Borne from
the land

Working the land from a young age, Garth came to understand both the challenges and rewards of farming in New Zealand. His career began with an engineering apprenticeship at Allied Manufacturing. In 1995, at the age of 24, he purchased the business, which has remained in the Fyfe family ever since.

Landquip initially focused on producing steel ladders for Hawke’s Bay’s thriving orchard industry and providing engineering services for a wide range of clients. In the mid-1990s, the business began experimenting with aluminium, a material that offered both strength and lightness. The result was ‘Allite Ladders,’ which quickly became a staple for orchardists who appreciated the benefits of aluminium over steel.

As the workshop expanded, so did our product range, with the introduction of pruning sweeps and ATV trailers to enhance workflow efficiency. With the rise of the wine industry in Hawke’s Bay, Garth collaborated with a local vineyard to develop a prototype grape bin for harvest. This innovation led to the creation of the ‘Landquip Grape Gondolas,’ which have since become New Zealand’s top-selling grape bins.

Our next venture was into agriculture. After a request from a local sheep farmer to explore aluminium panels for sheep yards, we developed what is now known as ‘Portayards.’ This innovative product has been successfully supplied to farmers worldwide. Recognizing that many farmers who use Portayards also require permanent yard systems, we partnered with Waikite Station in 2005 to design and manufacture ‘Permayards.’ These systems, tougher and longer-lasting than traditional wooden yards, have become the preferred choice for savvy farmers across New Zealand.

In 2007, we took a significant step forward by constructing a purpose-built manufacturing facility on 12 hectares of apple orchard in Hastings. This move allowed us to streamline production and increase capacity, setting the stage for further growth. In response to the rising number of ATV injuries and fatalities, Garth collaborated with ‘Trax’ in Dargaville in 2013 to design and prototype the ‘LifeGuard,’ an aftermarket soft roll bar for quad bikes. This award-winning system has been widely adopted and continues to protect farmers on the go.

In 2015, after a long and productive relationship with Hustler Equipment, we acquired their innovative line of vineyard and orchard forklifts. This acquisition not only expanded our product range but also strengthened our position in the market. By 2020, we decided to cease the ‘jobbing work’ we had always done, allowing us to focus exclusively on Landquip products. This shift enabled us to further streamline our systems and processes, freeing up space—both physical and mental—for product innovation, production and development.

In 2022, Landquip took over the highly reputable range of mowers from Galaxy Group in Gisborne. This acquisition seamlessly integrated with our existing orchard and vineyard product lines, and we continue to develop these mowers to meet the evolving needs of the agricultural sector.
At the 2024 Mystery Creek Fieldays, Landquip received strong interest in its mission to develop an innovative solution for maintaining dairy laneways. Just four months later, the company proudly launched the LaneRotr R1—a cutting-edge machine now sold across New Zealand and gaining significant interest from the Australian market. This expansion added a new string to Landquip’s bow, with the robust dairy industry becoming an important new market for the company.

Just like Garth, his sons Tom and Jacob grew up immersed in farming, spending their after-school hours and holidays fattening lambs on the orchards and vineyards of Hawke’s Bay. Tom joined Landquip in 2010 and now manages the business, while Jacob, who came on board in 2015, leads the sales team.

Landquip remains a family business at heart. Although Garth is still actively involved in day-to-day operations, he is supported by a team of young, passionate, and capable individuals who share the same values and vision. As a proud part of New Zealand’s smart economy, we look forward to expanding our global markets and continuing to innovate, design, and build products that make our customers’ lives easier. Bring it on!