We’re back after an Easter Weekend like no other, having attended Wheels at Wānaka 2025. You may have heard by now that the show broke records all round, with more than 65,000 visitors attending over the weekend, 5000 vehicles on show and – in celebration of Caterpillar turning 100 – a world record of 242 Caterpillar machines in a parade.

First off, well done to Allan Dippie, Annabel Roy and the whole organising team for what was undoubtedly the biggest and best Wheels at Wānaka. And more so, thank you sincerely for the event you created; something wholeheartedly unique that could only come to life and reach the heights it did with such a passionate and dedicated team driving it. Each one was better than the last, and it’s indeed sad to see it end.

What a high to end on, though. To say there was something for everyone borders on understatement. Heavy machinery, trucks, bikes, cars, steam engines, racing machines, leisure machines, vintage, modern … it was all there. It’s hard to convey what a great show it was this year – luckily, I have a few weeks in hand to write the report for the June issue of the magazine! Sure, the weather was less than ideal, but though we were saturated to the skin by the time we’d packed up on Sunday, we left Three Parks on a high.

The trucking industry’s representation was utterly resplendent, and it was great for the team to catch up with old friends over the weekend. Head over to our Facebook page to catch some highlights, and we’ll have a full show video up in the coming weeks.

Come to think of it, 2025 has been an outstanding year for truck shows. Almost all the shows we’ve attended around the country in summer 2024/2025 have blown us away with their organisation, industry representation and visitor participation. There’s pretty much just the Gore Truck Show (31 May) left before winter settles in and things kick off again in spring, and we have no doubt Gore will be another cracker of a show.

So, once again, thank you to the Wheels at Wānaka team, to all the other show organisers around the country, and to the awesome members of the New Zealand trucking industry for the time, effort and passion you put into making each show a success in its own right.

What a grand party to be a part of.

Take care out there,

Gavin Myers
Editor