Gwil & Kelly Hughes joined Kowhai 2008 taking on Manawatu in 2018. They have also operated Kowhai Kapiti since 2012.

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Gwil, who is originally from the UK, has over 30 years industry experience and began his roofing career working on large commercial properties, some over 10 stories high.

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Gwil and Kelly travelled to NZ in 1999 as part of their big OE and fell in love with it after they spent a year backpacking the length of the country. During that time, they tried their hand at everything from fruit picking, bar and hospitality work to a milk run on the steep streets of Wellington!

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On returning home, the pair married and after contemplating the move for a few years, they emigrated to New Zealand in 2006.

 

In 2012 they joined the Kowhai family eventually taking on the Kapiti franchise, later expanding into Manawatu. These days they are a crew of 8. Everybody works fulltime in the business and takes ownership of delivering an excellent result.

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Their ethos of quality and safety is reflected in every aspect of the job and they are members of Hazard Co. They’re also Licensed Building Practitioners and have been members of the Roofing Association of NZ since 2011.

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Over the years Gwil and Kelly have also expanded operations on the home front and now have a tribe of 5 children. Although free time is in short supply, Gwil is into motorsport and participates in rallying, motocross and enduro riding.

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The couple likes to give back to their community where they can and support a number of charities including Wellington’s Child Hospital, Kapiti Youth Support, Special Children’s Christmas Party, St John's Ambulance and they also sponsor the local netball teams.

Kowhai Manawatu services from Bulls to Manukau and from Waiouru to Ngamahanga.