Story: Cars and the motor industry

Auckland’s first car

Auckland’s first car

This car was probably the third to arrive in New Zealand, and the first to land in Auckland. It was delivered to Percy Skeates and E. Bockaert in 1900. (Two Benz cars were already in Wellington.) Called The Star, it was made by the Star Engineering Company of Wolverhampton, England. The driver had to peer around any passengers seated opposite to steer the vehicle. It featured a 3.5-horsepower engine, had one cylinder and was belt-driven. These early cars were limited by law to 12 miles (19 kilometres) per hour. They had a limited range and were generally only seen in city streets.

Using this item

Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Reference: Graham Hawkes. On the road: the car in New Zealand. Wellington: G.P Books, 1990

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How to cite this page:

Eric Pawson, 'Cars and the motor industry - A motorised society', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/22832/aucklands-first-car (accessed 28 March 2024)

Story by Eric Pawson, published 11 Mar 2010, updated 1 Dec 2014