2005
Imported and sold Agrio Pivots
2009
IT RAIN, RAINER CAN.
Took up Zimmatic Agency
Rainer Irrigation
Ashburton Guardian
7
Changing the Canterbury Plains landscape
T
he foundations of the irrigation company actually go back to 1975, when Les and Don imported a spray irrigator from Australia. The model was based on an original design, first seen in Turkey. In New Zealand, they tinkered with the gearing and moving parts and eventually replaced the drive unit. They used it to irrigate their dairy farm at Bankside. “We appreciated the water,” Les’ son Gavin said. “Irrigation opened up many areas to different types of farming, more cropping in Pendarves and Te Pirita. The spray irrigators literally changed the landscape of the Canterbury plains.” Les and Don saw that potential and moved into the irrigation business. But tough farming times in the late 1980s saw the irrigation company cash-strapped as farmers struggled to pay bills. In 1987, when the farming industry all but collapsed, Briggs Irrigation went broke like many other rural
servicing companies at the time. The brothers, who also lost their farms, were not deterred. As farming regenerated, they knew the product they developed, the Rotorainer, was good. They mortgaged their homes and Rainer Irrigation was born. They worked long and hard and the business grew. Don moved on and Gavin and his brother Rodger moved in. Later they were joined by their sister Colleen. Les started thinking
about other ventures and moved into property development with the purchase of the Lochlea subdivision block in 2009. Les, now 85, still likes to know what’s going on at Rainer Irrigation and is often seen around the business. Gavin said the company philosophy of working hard, being innovative and listening to farmers and supplying what they want was still key.
He said Rainer needed to be as innovative as farmers, who were challenged by the weather, the need to reduce their impact on the environment and their ability to be profitable. “Rainers backs up what they sell, we don’t walk away, and that means we have developed and fostered relationships over 20 or 30 years. continued next page