The Road Gang by Keith Mexsom

–– to be published late March 2025

Once, there wafted the stink of the horse and its exhaust to avoid stepping on when crossing the street. Then came the noisy motor vehicle and its pervasive carbon monoxide and tyre particulates to poison the lung and pollute the environment.

This third and final volume of New Zealand’s transport history describes how some of the first coach and bicycle builders and importers hesitantly transitioned to the new motor vehicle first viewed as a novelty that wouldn’t last.

But the motor vehicle did last –– encouraged by a Road Gang of assemblers, importers and dealers, parts and tyre manufacturers, oil explorers, and road builders who sought to make their fortunes as they eagerly met the needs of a motoring public conditioned by market forces and transport necessity to buy their goods and services.

These are their stories, as well as those of the supreme leaders of the ‘Road Gang’ –– New Zealand’s Governments and Local Bodies –– all too ready to encourage and profit from the motor vehicle gravy train by way of import duties, taxation, registration, licensing, parking fees and fines, while also mandating transport-related decisions that favoured the motor vehicle as the prime mover.

The Road Gang is the third and final volume of New Zealand’s transport history, preceded by Waka Paddle to Gas Pedal: The First Century of Auckland Transport, first edition published October 2016 and a revised third edition published January 2020; and Gas Pedal to Back-Pedal: The Second Century of Auckland Transport, published January 2021.

Supported by some 16 years of study, these three volumes are extensively researched and accurately referenced and indexed, with narratives describing the real people and factual events that have influenced New Zealand’s transport scene from the 1840s to the present day.

For more information, please visit my website at https://keithmexsom.pubsitepro.com.

Contact me there for review copies of The Road Gang or at kwme@westnet.com.au.