Ever since Cameron Spooner was a child he loved diggers and trucks. At just 22, he bought Ohakune Automotive.

There was a lot to catch up on when around 30 former Hamilton MTA members and their partners met for a reunion recently.

An online cloud-based system - HSE Connect can help small businesses manage Health and Safety, plus it's been designed specifically for workshops, dealerships and service stations.

Economist Tony Alexander shares some knowledge on the economic impact of the Covid-19 lockdown

Nicholson United Autos, with its sites in Whakatane, Morrinsville and Rotorua, is celebrating 40 years of Nicholson family ownership

Princess Diana, comedic actor Rowan Atkinson and a 95-year-old Dennis fire engine all have direct connections to Opunake MTA member Nigel Fraser

IAG’s East Tamaki Repairhub has repaired over 2,000 vehicles since it opened in November last year. It concentrates on non-structural repairs which are completed, on average, within three days.

Happers Honda has a new building, but the site still marks three generations of family history and their passion for motorbikes.

At Methven Motors there’s a ‘work hard, play hard’ atmosphere. Pet projects and passions are supported and the staff and business are an active part of the small rural community.

South Auckland repairer Milan Motors recently joined MTA and its owners are keen to merge the benefits of the brand with their own community ethos.

Moving high-end cars around Auckland discreetly and safely is the specialty service provided by Exotic Towing.

A strange thing happened after lockdown – sales of new and imported used motorcycles rocketed.

Post Covid-19 lockdown dealerships report better-than-expected sales. But many are holding their breath to see whether earlier dire predictions may still come true later in the year.

Pat Prescott Ltd moves into its third generation of family ownership with grandson Ryan at the wheel.

An accountant for motor trade businesses across the country, Peter Morton, gives his view of what is being seen in the books, post lockdown.

MTA's Radiator magazine has been printed continuously for a century, making it one of the oldest publications in New Zealand.

The Cooke Howlison dealership in Dunedin has been selling cars for 125 years and a member of MTA since it started.

MTA Chief Executive Craig Pomare marks the milestone reached by Radiator magazine at a time when the Covid19 pandemic disrupts the print run, and the national economy.

The success of the Americana car festival in Taranaki has helped fuel the local sales of the Ford Mustang - something Energy City Ford has been happy to supply.

The family behind Motorcycle HQ in Pahiatua are specialists in side car racing as well as selling bikes.

General Motors is closing down its Holden operations in Australasia creating a churn in the franchise dealer world and uncertainty for some.

There’s growing overseas evidence that a large proportion of PHEV drivers rely heavily on fuel and seldom charge their vehicles.

Central Taranaki Automotive took out three of the top awards at the recent TSB Taranaki Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards.

Braydon Hopping loves a challenge. He’s building a reputation in and around Marton for being the go-to guy for tricky auto electrical, or 12-volt problems.

Magan Motors in Christchurch is a true family business, with three generations on the tools and working in the same workshop founded by patriarch Allan Jackson.

The first of the 30 apprentices funded by MTA centenary scholarships are now graduating and taking up their new roles

Metal recyclers who extract the metal from car carcasses are worried increases to landfill fees may make the process economically and environmentally unsustainable.

Christchurch firm, Hammonds Collision & Mechanical, have found ways to compete in a market which now includes competition from insurance company owned repairers.

Workshops are increasingly worried about their environmental footprint and try to recycle or dispose of products iin sustainable ways where they can. Extracting the oil from used filters and recycling the containers can be done through a variety of outlets.

Tyres look set to become the first product to be subjected to a controlled product stewardship scheme in New Zealand. MTA raises the possibility of introducing a compulsory scheme for all parts of a car.

Dunedin's Emma Gilmour combines a passion for motorsport with a successful Suzuki dealership.

NZ will benefit from the technology being developed for autonomous vehicles, but is decades away from being ready for the actual vehicles.

Over the past year, the number of fuel drive offs has soared and service stations are working harder to stop the thieves.

Collision repair members are concerned by IAG's announcement it is to open its own rapid repair centre in Auckland later this year.

MTA looks into IAG's planned rapid repair centre, announces a free nationwide counselling service for members and offers access to the wider benefits of Our Auto information repair service.

Two Carterton members are joined by their commitment to the local volunteer fire brigade and their adjoining businesses. One, Bryan Styles, has recently been awarded a QSM for his work with fire and emergency services.

Aucklander Alain Brideson teams up with Swiss-based mobility futurists Rinspeed to create a possibility for delivery and passenger services.

Mechanic/office admin/Vehicle Inspector/house and pet sitter, available for one or two weeks relief work at MTA member workshops.

This month's overview of MTA highlights, including our response to the mass murders in two Christchurch mosques.

This new company sells used imported EVs and is a big believer is sustainability. All it's vehicles are electric, including the dealership's vacuum cleaner and floor polisher.

It's been a year of challenge and change for this busy dealership, with a refurbishment, rocketing hybrid sales, and a change in sales model.

There's tight scrutiny on businesses these days, with health and safety, NZTA and a host of other agencies all wanting to see your paperwork. Here's a few people who can help.

Over 30 would-be apprentices are now ready to start work through the new MTA-ATNZ group apprenticeship programme.

MTA Independent Director Mark Darrow steps down but remains with the auto sector.

Toyota has just completed a massive extension to it's national parts warehouse and now begins strengthening the rest of the building.