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In its first test in 2015 the eighth generation Toyota Hilux gained a 5-star ANCAP rating.
It was recently re-submitted for testing against the more stringent 2019 criteria and the venerable ute again came away with 5 stars.
The upgraded ANCAP rating stems from a bunch of mid-life safety additions.
These include autonomous emergency braking capable of detecting and reacting to other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists; active lane keep; and an advanced speed assistance system fitted as standard on all variants of the vehicle.
In the tests the Hilux achieved 96% for adult occupant protection. This was enhanced by fitting rear seat belt pre-tensioners and an occupant detection system. Now the ute is rated 87% for child occupant protection in dual-cabs, 88% for pedestrian protection and 78% for its safety assist features.
AA motoring services general manager Stella Stocks commended Toyota for its proactive safety approach, particularly as utes are increasingly used for work and family duties.
“We wouldn’t normally see such significant safety upgrades like this until a new model or generation of a vehicle,” Stocks said. “Now New Zealanders in the market for a Hilux can be assured they’re getting the latest advances in vehicle safety.”
Kaikōura families affected by July's severe storm have found a practical solution to a problem that's kept some children away from regular schooling for weeks: a washed-out section of Inland Kaikōura Road, which has stopped the local school bus from running its usual route.
While hybrids and PHEVs have not usually been the focus of farmers and rural dwellers, the current Iranian-driven fuel crisis has pushed up fuel costs and created a new interest in the genres.
Since arriving on New Zealand’s shores in 1976, the Hilux has been seen of farms, building sites and back roads, becoming a familiar part of how rural and more recently, Kiwis work and live.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand Inc and Pacific Toyota have pulled the covers off the season's most unique performance vehicle - The Lamb Cruiser.
Over the years, the RAV4 has proven to be a vehicle that appeals to all markets, taking the number one passenger vehicle spot in New Zealand and in other major markets, with over a million vehicles sold to date this year, making it the world’s most popular passenger and recreational vehicle.
When Northland leather worker Vernon Suckling started making horse saddles 50 years ago, quad bikes and side-by-side vehicles were unheard of.
Alliance Group has confirmed that eligible farmer-shareholders who supply and continue to back the business will receive up to $20 million later this year, following the strategic investment partnership with Dawn Meats.
With a general election under five weeks away, Rural News is asking major political parties about their policies and positions on key issues facing the primary sector. We will run their responses to each question over the next four weeks. The ACT Party and the Greens didn't respond in time.
The red meat sector is in great heart.
Dr Scott Champion, Foundation for Arable Research chief executive, says that everyone in the supply chain had a role to play in driving the sector's long-term success.
Entries opened on Monday, 5 October 2026 for the 2027 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA), which organisers describe as the nation's biggest celebration of excellence in the dairy sector.
