Central Taranaki Automotive

The bright-orange frontage of Central Taranaki Automotive is emblazoned with accolades – proof the Stratford business goes “above and beyond”.

Owner Kevan Old says a customer once looked at the wall of wins and told him, “That out there is not wallpaper, that’s for real.”

This year, the Stratford business was highly commended in the Specialty Store section of the Taranaki Top Shop Awards and named the Central Taranaki Regional Winner.

Since opening in 2012, Central Taranaki Automotive has won 13 Top Shop awards. “We strongly believe in our mission statement, so we will go above and beyond, and I think that’s the x-factor we have over our competitors,” says Kevan. “You might come in here for a light bulb replacement and you’ll get your car washed, plus a gift put in your vehicle. Now, you don’t get that anywhere else.”

Customers agree. The automative repair shop has earned a five-star Google rating from more than 430 reviews, plus a national customer excellence award from the Auto Super Shoppe group.

One review said: “Very kind and efficient service. I’m a traveller and needed somewhere along the way and they were quick to get me in and out . . . they were very friendly and explained well what was wrong. Highly recommend . . .” Another customer wrote: “The excellent customer service with how they were able to fit me in so quick for the repair I needed – they were beyond amazing and absolutely lovely people.”

Kevan says those reviews come from all over Taranaki and beyond. “We’re getting people, tourists, coming off the ferry from the South Island, booking to come to our workshop. If you Google automotive repair shop in Taranaki, we come up first.”

When he and wife Wendy took over the business, it was a one-man operation in a workshop half the size it is today. “Within two weeks Wendy came to work in the office. We immediately employed two more staff. Now there’s nine of us here,” he says.

They have had a total of six apprentices –three who have already completed their training, one who finished two weeks ago, and two who are in their first year. “That’s very important, because if you don’t look after the industry, we won’t have people coming through,” says Kevan. “Even if they’re struggling a bit, which they all do, we get a mentor to come in and assist them with their apprenticeship.”

As the staff have increased, so has their customer base. In 2019, Central Taranaki Automotive had 1014 customers on its database – now that number has grown to 3886.

The automotive centre is a family business. Their daughter Deanna handles parts ordering, administration, social media, branding and marketing, and nephew Gary is an A-grade mechanic in the workshop.

Along with being family focused, the couple are strongly community-minded and Kevan is dedicated to serving on the frontline. He has clocked up nearly 30 years as a volunteer with Fire and Emergency New Zealand in Stratford, spending 10 years as the Deputy Chief Officer. In June this year, he was appointed Chief Officer. “We often see people when things are not going well for them – at incidents that are not good. We do our best to achieve a positive outcome out

of each situation,” Kevan says. “I believe that in any situation, we turn out to each call with the aim of making a difference.”

Their community involvement extends far beyond emergency service. “We get behind the schools. We’ve just done 350 bags of lollies to give out for Play of the Day to the Stratford Primary School. We do some for Midhirst School, Toko School, and Ngaere School,” Wendy says.

They also support special children’s events, sponsor children with brain injuries to have a day out and get into the spirt of the seasons by decorating their workshop windows for Daffodil Day and Christmas.

Kevan and Wendy often help customers in hardship. “We regularly do jobs where we won’t charge anybody . . . because someone’s in a bad situation,” he says. “My parents brought me up to treat people the way you want to be treated.”

The level of care extends to keeping customers informed if a repair looks likely to go over the original quote. “We always get the customer in here and show them. We just don’t carry on and give you a big bill. I wouldn’t want someone to do it to me, so we don’t do it.”

From carburettors in the 1980s to hybrids today, they have watched the industry change. “Training is ongoing. Especially with the electronics, the later model vehicles, the EV and hybrids, with the high voltage.”

Future plans include expanding, but Kevan and Wendy are not ready to reveal details. In the meantime, there are more awards to win as Central Taranaki Automotive continues its mission to go “above and beyond”.

(06) 765 7170

centraltarauto@xtra.co.nz