MTA elects new president
Bob Boniface has been elected as president of the Motor Trade Association (MTA) and replaces Dave Harris, who is retiring.
Boniface, who owns two paint and panel workshops in Auckland, has had an extensive career as a corporate leadership and business management consultant.
He helped dozens of companies get back to success and efficiency in the 1970s and ’80s, and says climate change, Covid-19 and technology have reset current market dynamics.
“Most cars on New Zealand’s roads are over 10 years old and can be readily repaired. But if mechanics also take on repair of vehicles with all the new and current technologies, they will be incredibly challenged and face a huge shortage of staff with the right skills.
“Collision repairers face many of the same issues with exotic materials we’ve never handled, new repair techniques, stringent insurance company requirements and so on.”
Boniface, pictured above, expects both these sectors to become more specialised or have other major changes over the next few years.
“Dealerships are also facing a major shake-up with the clean car requirements likely to force a reset of the market as brands and dealerships try to provide a rapidly growing number of low or zero-emissions cars,” he adds.
“The fuel industry will probably be the slowest to evolve – and shift from diesel and petrol to EV and alternate fuels – because it will take a long time to scrap older cars out of the fleet.”
Boniface believes the MTA’s principal role is to help members survive and thrive by using a combination of direct assistance to members, and by exerting influence on policy and regulation.
Harris, pictured below, has led the association of 3,800 businesses that fix, fuel, sell and service the nation’s vehicles through 12 challenging years, six of them as president.
“Over that period, the MTA has become more agile, informed and connected while responding to the pandemic, earthquakes, significant changes in government policy and the evolving needs of our members.”
Harris, a Waikato-based service station and repair workshop owner, adds the organisation is poised and ready to take on challenging times to come. He congratulates Boniface on his appointment and has thanked him for taking on the commitment.
