Obituary: Vern Whitehead

A former publisher of trade magazines covering New Zealand’s automotive industry has passed away.

Vern Whitehead’s death comes suddenly although after an extended period of poor health.

He is survived by his wife Betsy, in her own right well-known within the trade, their son Darren, daughters Annabelle and Rachel, and grandson Dominic.

The 83-year-old was the founder of Autofile and AutoDeal. He later co-founded AutoTalk, TransportTalk and EVs & Beyond alongside other automotive trade businesses.

Whitehead started his career as a newspaper journalist at the Rotorua Daily Post before switching to the commercial side of the business and becoming general manager.

He eventually went out on his own producing mostly travel-based publications, including destination guides for Ansett and Qantas, and every Australian state convention bureau. The business included extensive travel, particularly around the Pacific and across the Tasman.

Ultimately, he moved into the automotive industry, and also partnered with some key dealer groups in the 1980s to launch Dealer Systems, the first local mechanical breakdown and protection product company.

In the late-90s, Whitehead launched Auto.co.nz, a platform that provided the basis for many Kiwi traders’ first websites, and partnered with TV3’s owners CanWest to launch AutoTV, which was a low-cost platform for dealers to list vehicles on morning television.

He also partnered with RedBook to bring the pricing product to New Zealand. Whitehead sold Autofile in 2005, keeping a hand in the trade with the Identicar publication and, for a time, his stake in RedBook.

Soon after, he partnered with current AutoTalk owner Richard Edwards to enter the Australian market with a trade publication.

Although not an initial success, it laid the foundation for the eventual launch of AutoTalk in New Zealand, and its associated titles and websites.

David Vinsen, former chief executive officer of the Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association, says Whitehead’s contribution to the trade may not be entirely visible to those outside “trade politics” circles.

“He did a lot of that behind the scenes,” recalls Vinsen. “He wasn’t just selling, advertising, writing articles and selling advertising, he was an active player in the industry from a very neutral, moderate perspective.

“When I took on the role, there was real animosity between us and the new-vehicle industry, and Perry Kerr [chief executive of the Motor Industry Association at the time] was almost persona non grata as far as our members were concerned. Vern was an active facilitator in introducing Perry to me, and me to Perry.

“I spent a bit of time with Vern, I think I knew him fairly well. I shall really miss him."

Whitehead was also a valued member of the Waiheke Island community where he lived for the past three decades.

He raised thousands of dollars for Waiheke Homecare Hospice through a series of garden parties and was co-founder of the Electric Island programme, which aims to switch all the island’s transport to electric.

A public service for Whitehead will be held at Palm Beach Hall, Waiheke Island, on March 24 from 2-4pm.