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History - Branch & Staff


1986-1987 Brian Wakefield set-up the 1st New Plymouth branch in Leach Street, servicing the Taranaki and King Country regions.


1990-1991 Gary Rutter transferred from Christchurch, moving the branch to Paraite Road, then into Courtney Street.


1992-1993 Steve Short moved from Sales Rep to branch manager and relocated the branch at Eliot Street. Les Wilson started in October 1992, running sales, administration

and stores for nearly ten years, leaving in April of 2002. Max Bosson was the owner operator of our Mobile Hydraulics Service throughout the greater New Plymouth area.


1994-1995 Darren Sloane transferred from Wellington as branch manager in October 1995, and the Wanganui region was added to our increasing area service base.

1996-1997 Evelyn Mills started in August 1996 taking on the sales, office and administration roles until ill health, leaving in March of 2000.
 
Belinda Sloane joined the team in August 1996 as casual in sales & debtor, becoming office supervisor in March 2000.

In February 1997 Jason Fraser joined us, helping out for a couple of months.

Philip MacArthur became our Sales rep in April 1997, pushing our boundaries to include Taumarunui, the National Park, Waiouru, Ohakune and Raetihi, giving our

New Plymouth branch the largest area mass to cover in New Zealand. Philip MacArthur moved into the workshop in 2002 before Leaving in May of 2004.

Jayden Wilson helped out with stores and testing duties from April 1997 through to mid 1998.


2002-2003 Sarah Herlihy became our sales rep in May 2002 through to taking maternity leave and resigning in February 2005.
 
Graham Todd helped out with stores and testing services From September 2002 through to October 2004.

Dave Lovegrove started in December 2003 and now runs the stores, manufacturing and testing services to date.

2004-2005 Winning a major contract in the region resulted in rapid growth of our team.

Evelyn Mills Returned as sales rep in March 2004 helping out until resigning in March 2007.

Wayne Harris transferring from Tauranga in October 2004, bring years of experience since starting with Tauranga in 1996.

Darryn Scrivener left NZ Couriers joining Wayne Harris in running our main contracts in February 2005.

David Jaskson briefly joined in sales from February to March 2005 with Corrie Linnell from March to April 2005.

Lewis Christensen Joined our sales team in March 2005, briefly setting up our 40t mobile testing truck for 3 months then returning to the office in November 2006.

Lewis left our shores for an Australian adventure on 22 August 2008.

Charles Garlick joined the team in April 2005 as sales rep and managing our website.

Martin Stanning came to New Zealand and joined us in May 2005 as part of the Barmy Arm Lions Rugby tour, leaving in July 2005 after losing all 3 tests to the All Blacks.
 
Steve Reiri helped out with the oil rigs From August to September 2005.

2006-2007 Up from Wellington to play rugby, Gary Phelps joined the sales desk from January through to November 2006, also young Mathew Knozett came onboard

in a casual role helping in the stores from January through to October 2006.
 
Ben Lee started in November 2006 coming from Repco with mechanical experience to run the mobile testing truck service. Ben finished the 3rd of August 2007

Alastair Watkins, took over our mobile testing services on the 6th of August, before relocating to Nelson on the 30th of November 2007.

Hemi Goldsmith started at the Sales Desk on the 14th October 2008.

Darren Sloane started at the New Plymouth Branch Manger in October 1995 after transferring from Wellington. Darren was promoted to Product Executive at Aucklnd Head Office in April 2009.

Darryn Scrivener was promoted to Branch Manager in August 2009.

Belinda Sloane transfered to head office Auckland at the end of September2009.


Current Staff;

Wayne Harris – Started Late 1996

David Lovegrove – Started Dec 2003

Darryn Scrivener – Started Feb 2005

Charles Garlick – Started Apr 2005

David Cooper – Started Jan 2008

Hemi Goldsmith - Started Oct 2008

Tania Berge - Started June 2009

Laughing 

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Eliot St 1994 to 2005
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Les and Phil
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Evelyn Mills
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Sarah Herlihy
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David Jackson
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Gary Phelps

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Belinda Sloane

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Lewis Christensen

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Darren Sloane started with Cookes Wellington in January 1987 re-locating to New Plymouth in
October 1995 as Branch Manager.

During his 12 years in Taranaki the staff of two grew to nine with the winning of major contracts
and services, increasing sales by over 1000%
and taking the New Plymouth branch from a smaller store to the largest branch in the country.

A great team, excellent client support and lasting friendships were made as Darren moved in April
of 2009 to Head Office in Auckland as Products Executive.