Dealership to run Masterton cycle shop

A Masterton motor dealership has stepped in to take over Dave Anderson Motorcycles, which was placed in liquidation last week.

Masterton Ford and Mazda dealers Fagan Motors will reopen the Suzuki dealership at its Dixon Street location.

Most of the staff of Dave Anderson Motorcycles will be retained and owner Dave Anderson will stay on as sales manager.

Fagan Motors dealer principal Steve Lyttle said they approached the company on Wednesday, the day it went into liquidation, about taking over the dealership.

Mr Lyttle hoped to have the new shop running by the end of next week, under the Fagan Motors banner.

The liquidator's first report on Dave Anderson Limited, which was trading as Dave Anderson Motorcycles, has been lodged with the Companies Office.

The report showed liquidators were appointed by resolution of the shareholders, Dave Anderson and his wife, Jane Anderson. The company had debts of more than $1 million.

Major creditors were Bank of New Zealand, owed $725,000, Suzuki New Zealand, owed $72,677, and GE Finance, $60,376. The money troubles were blamed on two major customers being placed into liquidation in the past two years, plus a drop in sales since 2009.

The closure of Dave Anderson Motorcycles came as a shock to many when it closed its doors on Wednesday.

Dave Anderson had been trading since 1976 and moved his shop to Masterton in 1984.

Suzuki New Zealand said the business had been one of the top 10 dealerships in the country.

A story on January 19 contained a direct quote saying the closure of Dave Anderson Motorcycles would leave only one specialist motorcycle franchise store in Masterton. This did not account for another Masterton motorcycle retailer, Motoshop, located on Chapel St.