Brothers close family business

Mark (left) and Craig Morgan are looking forward to retirement after closing their family business. Photo / Duncan Brown

An end of an era saw bargain hunters flocking to Morgan Builders in Hastings on Thursday.

Mark and Craig Morgan kept on eye on Kauri House Auctions auctioneer Peter Maidens as the last remnants of their 76-year-old business went under the hammer.

"Now's a good time to retire. I'm nearly 70," Mark said.

"My brother's older than I am, he's 78. So we think it's time - we've had enough."

Their father Stanley Ernest Morgan started the business in 1937.

"I did 53 years and Craig did 63. I've never worked for anybody else. I've never had a CV."

With no children willing to take over they decided to wind down the business by not recruiting new staff and have not traded since April.

"I've got daughters and Craig's got sons who are all accountants, solicitors and things. They don't particularly want to be builders."

When asked about a highlight he started talking about the Hawke's Bay Opera House but stopped.

"We have been very lucky to meet some extremely interesting people, whether people spent $1000 or $1 million."

He said the business was much bigger in his father's day. They had a staff of 30 before winding down to 11.

"We always tried to have three apprentices going all the time.

"The guys that worked for us are still out there working."

There was no sibling rivalry.

"We worked well together. We ran different parts of the business but obviously talked every day. He did the administrative side and I was more out there looking after the jobs.

"It's a happy story - I'm quite happy to be retired. I'll do a lot more fishing and won't have to get out of bed so early so I'll have more time to have a cup of tea while I read the paper."