just to cover basic living expenses.

Government response The Australian government has responded with various initiatives, such

48

as increased wage subsidies and costof-living allowances for apprentices.

Programmes such as the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive Scheme (AAIS), which works in a similar way to New Zealand’s Apprenticeship Boost initiative. In addition to the AAIS, some industries received statebased grants to help offset financial strain. In some cases, the incentive is around $10,000, which supports an apprentice to buy tools and pay their training fees. While these measures have provided some relief, challenges remain, particularly in industries where starting wages are relatively low, as is the case with automotive apprenticeships.

The New Zealand automotive industry is already experiencing skill shortages, and if financial barriers continue to deter potential apprentices, the situation will only worsen. We need to take decisive action to ensure that a career in the trades remains a viable and attractive option for young people.

What can be done?

The Apprenticeship Boost initiative offered by the government currently provides wage subsidies for employers taking on apprentices; however, this alone isn’t enough and doesn’t necessarily address the skills shortage. The large number of pretrade programmes offered across 16 institutions is attracting the next generation of automotive technicians but comes with a phenomenal cost

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

loretta.thompson@mta.org.nz

to the New Zealand taxpayer.

Reassessing the funding model is imperative, especially as employers are more often than not tasked with retraining graduates from institutions.

If the majority of funding was reallocated to support employers through work-based training instead, this would allow these employers to offer higher wages and/or benefits to their staff. The employer is the primary trainer, so it makes sense that the bulk of funding for training is allocated to work-based learning.

While apprenticeship wages must remain sustainable for employers, there is room for structured pay increases as apprentices progress through their training and become more productive. This in turn would ensure that young workers can earn a liveable wage while learning their trades.

Another consideration is strengthening secondary school programmes, such as Gateway, that offer students opportunities to experience automotive careers earlier, reducing the need for lengthy pre-trade courses with student loan debts.

Ensuring that young people can afford to train in the automotive industry is not just about individual career success – it’s about securing the future of a vital industry that keeps New Zealand moving. If we want a robust and skilled workforce, we must invest in our apprentices today.

Dealing with DIY videos I had the chance to listen to an interview of one of our MTA members, Jason Land, from Collins automotive.

The general discussion was around the issue of the Facebook/Tik Tok mechanic videos. Now, I did not think too much about this at first – until some of the stats were presented.

A study conducted by Auto Trader UK found that 59 percent of carrelated videos on TikTok should be viewed with caution, 81 percent of car cleaning hack videos on TikTok might cause damage to your vehicle, and 90 percent of car repair TikTok videos should not be attempted by inexperienced mechanics, and this list does not include all other types of social media.

Like many reading this column, we have spent years training for our profession, and invested countless hours and dollars in additional training and tooling so we can understand, diagnose and correctly and efficiently

REPAIRER

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Cost of living a barrier for apprentices

glen.mcgarry@mta.org.nz

repair faults in our clients’ vehicles.

There are currently over 876 million videos about tips and hacks, interior trends and more for vehicles on the internet, and the majority, you would have to say, are ‘ill advised’ at best.

As an industry, there is not a great deal we can do to limit these ‘internet professionals’ from creating this content, but we can inform the motoring public of correct procedures to follow and assist where applicable, and most importantly they will be safe to do so.

A key point I would always emphasise when we had a customer bring their car in for a scan and all they wanted was the code so they could repair it themselves, was to clearly state that the information I was supplying was only the Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) as presented by the control unit, and did not in any way conclude that this (the DTC) was the actual fault.

I am sure many of you have had to spend countless hours diagnosing a

fault that in the end was not directly related to the DTC presented. I can recollect two separate faults that we supplied said DTCs to the client, they were directly to the pre-O2 sensor. The first vehicle’s actual issue was the timing chains had stretched, causing a phase imbalance on the V6 engine and the ECU trying to compensate via fuel trims from each bank; the second was to a split vacuum line causing excessive fuel trim range. Both ended up with new O2s fitted, and then were brought back to the shop to be repaired correctly.

What we can do to help our customers and the motoring public is educate them as to what is real and what is made for content by some untrained ‘internet professional’ to make money from, and generally does not actually help the end user. Be professional in discussions with the public and advise correctly. And always remember, we are a country built on ‘give it a go, mate’.

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stewart@collisionrepair.co.nz

I had a recent conversation with a member who was not renewing their membership subscription. It prompted me to comment in this column on what this soon-to-be-former member was saying was his motivation for resigning.

The first comment he made was that he did not get anything out of his membership. I asked if he attended the road shows: he was too busy – fair enough. Did he go to the annual conference – again, too busy. Did he attend the local branch meetings or activities – again, no time to do this.

He added that paying the yearly subscription was not giving him any benefit. He is right, of course, we all make decisions as to what we are getting value in or paying a subscription for; his judgement was correct for his way of thinking. His last comment was that if the CRA was really doing its job properly, it would not have allowed certain activities that are changing our industry to occur.

I am taking the time to list his comments as, while they are the view of a small minority, they do occasionally get airtime at CRA meetings and events.

As CRA GM, my views on the above are: 1. He did not get anything out of his membership •One of life’s rules is that you get out of something what you put into it. Not attending road shows, conference, branch activities means you miss the interaction with other people who are

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confronting the same sort of issues. these are people who may have a different approach or know of people or systems that can help you. This interaction is a value of membership, even if it’s just some reassurance, it provides value to members. Interaction with fellow members always leaves you with ideas or information you did not know before.

2. Subscription benefits •As an association, we provide access to services at rates an individual company is unlikely to get.

The rate that members get from joining Afterpay is an example; services like HR advice, staff wellbeing via OCP, and purchasing via N3 or Capricorn give value that is many times the cost of subscription. I use real examples of one HR problem managed using the MTA HR team, which easily saved a member between $2,000 and $5,000. Using N3 for $10,000 worth of business purchases can save you $1,500 or more. Start adding the other services – mediation, business advice, training/education options – and you can see from a financial benefits point of view that the membership subscription is very cheap! If you add in the technical advice and support available on any aspect of working a collision repair business, the value to members is high.

3. CRA doing its job properly •One of the most difficult activities of the association is advocacy – representing the interests of our members to ensure those interests are

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

promoted and protected. It’s difficult because you are dealing with the government and the laws of the land – trying to either change them, ensure they are upheld in our favour or incite interest from government members on issues that matter to collision repair. As previously mentioned, the nature of this work means sometimes it needs to be kept confidential to avoid compromising our objectives.

The advocacy work benefits all in the industry, not just CRA/MTA members.

You can easily not belong and still get the benefit of the CRA/MTA advocacy efforts; however, this will be without the insight and context to make the most of any change.

From a purely financial point of view, membership of CRA/MTA is excellent value, the benefits (if utilised) repay the membership cost many times over. That, however, is a narrow way of looking at it, as the relationships, contacts and knowledge are all included in your membership, along with support from like-minded people.

The member I mentioned at the beginning did resign; it’s sad because he has lost more than he understands.

In 2025 and onwards, belonging to a strong organisation will be important if our industry wants to manage itself for its own benefit – not for the benefit of the strong forces we are facing both now and into the future.

Stewart Gibb, CRA Chief Executive

Rough ride in the first quarter With the first quarter 2025 in the rearview mirror, it’s safe to say it was a whirlwind start to the year.

MTA has been juggling with all its various hats, and even a hard hat has been worn, so let’s review what has been happening in the transport sector, before giving the windscreen a quick clean to see what’s on the horizon for the second quarter.

The association has been busy in the education space. With the coalition continuing the disestablishment of Te Pūkenga – the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, we are looking forward to being part of the government’s industry-targeted consolation process on the way forward. We will continue to advocate that training should be focused on the businesses it aims to support.

The fuel sector has been a hot topic, as has retail crime, and we have worked hard on diverting plastic vehicle waste away from landfills.

Car technology and driver errors have also appeared on our radar, while we’ve been preparing for carbon dioxide (CO2) changes for twowheelers to come into effect on April 30 and again in January 2027.

On top of that, public submissions closed on the government proposing a user-pays model to cover the administration costs of the clean car standard. The Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill has had its

third parliamentary reading.

MTA launched the annual wage, salary and charge-out surveys. Our Human Resources team has been dealing with employee challenges and immigration, and our Mediation team is working through the public’s over-reaching expectations when purchasing or getting a vehicle serviced or repaired.

That’s quite a lot of work on a plethora of issues we have already covered off this year.

Driving forward, one important area of change will soon come into effect and another has just kicked in.

From the end of April 30 this year, new regulations under the Vehicle Exhaust Emissions Amendment Act will come into effect. These changes will impact vehicle classes LA, LB, LC, LD, and LE, which are commonly known as motorbikes and mopeds.

To be entry certified in New Zealand, they will have to comply with one of the following emission standards – Euro 4m, US2010m, or Japan 2012m.

Extra changes are scheduled for the start of January 2027. For more information, visit MTA Toolbox or NZTA’s website.

Plastic repurposing The next project is, in my books, plastic fantastic, which is even bigger than New Zealand’s 1987 entry of KZ 7, Kiwi Magic, into the America’s Cup yacht race.

DEALER

COLLISION REPAIR

Not getting any benefit…?

larry.fallowfield@mta.org.nz

Since November 2022, MTA has been working on a viable closed-loop solution to divert more than 100,000 car bumpers that end up in landfill every year. In June 2024, we set up an industry working group.

With input from the Plastic2eco working group, we have taken things to the next level and will have more to tell members in the coming months. It’s safe to say the project will finally stop some of the waste vehicle bumpers going into the ground.

We are aiming to strategically roll out the programme across the North Island in late 2025 and early 2026, before reaching the South Island around the middle of next year.

Working with key partners, we are bringing innovative recycling solutions and efficient processes to the industry.

Initially starting in the collision repair space with bumpers and guard liners, it’s intended for the project to expand to incorporate other plastic waste generated during the repair process.

The next stage will be to incorporate other MTA members who have challenges with plastic waste to ensure we divert as much as we can away from landfills.

If you’re having challenges disposing of vehicle plastic waste, please reach out to me and let’s see if the Plastic2eco programme can assist.

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

51

MTA has partnered with the Commerce Commission for the fuel retailers survey to ensure that our members’ opinions, experience, and concerns with the current state of the fuel retailer market are heard by the regulator.

This is the first time the Commerce Commission has had a focus on the retail part of the fuel market since their work in 2020 to bring price board information at service stations throughout the country up to the current standard in the fuel market.

The aim of the survey is to understand any challenges that fuel retailers face when competing in the market, and any ideas fuel retailers may have about what can be done to improve competition in this market.

It will also give insight into how the Fuel Industry Act 2020 has affected service station owners and is focused on the fuel retailer segment of the New Zealand fuel market. There is a belief that the fuel retailer segment could be improved under what the Fuel Industry Act intended to do for industry and consumers. To enable the Commerce Commission to address

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any market imbalances, unfair practices, or inequities for further investigation, member participation is critical for providing the data points for further work into the fuel retail market by the Commerce Commission.

Member participation will also help the Commerce Commission to understand whether the competitive environment for fuel retailers could be strengthened to improve outcomes for customers, eg through more competitive fuel prices at the pump, thanks to greater competition for fuel retailers when they next negotiate their fixed wholesale supply agreement.

The Commerce Commission encourages MTA members who own a service station to take the short survey (10-15 minutes) before Friday, 11 April 2025. The survey link is accessible on the MTA Toolbox page, or by visiting the Commerce Commission website.

Without a good response to the survey, the Commerce Commission cannot have confidence that the views they have already heard are representative of the wider fuel retail sector.

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

mathew.alderdice@mta.org.nz

All survey responses will be kept anonymous.

By taking the survey, you can rest assured that your voice will be included alongside other fuel retailers, regardless of your contractual arrangements.

If you would prefer not to take the survey but would like to talk directly with the Commerce Commission, you can email them: fuel@ CommerceCommission.govt.nz By participating in the survey, you will be able to tell the Commerce Commission about any constraints or what you may perceive as unfair practices that you see are impacting on the wholesale fuel market for fuel retailers.

Link to the MTA survey: https://www.surveymonkey. com/r/P6HGF5Y Alternative modes of engagement If you would prefer not to speak directly with the Commerce Commission, you can also contact MTA Sector Manager Mathew Alderdice on 027 265 5186, who can represent your views to the Commerce Commission project team anonymously.

Workers Liens are always a topic of discussion in the motor industry.

Unfortunately, even after agreeing to have repairs done, some customers decide that it may not have been such a great idea and just choose to leave their vehicle at the workshop. This creates many problems for the repairer. Firstly, the parts used have already been paid for by the repairer and no money has come back into the system to cover this. The staff have been paid but no money has come in to pay for this either. And one other problem remains, where to keep the vehicle.

Taking it out every morning and bringing it back in at the end of the day is time consuming and annoying. Not every workshop has the luxury of space, where a vehicle can be left out of the way indefinitely, and it is not surprising that many workshop owners try to charge storage. But the important thing here is that the customer is made fully aware that the storage can and will be added should the car be left in the workshop.

Having this information in your

MEDIATION

FUEL AND HEAVY VEHICLE

Survey of independent fuel retailers

Workers liens — ensure you understand your position

roy.hoverd@mta.org.nz

Terms of Trade (which should be clearly visible to a customer), is important when trying to charge storage. You cannot simply add on a lump amount at the end and call it storage if the customer did not know this was going to be done. In such a case, at a Disputes Tribunal hearing it would not be a strong argument and would most likely be deducted from the amount sought. This becomes more important further down the Workers Lien process.

If the vehicle is eventually sold by auction and there is money left over after the sale, then that money must be paid back to the customer. This is undoubtedly frustrating when you consider all the effort put into claiming a legal Workers Lien and the storage aspect, but this must be carried out. In most cases the repairer is lucky if the sale proceeds cover the original invoice.

Often a finance company has a registered security over a vehicle which is in a workshop under a Lien. A legal Workers Lien trumps a security interest; however the

finance company often offers to pay the repairer his outstanding invoice in order to get the vehicle back. What is important is the need to keep things in writing as much as possible so that if a matter is taken to the Disputes Tribunal, things are clear.

While on the subject of storage, it’s a timely reminder that storage areas need to have reasonable security. A lock up out the back may be fine as long as it is fenced and locked up at night.

The locality of that area is also important – a dark alley in the worst part of town with no lighting may not seem reasonable to most people. As long as a repairer has taken reasonable care when looking after the vehicle then that is fine. After that, anything out of their control, comes under the customers own insurance policy.

Information regarding Workers Liens can be found on the MTA website or by contacting the Mediation Team on 0508 682 633.

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

53

From Trail Riding to Trailblazing Ashleigh Telford, a forklift technician at AB Equipment, is forging her own path in the automotive industry.

Growing up around four-wheel drives and motorbikes, Ashleigh naturally gravitated toward the automotive world. Eager to learn how to repair the vehicles she loved, she enrolled in a pre-trade course, and it didn’t take long for her to realise she had found where she was meant to be. “I wanted to be able to fix things myself, so I did my pre-trade course and loved it. After coming out of that, I decided this is what I want to do.”

Ashleigh joined AB Equipment from another workshop, where she was doing unpaid work experience two days a week. Immediately impressed with her motivation and ability, the company quickly offered her an apprenticeship, and she has since gone from strength to strength.

Upon completing her New Zealand Certificate in Heavy Automotive Engineering, Ashleigh became the first female apprentice to achieve the qualification in its entirety through AB

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Equipment. While she doesn’t dwell on the magnitude of this accomplishment, both she and her employer take great pride in her achievement and its wider impact. “I do what I do because I love it, but I know everyone's super proud of me and what I have achieved. But I would love to help other women get into the trade as well.”

While the automotive industry remains heavily male-dominated, Ashleigh has found strong support from her colleagues and AB Equipment as a whole. “I have had amazing support from my workmates and AB Equipment. I can be who I am, and I can ask questions at any time.”

In addition to the backing of her workmates and employer, Ashleigh spoke highly of the support she received from MITO throughout her studies. She made special mention of her Training Advisor, Brian Scott, whom she described as a vital resource along the way. “MITO has been great, especially the support from my training advisor. He's always made it clear that he's only a phone

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

call away, and he's proved to be just that.”

With aspirations of moving into a leadership position, Ashleigh is showing no signs of slowing down.

After being awarded a MITO Business Scholarship in 2024, she recently began working towards the New Zealand Certificate in Business (First Line Management). “I’m really excited to have the opportunity to get something else under my belt. I think something good will come of it, as I do see myself in a leadership position in the future.”

Ashleigh’s journey is one of passion, perseverance, and breaking new ground. Through hard work and a willingness to learn, she has carved out a path for herself and hopes her story will inspire other women to do the same. “You can do anything you want. Do some work experience and get a feel for what you might be doing. I did work experience, and after seeing what the industry was like, I thought it was the best thing in the world.”

March 2025 saw 11,916 total new passenger and commercial vehicle unit registrations; this is up New Vehicle Market Passenger and Commercial 2.7 percent on March 2024 and - 2025 Quarter 21.5 percent on February 2025.

With quarter one (Q1) gone, the year is down 1,329 units or nearly 4 percent on the same period last year (LY).

New passenger vehicle registrations in March 2025 saw an increase over last month of 1,418 units for a 20.2 percent increase.

This was up on March 2024 by 865 units or 11.4 percent to finish the month with 8,426 units and rounding out Q1 up 8.6 percent on Q1-24. New commercial registrations topped the year so far, up 694 units or 24.8 percent on February 2025, albeit down Top 10 New Vehicle Brands on March 2024 by 553 units and 13.7 percent. The 3,490 - 2025 Quarter March registrations didn’t help in boosting Q1, YTD the Make March Units Monthly % sector is down 26 percent and 3,195 unit registrations behind TOYOTA 7,321 22.5% Q1-24.

Brand and model performance In the model category for Q1-25, Toyota held a dominant number one with 7,321 or 22.5 percent market share; this was off the back of 2,572 units in March. Mitsubishi with another strong month had 1,310 units in March to hold number two on the podium, and Ford with its 1,106 registrations rounded out the top three both for the month of March 2025 and Q1, while BYD grabbed the number 10 spot. Ford Ranger and Toyota’s Rav4 and HiLux held the top three spots in March 2025 with 709, 703 and 669 units, respectively. The BYD Shark 6 continued chewing up the road with 169 units and a total of 539 registrations at the end of Q1.

Toyota Rav4 continued its domination at the top of the band table YTD with a total of 2,442 units, while the Toyota HiLux and the Ford Ranger held two and three on the table. SUVs and utes continued to control the new vehicle models, with only the Suzuki Swift bucking that trend in Q1-25.

New Vehicle Motive Power

MITSUBISHI FORD KIA NISSAN SUZUKI HONDA MG MAZDA BYD

3,273 3,016 2,382 1,488 1,321 1,183 1,154 1,089 915

10.1% 9.3% 7.3% 4.6% 4.1% 3.6% 3.5% 3.3% 2.8%

Top 15 New Models - 2025 Quarter Make

Model

March units

TOYOTA TOYOTA FORD MITSUBISHI MITSUBISHI KIA MITSUBISHI NISSAN SUZUKI MG BYD FORD KIA TOYOTA TOYOTA

RAV4 HILUX RANGER TRITON OUTLANDER SELTOS ASX NAVARA SWIFT ZS SHARK 6 EVEREST STONIC

Monthly %

2442 1883 1788 1005 993 941 933 716 614 543 539 494 476 LANDCRUISER PRADO 449 COROLLA CROSS 432

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

7.50% 5.78% 5.49% 3.09% 3.05% 2.89% 2.87% 2.20% 1.89% 1.67% 1.66% 1.52% 1.46% 1.38% 1.33%

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MARKET OVERVIEW

SUPPLIED CONTENT

New vehicles

MARKET OVERVIEW

Used import vehicles March 2025 was not another good month for the light passenger and commercial vehicle sector, it only achieved 7,679 registrations combined, down 1,830 units and 19.2 percent on March 2024, albeit up 7.3 percent or 521 registrations on February 2025. The sector was tracking down 6,006 units and 21 percent at the end of Q1-25 versus Q1-24.

The 7,279 passenger vehicle registrations in March 2025 saw a drop of 18.6 percent or 1,664 registrations on March 2024 and up on February 2025 by 486 or 7.2 percent. Unfortunately for the end of Q1 there were 5,228 fewer registrations and it was tracking down on last year by nearly 20 percent.

Four hundred commercial unit registrations in March saw a 35-unit increase over February 2025, but that was the only good news.

Registrations were down 29.3 percent and 166 units on March 2024, while tracking behind LYQ1 by 778 and 40.8 percent.

Brand and model performance Toyota, Nissan and Mazda all saw double-figure sales to round out Q1-25. As in the new vehicle space, Toyota dominated with 8,462 units and 37.5 percent market share. March 2025 was the same result, with Toyota at 2,924 units, Nissan with 1,087 and Mazda with 957 registrations.

March again saw an unchanged top three, with the Toyota Aqua finishing with 776, the Toyota Prius 515 units, and the Toyota Corolla 373 units.

Q1 saw the top three with 21 percent share or 4,723 unit registrations.

Used Vehicle

Motive Power

56

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

Used Vehicle Market Passenger and Commercial - 2025 Quarter

Top 10 Used Import Brands - 2025 Quarter Make

March units

Monthly %

TOYOTA

8,462

37.5%

NISSAN

3,110

13.8%

MAZDA

2,692

11.9%

HONDA

2,136

9.5%

SUBARU

2,047

9.1%

BMW

736

3.3%

SUZUKI

617

2.7%

MERCEDES-BENZ

469

2.1%

MITSUBISHI

433

1.9%

AUDI

399

1.8%

Top 15 Used Import Models - 2025 Quarter Make

Model

March units

Monthly %

TOYOTA

AQUA

2178

9.65%

TOYOTA

PRIUS

1480

6.56%

TOYOTA

COROLLA

1065

4.72%

HONDA

FIT

891

3.95%

MAZDA

AXELA

813

3.60%

Motorcycles and scooters

New Road Registered Motorcycles and scooters - 2025 Quarter

The combined new road motorcycle and scooter market in March had its lowest registration month for the year – registrations were down by 19 units and 2.9 percent on last month, while tracking behind March 2024 by almost 4 percent or 26 registrations. At the end of Q1-25, the sector had slipped even further to be behind by 133 registrations and 6 percent on Q1-24.

In March Honda’s 98 registered units saw an increase of 25 units over February 2025 and took the podium for not only the month but also the end of Q1, with 271 units and 13 percent market share.

The 43-unit buffer over CF Moto in March helped Honda to an eight-unit lead on CF Moto, which finished Q1 at number two with 263 units and 12.6 percent share.

While Suzuki, which also made double-digit percentage share, came in in third with 248 and 11.9 percent.

March 2025 also saw Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki on the top with 98, 73, and 64 unit registrations, respectively. The CF Moto MT450 with 172 units held the podium with a massive 96-unit lead at the end of Q1 in 2025, Top 10 Motorcycle Registrations by Brand - 2025 Quarter

the only model to make three figures. Second saw TNT Motors Roma with a 10-unit gap on the hotly contested third and fourth placings, with the Honda CT group holding a one-unit lead over the Kawasaki EX category of 65 unit registrations in 2025.

The combined 93 unit registrations in the used space for March saw this group fall way behind March 2024 with a decrease of 99 units and 51.6 percent on the biggest month of 2024; this also left the sector down by 115 units and 25.4 percent behind at the end of Q1.

Q1 in 2025 saw four Harley Davidson Sportster S models take to the open roads.

Top-selling Models - 2025 Quarter Make

Model

March units

Monthly %

CFMOTO

MT450

172

8.24%

TNT MOTOR

ROMA

76

3.64%

HONDA

CT

66

3.16%

KAWASAKI

EX

65

3.11%

Make

March units Monthly %

HARLEY DAVIDSON

SOFTAIL

50

2.40%

271

13.0%

SUZUKI

UZ50

47

2.25%

NISSAN

NOTE

731

3.24%

HONDA

SUBARU

IMPREZA

726

3.22%

CFMOTO

263

12.6%

ROYAL ENFIELD

HIMALAYAN

36

1.72%

TOYOTA

C-HR

638

2.85%

SUZUKI

248

11.9%

BMW

R1300

34

1.63%

NISSAN

X-TRAIL

210

2.83%

KAWASAKI

170

8.1%

FORZA

CICLONE

33

1.58%

SUBARU

XV

596

2.64%

TRIUMPH

165

7.9%

SUZUKI

GSX150

32

1.53%

MAZDA

DEMIO

566

2.51%

YAMAHA

143

6.9%

MAZDA

CX-5

481

2.13%

ROYAL ENFIELD

120

5.7%

SUZUKI

GSX250

32

1.53%

TOYOTA

HIACE

455

2.02%

KTM

97

4.6%

FORZA

CAPRI

31

1.49%

SUZUKI

SWIFT

454

2.01%

BMW

93

4.5%

TRIUMPH

SPEED 400

29

1.39%

NISSAN

SERENA

447

1.98%

HARLEY DAVIDSON

90

4.3%

KAWASAKI

ER

27

1.29%

HONDA

CRF

26

1.25%

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

57

Automotive technician NAPIER

T M Autos requires a technician. We are a small fully equipped workshop in the centre of Taradale.

3rd year apprentices will be considered.

Must have Full NZ drivers licence.

Contact: Matt at go.tmautos@gmail.com

CLASSIFIEDS

Automotive technician TAURANGA

Welcome to Automotivated - we are a busy Automotive workshop in sunny B.O.P Tauranga.

Looking for a motivated full time technician to join our team, We specialize in fleet servicing all vehicle make/model repairs/wof s MTA approved all the latest workshop/equipment and diagnostic scan tools, preferable WOF authorized or able to achieve authority, possibility to grow within role.

Job type: Full Time - Contact Phone: 0275710548 Email applicants should go to: admin@automotivated.co.nz

Mechanic/WoF Inspector AUCKLAND

Busy Automotive workshop - Auckland Howick Central. Are seeking a mechanic with any experience. Contact Vlad: 021 261 2604 or email: info@somarservice.co.nz.

Diesel mechanic WYNDHAM

Enthusiastic diesel injection technician with common rail experience to join a thriving rural garage with a fully equipped diesel fuel injection facility. Generous package to reflect experience, with possibility for future investment into the business. Email: redbarron222@gmail.com or phone 0272 417 614.

Auto technician/WoF Inspector PAIHIA

Want a job by the sea? We're looking for a qualified auto technician. Great remuneration and relocation support. E: brian@boiam.co.nz or call 029 238 4088

Automotive technician PAHIATUA

We are looking for a motivated, qualified technician to join our small friendly team.

A WoF authority is preferred but not essential.

Contact Kevin at laskeysauto@xtra.co.nz. or 021 803 238.

Service advisor PAPAMOA

To ensure customers have an excellent experience, you’ll be a person who is passionate about providing outstanding customer service.

Email your CV to jobs@coastalautos.nz.

Automotive tech/WoF Inspector TE AROHA

Immediate start. Qualified or equivalent experience and WoF authority are required.

We offer excellent working conditions.

Please email CV to: service@summitmotors.co.nz or call Garth on 021 511 911.

Qualified Mechanic & WOF Inspector – WANGANUI

Experienced mechanic wanted Full Time, Monday-Friday.Fun, friendly team working in busy Rural Garage on all automotive/ farm machinery & equipment.Contact Ross 06 342 7827 or email fordellgarage@inspire.net.nz

Qualified mechanic PORIRUA

Join our busy, friendly team at Porirua Motors.

Contact Murray Phone: 04 237-4975 or directly to our workshop. Phone: 04 237-7979

Mechanic KUMEU, RODNEY

Small busy workshop seeking a mechanic with recognised qualification. WoF authority a bonus. Great communication skills and ability to work under pressure. Email Mike: admin@ manukaautomotive.co.nz.

Mechanic/WoF inspector – KAIKOHE

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Looking for a qualified automotive technician with WoF authority servicing and mechanical repairs.

Clean New Zealand driver licence.

Phone Richard 09 401 0155 or email CV to office@kaikohepanelbeaters.co.nz.

Automotive Technician WHANGAREI

This is a wonderful opportunity if you are looking for a positive change in a rural environment surrounded by a wonderful community.

Full-time or part-time considered. Please email chevaun@gasmgk.co.nz

Auto electrician WHANGAREI Bindon Auto is a specialist Auto Electrical workshop located in central. We work on a large variety of vehicles and equipment including Passenger, transport, forestry, recreational and Marine. We are a fun team of 8 with a high level of expertise. Must be Trade certified automotive electrical engineer with experience in the commercial sector. Current New Zealand Drivers license Experience with Air Conditioning an advantage.

Excellent remuneration with tool allowance and overtime paid.

Senior technician/ Foreman PAPAMOA

Work, play and enjoy life on the beach. Relocation costs may be subsidised. For a qualified, 10yrs+ experienced mechanic, we offer competitive pay.

Please send CV to jobs@coastalautos.nz.

Product Support Engineer MASTERTON

AECS Equipment and Technical Support supplies equipment and support to the Automotive Industry across NZ. We are looking for someone to grow into our technical support team. The role could be based anywhere and includes travel and flexible hours. If you want to have passion for what you do, get in touch! For more information on the role please email jodie@aecs.co.nz

Automotive Technician TE PUNA, TAURANGA

Seeking qualified mechanic for full time or job share role in busy, well established workshop.

Email Adrian, service@tepunamotors.co.nz

Qualified Mechanic TE AWAMUTU, WAIKATO

We are seeking a Qualified Mechanic with their current WOF certificate or be willing to complete a course to obtain WOF Certificate for our busy workshop in Te Awamutu.

Hours of work 8am - 5pm Monday to Friday.

The successful candidate will need to be reliable with a good work ethic and a can-do attitude, pay attention to detail and be fluent in English both written and oral.

A full NZ driving licence is essential along with a keen interest in the automotive trade. Please apply to: admin@totalautomotiveltd.co.nz

Qualified Mechanic TE AROHA

We are seeking an automotive mechanic with their WOF ticket. Job includes, WOF tests, diagnostics, assessments, repairs and servicing on a variety of vehicles. Maintaining accurate records. Ability to work independently. Must be currently living in, and legally allowed to work in New Zealand. Must have a current and full NZ driver licence. Option to be on call out roster. Contact AgPlus Ltd 28-32 Lawrence Avenue, Te Aroha, 3320. admin@agplus.co.nz 07 8849901.

Experienced Mechanic Taihape Experienced mechanic required, busy workshop, servicing, maintenance wide variety vehicles and have a great sense of humour, amazing opportunity Email cv and cover letter to Bellsdieseltruckandtractor@gmail.com Phone: 06 3880449

Automotive Technician Capital City Motors Capital City Motors is looking for a technician for

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

their flagship Ford Lower Hutt workshop site and also out in their Kapiti Coast site. The ideal candidate will be a qualified and knowledgeable mechanic with good communication and teamwork skills. You will have a proven background in servicing, maintenance repairs, diagnostics, fault finding and repairing and either have or be working towards becoming an Authorised Warrant of Fitness Inspector. Email applicants should go to: HR@capitalcitymotors.co.nz

Te Puke Cavanagh Motors Ltd Automotive Technician required for busy Te Puke Workshop. Must have a current WOF Inspectors authority, have the ability to work unsupervised, diagnose technical and electronic issues in passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, with the ability to guide and train junior technicians when called upon to do so. Applicants must be capable of adapting to servicing not only the Mitsubishi vehicles we specialise in but also the many and varied makes and models our workshop handles. If you are motivated, adaptable, professional, knowledgeable, tidy with work habits, great customer skills, holds a full and current class 1 drivers licence, no criminal convictions, and are a team player, then we would love to hear from you. English language must be Excellent. Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa. Contact Phone: 075736303Email applicants should go to: admin@cavanaghmotors.co.nz

Waipu Senior mechanic/ diagnostician We are on the hunt for an Experienced/Intermediate mechanic to carry out vehicle and Trailer WOF inspections. Service, repair work and diagnostics on all makes and models of vehicles. No two days are the same. The ideal candidate must have a WOF inspection certificate ,4 or more years experience and a level 4 Certificate in Automotive Engineering.

Adapting to paperless job cards through MechanicDesk and basic computer skills is essential; An excellent knowledge of vehicles of all makes and models, In particular, European vehicle knowledge would be beneficial. Please note: this is not a trainee or apprenticeship position. Good hours Monday to Friday 8:00 to 4:30. Car-pooling available from Whangarei. Contact Phone: 09 4320301 Email applicants should go to: accounts@waipumotors.com

Masterton CE Spray Collision Repairs Panel Beater. We are looking for an experienced and qualified panel technician who is ready to join our team of panel and paint technicians. We have a well-equipped and well laid out workshop in need of an additional team member. The successful applicant should demonstrate the following qualities: At least 3 years’ experience as a panel beater / technician. Current welding certificate.

Ability to follow repair specs. Excellent work ethic.

Friendly attitude. Good English communication skills. CE Spray is located right in the centre of Masterton, convenient to shops and cafes, with easy parking in the street. We encourage all workshop employees to take part in on-going training to maintain and advance their skill levels.

Email applicants should go to: andrew.coom@ cespray.co.nz

Automotive technician SOUTH CANTERBURY

South Canterbury Honda service centre, after hours AA roadside contractor and carry out salvaging throughout the district. Must hold a full driver’s licence, have excellent diagnostic skills, time management and be a team player. Call Alan on 027 228 9584 or email alan@vaughanmotors.co.nz

WoF Inspector NELSON

With over 30 years of experience, DS Auto Ltd is a trusted name in the Nelson automotive industry.

We are seeking a qualified and diligent WoF Inspector to join our team. Competitive hourly rate offered. For further information please contact Derryl Henman 029 2412839 or email: office@dsauto.co.nz

Automotive technician DUNEDIN

Opportunity for a qualified/experienced Automotive Technician to join our friendly team in our busy Dunedin workshop. WoF Certified preferred but would be happy to help you get qualified. Competitive remuneration. Contact Garry 0274 545 040 or email: bgapplegarth@ xtra.co.nz.

Automotive technician INVERCARGILL

New car dealership, Southland Vehicle Sales has a long term opportunity available for a qualified mechanic to join the team working on Kia and Hyundai vehicles. Please contact Mark Lee on 021 0832 3373 or mark@leerecruitment.co.nz.

Motorcycle technician NELSON

We require a qualified technician to work us in our well-established Honda dealership. The successful applicant will need to be honest and hardworking, have a clean driver’s licence, attention to detail and the ability to work with our existing staff of nine. Contact Ian on 027 221 9162.

2x Qualified Auto-Electricians TASMAN / NELSON

Our work is interesting and varied, servicing – retail, commercial and industrial clients. Work can be in our workshop or out in the field. Join our fun dynamic team! Contact Dawn on 027 432 3171 Email: sales@auto-electrical.co.nz

Auto Electrician MATAMATA

Onsite Auto Electrical Matamata are looking for a qualified auto electrician to join our team. We work on a variety of vehicles both in our workshop and onsite.Email office@ onsiteae.co.nz or 078887579

Experienced mechanic TAIHAPE

Please email us for further information bellsdieseltruckandtractor@gmail.com or call 027 332 2471

Qualified Mechanic

Mayfield Service Centre 2024 We offer Immediate start Negotiable flexible hours for the right candidate Supportive work environment to ensure success in your role! Experience in: Petrol & Diesel engines diagnostics problem solving & repairs.

Customer service and communication skills. Knowledge of safety procedures and guidelines. Commitment to continuous learning and professional growth. Vehicle inspector certificate for WOF. A valid driver’s license (full preferred). Strong Knowledge of a wide range of car makes and models. Phone: 0274367215 Email applicants should go to: ansarsahib61@ gmail.com

MAXI AUTO SERVICES LTD

Automotive technician/WOF inspector Christchurch We are looking for a qualified automotive technician wieh WoF Authority to join our small team. Diagnosing problems using diagnostic tools, carrying out WoF inspection, servicing and mechanical repairs. Great communication skills and ability to work without supervision. Full New Zealand's driver's license is essential and NZ Residency. Email CV to maxiautoservices@gmail.com

KAIAPOI AUTO ELECTRIC

Canterbury Auto Electrian Job description: We are seeking a fully qualified, full-time auto electrician to join our team. To be considered, applicants must have New Zealand residency or a valid NZ work visa and currently reside in New Zealand. The ideal candidate will have: *Experience with diagnostic equipment * A full driver's license* At least four years of experience in the trade *The ability to work unsupervised, as this role involves our mobile service covering North Canterbury In addition to technical skills, we

are looking for someone who is reliable, honest, friendly, and able to work well in a small team. If you meet these requirements, please send your CV to admin@kae.nz. Contact Phone: 0226829791.

Email applicants should go to: admin@kae.nz

Wofs,Tyres,Batteries.

P: 09 4265783 M:021 022 45219.

E: orewa.auto2016@gmail.com

Akaroa Motor Garage Limited

Modern 360m building, fully kitted out. Quality offices, spacious workshop, lengthy and profitable business history. Located on the main street of Weston, top-notch work environment.

Asking $265,000 Plus GST (if any). Business only.

Contact Tony 027 435 5275 or Sam 022 062 9782.

Automotive Technician We are a small team in a busy, rural but wellequipped workshop. We work on a wide range of vehicles, equipment and marine of all ages so experience in a variety of these areas is a huge advantage. You will preferably have your WOF authority but, if not, a willingness and eligibility to get it is essential. You will: - Have previous experience working in a workshop environment - Thrive on a challenge and enjoy problem and have a current, full, clean drivers license. Be a New Zealand resident or citizen or hold a current NZ work Visa.

Qualifications preferred but not essential – proof of 5 or more years' fulltime experience in an automotive workshop is required. A competitive hourly rate based on skills and experience - $28 - $34 per hour Full time role - minimum of 30 hours per week.

Contact Phone: 021439834 Email applicants should go to: akaroamotorgarage@ xtra.co.nz

Canterbury Kaiapoi Auto Electric Auto Electrian. Job description: We are seeking a fully qualified, full-time auto electrician to join our team. To be considered, applicants must have New Zealand residency or a valid NZ work visa and currently reside in New Zealand. The ideal candidate will have: * Experience with diagnostic equipment * A full driver's license * At least four years of experience in the trade * The ability to work unsupervised, as this role involves our mobile service covering North Canterbury In addition to technical skills, we are looking for someone who is reliable, honest, friendly, and able to work well in a small team. If you meet these requirements, please send your CV to admin@kae.nz. Contact Phone: 0226829791 Email applicants should go to: admin@kae.nz

Greymouth Doug Thomson Mechanical Ltd Heavy Diesel Automotive Technician We are looking for someone with the following qualities: -Have a broad range of knowledge with servicing and repairs to most heavy vehicles - Be able to complete tasks to a high standard in a timely manner - Be confident with a scan tool or be open to learning - A solid work ethic, reliable and punctual -Self motivated and the ability to work unsupervised - A full drivers license including Classes 2-5 or the ability to gain them. - Looking for a qualified or nearly qualified heavy diesel automotive technician Contact Phone: 027 361 7570 Email applicants should go to: office@dtmechanical. co.nz

Businesses for sale Automotive Workshop/Service Station – Tasman

Situated in Mapua in the middle of the Tasman Bay. Lots of opportunity to grow an already very busy business. All equipment has been replaced over recent years. 20k invested this year alone. AA roadside contractor. Owner prepared to assist with transition. For information call Chris 021 540 286 or email chris.perrysauto@gmail.com.

Automatic Transmission Specialist – NEW PLYMOUTH Current owner for 40 years. A very successful family business now for sale so owners can retire.

Automatic transmission repairs, Power steering and general servicing and repairs. Currently working out of two workshops with the capability of reducing to one. SAM computer system and Excel run through the accountant. All hoists, specialist tools.

Grant: 0275 320 611 Email: automatics@xtra.co.nz

Automotive Workshop NORTHSHORE (OREWA)

Retirement Looms. Prime location/Long established business. 3 Bays 2x2 post Hoist, 1x4 post Hoist

Ludemann Motors WESTON,2 OAMARU

Petersen Motors 2024 Limited Qualified Technician

We are seeking a qualified technician to join our team. this will be a full-time position. WoF ticket certification is a bonus but not necessary, so long as the applicant is capable and willing to get it. Email applicants should send their CV to: p.motors2024@ gmail.com

Trentham Mechanical & Tyres Mechanic

Full + part-time positions available at busy Upper Hutt workshop. Applicants will need to be mechanically qualified, preferably with AVI authority (but not essential). We are looking for team members capable of mechanical & auto-electrical repairs, tyre fitting, etc, with a positive, enthusiastic attitude who can work in a team & also independently. For more information email tmt.trentham@gmail.com or call Jason on 021 1610838. Contact Phone: 0211610838 Email applicants should go to: tmt.trentham@gmail. com

Cromwell Auto Centre 2005 Ltd CENTRAL OTAGO Experienced mechanic required for busy, modern, warm workshop. Full time position Applicants will require: Relevant Trade qualification, or 5 years trade experience, WOF authority an advantage.

Ability to Detect, diagnose and repair faults, have experience or the ability to work on all makes and models both cars and 4x4’s.

Have a full NZ drivers licence (minimum class 1). Please forward applications to Chris Coudret Manager Cromwell Auto Centre (2005) Ltd 1 Chardonnay Street, Cromwell or email admin@ cromwellauto.co.nz Contact Phone: 034451494 or 0272813637 Email: admin@cromwellauto.co.nz

Motueka Auto Electrician Burnett Auto Electrical, Motueka's longest established Auto Electrical workshop, is seeking a fully qualified auto electrician or 3rd year apprentice to join our busy team.

Between $35 and upwards 40hour work weeks with overtime opportunities (overtime rates apply).

A company vehicle will be offered to suitable applicant.

Responsibilities will be diagnosing and repairing electrical faults and computer-controlled systems used in automotive technology such as private, commercial, and industrial vehicles.

Contact Phone: 035289218 Email applicants should go to: admin@burnett.nz

Services

VIRM In-Service Certification Questionnaire pack

Training resource for prospective and current VIs. 14 questionnaires, marking and certificate of completion.

Contact Fliss, Business Systems Sorted.

Phone: 022 151 1243.

Email: fliss@businesssystemssorted.co.nz. www.businesssystemssorted.co.nz.

Need some help?

Simple, personalised H&S system, documented policies and procedures, hazsub inventories and office optimisation service - clearing the clutter!

Contact Fliss, Business Systems Sorted 022 151 1243.

Email: fliss@businesssystemssorted.co.nz. www.businesssystemssorted.co.nz.

Radiator Magazine - April 2025

59

New Sth Island Branch Open 40 Brisbane St Sydenham Christchurch 8023 03 222 2457 for the biggest range of specialist auto tools

Don’t have the tools for that tricky repair?

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Efficiency Technologies Friction Parts Drive Solutons for Cars

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Choose between: $1000 MTA Fuel Voucher or $1000 ChargeNet Credit

Subscribe at autocar.co.nz or call us on 0800 692 782

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Radiator Magazine - April 2025

61

The region executive committees meet approximately every six weeks and all MTA members are most welcome to attend.

The more you get involved, the more you can benefit from membership. Just contact your coordinator or region chair to check the dates of the meetings in your region.

KAIMAI

NORTHERN REGION

Amy Lai

Region Coordinator 021 292 7652 amy.lai@mta.org.nz

Rachel Beattie

Region Chair 027 496 6275 rachel@neighbourhood mechanic.co.nz

EASTLAND Kim Preston

Regional Events Coordinator Team Leader 027 280 0707 kim.preston@mta.org.nz

Jason Land

Region Chair 0274 452 635 jason@collinsauto.co.nz

CENTRAL WEST

Natalie Campbell

COOK STRAIT

2025 MTA Board of Directors: Andrea Andrew, Jason Land, Grant Woolford, Sturrock Saunders (President), Ross Verry, Rob Braun, Joris Sanders.

Natalie Campbell

UPPER NORTH ISLAND

CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND

Region Coordinator 021 414 665 natalie.campbell@mta.org.nz

James Candish Region Chair 027 226 3053 jc@vva.co.nz

Shannon Morbey

Region Coordinator 021 031 0075 shannon.morbey@mta.org.nz

MIKE BURD

MEMBERSHIP ADVISORS

Team Leader

027 2099 494 nick.mills@mta.org.nz

SOUTH AUCKLAND

LOWER SOUTH ISLAND

Jody Worsfold

Region Coordinator 021 152 8232 jody.worsfold@mta.org.nz

SHELLEY CARTER MARK MOWBRAY

027 270 2665 mark.mowbray@mta.org.nz

LOWER NORTH ISLAND & UPPER SOUTH ISLAND DANNY GARRICK 027 478 0593

027 497 1568

shelley.carter@mta.org.nz

Alex Bilton

Region Chair 027 261 6487 biltonnz@gmail.com

COAST TO COAST

NICK MILLS

027 539 4010 mike.burd@mta.org.nz

Kelly Stephens

Region Chair Region Coordinator 027 366 0050 021 414 665 natalie.campbell@mta.org.nz kstephens@hbtoyota.co.nz

SOUTHERN MAINLAND

Dave Boot

Region Chair 0275 768007 www.evcity.kiwi

AORAKI EAST COAST

MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT Member support team: 0800 00 11 44 mta@mta.org.nz

Katrina Garrett

Region Coordinator 021 225 5528 katrina.garrett@mta.org.nz

Leslie Baxter

Region Chair 03 208 1234 leslie@carnabycars.co.nz

Jody Worsfold

Region Coordinator 021 152 8232 jody.worsfold@mta.org.nz

Simon Watkins

Region Chair 03 615 6363 simon@tntae.co.nz

danny.garrick@mta.org.nz

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REGIONAL CONTACTS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2025

We encourage all members to attend the training courses, professional development opportunities or networking events taking place in their areas. Our region coordinators will let you know what’s on and when. They are also keen to hear your ideas for other training or get-togethers that you’d like to take part in.

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