Honouring Hino’s Fifty Years of Heritage

Honouring Hino’s Fifty Years of Heritage

Hino Distributors (NZ) Ltd will cap off a year of celebrations with a special dinner on 14 November, at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland. The truck brand has been recognising fifty successful years on New Zealand’s roads, while also becoming the leader in the heavy-duty market (over 23,001kg GVM), selling the brand’s most units per annum since Hino was first introduced into the country.

In 1964 two completely knocked down Hino kits were imported into New Zealand, assembled in Auckland and then sold to logging companies in Rotorua. The bonneted ZM901 6x4 195hp diesel trucks were the first of more than 15,000 that have since spanned Hino NZ’s half-century.

Guests on Friday night, including Hino Motors Japan and Hino Australia representatives and host Dai Henwood, will be greeted by a specially skinned Euro 5 SH 700 series and one of the very first Hino’s - a ZM120, which has been completely refurbished this year.

The SH was part of Hino’s 50 years’ anniversary roadshow, calling into seven North Island and four South Island locations throughout the year. In each town events were held to thank valued Hino customers in person.

During the journey Hino called for nominations, where winning children were delivered to school in the anniversary truck. A live odometer competition also called on the public to guess the truck’s odometer reading by the end of October. Auckland’s Garth Lecky was closest with a guess of 5724kms, just 4kms difference from the final 5720km reading, winning Garth a mystery weekend for two.

Lead by Hino’s National Sales Manager, Graham McNabb, the ZM’s rebuild was undertaken by Allmotive Ltd. Non-stop work over five months, ensured the 6 cylinder, 195hp diesel was completed for the 50 Years celebrations. In its heyday the Hino was used by Cashmore Bros for carting logs from forests in Woodhill and Kaukapakapa to the sawmill in Silverdale. Once milled, the truck then transported the timber to Newmarket for sale.

A specially commissioned book has also been produced to mark fifty years of Hino in New Zealand. Compiled by Graeme Carter, Hino Trucks – Driven in New Zealand for Fifty Years showcases Hino NZ’s story through images of trucks old and new.

Ray Roberts, Hino Distributors NZ’s General Manager, says acknowledging Hino’s customers and industry partners had been an important consideration for the year’s activities. “Truck owners are typically brand loyal, we are fortunate to have many, from a wide range of industries, that purchase Hino trucks over and over again.” As well as the roadshow events and competitions, a particular highlight was handing the keys to Hino’s 15,000th unit over to Dave Hoskin Carriers Ltd in September.

The dinner is a really nice way to cap off an incredibly busy year, with those who have helped make Hino Trucks a significant driving force in New Zealand’s transport industry,” says Mr Roberts. “Hino is committed to delivering a better class of truck, this is evident in our 2014 full complement of Euro 5 300, 500 and 700 series. Fifty years is just the beginning.”

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