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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, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/22832/aucklands-first-car (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Eric Pawson, published 2 March 2010, updated 1 December 2014.

Comments

Donald Scott
02 May 2018
Is Auckland first car still in existence
Neale Lawon
09 February 2018
This car has on occasions been stated as to have arrived in Auckland in September 1898 1899 or 1900. My belief is that it was in 1900 as it is supposed to have arrived aboard the Whakatane in September which did not get launched until December 1899 and making its maiden voyage starting in February 1900. Also this picture is in the Auckland Weekly News of 5ht October 1900 and would they have put it in if it was a year old? I am particularly interested in the history of the Star motor Company and I would like confirmation, perhaps from another magazine or newspaper OF THE TIME that the 1900 date is correct. Certainly 1898 is incorrect as Stars had not completed a copy of the Benz until 1899.