We decided that we would compile a list of must dos around the beautiful region we are situated in. So we asked around the Office and came up with these 5: Get out there and enjoy! 


1: Visit Back Beach
  The Taranaki Coastline is full of ruggedly beautiful beaches, and Back Beach is one of the premier examples. Located on the southern city limits of New Plymouth, an evening visit to this beach is breath-taking. An often quiet spot, park at one of the two carparks along it's length and take a stroll along a beach that epitomises the beauty New Zealand's West Coast is famous for. 

2. SS Gairloch Shipwreck
 The SS Gairloch ran a ground off the Taranaki Coast over 100 years ago and parts of the ship still remain visible.  This stunning piece of history can be accessed with a short walk along the beach from the Oakura main beach carpark. A piece of the hull point into the sky and makes the shipwreck very easy to find. 

3. Te Rewa Rewa Bridge
   The Te Rewa Rewa bridge is located at the Waiwhakaiho river mouth and is a fantastic piece of functional art. Shaped like a breaking wave or possibly a whale skeleton, Mt Taranaki provides a perfect backdrop to this bridge on a fine day.  With surf breaks either side of the river mouth and the coastal walkway passing through, this is the perfect spot to enjoy the the beauty of Taranaki. 

4. Cape Egmont Lighthouse
 Situated on most Western point of Taranaki, the Cape Egmont Lighthouse is a short drive south from the tiny settlement of Pungarehu, turn right on to Cape Rd and follow it 5km to the Lighthouse.  Surrounded by beautiful scenery and a rugged coastline, this solitary  reminder of times past is a must see. 

5. Pukekura Park
Located in the heart of New Plymouth, Pukekura Park covers 52 hectares and is one of New Zealand's premier botanical gardens. With a wide range of landscapes, and beautiful walks this garden is a beautiful spot to spend a few hours.  With concerts held at the beautiful Bowl of Brooklands during summer, this locale is not only great to explore but relaxing as well. 

  Now the Weather is getting better we have complied 5 tips to help you get your car washed and looking good. 

1:  Dash and Instruments: 
       This area of the vehicle collects a lot of dust and it is best to use a  damp cloth to wipe the Dashboard and                                  controls. There are specific products you can purchase for cleaning this area of your car.  A great idea is to use a                    soft paintbrush to flick dust out from the rims of instrument dials. 

2: Door Sills and Openings:
      Open all the doors and wash the sills and door openings using a damp cloth and a bucket of warm soapy water.                   These small areas can often be overlooked when washing the outside of a vehicle but make a big difference to the              final look of a groomed vehicle.

3: The Washing Method :
      If your car is especially dirty, it is a good idea to wash it with plain water first to get the worst of the dirt off.                            The next step is to wash your vehicle with proper car wash solution and a medium brush, this ensures that any paint       protection that remains on the vehicle is looked after. Start on the roof and then work your way down the                               sides,front and rear of the car. Be aware of grit collecting in the bottom of the bucket as this will scratch the paint. If         in doubt,rinse out the bucket and change the water. 

4: Waxing Your Vehicle:  
      Your vehicle does not need to be waxed every time it gets washed.2-4 times a year is recommended, and using high          quality car wash solution means that any existing wax layer should be persevered.  Before waxing allow your vehicle        to dry completely, or use a chamois leather to dry the vehicle completely. Now apply the wax following the                              manufacturers instructions, remember to apply the wax in straight line and leave it to dry before polishing it off. A            microfiber cloth is perfect for this job. To check the depth of your shine, hold a ruler perpendicular to the surface               and see how many numbers you can read off the reflection, the more numbers you can see, the better the shine. 

5: Wheel and Tyres: 
       When cleaning the wheels use a fairly stiff brush to remove all the brake dust and grime and when you think you                 are done, move the wheels through half a rotation to clean the parts you couldn't get to the first time around.                       There are special de-greasers and cleaners that remove grime without damaging paintwork. 

The Active Stability Control is included as a feature across the Mistubishi range and helps increase Safety and Drive-ability, especially in emergency situations.  Active Stability Control maintains Stability and Control when cornering by automatically recognising under-steer and over-steer. It applies brakes to the appropriate wheels to keep you online through corners.  Active Stability Control also encompasses Active Traction Control, which responds immediately to loss of traction. It brakes the wheel that's slipping and sending power to the others. It means the vehicle stays on the course you intended as you turn or negotiate tricky surfaces. 

Volkswagen's Rear Asisst helps the driver when reversing out of parking spaces. Sensors in the rear bumper enable the system to monitor the lateral area behind the vehicle much earlier than the driver. If another vehicle gets too close the driver is warned by an audible signal. The system can mitigate the effects of a potential collision by applying the brakes in an emergency situation.  

Check out this awesome colouring competition Volkswagen is running. Head to www.volkswagen.co.nz/kombi  download the colouring pack and add some colour, or show us where your Kombi would take you. Enter by scanning or taking a photo of your picture  and uploading it.  This will put you in the draw to win some great prizes including Kombi Lego!  Make sure you are in the draw by 5th of November. 

The Park Pilot system  assists the driver when they are parking their vehicle. Audible signals let the driver know how much room there is behind the vehicle and on some models how much space there is in front of the vehicle as well.  The frequency of the signal tones increase as the vehicle draws closer to the obstacle. Once the distance to the object drops below 30cm a continuous tone sounds. Depending on the model of  navigation systems, the distance to any obstacles is indicated visually in the display. 

Mitsubishi's are designed for the way Kiwi's live, so is the unbeatable Diamond Advantage Warranty- New Zealand's best new car warranty and customer care.  Across the entire Mitsubishi Range from Mirage to Pajero, you get absolute piece of mind, every time you turn the key.    

10 Year/ 160,000 km Powertrain Warranty
Mitsubishi's 10 year or 160,000 km* Powertrain Warranty** also applies on the following components:

• Engine
• Transmission
• 4WD Transfer Case
• Propeller Shaft
• Drive Shafts and Axles
• Differential

*Whichever comes first   **Non-Transferable
5 Year/ 130,000 km New Vehicle Warranty

• Bumper to bumper 5-year or 130,000 km* New Vehicle Warranty**.
• Applies to all new passenger and light commercial vehicles. 

*Whichever comes first **Non-Transferable

Terms and Conditions
Check the Mitsubishi Motors NZ website for Terms and Conditions.

Driving in the Country is a lot different from driving in town. Here is 5 Tips to make it easier:

1.  Expect the Unexpected: Any road is unpredictable, but you never know what's around the next bend in the country. Observation is key; looking ahead as far as possible. Using landmarks such as fences, treelines and power poles help give you clues to the roads direction, as do glimpses ahead from the crests of hills. Be careful and ensure to back off over crests, they are as dangerous as blind corners. 

2. Changing Traction Conditions: Road conditions can change rapidly on country roads, with gravel, mud from farm machinery, even dust and grass all contributing to changes in available traction. It is also worth keeping in mind ocuntry roads are often not maintained constantly. 

3. Narrow Roads, Often Unmarked: Roads can narrow considerably, or bitumen can end rapidly. This will require you to slow down. When passing another vehicle on such narrow stretches of road.

4. Animals:  Particularly around dawn and dusk, look out for animals. Be wary of Possums at night-time, and remember that hitting a small animal is safer result than swerving in panic. You would be surprised how many accidents are caused this way!  

5. Be Prepared: Any breakdown out in the country can result in a very long walk! Always make sure you are prepared with fresh water , a coat, plenty of fuel and always be aware of where you are on a map. 

​Volkswagen's Optional Active Info Display gives you the advantages of an instrument cluster with a high-resolution 31cm colour display.  The display incorporates various information profiles meaning you can decide the which specific data is displayed in the instrument cluster in addition to the usual gauges such as the rev counter,speedometer and odometer. Using the multi-function steering wheel flicking between profiles is quick and easy giving you a multitude of options and your fingertips.