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Media from around the Asia Pacific region arrived in Queenstown this week to drive the Ford Ranger and experience the Kiwi lifestyle at Ford Ranger Camp New Zealand. With this exclusive event, Ford celebrates its special relationship with New Zealand and Ranger’s number one status in the country.
The media, which include motoring and lifestyle journalists and some of social media’s most popular content creators, travelled to New Zealand to take part in the unique program that not only allows them to put the Ford Ranger through its paces but to also have unique and very New Zealand experiences to share with their millions of followers. From farming to outdoor life and of course adrenalin-pumping adventure activities, Ford Ranger and New Zealand will showcase all.
The Camp, based at Minaret Station about one hour out of Queenstown, provided an ideal staging ground for the program. Minaret Station is a working, high country, 50,000 acre farm, home to some 10,000 deer, 7,000 sheep and 1,000 cattle raised for supply to premium export and domestic markets.
“With Ford Ranger’s immense popularity and special relationship with Kiwis, Ford Asia Pacific decided to host an exclusive Ranger experience for media and influencers in New Zealand,” said Corey Holter, Ford New Zealand Managing Director. “One of the key factors was it needed to be an authentic experience. You don’t get more authentic than the Ford Ranger on a working high-country station.”
“Part of the reason for the Ford Ranger’s success in New Zealand has been that it fits the Kiwi lifestyle so well,” said Holter. “The Ranger has proven perfect for everything from tackling the toughest work site to weekends away towing the boat with the family. So combining the Ford Ranger with Minaret Station on Lake Wanaka fit the bill perfectly. ”
Ford Ranger in New Zealand
The Ford Ranger first took the number one spot in 2014, ending the Toyota Hilux’s 32-year sales leadership run. For 2015, the Ford Ranger is again the leader in pick up sales but it is also currently the country’s overall number one vehicle, outselling the Toyota Corolla.
The Ford Ranger is also the most awarded pick up in the country, winning more New Zealand Car of the Year awards than any other ute.
“The Ford Ranger is what Kiwis are driving,” said Holter. “There is a leading sales number and many people focus on that but for us, it’s the customers that matter. The Ford Ranger is not propped up by sales to rental companies and it won’t be. The Ford Ranger lead comes from being the best performing ute and the best value. That’s what makes it the Kiwi favourite.”