Hugh’s son, John O’Sullivan joined the business as a 17-year-old school leaver in 1978 and in 1988 the first building supplies store was established in Dannevirke, later to become one of six Tumu ITM stores.
The original Tumu Timbers building with one of Tumu’s early employees, Mike Walsh in Mangatera, Dannevirke.
More wood processing and manufacturing businesses followed and then in 2010, Killarney Capital, which specialises in funding property development projects.
The six stores and the Tumu Frame and Truss plant in Hastings were then sold in 2022, to Fletcher Distribution Ltd (FDL), which operates PlaceMakers across New Zealand.
Brendon O'Sullivan (left) with brothers John O'Sullivan and Barry O'Sullivan at the 50-year celebration of their family business Tumu.
Today Tumu is led by John and his brothers Brendan and Barry, alongside strong leadership teams.
The company has gone from strength to strength and in 2023, Hawke’s Bay Today reported Tumu had about 600 staff across its various businesses and brands, from timber processing to property development.
The same year, the family and company received a major acknowledgement, winning the Family Business Award at the prestigious 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in Auckland.
The business has grown further with interests in the property, retirement, import and distribution sectors.
The Tumu Timber site on Maraekakaho Rd, Hastings in 2025, started at just 1ha and grew to the 10ha site of today.
The company has also created not-for-profit initiatives such as The Evergreen Foundation and Building Futures, a training pathway for young people entering the trades.
