increase font size
An artist’s impression of the new $10m building.
One of Australasia’s largest, privately-owned farm machinery distributors, Landpower is building a new $10 million complex adjacent to Hamilton Airport.
The project is taking place on a three-hectare site, that will become the new home of CLAAS Harvest Centre, Waikato. It will also include a parts, training and demonstration hub for five other dealerships in the North Island.
With groundworks already commenced, stage one includes construction of a six-bay service workshop, a 1000 square metre parts warehouse and a 700 square metre showroom, administration and training centre. Outside will be a 6500 square metre ‘hard stand’ comprising landscaped concrete, asphalt and gravel areas and a one-hectare product demonstration and training area.
Landpower chief executive Richard Wilson says the major investment will underpin increasing demand for high performance farm machinery and after-sales service and support.
“Hamilton is our largest dealership in the North Island and has developed a solid business based on forage harvesting technology,” Wilson says.
“This expansion will spearhead the continued growth in sales of our extensive range of front-line tractors, material handling and feeding equipment.”
Landpower represents brands of farm machinery, including Claas, Amazone and JCB, via a network of 32 company owned and franchised Claas Harvest Centres on both sides of the Tasman.
Claas Harvest Centre, Waikato traces its roots back to the well-known A.M. Bisley & Co, which was established as a seed, grain and produce store on the corner of Ward and Alexandra Streets in Hamilton in 1920.
In 1987, Bisley’s farm machinery business was acquired by Farmrite, the Invercargill-based farm machinery importer and distributor established by Herby and Pam Whyte in 1975.
In 1995, it was rebadged as Landpower, which at that stage operated 12 franchises and about 50 independent dealers throughout Australia and New Zealand.
At a time when many businesses are taking a cautious investment approach, Landpower continues to back its customers, having officially opened the doors to its new CLAAS Harvest Centre dealership in Feilding, marking a significant investment in the future of agriculture across the lower North Island.
Twin rotor swathers have become the ‘go-to’ for forming swaths to feed hungry harvesters and balers, however, the design layout often means that crop located between the two rotors is not picked up, turned over or incorporated into the swath formed for subsequent harvesting.
Fifty Eight years ago, on the 16th of August 1968, August Claas, the founder of the harvesting company and father of Helmut Claas, personally presented a Claas Senator combine harvester to Scottish farmer John Steven.
Scheduled to replace its Axion 800 series, Claas has released details of the new, three model, Axion 8 CMATIC range.
Following the €1.6 million investment in a prototype workshop in early 2025, Claas has invested an additional €3.3 million at its Metz-Woippy baler production plant to increase production capacity.
Canterbury milk processor, Synlait Milk has confirmed Leon Fung as its chief executive officer.
OPINION: Making it easier to collect rainwater and use it to grow crops and livestock is a no brainer.
As part of its Election 2026 coverage, Rural News asked political parties how they would help pull the arable sector out of the doldrums. Here's what they said:
Farmers are being encouraged to rethink how they manage waste on farm with the launch of ruralwastesorted.co.nz, a new website bringing together practical tips, real farmer experiences and resources.
New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) is celebrating the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) coming into force today, bringing New Zealand wine improved access to one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
New Zealand’s red meat sector has welcomed the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement taking effect, which removes India’s 33% tariff on New Zealand sheepmeat.
OPINION: It seems Canterbury processor Synlait is still in the doldrums.
OPINION: Get offside with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at your own peril.
