The New Zealand Bowaters

The New Zealand Bowaters

In 1853 James Bowater and his family migrated to Australia, and settled near Melbourne, Victoria. Later, in 1865 James and his family moved to New Zealand.

It seems certain that all New Zealand Bowater decedents have James to thank, as the “entrepreneurial prime mover”, for our presence here, as James loved the country so much he encouraged his 3 older brothers to leave England and join him in New Zealand.

After initially settling in Wellington, the brothers moved south, and opened the Bowater Bros of Reefton Sawmills on the West Coast of the South Island around 1886, which grew into a large enterprise with widespread operations, as well as opening a chain of consumer timber and hardware stores, and being involved in gold and coal mining in the region.

Interestingly, Eliza Bowater was among the West Coast women registered to vote in the 1893 General Election, which was the first time any nation in the world had given women the right to vote.

The author’s Grandfather, Raymond Rhodes Bowater (born 1911, Westport) later moved to Nelson, later to be known as the sunshine capital of New Zealand. Ray married Margaret, and became involved in the motor industry where he started a business as an auto-electrician, and later established Bowater Motors, obtaining the franchises for many famous car brands and becoming a major player in the local industry, establishing related finance and insurance businesses, as well as becoming a significant landholder in the region.

In 2023 Bowater Motors celebrated its 75 years anniversary, and is still in the family ownership. The Bowaters are respected members of the local community, and well known and influential members of the business community.

The below is the cover of a limited edition book celebrating the Bowater Motor Group's 75 years.