Major accolade for hire boss

Bev and Wayne Cowley of Cowley's. Photo / John Stone

He started his career in the family business by cleaning concrete mixers and caravans and to this day Wayne Cowley is not afraid to roll up his sleeves and get stuck in.

The head of Cowley's Hire Centre was named the 2014 NZME. Business Hall of Fame inductee at the Westpac Northland Business Excellence Awards 2014 at Forum North on Friday night.

Mr Cowley joins the list of inductees to the hall - previously called the Northern Advocate Business Hall of Fame - with names such as the late Michael Springford (2013), Mike Simm (2012) and Dave Culham (2011).

As Bev and Wayne Cowley were unable to attend Friday's event, his award was accepted by Wayne's nephew George Jarrett, who thanked all of the businesses who had supported Cowley's through the years.

Speaking at the event, Northern Advocate editor Craig Cooper said Mr Cowley's "business and family are his passion".

"Ask Wayne what the future holds, and he'll tell you what he won't be doing - retiring," Mr Cooper said.

"His loyal staff don't seem to be going anywhere either - he and Bev can name several that have been with the company for 25 years plus."

The company was started by Wayne's dad Ted in the early 1950s. Wayne came into the business picture when he was just 13, cleaning concrete mixers and caravans.

He did work for Dave Culham for a spell but returned to Cowley's.

Wayne and Bev have owned Cowley's Hire Centre since 1988, after Ted died in 1985.

In 1990, they moved from Manse St to their Commerce St base and now the next generation, Lucretia and Trent (Cowley's Party Hire manager) are involved in the business.

And as well as the Commerce St headquarters, the business has expanded to include depots in Ruakaka, Kamo, Kerikeri, and a party hire depot in Kioreroa Rd, Whangarei.

The Kamo business is moving from Clark Rd to Great North Rd as part of the ongoing changes that have helped make Cowley's Northland's number one locally owned hire company.