Fleet Day 2025: New Zealand’s Fleet Industry Steps into the Future

Performance Under Pressure: Lessons from Sam Cane & Hayden Paddon 

Hayden Paddon, Kiwi rally champion, opened the day with insights from the rally stage, underscoring how performance at speed never outruns safety. His lessons on balancing risk, staying alert under pressure, and making split-second decisions resonated with every fleet operator seeking to improve driver and vehicle safety on our roads. 

Later that morning, Sam Cane, former All Blacks captain and one of New Zealand’s most respected leaders, spoke to the heart of high-performance teamwork. His keynote offered practical takeaways on leading with purpose, adapting to constant change, and building a culture of everyday excellence – all messages that truly hit home in an industry where stakes are high and new challenges arise daily. 

But the real magic happened when Cane and Paddon shared the stage for a candid fireside chat: two professional perspectives joined by a passion for peak performance, resilience, and preparation for the unpredictable. Their dialogue reminded us that, whether you’re leading a sports team or a vehicle fleet, success hinges on culture, communication, and never underestimating the “1% difference.” 

Technology & Trends: Where Innovation Meets the Road  

If one word defined Fleet Day this year, it was innovation. Mark Davidson, Chief Product Officer of EROAD, kicked off the tech conversations with new ways to unlock fleet-wide safety and efficiency through data-driven solutions. Throughout the day, sessions at the EROAD Studio stands – covering everything from back-office innovations to the future of in-cab experience, and reducing costs with existing tools – were packed, proving that technology isn’t just “optimal” anymore, it’s essential. 

Andrew Clennett, CEO of Hiringa Energy, shared an update on Australasia’s first hydrogen refueling network, spotlighting sustainable progress in action. Meanwhile, panels and presentations dived deep into the practicalities of transitioning to EVs (with Rebecca Wilson, Head of Business Energy Solutions at Z Energy, and George Higgins-Smith, Fleet Transport and Travel Manager at Genesis Energy), quantifying the true cost of ownership (James Smith, GM & Advocacy at National Road Carriers, and Richard Briggs, Group Manager Delivery & Partnerships at EECA), mitigating new risks (Emma Sutcliffe, Project Director at EV Firesafe, on EV fire safety), and extracting value through strategic technology partnerships (Chris Yu, Director and CEO of Torutek, and James McCosh, Director of Torutek). 

The key takeaway from these sessions? The tools are already here, the next step is embedding them within our teams to ensure that innovation works for our people, as well as our businesses.

Hands-On Action: Test Tracks, Safety Zones, and EVs at Full Throttle 

As always, Fleet Day wasn’t confined to the indoors: 

• Commercial Vehicle Test Drive Track saw a record number of participants – putting more than 40 vehicles through their paces from brands including Nissan, Toyota, Hyundai, and Kia, side-by-side.  

• Street Smart Driver Safety Zone gave attendees a high-adrenaline education, with real-world ABS breaking drills, hazard simulations, and tips from elite instructors on collision avoidance and emergency response.  

• Motorshare Passenger Rides: For those seeking high-octane thrills, Motorshare provided passenger rides in luxury exotic vehicles – giving attendees a taste of world-class automotive performance from the passenger seat.  

• Rally Showcase: Hayden Paddon’s EV rally car demonstration drew crowds – and applause – with a spectacle of speed, precision, and Kiwi engineering at its finest. 

Attendees left with more than knowledge, they left with experience under their belt.   

Stronger Together: Community, Connections, and Collaboration 

One of the most voiced highlights? The conversations – between exhibitors and attendees, between suppliers and fleet managers, and especially in the breakouts and panel sessions focused on practical engagement and culture change. The event’s cross-section of experiences – from BYD and Hiringa to Genesis Energy, Fonterra, NZ Police, and beyond – showed that no one is isolated on their innovation journey.  

Looking Ahead: Key Takeaways for 2025 and Beyond  

• Safety isn’t a cost; it’s the cornerstone of performance. Faster, smarter, and safer can – and must – go hand-in-hand.  

• Culture drives change. Whether it’s embracing tech or keeping drivers engaged, culture leads and tools follow.  

• Sustainability, compliance, and innovation are converging. The future isn’t about choosing one – it’s about integrating all three.  

• The human element remains critical. The best solutions still revolve around people – from the driver’s seat to the boardroom.  

• Community accelerates progress. Real insights come not just from the main stage, but from the networking tables and test tracks where industry professionals swap both business cards and practical wisdom.  

Thank you to everyone who helped make Fleet Day 2025 a day to remember – from our phenomenal speakers and panelists to each attendee, exhibitor, and event partner.  

Here’s to a smarter, safer, and more connected road ahead, see you at Fleet Day 2026.