Local post COVID recovery gets a boost with the Toyota Small Business Driver - DeVille Cafe and R&R Kayaks win a Toyota Highlander for 12 months, and a portion of the Million Dollars of Advertising from the Mediaworks MediaFund.


Al Mapperley from Bowater Toyota, Claire Scott from MediaWorks with SBD winners, Mac and Geoff from DeVilles, and Lauretta & Rohan Haskell from R&R Kayaks with their children Monroe and Jett. 

Nelson's DeVille Cafe, and R & R Kayaks from Marahau, have been selected as two of the 100 small businesses around the country to receive the free use of a Toyota Highlander for 12 months.

The Small Business Driver programme was conceived by Toyota New Zealand, and partnered by MediaWorks, as a way to help small businesses keep moving after the sudden economic shock of COVID-19.

Applications from businesses who had received Government wage support and employed fewer than 20 people were received in June and assessed by an independent panel of judges.

Al Mapperley, Business Manager from Bowater Toyota, said the response to the offer of help was well beyond Toyota’s expectations and highlighted the need for all New Zealanders, businesses and consumers, to support small businesses.

“Over the years many small businesses in this area have been loyal to us and to Toyota. As a result, we have developed strong bonds with our local customers,” Al says.

“The economic impact of the pandemic is making it tough for many small businesses. Our dealership is no different –as a small business these are difficult times. But Toyota has the capacity to help and a heart that cares about other businesses and the local economy.”

To mobilise and support small businesses impacted by COVID-19, Toyota New Zealand are providing 100 businesses with a Toyota Highlander SUV for 12 months.

Toyota, in partnership with Mediaworks’ MediaFund, is calling for small businesses to apply for the use of a Toyota Highlander for a year and a tailored advertising campaign including media and creative material.

Andrew Davis, Toyota New Zealand Executive, said Toyota had been impacted by COVID-19 like most businesses, but was able to mobilise its resources to help out other business owners.

“Small businesses are the backbone of the New Zealand economy and many have been loyal Toyota customers for decades. In these difficult times they need all the help they can get – from Kiwi consumers, from the Government and from other, larger businesses.”

“Toyota cares about business owners and their employees. We’re part of everyday life in New Zealand and want to help businesses to keep moving during these uncertain times. Any way of reducing their expenses will help so we are drawing on our inventory and putting up 100 Highlanders for use for a year,” Andrew said.

Any small business can apply for the Small Business Driver package. They just need to show they employ fewer than 20 people and have received the Government’s wage subsidy.

Like or lump the advent of the SUV, one has to pay applause to the vehicle that kicked off the trend. And that's the humble Toyota RAV4. 

While sales of the RAV4 have never necessarily dipped since it hit the market in 1994, they reached new heights last year with the worldwide launch of its fifth generation. 

Lauded worldwide for its affordable hybrid option, space, and vast improvement over the fourth generation, the RAV4 scooped up a bunch of awards (including our AA Driven New Zealand Car of the Year People's Choice and SUV of the year awards). 

It also sold in high numbers, with Australian and New Zealand hybrid buyers in particular forced onto a lengthy waiting list as global demand surged. And, that surge in demand has resulted in the RAV4's global sales ticking over 10 million units; 10,080,834 sales recorded at the end of February 2020.