From humble beginnings in the garage of his father's house with a coil of wire, a tool box and a van, Noel Holyoake created Holyoake Industries – the largest manufacturer of air distribution equipment in the Asia/Pacific region.
Investments in commercial property, forestry, automotive and marine services, and primary production are included in the Holyoake group portfolio.
Inducted into the Business Hall of Fame in 2016 as a pioneer of New Zealand’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry, Holyoake says one of the biggest challenges starting out as a 21-year-old was employing people who were older than him, though the 85-year-old says that's not a problem now. "I've run out of elders to look up to," he said last year.
Wife Betty is very much part of the family business Holyoake and is a director on the Holyoake Industries board alongside their two sons, Scott and Grant, who run the day-to-day operations across Australasia.
One of Holyoake's strengths was assembling a good team around him.
A Rotarian for more than 50 years, Holyoake says the organisation was great to belong to as a young businessman and discover that other members had the same problems in different industries.
Having suffered from polio when he was 22-years-old, Holyoake credits Rotary with having "nearly wiped polio from the earth." He has also played a leading role in the Trees for Survival Charitable Trust which has been adopted by more than 165 schools throughout the country.