ISSUE 79 MAY 2025
THE VOICE OF THE NEW ZEALAND AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY
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Repco Beach Hop 25: A milestone event for industry engagement THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF REPCO BEACH HOP, HELD 26–30 MARCH IN WHANGAMATĀ, CELEBRATED A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE FOR NEW ZEALAND’S PREMIER MOTORING AND NOSTALGIA FESTIVAL
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he event attracted over 100,000 attendees and featured more than 1,200 classic vehicles, offering substantial opportunities for sponsors and industry stakeholders to engage with a dedicated audience. Organiser Noddy Watts, who was in his last year as president of the organising committee, described the significance of the milestone year, saying, “There was a lot to celebrate at our 25th Silver Anniversary edition of the festival. We really wanted to do some extra special events this year and dreamed big.” To mark the occasion, previous prize vehicles from 2004 through 2024 were invited back for the Castrol Edge Thundercruise — a move that reinforced the longevity of sponsor partnerships and their visible legacy at the event.
Sponsor involvement was evident across multiple programme features, with Watts saying, “We’d like to thank our wonderful sponsors, many of whom have been with us for a long time — Repco, Meguiar’s, Castrol, Classic Cover Insurance, plus many others — and we welcome our new sponsors as well.” Major activations included the Repco Power Cruise, Meguiar’s Grand Parade, Castrol Edge Thundercruise, and the Classic Cover Nostalgia Fair. These events provided opportunities for direct brand interaction with the public and were consistently well attended. Saturday’s parade, for example, attracted large crowds and included a surprise appearance from Prime Minister Chris Luxon, who “rode in a gorgeous ’57 Chev convertible … and stopped for an
interview at the stage in town.” The addition of venue-based events — like the Repco Power Cruise returning to Pauanui after 15 years — demonstrated sponsor alignment with regional tourism and logistics growth. “The Pauanui Airfield with the Pauanui Club next door was perfect, with over 800 vehicles parked on the grassy strip on a beautiful Coromandel day,” Watts noted. “Live entertainment, market stalls, two jet cars doing a fire-up — it was a great day and showed the potential for a future return.” Community engagement remained a cornerstone of the event, with proceeds supporting local organisations such as the Onemana and Whangamata Surf Life Saving Clubs and the Whangamata Volunteer Coastguards .
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