Show Stoppers

I write this sitting in the air-conditioned comfort of a coffee shop in a somewhat muggy Brisbane, on the afternoon of the last day of the Brisbane Truck Show. The event has just closed after four days of what was a very interesting show and a week of all things trucks taking over the city.

We’ll have a full show report in the July issue, but I thought I’d share some observations on BTS 2025 and truck shows in general. This year, Dave and I have written a fair bit about New Zealand truck shows in our editorials – and for good reason, as it’s mostly been a really good season.

Almost all the shows we’ve attended nationwide in summer 2024/25 have blown us away with their organisation, industry representation, and visitor participation. By the time you read this, the Gore Truck Show (31 May) will have happened – the last before winter settles in and things kick off again in spring. We have no doubt it will be another cracker of a show and look forward to bringing you all the highlights.

Speaking of highlights, starting on page 34, we have eight pages on Wheels at Wānaka 2025. And truly, we have merely brought you highlights, such was the greatness of the show this year. Full details are in the report, but I must pass on the New Zealand Trucking Media team’s compliments and gratitude to Allan Dippie, Annabel Roy, and the entire organising team for what was undoubtedly the biggest and best Wheels at Wānaka. More so, a sincere thanks for the event they created – something wholeheartedly unique that could only come to life and reach the heights it did with such a passionate and dedicated team driving it. Each one was better than the last, and it’s sad to see it end.

What a high to end on, though. To say there was something for everyone borders on understatement. The trucking industry’s representation was resplendent, and it was great for the team to catch up with friends, readers, viewers, and listeners over the weekend. Sure, the weather was less than ideal, and though we were saturated to the skin by the time we’d packed up on the Sunday, we left Three Parks on a high. It’s hard to convey what a great show it was this year to those who couldn’t be there to soak it all in.

And so, back to BTS 2025. A repeated observation was that it really is now the trade show for the region. There’s nothing like it anywhere near the same scale in New Zealand, and of course, that makes sense when you consider market size, visitor numbers, and the fact that what seems like at least half of the New Zealand trucking industry is there anyway. What an opportunity to catch up with Kiwi and Aussie operators, suppliers, and OEMs.

It’s a grand week on a grand scale that could never be replicated in New Zealand. “Do you think there’s any town in New Zealand that would close a street for a truck show?” asked contributor Craig McCauley, referring to the Silverback Show N Shine National Championship that took over Little Stanley Street, a block from the convention centre. Nah, that’s quite unlikely – certainly not for five days…

Though there wasn’t a huge amount of new and exciting products to talk about displayed in the actual truck show exhibition, the halls were still absolutely heaving, and being there would’ve been worth their while for any OEM and their distributors. Happily, a few tasty nuggets did debut and will come our way in the future (full details next month).

And perhaps, though, there’s little need for a similar show in New Zealand. It’s fine congregating in Brisbane every couple of years. Kiwi shows are done well, allowing the industry to celebrate and promote itself perfectly while giving space to those vendors who are either market-specific or want to use the opportunity to get directly in front of the Kiwi industry anyway.

So, to all the show organisers around the country and the awesome members of the New Zealand trucking industry, kudos for the time, effort, and passion you put into making each show a success in its own right. It may not be Brizzy – or Wānaka, for that matter – but the inherent value is at least as great.

The post Show Stoppers appeared first on NZ Trucking.