MD looks back at 60 years
Jeff Murray, managing director of Holden New Zealand, may soon be leaving to take up a new position with the company in Melbourne, but there was no way he was going to miss the 60th anniversary of the marque selling cars here. The marque celebrated the occasion by throwing a party for a few hundred guests at Auckland’s Imperial Lane on November 26 with the Autofile team delighted to attend. Here’s an edited version of Murray’s speech: It was 1954 when our story first began in New Zealand. The first FJs rolled off the boat from Australia, marking the start of our history. The FJ is arguably the most fondly regarded of all our earliest cars. It was, for many, the first car their family owned and played an important role in the mobilisation of New Zealand families. The FJ made way for the FE and we began to assemble cars locally. In 1957, the first New Zealand-assembled Holden drove out of the General Motors Petone plant - a proud day for the brand, our staff and the people of Petone. That area will always hold a special place in our hearts. It’s safe to say Holden’s contribution to modern motoring has been substantial, impressive and impactful. We can, hand on heart, say we have helped to shape the history and future of motoring in New Zealand and that’s something we should all be proud of. Over the past couple of months, we’ve been asking New Zealanders to share a recollection of a special time when Holden has been right alongside them. The response was overwhelming with thousands from the top of the country to the bottom showing me how important Holden’s role in the lives of everyday New Zealanders has been. From marriage proposals to family holidays, and driving lessons to the freedom of independence tied up in the FJ and Commodore, the past 60 years aren’t just Holden’s history but also New Zealand’s. Each of you standing here tonight has played a significant role in Holden’s history. Our history is shared with you and we thank you for the contribution you have made in marking our place in the history books. Tonight, we fondly look back and proudly look forward. We have been Holden for the past 60 years and hope to be Holden for another 60. The future is exciting and, while our business structure continues to evolve, our spirited commitment in delivering world-class vehicles is as strong as ever. One of my personal favourites in our line-up is the Monaro. This year, we unearthed a rather neglected version of this cult classic and decided to rebuild it. This has been a true labour of love and we used the collective Holden family to restore this vehicle to its former glory to showcase its beauty, power and true allure. The process has been detailed and in-depth, and I certainly have a new found appreciation of what’s involved in restoring a classic.
