Ruby Bay resident Kieran Darling, together with his partner Laura Cox and their seven-month-old Finn, recently embarked on a 13-hour road trip to Kingston, Southland, to participate in a world record attempt for the largest gathering of Hilux utes in one location.
The event, organised by a Southland Toyota dealer, shattered the previous record of 495 Hilux vehicles set in South Africa in 2010. On Sunday, March 2, a total of 1,440 Hiluxes gathered in Kingston, smashing the previous record by 945 vehicles.
“It was hard to gauge how many Hiluxes were there, but I knew it was well over 495,” Kieran says. “When the official number was announced, everyone was pretty chuffed. It was incredible to be part of it and see all the different models.”
Kieran, a long-time Hilux owner, drove his 2023 SR5 cruiser to Kingston for the event. “The Hilux is a tried-and-tested workhorse,” He explains. “It was mind-blowing to see everything from early models to the latest ones. There were some highly modified trucks, dedicated 4x4s, and even a truck and trailer unit carrying six Hiluxes.”
The rugged and reliable Hilux has been the go-to vehicle for farmers, growers, and tradespeople across New Zealand since the 1970s. Kieran, who has also worked as a dairy farmer in Golden Bay, says, “I’ve always had Hiluxes. Bowater Toyota in Nelson has always made servicing easy for me.”
To break up the long journey, Kieran and his family turned the trip into a mini holiday, making overnight stops and enjoying the sights along the way.
“It was a long trip, and dry like a desert down there, but it was great,” Kieran reflects.
The event in Kingston showcased just how much the Hilux means to New Zealand’s rural community.
