Norwood celebrates 70 years
Palmerston North farm machinery giant Norwood, which once supplied Sir Edmund Hillary with tractors for an Antarctic expedition, is celebrating its 70th year.
Norwood was founded in Palmerston North in 1948 by Sir Walter Norwood, after he successfully landed a bid to be the New Zealand distributor of Harry Ferguson’s now-famous tractors shortly after they were launched.
Walter Norwood was the heir to Charles Norwood, an early pioneer of New Zealand’s motor industry, who was also knighted, for his civic achievements, such as founding the New Zealand Crippled Children Society and the Wellington Free Ambulance.
When Hillary became the fist person to reach the South Pole using a motor vehicle in 1958, his expedition got its tractors from Norwood.
The Ferguson TEA tractors were modified to withstand the freezing Antarctic conditions by Hillary over a single winter.
Norwood prides itself on providing a full maintenance and repair service, but Hillary and his team were on their own in Antarctica’s tundra.
Norwood continued to grow into New Zealand’s largest farm machinery supplier and its Palmerston North warehouse is the country’s largest agricultural parts warehouse. It employs 430 people, with 150 employees based in Manawatu¯ .
Chief executive Tim Myers said the company began its birthday celebrations with an anniversary dinner for 120 staff members last week.
Myers said the Zuellig family, who took over the company in 1987, continued the Norwood founders’ commitment to philanthropy – and for the company’s 70th year it planned to make additional efforts on top of its usual sponsorships and donations.