WORDS & IMAGES BY ANNIE STUDHOLME
Trusted in the Canterbury region for more than 90 years, Newlands Group Limited has recently teamed up with iconic Australian 4x4 accessories brand ARB, bringing their extensive range of products to its branches in Ashburton, Rolleston, and Timaru.
Now in its third generation, Newlands was founded in 1933. Established as an auto-electrical and battery service centre, the business later diversified into installing, fixing and servicing vehicle air conditioning systems. Robert Newlands, a grandson of Newlands’ founder Bill Newlands, expanded the sales side of the business in the early 2000s, joining the Powertool Centre Group and building a new showroom on its current site. The company continued to grow with the opening of its Rolleston branch in 2010, followed by the purchase of Timaru Battery Service and Ace Automotive. Newlands Timaru was formally established in 2020 after the company relocated Timaru Battery Service to Washdyke.
Today, Newlands Group Ltd employs 65 people across its three branches. It provides an auto electrical and air conditioning repair facility, utilising the latest electronic scanning equipment for fault diagnosis and repairs. It also has a fleet of fully equipped service vehicles for on-farm repairs and stocks an extensive range of vehicle batteries and parts. In addition, it also stocks a great range of auto parts and accessories; power tools (including Makita, Bosch, Milwaukee); Knipex hand tools; Tait, Hytera and GME land and marine radios; EROADS GPS; car audio and reversing cameras sales and installation; Hella LED lighting; and KT Solar and lithium batteries, among others.
Though Newlands has firmly established itself as one of the country’s leading auto electrical service centres and a proven place for farmers and the service industry alike to do business, General Manager Sales and Director Jeff Naish says the team felt something was missing that linked all facets of the company together. “The move into ARB is the link we have been searching for,” he says.
With its origins going back to 1975, when company founder Tony Brown was inspired by a 4WD driving trip through the top end of Australia, ARB has become Australia’s largest manufacturer and distributor of 4x4 accessories with offices across the globe. Above all else, it is built on quality, reliability, and practicability, and substantial capital is invested into research and design each year. ARB’s range includes everything from bull bars and snorkels to rooftop tents and camping essentials, suspension and underbody protection, floor mats and lighting bars, to name a few.
Having seen how popular ARB accessories had become in Australia, not just with die-hard 4x4 enthusiasts but also with farmers and the trade industry, Newlands saw bringing them to Canterbury as a massive opportunity. While some ARB stockists were already in New Zealand, most were in the North Island, explains Jeff.
“It’s a premium product, and its range complements what we already have but gives customers even more choices. There is something for everyone in their product line. It’s a great fit for us as our customer base already use some sort of product from their range. It also simplified much of our stock handling as we only have to deal with one supplier.”
After almost a year in the making, Newlands officially became an authorised stockist and installer of ARB accessories last September.
“It’s very exciting. The staff are intrigued and interested, which makes it really easy. Everyone is passionate about the products and enthused by the product line. We have already established a great relationship with ARB. As a business, we have invested heavily in the product, including stock and display material. We are very excited to see what the future brings,” says Jeff.
Newlands Auto Electrical Battery Shop
80 Kermode Street Ashburton
03 308 7234
[email protected]
www.newlands.net.nz
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