Norwood Agriculture Pty Ltd

Our early history

Early automotive beginnings

Born at Gympie, Queensland on 23 August 1871, Charles Norwood, immigrated to New Zealand in his twenties and became an early pioneer in the New Zealand motor industry, acquiring an interest in Rowse & Hurrell, a Wellington coach-building firm around the turn of the century.

Business soon flourished and Charles Norwood negotiated the Ford Motor Company agency for the whole of New Zealand and changed the name to The Colonial Motor Company.

Charles Norwood later went on to establish The Dominion Motors in 1912 importing a number of American marques, and from 1930 the firm would began a long association with Morris Motors (and later BMC).

Opportunities in post-war farm mechanization

Walter Norwood (later Sir Walter) was born in 1907 and after joining Dominion Motors in 1926, would play a prominent part in the development of the business including pioneering the assembly in New Zealand of the first Morris vehicles to be imported in CKD (completely knocked down) form.

Later while Walter was in England, Harry Ferguson launched the Ferguson TE20 tractor and secured the distribution rights for the New Zealand market. Tractor and farm machinery activities commenced in 1948, and CKD assembly and parts warehousing was established at Tremaine Avenue, Palmerston North where the business is still headquartered today.

The business prospered and remained under the Norwood family's control until 1978. When in 1986 Norwood started operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zuellig, a privately owned distribution group with interests throughout Asia-Pacific.

Our association with New Holland dates back to 1985 when the company took over the New Zealand distribution for Sperry New Holland harvesting machinery.

In September 2009 Norwood Agriculture Pty Limited was established to invest in Australian farm machinery retail dealerships and distribution activities.

The Zuellig Group has built upon a century of history and become a highly successful privately owned conglomerate with a turnover of over US$12 billion. The group currently owns and manages a diversified portfolio of industry-leading businesses in the Asia Pacific region spanning three sectors: healthcare distribution solution and pharmacy services; agribusiness manufacturing and distribution; and agricultural and materials handling equipment supply and services.