Fifty Years of Porsche Passion: New Zealand Club Marks Milestone with Spectacular Event

Porsche Club New Zealand celebrates its 50th anniversary with a grand parade, racing events, and community engagement in Napier. Discover the highlights.

In the spring of 2025, Porsche Club New Zealand celebrated its 50th anniversary with a spectacular event in Napier. From its humble beginnings in 1975, when Allan Bremner invited fellow Porsche enthusiasts to an informal meetup, the club has grown into a respected community with nearly 1,000 official households and around 2,000 active members nationwide.

The Grand Napier Parade brought together 130 Porsche cars and 250 guests. The art deco city of Napier set the stage for a four-day celebration featuring everything from iconic classics to the latest high-performance models. A standout moment was brand ambassador and former Formula 1 driver Mark Webber leading the parade in a rare Porsche Carrera GT.

The festivities extended far beyond a typical car show. Public displays at Napier Soundshell, vineyard lunches, a concours competition, themed exhibits, and a formal gala dinner created a rich tapestry of experiences. The gala featured speeches from Porsche representatives including Christoph Ridder from Porsche AG and Regina Chua from Porsche Asia Pacific.

The club’s commitment to social impact was on full display. Through its partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, 11-year-old Oliver Elder, a local boy living with cystic fibrosis, joined the main parade as a passenger in the lead car alongside Webber. In 2024, Porsche New Zealand granted three wishes as part of Porsche’s global pledge to fulfill 356 dreams—a tribute to the brand’s first model.

Inclusivity remains a defining trait of the club. From the beloved 356 and 911 to newer SUVs and Taycans, the community embraces all Porsche owners. One of its youngest members, a 17-year-old who saved up to buy his first Cayman, reflects the club’s welcoming ethos and focus on the next generation.

The club’s motorsport activities have also expanded. A dedicated Boxster class—modeled after U.S. grassroots racing—now fields over 25 cars and is part of a televised championship held across New Zealand’s major circuits.

Fifty years of Porsche Club New Zealand is more than a milestone—it’s a celebration of shared passion, camaraderie, and a commitment to evolving without losing sight of the club’s core values. With strong foundations and a vibrant community, the road ahead looks just as thrilling as the past half-century.

Source: porsche.com