As we head into winter we all need to keep an eye on our driving and our car's maintenance. Here are 10 tips for ensuring you are driving as safely as possible this winter.   1. New Zealand can become very wet during the winter months and it’s important to note that following distances need to be increased. In adverse conditions you will need to rely on your good judgment as the roads become slippery, reducing the friction from the tyres. This can become particularly dangerous when driving around corners and braking and accelerating; take extra care and avoid jabbing the br ..read more

For years, tolls to reduce demand for our increasingly jammed roads have been mooted, but so far have come to naught. But congestion charging talks are back on the table for two of the country’s economic hubs – Auckland, where over a quarter of New Zealand’s population lives, and Tauranga, home to New Zealand’s biggest port.   Last year Auckland Council voted to develop a ‘time of use charging’ system, where motorists would be charged during peak hours on routes into the central city. ​If agreement can be reached with central government, the toll could be in place as early as 2025 or ..read more

Finding the right used car for you can be overwhelming, however the good news is that the AA is here to help. So if you do find yourself in the market for a good used car, make sure to check out our picks below to help steer you in the right direction.  Best first car: Mazda Demio/Mazda 2 You want your first car to tick the budget friendly, reliable, and economical boxes. The third generation (2007 onwards), Mazda Demio or Mazda 2 manages to ticks all of these. Some early models run a 1500cc engine, with the facelift version from 2011 onwards having Mazda’s 1300cc SkyActive system, w ..read more

Deciding to take my dog on this road trip was easy. I’d felt so bad leaving him behind last time, I spent much of the trip checking for updates from the boarding kennel. Yes, I’m one of those dog people. So, this time he came too, joining us on a classic Coromandel roadie. Our route was made a little longer by road closures: the Kopu-Hikuai (25A), and the Tapu to Coroglen routes both being taken out by storm damage last summer. All going to plan, 25A will be open by now, but we enjoyed the longer route – it presented more variety and exposed us to new places. Leaving Auckland after the evening ..read more

With Easter around the corner, New Zealand families are preparing to holiday in their own backyard, opting for long-weekend road trips. As always vehicle safety should come first, and while AA Roadservice is there for you in the event your vehicle does break down, you also want to avoid a break down altogether if possible. Here are some simple checks that you can easily do before heading off on your road trip:  1. Tyres During a Warrant of Fitness (WoF) inspection, tyres are one of the most obvious areas of neglect, as there’s greater opportunity for them to develop uneven wear or become ..read more

 This article was originally published by AA Directions. View the original article.  As summer approaches, many of us will be heading to the bach, beach or bush. Such classic Kiwi holiday spots are often in isolated locations and the roads to them can be challenging. Coastal and rural roads are often narrow and winding; they can include hair-pin bends with small shoulders, are sometimes unsealed and usually have no street lighting. If a road is unsealed, increasing your following distance is important to allow for the fact the road surface gives less traction if you need to stop ..read more

Every year, as technology advances, cars get more impressive. The driving experience improves, the safety features are boosted, emissions reduce and performance increases. From the latest hybrids to new EVs to a classic camper, here are five of our most anticipated vehicles for 2024 – plus one particularly exciting ute that’s due to arrive in 2025. Nissan Ariya Nissan is phasing out its pioneering electric vehicle, the Leaf. But don’t worry, a new EV is ready to plug into its spot: the Ariya, a fully electric crossover SUV.  Stylish from every angle, the Ariya is spacious, practical and e ..read more

The AA is proud to join the pledge to stand with Women in Automotive and advocate for more women in the industry. This is part of our commitment to support an equitable, diverse and inclusive workplace culture which benefits everyone.   Currently, less than 17% of the workforce in the automotive industry in Aotearoa are women.  This includes being ‘on the tools’ working directly with vehicles and back-office functions that support the operations of a business. We are committed to being part of the change and supporting more participation and advancement of women at the ..read more

With all the advances in technology and the evolution of cars, it’s interesting that some aspects of vehicle ownership simply haven’t changed one bit. Every year the AA receives countless calls from concerned AA Members over “unusual noises” coming from their vehicles. So we thought we would run through some of the most likely suspects and what these noises may mean. Of course, we recommend taking this advice with a grain of salt as there is no substitution for proper diagnosis by a fully qualified mechanic, such as at one of our AA Auto Centres. However, at least you will have a clue about w ..read more

Take your roadtrip up a gear with AA Shop's ultimate roadie pack! One lucky winner will win a prize worth over $2,000! This competition has now ended.   Congratulations to the winner: T Hodge ..read more