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Meet The Team

Without our dedicated and experienced staff, our business would not be the success that it is today. Meet the Hawkes Bay Mowers & Chainsaws team, proudly serving our customers throughout the ‘Bay.

Ray Bland
Company Director

As owner of Hawkes Bay Mowers since 2002, Ray enjoys a hands-on role, preferring to be on the showroom floor helping customers to choose the right wood burner or outdoor power equipment for their needs.

With a background in farm management, and an FTC in production engineering and tool making, Ray can soon tell you whether you have what you need to handle a difficult job on the farm or orchard. He knows it’s a long way back to town, so he’ll want to see you right the first time.

“Hawkes Bay Mowers is a great business for being your own boss – I get to work with a great team of people who all share my vision of growing the company and providing good, honest service whilst still having fun.”

Ray is proud of the business, and how it provides local employment and opportunities for personal and professional growth. “We work hard but still enjoy a sense of humour, and our customers appreciate the relaxed and friendly tone when they are instore.”

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Perry Van Der Zwet
Mechanic

As resident mechanic at Hawkes Bay Mowers, Perry is the expert in chainsaws and handles all 2-stroke engine servicing.

Customers know their gear is in good hands with Perry, having owned his own outdoor power business and worked in Australia for a major Husqvarna Honda dealer. As well as his trade certificate, Perry has completed a hydraulics course and Karcher pressure washer repair course and is experienced in diesel engine repairs and basic electrical repairs. Most days you will find him busy repairing a whole raft of different outdoor power equipment.

Perry gets great satisfaction from his work. “I love seeing happy customers walking out of the shop, and being part of the team here at Hawkes Bay Mowers.”

Aside from the pleasure of a job well done, Perry admits it is the power and the torque that really does it for him. “There is nothing like the feeling of rebuilding a large cc chainsaw and it starts on the first pull.”

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Wendy Hollis
Office Manager, Parts and Sales

Wendy keeps the office in running order and handles parts and sales as well as managing the payroll and accounts and answering the phone. With 33 years of office experience, she has her finger on the pulse of the business and knows more about job sheets, parts and inventory levels and balancing the books than the rest of the team put together.

Wendy is also a dab hand at selling woodfires, although she won’t share her tactics on closing the deal; suffice to say she knows what a person wants in a fireplace, sometimes even before they do.
Despite what seems like a complex role, Wendy always has time to help customers, either over the phone or instore. “I really enjoy being able to make a customer happy, especially when you have taken time and the effort to go that extra bit further for someone, and it works out.”

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Stu Lutttrell

Fireplace Specialist
 

Stu is the Fireplace Installer for Hawkes Bay Mowers, handling wood fires – servicing and installation as well as sales. He can answer all the technical questions anyone has on the capacities, performance and output of the different models of wood burner instore.

 

Stu can usually be found helping out Perry in the workshop as back-up mechanic, as he is experienced in servicing outdoor power equipment and a Briggs and Stratton Master Technician to boot. He enjoys repairing the machinery, but also the fact that he can get out on the showroom floor and advise customers about their wood fire purchase.

“Buying a fireplace is a significant purchase, and hugely expensive for most people. I want to be sure they get it right, and fully understand the quote.”

Stu has all the necessary NZ Home Heating Certification and experience as a fire installer to ensure every fireplace is installed safely and is ideally positioned in each individual home.
“Seeing a job completed, and a happy customer makes a happy me.”

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For expert advice and friendly service, look no further than Hawkes Bay Mowers & Chainsaws