First Aerodyne on Logs in NZ: Nigel Laing’s Mighty K220 Takes on the Rimutaka Ranges
Words and Photography by Rod Simmonds
There’s a certain logic among seasoned log-truck operators: if you’re going to order a new Kenworth K220, you may as well make it something special. For Wairarapa operator Nigel Laing, that meant going all-in; the first K220 Aerodyne to be put to work on log haulage in New Zealand. It’s a big claim, but one look at the striking blue 8×4 rig, matched to a five-axle Patchell log trailer, and you realise this is a truck purpose-built to tame a very unforgiving corner of the world.
And make no mistake — Nigel’s daily run is right at the coal face of that punishment.
A Land of Contrasts: The Lower North Island Frontier
For readers not familiar with New Zealand’s lower North Island, picture this: a roll of soft country farmland rolling out from Martinborough’s famed vineyards, framed by rugged hills that look more Scottish Highlands than South Pacific. Beyond them lies Wellington, a compact but bustling port city built around a harbour ringed by steep slopes, bluffs and wind-battered ridgelines.
Separating the two is the Rimutaka Range (officially the Remutaka Pass) — a jagged barrier rising to around 700 metres above sea level, carved through by a notoriously narrow twisting road. It’s only 30 kilometres long, but those who drive it swear it feels like 300. Steep drop-offs, no-margin shoulders, blind corners, heavy weather, and gradients brushing 20% combine to make this one of the most challenging pieces of sealed highway in the Southern Hemisphere. It even appears on international lists of “most dangerous roads” — and for good reason.
The locals have a saying: four seasons in four kilometres. Snow, ice, high winds, rockfalls, torrential rain, and sudden closures due to accidents or roadworks are all par for the course. It’s a spectacular drive for tourists and motorcyclists — but for loggers working the route every single day, it’s a test of skill, patience and machinery.
That’s the battleground where Nigel’s brand-new K220 has been unleashed.
Before Dawn: A Logger’s Day Begins
A typical day for Nigel starts at what he calls “silly o’clock” — long before the first hint of dawn touches the Wairarapa sky. The K220 is usually pre-loaded on a cart from forests around Martinborough. From there, it’s a straight run south toward CentrePort Wellington, the region’s main export terminal.
But “straight run” is a generous description.
Ahead lies the climb over the Rimutaka Ranges, a stretch that demands full concentration regardless of weather, and the Kenworth K220 handles the 20% grades and tight corners with remarkable stability, proving its toughness on this demanding route.
By daybreak, Nigel rolls into CentrePort alongside 30-plus other loggers, all feeding New Zealand’s massive export market.
Then, after unloading, it’s back over the hill to do it all again.
Two rounds a day is the game plan. But if the stars align, no queues, no road closures, no Wellington traffic blowouts; a third run is sometimes on the cards. Not often. But sometimes.
Stretching the X15’s Legs
While the daily Martinborough—Wellington cart keeps the wheels turning, Nigel does get the occasional longer run north toward Taupō, Rotorua or Mt Maunganui. At 58 tonnes, the Cummins X15 certainly earns its keep on the steeper grades of the central North Island.
These longer hauls give the engine the chance to sit back and sing, swallowing up miles of open road that feel almost tame in comparison to the cramped switchbacks of the Rimutakas.
A Career of Seasons — and Cycles
The export log market is famously cyclical, its rises and falls dictated by international demand and fluctuating pricing. Not long ago, Nigel and his older brother Richard were running a full crew, complete with harvesters, loaders and five log trucks — all Kenworths, naturally.
But cycles bring change, and today the Laing operation has sharpened itself into a lean, efficient single-truck business built around the K220. Nigel speaks of it with a quiet sense of relief: fewer breakdowns, no staffing dramas, and the freedom to focus on doing the job well rather than managing a small fleet.
It’s old-school trucking distilled back to its essence.
The K220 Aerodyne: A Daily Dose of Pleasure
Ask Nigel what he loves most about the new truck, and the answer isn’t complicated. It’s simply this:
“Driving a K220 over the hill every day is all pleasure.”
For anyone who’s fought a lesser truck over the Rimutaka Pass, that statement lands heavily. The Aerodyne cab gives Nigel space to breathe; the ergonomics, visibility and steering precision make the winding descent into Wellington a far more controllable affair. The 8×4 configuration puts power down with confidence, while the Patchell trailer follows faithfully through the bends.
Sure, the road is tough — but the truck makes it rewarding.
And when your livelihood depends on a stretch of mountain road that can hammer man and machine alike, the right truck isn’t just a tool. It’s a partner.
Back to One — and Loving It
Running a single truck might appear a step back to some, but Nigel is the first to admit it suits him perfectly. It’s trucking the way many of us secretly prefer it — one truck, one operator, one mission.
No chasing breakdowns.
No chasing staff.
Just keeping the K220 running hard, running clean, and running on time.
And with that trademark grin spread across his face from dawn to dusk, it’s clear Nigel Laing wouldn’t have it any other way.
