26 www.northernadvocate.co.nz
Thursday, October 9, 2025
Whangārei’s First Concrete Courier:
The Story I’m a Whangārei local, born and bred. I started out as a coachbuilder, working on motorhomes, truck bodies, and minibuses. After finishing my apprenticeship, I switched to building, and I’ve been in the trade ever since – over 30 years now. I’ve run my own building company doing everything from new builds and renos to light commercial jobs and spec homes. A few years back, though, the body started complaining, so I started thinking about what I could do next.
While visiting my daughter and son-inlaw in Australia, they had me doing a few jobs around the place to keep me busy. I wrote up a list of materials but then my son-in-law said he would sort out the concrete and he booked the concrete taxi. I’d never seen or heard of this before – this truck pulled up, mixed exactly what we needed, and that was that. No mess, no waste. No leftover wheelbarrow full of concrete you end up dumping behind the shed. Just enough to get the job done, right there on site!
On the flight home, the idea hit me – could I do this in Whangārei? I looked into it, asked around some of the Tradespeople I know in bigger cities, and no one had heard of anything like it in New Zealand.
I looked into the patent situation and was advised that a Concrete Courier had not been registered in New Zealand, so I copyrighted it and registered the truck and logo here and got straight to work.
Proudly supporting Northland truck owners since 1998 ATR – All Truck Repairs & Whangarei C.O.Fs – A Division of ATR
For all hydraulic and cylinder repairs We are proud to support
Concrete Courier
and look forward to working with him in the future Our new yard caters for large vehicles and equipment, and we have a fully stocked hydraulic fittings shop.
Your one stop workshop for all truck & trailer servicing, repairs & certification • Mechanical and COF Repairs • Servicing, brakes, wheel alignments • Sandblasting, paint and panel work • All makes, all model, all sizes, all ages. Independent COF / VCA services • Bookings essential – no wait times! • Book online at www.COFWhangarei.co.nz • Or call our friendly team today
24 HOUR, 7 DAY ON CALL SERVICE We are located at:
3 Hewlett Street, Port Whangarei PH: 09 4300746
24 South End Ave, Raumanga, Whangarei 09 4300 803 | www.alltruck.co.nz WHERE YOUR SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY