26 | MANUFACTURING T T Karen Phelps Two decades of expert craftsmanship Ed Geenty celebrating his 45th anniversary. A small workshop in Havelock North is celebrating a significant milestone this year, as Hawkes Bay Furniture & Joinery marks its 20th anniversary alongside an achievement by one of its craftsmen who has reached 45 years in the trade. The company’s roots stretch back to the renowned Treachers furniture manufacturing business, where owner Andy Dodd first began his journey at just 14 years old, sweeping floors. He then learnt the fundamentals of quality furniture making by completing his cabinet making apprenticeship. After a few years away from the industry, Andy returned to his passion when he was approached by Myles Treacher to become factory manager in 2002. “When the opportunity arose to take over as factory manager I had been away travelling and thought it a great time to get back to what I knew and what I’d always loved doing,” says Andy. Three years later in 2005 Andy purchased the Treachers factory outright, establishing Hawkes Bay Furniture & Joinery and expanding the business to include bespoke joinery alongside traditional furniture making. The addition proved complementary to the existing services while attracting a new customer base. Perhaps no one embodies the workshop’s commitment to craftsmanship more than Ed Geenty, who began working at Treachers in 1980 and has remained with the business through its transformation. This year marks his 45th anniversary in the trade, making him an invaluable source of woodworking knowledge and traditional techniques. “Ed has been asked to make some interesting and beautiful items over the years and loves creating pieces of furniture that people cherish for years to come,” explains Andy. “He regularly encounters furniture he created decades earlier when pieces return for restoration, testament to the enduring quality of his work.” The company has evolved to meeting the changing needs of its clientele over their lives, evidence of the long-standing and trusted relationships the business has forged. “In the last few years we have had a greater number of people come in to get their family dining tables cut down so they can take to retirement villages,” says Andy. “The way we live has changed and our spaces we have for living have reduced so it’s about having furniture that fits into our lifestyles that we love but still keeping the history that piece provokes. People are also still wanting to repair and hold onto treasured pieces instead of throwing them away which is great to see.” The company has likewise built strong relationships with architects, designers, and builders throughout its two decades. “Having been in business for as long as we have means we have built lasting relationships with suppliers and customers alike,” says Andy. “Working alongside them means everything is cohesive and we liaise closely to get the job done right.” Located in its Havelock North workshop it manufactures everything on-site from custom furniture crafted in matai, oak, ash, rimu and other native New Zealand timbers, to complete kitchen installations, entertainment units and barn doors. Hawkes Bay Furniture & Joinery has six staff members and maintains its commitment to apprenticeship training, ensuring traditional skills pass to the next generation. Andy remains hands-on in the business, drawing on his extensive practical knowledge with the help of Clare Fugle who assists with design, colour and material selection. All products are crafted to order for individual requirements and there is a kitchen showroom people can visit. The business also offers upholstery services and homeware products from Weave, featuring New Zealand wool blankets, rugs and quality linen. Andy says the business will continue to embrace both innovation and tradition. “We try to make the process as smooth as possible for our customers, from design and material choices to installation. We have a small but great team who all take pride in their work and their role here. We’re proud to have reached our 20th anniversary and look forward to making more pieces that embody quality craftsmanship ensuring they will endure for generations to come.” THE “TERRY” COMPANY ARE SUPPLIERS OF MACHINERY AND CONSUMABLES TO THE ICONIC NEW ZEALAND LEGEND THAT IS NORSEWEAR NZ LTD AND HAVE BEEN HAPPILY ASSOCIATED WITH NORSEWEAR SINCE ITS 1969 MOVE TO NORSEWOOD. WE WISH THE NORSEWEAR FAMILY TEAM CONTINUED SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE. T T from page 25 Norsewear / Hawkes Bay Furniture & Joinery Proudly supporting Hawkes Bay Furniture FORMICA / WILSONART • CAESARSTONE • SILESTONE • DEKTON FLORIM • TRENDSTONE • NATURAL GRANITES & MARBLES Supplier of high quality Architectural Metal Work Proudly supporting Hawkes Bay Furniture Ben Harding | Director Mob: 021 373 963 Web: www.metalworks.net.nz confirmed their “tough comfort” and proven performance across diverse terrains and demanding work conditions. “We developed an entirely new range of combat socks specifically for the NZ Defence Force,” says Tim. Norsewear made headlines this year after a light‑hearted social media post sparked a conversation with New Zealand Rugby. The brand had playfully called out the use of offshore‑made synthetic beanies in official All Blacks merchandise, aiming to highlight the gap between Kiwis’ support for local wool in principle and their tendency to purchase synthetic imports in practice. New collaborations for Norsewear include a partnership with clothing label Ruby— launching a range of Liam x Norsewear dress socks in July, a collaboration with Sawmill Brewery to create Sawmill x Norsewear Brewers socks and a Sawmill x Norsewear Merino Beer Cooler, and a collaboration with Moreporks—a fresh take on the iconic Farm Fleck socks which is now sold out. Current projects include designing advanced technical socks for ultramarathon runners, with Tim confirming, “We’ll be releasing new ultra‑lightweight, durable Merino ultramarathon socks by the end of the year.” Also planned for release by the year’s end is a consumer version of the NZ Defence Force combat socks
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