New Zealand Car Culture

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Article by: Liam Roberts
Photos by: Jack Marks

New Zealand is home to many of the heroes of the Japanese Domestic Market. With little locally assembled cars as reputable as your Nana’s Toyota Corolla, New Zealand’s car enthusiasts have looked across the shores in search of their perfect ride. Car culture in New Zealand is founded from a traditionally ‘do-it-yourself’ nation, with backyard spanner spinning a part of any petrol head’s weekend or alternative night out.

Relaxed import laws has meant that an influx of weird and wonderful JDM rides have made their way to New Zealand’s doorstep, and many idolised automotive legends such as the Nissan Skyline GTR have a legacy in this tiny nation in the corner of the world. Like myself and many other young Kiwis’, the posters of a New Zealand Performance Car Magazine lined our bedroom walls, as well as an array of – what would now be considered ‘riced out’ - Hot Wheels toys. The impact of the Fast and Furious franchise has well and truly influenced New Zealand’s car culture. And yet in the modern day, our little nation has changed the mould for project builds and showcased them to the world.

As young petrol head’s, our quest to be noticed on the streets emerged from humble beginnings. Whether your first ride was your brother’s hand-me-down Hyundai Elantra, or –in my case- a Nana-spec Subaru Impreza with less go than a late-model electric hairdryer, it would seem that we all had a passion to be a part of a community – to stand out. Without the big budgets of cars found pinned to the inside of our lockers, we pushed for modest street cred made achievable through our means as high school students. Working late night shifts at minimum wage jobs, it was the little mods which made my passion for car culture – and my infamously slow Subaru – grow. It didn’t matter what difference a subtle front lip or shift knob made to anyone else, it was the little things which count, and meant the most to me. That is what car culture here is all about. The recognition by way of a nod at the lights from a fellow tuner, or getting to know a complete stranger amidst a car meet in the middle of Auckland City.

New Zealand car culture embodies many of the aspects of the automotive scene of Japan and throughout. Although we are more than nine thousand kilometres apart, we all share the passion of automotive art. Japanese influences may take years to bridge the gap of the Pacific, yet unique automotive trends of both New Zealand and Japan can be ultimately derived from the desire to break away from the cookie cutter car manufactured for the masses. The common desire to be different in a community not understood by the outside world, allows for personality to be expressed through each person’s pride and joy.

The variety of cars found in New Zealand may be unlike that of any other place in the world. In a country which doesn’t test for smog or emissions as in the United States, cars are able to be modified to a reasonable degree, with drivers held back only by the restrictions a LVVTA Certification. Stance, function, rally and even ‘AutoZone special’ builds (Supercheap Auto in New Zealand) are areas of car culture which are being explored all over the country. Like many other areas of the world, New Zealander’s are victims of drift tax, something which has plagued many young tire kickers in their bid to build an affordable street car. The Nissan 240SX (or 180SX in New Zealand), is not as disposable as they are in the United States, with clean, automatic examples fetching upwards of $13,000NZD – enough to reduce a man to tears. Alternatively, those looking at getting behind the wheel of something credible are forced to explore the plethora of alternative cars which the nation has to offer, modifying them in unique ways to achieve notoriety with little to no funds. Basic commodities of survival are often neglected in order to fund parts necessary to progress one’s build just that little bit further. Desperately living on Ramen noodles and making rent payments by the skin of your teeth to afford that Mishimoto radiator for your s-body; often a common occurrence in the life of a young car enthusiast.

With what appears to be a car scene weighted towards the Japanese market, there is still a heavily prevalent European car community in The Land of the Long White Cloud. Some of the largest cult followings of European built cars can be found in New Zealand, with dedicated clubs and events held throughout the calendar year. Users are brought together by social networking and a communal interest between a man (or woman) and their ride. Kiwi-made car films are often testament to New Zealand’s reputation for scenic landscapes and sweeping roads found all over the country. YouTuber’s such as TheSmokingTire conveyed New Zealand’s beauty through their showcasing of shed-built motoring marvels and appreciation for the blood, sweat and tears which have been poured into so many of our own performance cars.

New Zealand’s car culture is derived from the curiosity of the typical Kiwi, inclined to tinker with the vehicles of all shapes and sizes which grace the garages in this tiny nation in the corner of the world. Automotive skills and a passion for all things ‘four wheels’ are nurtured through the vast array of grassroots events held with the intention of bettering the nation’s petrol head protégés. In a relatively non-brand specific society, members of the New Zealand car community appreciate the uniqueness of cars regardless of origin or build intention. As long as the boundaries of coilover suspension and functional aero are pushed, New Zealander’s continue to cater to the flourishing local car scene. New Zealand has achieved mainstream recognition for the availability of cars in the nation; from unique JDM rides to the infamous British-built Ford Escort. Car culture in New Zealand appears to uphold its own level of integrity, and in my books, is one of the most rewarding communities to be a part of. We belong to a community of people both young and old, who share a passion for all things automotive; and whose veins flow with pure E85. New Zealand car culture cannot only be defined by the cars which roam our streets, but by the people who drive them.