About Winger Motors | Our History

Today, Winger Motors is one of New Zealand’s leading automotive dealership networks, building on a history in the New Zealand motor industry that spans generations. From our beginnings to the Winger Motors of today, our focus has remained on providing quality vehicles, exceptional customer service and long-term support for our customers.

Today, we represent a wide range of leading automotive brands across our dealerships and locations, offering new and used vehicle sales, servicing, repairs, genuine parts, tyres and ongoing vehicle support.

Every vehicle we sell is backed by knowledgeable parts teams and factory-trained technicians, continuing Winger Motors’ commitment to supporting our customers throughout their vehicle ownership journey.

The 2000s marked a significant period of growth and expansion for Winger Motors. During the decade, we welcomed Hyundai and Kia to our automotive brand portfolio, opened a Subaru Service Centre in East Tamaki, and established dedicated vehicle reconditioning and pre-delivery (PD) centres.

We also rebuilt our Greenlane headquarters and expanded the Winger Motors dealership and service network, opening locations in Taupo, Henderson, Pukekohe, Queenstown and Auckland’s North Shore.

By the end of the decade, Winger Motors had received more than 50 awards from Subaru, Suzuki, Hyundai and Kia, recognising the achievements of our dealerships and teams across New Zealand.

In 1994, Winger Motors welcomed Suzuki to its growing automotive brand portfolio. Two years later, in 1996, Gary Wiseman stepped away from the business and Grant Vincent joined Winger Motors.

A major milestone followed in 1999, when Winger Motors opened its first Auckland dealership at 444 Great South Road, Greenlane. This marked the beginning of Winger Motors’ presence in Auckland and an important new chapter in the growth of the Winger dealership network.

The 1970s marked an exciting new chapter for Winger Motors as we became agents for Subaru, initially selling 2WD sedans, coupes and estates. When the first Subaru 4WD arrived in New Zealand in 1975, it quickly proved popular in a country where gravel roads were still a familiar part of everyday driving.

Another milestone came in 1977, when the first New Zealand-assembled Subaru rolled off the production line. Winger Motors had the privilege of selling that vehicle to a customer named Carolyn Armstrong.

In 1979, Athol and Neville Winger sold the company to G S Macdonald. The Winger Motors name was retained, and the business moved to a new location at the northern end of Anglesea Street in Hamilton.

A decade later, in 1989, Winger Motors was sold to Wayne Leach and Gary Wiseman and subsequently relocated to a site beside the Hamilton Fire Station, continuing the next chapter of the company’s growth in Hamilton.

The 1960s brought one of the biggest challenges in Winger Motors’ history when the Collingwood Street premises in Hamilton were destroyed by fire. Despite the significant setback, the Winger family rebuilt and soon had the business up and running again.

Towards the end of the decade, the next generation began to take the reins, with Athol and Neville Winger taking over the family business from their father, Norman Winger, and continuing the Winger Motors story.

Around 1950, Winger Motors expanded its growing range of automotive marques to include Volkswagen and Skoda, later adding Trekka utility vehicles. Powered by Skoda components and proudly manufactured in New Zealand, Trekka became a familiar sight on rural roads across the country.

Now operating from Collingwood Street in Hamilton, Winger Motors continued to grow and strengthen its presence in the Waikato automotive industry.

Winger Motors’ story began in 1931 in Hamilton, when the business was established as Norman Winger and Lionel Squire, operating from Alexandra Street. In those early years, the business sold Dodge, Standard and Rover vehicles, laying the foundations for what would become Winger Motors.

Following the death of Lionel Squire during World War II, Norman Winger continued the business and was later joined by his two sons, Athol and Neville Winger. Together, they carried the family business forward and began the next chapter of the Winger Motors story.