Meet Stu

Some people fall into their careers by chance, others ask for them straight from the rugby club bar. For Stu, it was the latter.

Born and bred in Matamata, Stu grew up doing what many young locals do, working hard on the family dairy farm. With two sisters (one now milking 1200 cows in Otorohanga and the other busy raising a new baby), farming life was just part of the rhythm. These days, Stu’s still close to home, living in town with his partner and an impressive blended crew of seven kids. “Seven at home full-time,” he says, grinning. “Five boys, two girls. Never a quiet moment.”
 

Stu’s journey to Reid & Harrison began in classic small-town Kiwi style, through mates and mud. “I was at the rugby club one night, had a yarn with Seaton, and just asked for a job,” he says. And just like that, the wheels were in motion. He started young, 12 years old in fact, working part-time before signing on full-time five years after finishing school. “Been here 23 years now,” he adds, like it’s no big deal.

Stu began in the workshop, where he racked up over two decades getting hands-on with gear, systems, and everything in between. “They’d drag me out on-site now and then,” he laughs, “but mostly I was in the workshop.” These days, he’s made the move to the field, working on installs, herd home cleaning and doing what he does best, solving problems with a shovel, spanner, and a bit of grit.

When he’s not getting systems running smoothly on-farm, you’ll probably find him doing the exact opposite: casting a line and hoping for a bite somewhere around Coromandel. “Just whatever comes out,” he says of his fishing targets. No fuss, no frills, just a bloke and the sea.

So what’s kept him at Reid & Harrison for more than two decades?

“It’s the people,” he says. “Good bosses, good crew. We have a laugh. That makes all the difference.”

In a business known for mud, motors, and managing effluent, Stu is a bit of a legend. Not because he shouts the loudest or brags the most, but because he’s part of the backbone of what keeps things moving. Quietly reliable, highly experienced, and genuinely down-to-earth.

You won’t find him posting selfies from the cab or making LinkedIn videos about leadership. But if you’ve got pipe to lay, gear to install, or a pond to sort, there’s a good chance Stu’s already on his way.