Kuru Contracting expands business, buying Rewi Haulage

Sealing the deal . . . Leanne Kuru, Ricky Kuru, Chubs Rewi and Agnes Rewi. “They’ll be in good hands,” says Chubs Rewi.Picture by Liam Clayton

Directors Chubby Rewi and wife Agnes of log transport company Rewi Haulage have said goodbye to a business they founded 10 years ago.

A farewell breakfast was held at the Cossie Club in Gisborne this week with some 60 people attending.

Kuru Contracting  husband and wife owners Ricky and Leanne Kuru have bought the business.  Rewi Haulage staff will be moving across to Kuru.  Most of the subcontractors will also be transferring across to Kuru. The change will see 30 logging trucks under the Kuru banner.

Kuru Contracting was established in 1997 by father and son Jack and Ricky Kuru.  In 2012 Ricky and Leanne purchased the business, and have expanded into different areas over recent years.

Henri Raroa, logistics manager and dispatcher — “basically the janitor!” she says — has worked in support of both companies since 2014.

“It’s pretty exciting, the opportunity it brings to the operation with this extension.”

Keeping it in the family, daughter Hoana Rewi, herself a subcontractor having started in the family business in 2016, speaks warmly about her dad “Chubs”.

“I’ve witnessed his growth and his passion to help other local drivers to become owner- drivers. He wanted to help people become their own boss in the industry and to look after drivers the way they deserved to be treated,” she said.

Chubs is now involved with the slash clean-up work on the East Coast.

Kuru Contracting have their own harvesting crew and trucks and have been working in collaboration with Rewi since 2019.

“It was a natural change-over — all the drivers were well acquainted with each other.  Dad knows Rick; they go way back as well,” said Hoana.

Kuru Contracting are located on the East Coast, with 16 trucks in Rotorua.

“When Cyclone Gabrielle hit, there was no work here due to all the broken roads and the damage,” said Henri.  Kuru relocated some of their vehicles to Rotorua when work opportunities in the region  arose.  Most of those trucks will be returning to the East Coast in a few months.

Chubs thanked everybody at the farewell breakfast and reassured everybody they would be in good hands.