David Linklater has been re-elected President of the New Zealand Motoring Writers Guild at the annual general meeting held this morning in Martinborough.

The Guild is a professional association of more than 30 motoring journalists working for newspapers, magazines, internet websites, radio and television.

Each year its members select the New Zealand Car of the Year award, which is currently held by the Ford Focus.

The Guild's role is to encourage high standards in motoring journalism, and foster dialogue between its members, government agencies, driver education agencies, and the wider media.

A freelance journalist, David Linklater is the motoring editor of the National Business Review and he is a regular contributor to the Driven supplement within the NZ Herald.

Freelance writer Damien O'Carroll (Oversteer, NZ4WD, NZ Company Vehicle) has been re-elected as Guild Vice-President while Robert Barry, Editor-at-large of NZ Company Vehicle and the editor of Motor Equipment News, remains as Secretary for a seventh consecutive term.

The incoming Guild executive is comprised of Cameron Officer (Top Gear NZ), Jacqui Madelin (Herald on Sunday), Bill Green (Marlborough Express/ Road-Tests.Com) and John Oxley (NZ Company Vehicle/NZ4WD managing editor)

Linklater says he remains committed to leading the Guild through the challenging times ahead in both the publishing and motor vehicle industry.

"Now more than ever it's important to have a cohesive professional group of writers who are committed to providing an independent and qualified view of new vehicles, and issues within motoring and the motor industry for consumers," says Linklater.