Inside NZ Crayons: Bay of Plenty makers of industrial and school crayons

Amanda Gilbertson making crayons in real time. Photo / David Hall

A kaleidoscope of colour awaits inside the warehouse of New Zealand’s only manufacturer of industrial and educational crayons, which are made right here in the Bay of Plenty.

Roger and Amanda Gilbertson bought NZ Crayons from Kevin Atkinson in 2021 and relocated the business to Pyes Pā.

The couple had no previous experience with crayons, aside from using them as children.

Roger worked in the primary industries, and Amanda worked in corporate, so “the learning curve to running a manufacturing business was huge”.

“We see ourselves as caretakers of the brand. We’re making sure it lasts another 80 years,” Amanda said.

Previous owner Atkinson brought two New Zealand crayon businesses together to form the NZ Crayon brand: Retsol and Spectrum.

Retsol employed returning soldiers after World War II, while Spectrum provided marking products for the forestry, fishing, and horticulture industries.

Roger said the crayons were good under wet conditions and were often used for marking trees or polystyrene fish boxes.

“Crayons will stay. Spray paint can’t be used in the rain.”

Amanda Gilbertson making crayons in real-time. Photo / David Hall

The sustainability of New Zealand-made crayons gives them a “natural advantage”.

NZ Crayons are non-toxic, use recycled packaging, and produce minimal waste. Offcuts are melted and used for a new batch of crayons.

“The process itself is quite sustainable.”

Using three different kinds of wax and 35 available colours, Amanda pours everything into one of her three moulds (hexagonal, standard, or giant).

She was making 3000 giant fluorescent orange crayons for a 50-box order during The Weekend Sun’s visit to the Pyes Pā warehouse.

NZ Crayons also supplies retailers with bundles for schools through wholesalers.

“Kids nowadays are good at swiping, and they haven’t really got the pre-writing skills,” Amanda said.

She researched the hand grasps at different ages and developed the Cognito Crayon, designed to teach children the correct grip.

“It’s a tool for a preschooler to use for pre-literacy development. It helps them write and draw.”

Europe has shown interest in NZ Crayons, but Amanda said, “We’re probably busy enough. I’m already starting to burst at the seams”.

NZ Crayons’ next step will be to push the Cognito Crayons and move into the Australian market.