Enhanced Hilux hits the spot
The war for supremacy in the ute market is still being waged by market leaders Toyota and Ford, with the Hilux and Ranger.
Now entering its 21st year since the launch in 1995, the Toyota RAV 4 has graced the yards or driveways of 28,500 buyers and retains its dominant stake in the competitive SUV market.
Eight times since 2001 it has taken top the spot, including the last four years. To commemorate the milestone Toyota is launching a special Edition 21, limited to 100 units, and sure to be snapped up quickly.
Based on the 2L GXL 2WD variant, and offered in Blue Gem, Ink or Glacier White exterior colours, all have silver accents on the front and rear bumpers, door mirrors and wheel arches. Further detail is lower door mouldings offset by a black back door garnish, also used on the lower section of the rear bumper.
Dual five spoke, 18 inch alloys combine with exclusive Edition 21 badging, a genuine nudge bar and complementary black headlining and pillar trims on the interior.
Now in its fourth generation since the 1995 launch, the gutsy little performer shows no signs of lying down, and brings the latest technology to an army of shrewd buyers. That technology includes Toyota Safety Sense, lane departure alert with steering assist, dynamic radar cruise control and automated high beam control.
The package also includes blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and hill start control, seven airbags, and a rear camera combined with front and rear and parking sensors, which all combine with the solid construction to achieve a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.
The chair of Beef + Lamb NZ, Kate Acland says the rush appears to be on to purchase farms and convert them to forestry before new rules limiting this come into effect.
New Zealand farmers will face higher urea prices this year, mainly on the back of tight global supply and a weak Kiwi dollar.
Andy Caughey of Wool Impact says a lot of people in NZ have been saying it's crazy that we are not using natural fibres in our buildings and houses.
Former chief executive of Beef+Lamb New Zealand Scott Champion will head the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) from July.
Avian flu getting into New Zealand's poultry industry is the biosecurity threat that is most worrying for Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard.
The annual domestic utilisation of wool will double to 30,000 tonnes because of the edict that government agencies should use woollen fibre products in the construction of new and refurbished buildings.