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Arthur Burkes’s John Veale (left) and Tim McCracken with the new JAC ute at the Amuri A&P Show. Claire Inkson Chinese-built utes are gaining momentum in the New Zealand market, offering buyers a new value-driven option and beginning to reshape a segment long dominated by familiar brands. At Arthur Burke Ltd, which has its main branch in Amberley and a second workshop in Waikari, sales manager Tim McCracken says interest in the JAC T9 has been strong, particularly among tradie

Record crowds gathered at the 2026 Methven machinery auction, much to the delight of organiser Alastair Clemens. There’s no gavel in sight. Just an auctioneer with a keen eye, and a clipboard to bang. But auction day was a huge success for the Methven Lions Club, who hit record numbers at the Methven Machinery Auction on Friday, May 15. With 224 lots on offer, the annual machinery auction has continued to grow in popularity, after beginning in 2024 with just 90 lots up for sa

Alastair Malcolm stepped into the role of branch manager at Diesel Tech Fernside earlier this year, bringing nearly a decade of machinery industry experience and a strong focus on supporting North Canterbury farmers with reliable service and specialised equipment. A new chapter is underway at Diesel Tech’s Fernside branch, with Alastair Malcolm stepping into the role of branch manager earlier this year. Malcolm officially took up the position on January 5, bringing with him n

The team at South Canterbury Toyota celebrate the dealership’s fifth President’s Trophy win, a national record for Toyota stores in New Zealand. Supplied Consistency might not sound glamorous, but for South Canterbury and Ashburton Toyota it’s proving to be a winning formula. The dealerships have just taken out Toyota New Zealand’s prestigious President’s Trophy for the second year running - and for a record fifth time overall. For CEO Mark Patterson, the achievement reflects

Ella Gorton with the new Ford Ranger Super Duty at the Wanaka A&P Show. Photo Claire Inkson With fuel prices climbing and global uncertainty starting to filter through to everyday decisions, the conversation around what people drive is shifting again. Petrol, diesel, hybrid - buyers are weighing it all up. At Macaulay Motors in Queenstown, Ella Gorton is having those conversations daily. There is interest in plug-in hybrids, she says, but for many South Island drivers - parti

Farmers and transport operators say rising fuel prices are already reshaping decisions on the ground, with pressure building across the entire rural supply chain. Uncertainty is the word coming through loudest from rural New Zealand as fuel prices climb sharply off the back of the Iran conflict. Mid Canterbury farmer and Federated Farmers arable chairperson David Birkett says the impact is immediate - and far-reaching. “The vibe is uncertainty -everyone knows that fuel affe

It had been a long time coming for me to finally get behind the wheel of a Ford Ranger Stormtrak PHEV. Back in September 2023, I attended a media briefing ahead of Ford publicly announcing that it would be bringing an electrified version of the new-generation Ranger to market. At the time, this was a big deal. There were no electric options in the ute segment, let alone a plug-in hybrid that promised versatility without sacrificing the qualities that make a ute useful — namel

WHEN 11–13 February 2026 TIME: 9am to 5pm Each day WHERE: Waimumu, Gor e, 12km from Gore. 575 Waimumu Road, Gore 9774 TICKETS: Adults: $25 Children under 16: Free Students with valid student ID: Free What’s On Exhibitors Over 700 exhibitors showcasing the latest in rural technology, machinery and innovation from New Zealand and overseas. Competitions and Live Action • CablePrice Regional Excavator Operator Competition • TPNZ Tractor Pull featuring four classes • Speed Shea

Angel Nobel, with sons Charlie (left) age 18 months and Archie (four), launched Little Rides in May after attending a charity gala focused on encouraging young people into trades. Supplied. Children from Ashburton to Ashley can now enjoy a ride-on experience they will never forget, thanks to a new Canterbury business that uses digger hire to fund free rides for children who might otherwise miss out. Little Rides, launched in May by Christchurch mother and banking professional

A competition for the “biggest splash” added to the fun of the event. Supplied Images courtesy of Velocity Photography When Darfield’s Emma Burke heard someone mention the term “passenger princess,” she didn’t laugh it off. Instead, it sparked an idea that would see women from across Canterbury stepping up, taking control, and learning practical skills behind the wheel. “The words passenger princess were used, and I went ‘what?’” Emma said. “Our boys are very involved with t

When Springfield engineer Andrew Gillies decided to step back into machinery design, he knew exactly what he wanted to build: a drill tough enough for New Zealand terrain and smart enough to meet the needs of modern farmers. “I used to build drills for another company, and later I hired out agricultural equipment, including seed drills,” Gillies explains. A dealer told Gillies they had lost their agent and asked if he had ever thought about building a drill – and for Gillies,

Back-country pest control boss on the trucks that keep his crews safe and the systems behind them.

Hanzon supports learning on the farm, an approach that appeals to students who have a more practical mindset and learn better on the job...