Our History

1935	Joe Rae registers his furniture company in Hastings. Joe employed 12 cabinet makers producing high-quality French-polished furniture.

1944	During the war years the company made furniture and rifle butts for the army.

1951	The company changed its name to Furnware. The company was a major supplier of kitchen joinery for state houses. School furniture and coffins were added to the product range.

1966	The company began manufacturing bike frames and mower handles.

1972	Caravan manufacturing began. Within 4 years Furnware had a nationwide dealer network and was selling up to 8,000 caravans a year.

1973	The company was acquired by Brierley Investments Ltd

1979	The government introduced a 20% sales tax on caravans. By 1980 sales had dropped by 70%. Meanwhile, the company introduced a new range of polypropylene furniture for secondary schools and upholstered furniture for meeting rooms, bars and restaurants.

1983	The caravan business closed.

1988	BIL sold the company to Fletcher Challenge Limited.

1990	Furnware was purchased by 3 Fletcher Challenge executives. Tomorrow’s Schools meant the end of central purchasing by the Education Department. Furnware now had to deal directly with individual schools.

1993	Furnware purchased by Hamish Whyte and his family. Since then, Furnware has focussed on the education market and school furniture and is now expanding internationally.

The war years, state housing, caravanning, the Muldoon government, Brierley Investments, Tomorrow’s Schools. Everything that has happened in New Zealand has shaped Furnware today...