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Ian Davies
An iconic local business is staying in local hands.
Warkworth Car and Truck Rentals has been purchased by Leabourn Passenger Service, which also owns Warkworth Taxi and Bus Services.
Warkworth Taxis general manager Ian Davies has taken over day-to-day operation of the rental business, which will also provide a depot for the taxis.
Warkworth Rentals has been in business for 20 years while Leabourn has been in business for 60 years.
Ian himself has been in the transport business for 40 years, previously working with Gubbs Motors.
He says it’s a fitting acquisition, which brings Leabourn’s fleet management skills to the rental business, ensuring its ability to continue to provide reliable vehicles.
The merger between the rental business and the taxis has doubled the fleet overnight to nearly 40 vehicles.
Ian says he intends to offer a package for tourists visiting northern New Zealand, picking them up from the airport in a taxi and providing a rental car for their holiday.
The rental car fleet is comprised of small and reliable Mazda Demios, aged from 2007 to 2010. Car rental is affordably priced at $35 a day.
There is also an eight-seater van and a 12-seater van, as well as 10, 15 and 19 cubic metre moving trucks.
Warkworth Rentals has a friendly, relaxed attitude and allows customers to return vehicles and return keys to a lock box after hours, even if the office is closed.
Ian says it is still the same convenient service that customers have come to rely on and trust.
Once things get moving, Ian intends to computerise the booking system to allow customers to make bookings online.
