Latest Ruralco News

Words by Annie Studholme 

Honda Country Ashburton has recently extended its reach into the Selwyn area with the purchase of Dunsandel’s Happers Honda, marking the start of a new chapter for the well-known local business. 

Importantly, the familiar local service will remain, with the previous owner Brent Happer taking on the role of workshop manager, guaranteeing the same trusted knowledge and support customers have grown accustomed to. The business is now operating as Honda Country Dunsandel. 

Honda Country has proudly served the rural community for more than 35 years, with Haydon South at the helm for the past six years. Recognised as one of the leading Honda motorcycle and power equipment dealerships in the region, it offers a complete range of new and used motorcycles, ATVs, Side-by-Sides (SxS), genuine Honda parts and accessories, in addition to providing both expert servicing in the workshop and on-farm. Honda Country is also your one-stop shop for Honda power equipment, including ride-on and push lawn mowers, brush cutters and line trimmers, generators, water pumps, and water blasters.  

Haydon sees it as an exciting new move for Honda Country, further strengthening the local offering while retaining the people and service that matter most. Honda Country already had some clients north of the Rakaia River, and this will give the business an opportunity to grow further.  

Backed by decades of experience and a genuine commitment to customer service, he says they go the extra mile to ensure every customer receives the right advice, the right equipment, and ongoing support. “Whether you're purchasing a new machine, servicing your current one, or looking for parts and accessories, you can count on the team at Honda Country. Customer service is a big focus for us.” 

Since it was introduced around 15 years ago, the on-farm servicing arm of the business has proved very popular with clients. The service trucks are fully equipped with oils, Honda parts and accessories, and are operated by Honda-trained mechanics, meaning all routine work can be completed on-farm during regular business hours.  

Haydon says they fully understand farmers are busy and it’s uneconomical to bring individual motorbikes and ATVs to town for routine services. This way, nearly everything can be done on-farm, ensuring they are maintained to a safe standard, and ensuring all compliance documentation is recorded. “It’s about helping them take control and looking after their assets. It’s not just about changing the oil; there are a lot of moving parts." 

With four service trucks operating across Ashburton and Dunsandel, he expects this to be a great opportunity to further expand our on-farm servicing capabilities and provide even better support to our customers. 

Haydon says another significant advantage for customers is access to the combined inventory held across both the Ashburton and Dunsandel branches. Sharing motorcycle, ATV, SXS, power equipment and parts stock between locations increases product availability. 

While Ruralco had not previously been available at the Dunsandel branch, with the dealership now operating under the Honda Country banner, Ruralco customers can use their Ruralco Card at Honda Country Dunsandel, making it easy to manage their spend with one monthly statement and GST invoices attached.