Volkswagen New Zealand names 2025 Dealer of the Year 

Volkswagen New Zealand has celebrated its annual Dealer of the Year Awards, recognising outstanding performance, leadership, and dedication across its nationwide dealer network.

Dealer of the Year is an international Volkswagen initiative that measures excellence across a range of performance areas, including customer satisfaction, sales achievement, service quality, and brand experience. New Zealand’s 2025 winners exemplify the dedication and professionalism that continue to strengthen Volkswagen’s presence and reputation nationwide.

Chanelle McDonald, General Manager of Volkswagen New Zealand, says:

“The strength of the Volkswagen brand in New Zealand is built on our dealer network. The 2025 Dealer of the Year Awards celebrated the commitment, resilience, and high standards that our partners bring to their regions every day.”

This year’s highest honour, Overall Dealer of the Year, was awarded to Giltrap Volkswagen.

Chanelle continues, “Giltrap Volkswagen are a deserving winner of Overall Dealer of the Year. Their passion for the brand, focus on customer experience, and investment in their team truly reflect Volkswagen’s values. We’re incredibly proud to recognise their achievement.”

A further highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Jemima’s Award, created in memory of Jemima Gazley — a young woman whose courage and openness in the face of a terminal illness deeply inspired the Volkswagen community. Her legacy lives on through this award, which recognises those who embody her spirit of empathy, leadership, and meaningful community contribution.

This year’s recipient, Sheng Lu of Gazley Volkswagen, became the first individual to ever receive the award. Sheng was honoured for his extraordinary commitment to supporting men’s mental health — a mission that began after he tragically lost his best friend to mental health challenges. In response, he set himself the immense goal of running 100km in a single day, using the challenge to spark conversation, raise awareness, and encourage people to speak more openly about their wellbeing. His dedication reflects the values at the heart of Jemima’s Award: compassion, community, and the power of turning personal experience into meaningful action.

Together, the achievements recognised across all categories speak to the strength, dedication, and consistently high standards of Volkswagen dealerships throughout New Zealand. This year’s Dealer of the Year Award recipients represent the very best in performance and customer commitment.

2025 Dealer of the Year Award Winners

Dealer of the Year
Giltrap Volkswagen

Passenger Dealer of the Year
Giltrap Volkswagen

Commercial Dealer of the Year
Farmer Volkswagen

Passenger Sales Department of the Year
W.R. Phillips

Commercial Sales Department of the Year
Farmer Volkswagen

Jemima’s Award
Sheng Lu – Gazley

Marketing Department of the Year
Farmer Volkswagen

Finance & Insurance Department of the Year
Tristram European

Passenger Service Department of the Year
Tristram Northland

Commercial Service Department of the Year
Miles Continental

Parts Department of the Year
Ebbett Volkswagen

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Chanelle McDonald
General Manager – Volkswagen New Zealand