Canvasland's new owners Daniel Taitoko, far right, with partner and co-owner Tamar McKenzie, holding their daughter Willow, and former co-owners Brendan and Sheryl Duffy.
Canvasland's new owners Daniel Taitoko, far right, with partner and co-owner Tamar McKenzie, holding their daughter Willow, and former co-owners Brendan and Sheryl Duffy.
Daniel Taitoko liked Canvasland so much he bought the company.
Taitoko, 25, and partner Tamar McKenzie, 24, took over the Levin manufacturing business at the beginning of April.
With a background in farming, 10 years working around the country and a degree in Agricultural Commerce from Massey - "pretty much focusing on exporting sheep" - Taitoko would appear an unlikely candidate at first glance to run the business owned by former Horowhenua District Mayor Duffy and wife Sheryl for 30 years.
Taitoko said he had worked at Canvasland for the past three years during summer holidays, working on installations while studying.
"I thought this is a really cool business and figured I might as well ask Brendan if he wanted to sell. There was a long silence when I did," he said.
However, Duffy said the couple were a reflection of what he and Sheryl did 30 years ago.
Canvasland managing director Brendan Duffy in the general production area of his Levin factory.
"We knocked on the door of R Forth Ltd and asked did he want to sell the business. We had six Wednesdays of work experience before taking over," he said, Wednesday's being the only day Duffy had off at his then current job.
"Daniel and Tamar have seen an opportunity and knocked on the door. They will grow the business and direct it as they see fit.
"I'm not at all surprised, and can completely understand what they are doing and know they will be very successful."
Tamar, a former Real Estate agent, will help with administration while also looking after the couple's toddler, Willow, with child number two due early October.
She said it seems like a lot is happening - new business, baby on way and having just bought a new house - but said Daniel just doesn't get stressed about things.
"He just deals with it," she said.
Brendan Duffy said it wasn't a hard decision to sell the business.
"We always knew we wanted to move on, it was always in our plan. It's actually exciting to find someone with the same passion and motivation that we had and we'll support them as long as is practical."
Just six weeks into his new role as owner, Daniel said it was better than he thought it would be.
"It's awesome. I've been learning everything that staff can teach me. They're all fantastic."
Canvasland currently employs 22 staff, including Brendan, who is staying on temporarily in a support role.
The exterior and interior of the 'Level Playing Field, a bespoke inflatable produced for artist David Cross by Canvasland, which has been exhibited in New Zealand, Australia and Europe.
Daniel said it would take about a year to learn the business properly before he started to make any changes.
In its 30 years, the business has grown from three employees producing basic drop sheets, tarpaulins and lumbar supports, to its current staff levels producing complex items such as the Level Playing Field (pictured) for artist David Cross.
Canvasland designs, creates and manufactures a number of different products out of PVC, canvas and specialty fabrics, including awnings, inflatables, trampolines, bouncy castles, outdoor heaters and ovens, as well as bespoke items for theatre productions including WOW for the past eight years, selling its products nationally and overseas.
Staff are currently designing and producing items for the upcoming Lions Tour.
"I think what we do is cool and I'm looking forward to the next challenge," said Daniel.
