How often should I service my vehicle?
If your vehicle is still under warranty, the service history booklet will inform you of how often and when your vehicle should be serviced. If it is a new vehicle this is usually done by the Dealership it was purchased from.
For vehicles out of warranty or vehicles that have a used vehicle warranty, servicing should be once a year minimum.
In general, however, you should have your vehicle serviced every 10,000km or 6 months, whichever comes first. This should be carried out by a reputable repair & service automotive workshop to eliminate short cuts in quality and materials supplied.
The engine is the most important and often the most expensive part of your vehicle to repair. By keeping your engine free of varnish, sludge and other contaminants will improve performance and prolong engine life.
No single step will help an engine last more than regular 'servicing'. Conversely, nothing will destroy an engine faster than neglecting regular 'engine servicing'.
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Poll: Would you help your kids out with buying a home?
OPINION: Over the past year, I’ve had the same conversation with many Waikato families again and again.
A child has found a house. The market feels like it’s moving. There’s pressure to act quickly. And before anyone has really had time to think it through, parents are being asked to step in with cash, guarantees, or equity from their own home.
Would you help your kids out with buying a home? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
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0% I already have.
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100% Yes.
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0% No
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