Ford in New Zealand

Description

The arrival of the car in New Zealand was a game-changer - not only was it much faster and more reliable over long distances than a horse, it was affordable to everyone. It was easy to learn to drive, and journeys that had previously taken days by horse or stage coach were possible in a fraction of the time. The outbreak of war in 1914 saw just 20 motor vehicles shipped from New Zealand but motorised transport rapidly became vital and war zones a proving ground for the likes of Ford and Rolls Royce. The development of the Fordson tractor was to help Britain grow food and it soon became an important tool in New Zealand as well. By the time of the "roaring twenties" a new Ford truck had been released to quickly replace horses in the rural landscape.Agreement was reached with Ford Canada to establish the first overseas assembly plant in Wellington.