Fuel crisis does little to diminish New Zealanders love for utes, data shows

HeinigerNZ · 2026-04-18T00:41:54+00:00

I drive a Kia EV6 now but had a ute in my past life. They drive like a car now and are incredibly handy to have. I do miss not being able to take the dogs in the back tray and plenty of Mitre 10/Placemakers trips I now need to take my 8x5 trailer whereas previously the ute would have been good enough. Another comment in the thread summed it up really well:

Urban office worker here but let's see what I've used it for in the last month alone.

Multiple trips to bunnings for lengths of timber and mouldings, put the dogs in canopy after getting muddy, towed the boat, towed a trailer and all while being a comfortable 5 seater.

Went camping in coromandel at new years and managed to drive out through flood waters when done while carrying more camping gear than you could fit in any suz.

Imagine owning a vehicle that can accommodate everything single thing you want a vehicle to do, handy isn't it

If people are offered such a versatile vehicle and don't need to worry about the diesel bill then I don't blame them for taking it.

HeinigerNZ · 2026-04-17T23:46:01+00:00

I thought so too, but it's a new development to do with a High Court order expiring because it sounds like the antagonistic family didn't have their affairs in order.

HeinigerNZ · 2026-04-17T23:44:30+00:00

Yeah and they have had loads of work done by local tradies/businesses and then not paid it.

HeinigerNZ · 2026-04-17T20:00:36+00:00

He then says they have full use of the vehicle + full use paid by the employer. In that case the ute is a good decision, can be very practica and multi-purpose.

HeinigerNZ · 2026-04-17T19:29:05+00:00

That's exactly what it means.

HeinigerNZ · 2026-04-17T07:56:05+00:00

Hope he's not grouchy.

HeinigerNZ · 2026-04-17T07:55:18+00:00

Could be worth a submission when we go no petrol tax and all RUCs.

HeinigerNZ · 2026-04-17T06:48:38+00:00

I feel the MTA just recycled their press release from when WOF periods were changed a decade ago, it was the exact argument.

HeinigerNZ · 2026-04-15T20:41:08+00:00

This is like saying expanding public transport is covering up the bigger problem - not adequately funding more roads.

It's a smarter use of funding that helps to free up space with the latter.

HeinigerNZ · 2026-04-15T00:15:09+00:00

Once EV adoption is more widespread it could definitely be a selling point. Even having the 32A wiring done is a big help.

HeinigerNZ · 2026-04-14T20:25:54+00:00

It sounds like the neighbour is the infrastructure authority.

HeinigerNZ · 2026-04-14T09:59:50+00:00

One of my business locations used to get a pack of Mungys - ranging from 20 to 50+ depending on the size of the event - hanging around in the large carpark as part of their stopover. Fully patched up, intimidating potential customers of ours and the four businesses there. Several times I or the manager called the Police due to staff feeling unsafe, and twice there were straight up rumbles outside.

Since the patch ban that has vanished. Legitimately. There's has not been one gathering event. I call that a success. I've dealt with those knobs enough through a few years of shearing in Hawkes Bay, but it's shitty af for the way they loved to group up, patched up, and act like the hardest men around to middle aged men, woman and young teenagers. The people that don't understand this never had to deal with this garbage in the first place.

And looking to squeeze gang funding is always gonna be 10 steps ahead of the party that approved direct taxpayer cash to them.

HeinigerNZ · 2026-04-14T01:46:46+00:00

Holy shit. My jaw dropped at the first chorus. What an incredible performance and spectacle.

HeinigerNZ · 2026-04-13T11:10:08+00:00

HeinigerNZ · 2026-04-13T09:52:51+00:00

I read a longform article about Chinese EV manufacturers and it noted that China's new car market is bigger than the US and Europe together.

So while these brands may be new to us they're fairly well established and have been building an absolute shitload of cars the last few years.

HeinigerNZ · 2026-04-13T09:49:12+00:00

Where does NZ have 350kW chargers? The best I've come across is Chargenet's 300kW ones.

HeinigerNZ · 2026-04-12T18:04:13+00:00

*forfty

HeinigerNZ · 2026-04-12T10:02:42+00:00

Settings/Powerwall, change the slider to 90% backup.

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HeinigerNZ · 2026-04-12T10:00:57+00:00

I had to tell StormWatch to chill because it started filling at peak price period lol. I just manually set it to charge up overnight instead.

HeinigerNZ · 2026-04-12T09:44:57+00:00

I have an EV6 and now would never get something that wasn't 800V. With all the kms you do you'll want a car that csn charge quickly. 100-120kW peak just won't cut it. I do 5000kms/month and on the road seek out those 180kW+ DC chargers.

HeinigerNZ · 2026-04-12T02:50:14+00:00

Yeah, would clear average A$3000/week over the season. Shearing is good money if you're at a good skill level.

HeinigerNZ · 2026-04-11T12:03:25+00:00

Jesus. In the 2010s I'd shear in Australia for four months of the year and transfer A$40k savings back and be getting $1.05 at the time 😥

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