On the Road: The Car in New Zealand (book)
On the Road: The Car in New Zealand
Graham Hawkes
GP Books, 1990. Hardback, 160 pages, illustrated.
Inscription inside in pen. Also light foxing on title page, otherwise excellent condition.
Traditionally near the peak of car-owning nations, New Zealand has made the car an institution, ensnaring almost every aspect of our lives. It has literally shaped our environment and affected our architecture and our fashions.
The early Fords, Buicks and Pontiacs of the 1920s - the Vauxhalls and still more Fords of the 1930s and 40s. To the 1950s and the Vauxhall Wyvern and the Velox, the Morris Minor, a string of Holdens and what some consider to be the apogee of motoring in this country - the Mk I and Mk II Zephyrs. This book chronicles these cars and the eras in which they were driven, showing the magic appeal of the best of them, and noting how others missed the peculiar quality to evoke nostalgia and happy memories.
Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬
Make a hearty dish. Take just half a minute. Add four parts of kestrel. Then just add one. What have you made?
(Trev from Silverdale kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Trev!)
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
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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: Are you a Te Huia fan?
All three Hamilton MPs appear to be united behind the retention of the Te Huia passenger rail service between Hamilton and Auckland, as well as potentially expanding it to Tauranga.
But whether Hamilton East’s Ryan Hamilton, Hamilton West’s Tama Potaka and soon-to-be Labour list MP Georgie Dansey have the combined power to shunt transport minister Chris Bishop and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon onto their line of thinking remains to be seen.
Are you a Te Huia fan? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
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80.9% Yes
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19.1% No
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