A history built on caring for Kiwi roofs.

1. 1959 · Christchurch

   Two roof tilers. The beginning of a partnership.

   Edwards & Hardy began in 1959, founded by Dick Edwards and Des Hardy. Des had learned his trade through a six-week roof tiling course with Ashby Bergh Ltd, before completing his first roof in Habgood Street, Linwood.

   As Christchurch grew, the pair worked together on new homes, laying concrete, clay and metal tiles. Their work covered everything from battening and fastening tiles to ridging and pointing. It was the start of a partnership that would take them beyond installing roofs.

   Source: Des Hardy’s recollections →

   

2. The early years

   Taking roof care from door to door.

   Seeing a roof being cleaned prompted Dick and Des to explore a new service. With help from an industrial chemist, they developed a roof treatment and began introducing homeowners to regular roof care.

   Des called on customers door to door while Dick followed with a car and trailer carrying a galvanised tank and their equipment. They hired and trained more salespeople as the workload grew, and needed more treatment sprayers. They also bought an Austin J2 ute to carry their equipment.

   Source: Des Hardy’s recollections →

   

3. 1980s · Roof recoating

   Finding new ways to look after roofs.

   Des recalled that during the 1980s, Edwards & Hardy expanded into recoating concrete tiles and metal roofs. Des’s brother Bruce Hardy helped with the mobile sand-blasting equipment used to prepare roof surfaces before coating. The business later developed its own tile coating, known as Tile Guard.

   Des also recalled developing a folding ladder with Bruce to make long ladders easier to transport. Their Mini Maxi design was patented, and the patent was later sold to a Christchurch ladder company. His account does not give a date for the ladder’s development.

   Source: Des Hardy’s recollections →

   

4. 1987

   A growing team, connected across regions.

   Des’s published account identifies this photograph as the 1987 conference in Auckland, attended by sales teams from Auckland, Tauranga and Hamilton.

   The caption names the colleagues pictured, including Des Hardy, Chris Lucas, Wally Lawton, Allan Heney, Gary Little and Julien Truesdale.

   Source: Des Hardy’s recollections →

   

5. April 1997

   A new chapter for the Christchurch business.

   In April 1997, Edwards & Hardy (Christchurch) Ltd was purchased by Gordon Thomas-Long, John Browning and Martin Hadfield. This milestone in the Christchurch business followed decades of work by the founders and their teams.

   Reflecting on their years together, Des remembered a partnership built on resolving differences, enjoying the work and supporting each other. His written recollections preserve the personal stories behind the company name.

   Source: Des Hardy’s recollections →

   

6. Late 2007 · Fleet milestones

   Vehicles that grew with the business.

   The company’s vehicle history recalls Chris Lucas starting with Edwards & Hardy in Hamilton in 1984, and Graeme Clark joining in Tauranga in 1986. Graeme’s sign-written Suzuki ST90 helped promote the business while carrying the equipment he needed for sales calls.

   Honda Citys and Nissan S-Cargos followed as sales vehicles. The first Nissan Atlas trucks were bought in 1998–99, while late 2007 brought the choice of the 2008 Suzuki Swift for sales representatives. The folding ladder fitted in its boot. These dates come from the company’s 2019 vehicle-history account.

   Source: Restoring History →

7. 2019 · 60th anniversary

   Bringing the first truck’s story back to life.

   For the company’s 60th anniversary, Graeme Clark led a project to restore an Austin J2 pickup representing the founders’ first work vehicle. The search began in 2017 and drew on vintage vehicle clubs, specialist restorers and parts found around New Zealand.

   Pickups discovered in Ferrymead, Christchurch provided templates and salvageable parts for the rebuild. The restoration article reports that some parts were later identified as coming from the original vehicle purchased by Edwards & Hardy in 1959. The finished pickup joined a parade of company vehicles celebrating six decades of work.

   Source: Restoring History →

   

8. 2023

   Recognition for training the next generation.

   Edwards & Hardy won the Roofing Association of New Zealand’s Training Company of the Year award in 2023. The result is recorded in Building Today’s coverage of the RANZ awards.

   The judges highlighted the scale and complexity of the re-roofing and repair market, and recognised the company’s achievement in training within that part of the industry.

   Source: Building Today · August 2023 →

   

9. 2024 · Gisborne

   An award-winning roof for a working medical centre.

   Edwards & Hardy Gisborne won RANZ Commercial Roof of the Year 2024 for re-roofing the De Lautour Medical Health Centre. The building housed six doctors and a chemist, so maintaining its operations was an important part of the project.

   The team carried out the work in stages over four months, using isolation zones, ground spotters and scrims. The judges recognised the craftsmanship of the vertical spire and the roof refurbishment while the commercial premises remained in use.

   Source: Building Today · August 2024 →

   

10. 2024 · 65th anniversary

    Celebrating 65 years by giving back.

    To mark 65 years in business, Edwards & Hardy launched a programme to replace roofs for 16 local heroes, volunteers and charities. The company’s December 2024 story describes a completed replacement roof for Auckland physiotherapist Helen Evans and her family, with further projects still to come at that time.

    Independent reporting in the Pōhutukawa Coast Times also identified Maraetai Bowling Club as a winner through The Hits competition. Community voting secured the club a new roof, allowing its fundraising efforts to support other projects.

    Source: The company’s 65th-anniversary story →

    Also reported: Pōhutukawa Coast Times · 13 September 2024, page 3

    

11. 11 June 2026

    Payton Wilson named RANZ Trainee of the Year.

    Edwards & Hardy Roofing apprentice Payton Wilson won the RANZ 2026 Trainee of the Year award. The awards were presented on 11 June during the RANZ Conference in Auckland.

    RANZ’s announcement recognises Wilson’s leadership potential, commitment to learning and passion for the industry. She was nominated by her manager, Zachary Waszczak. The company’s own account identifies her as a Christchurch-based apprentice who began as a general labourer.

    Source: RANZ’s official 2026 awards announcement →

    

Edwards & Hardy today

From Christchurch beginnings to nationwide roof care.

Our RoofGuard® Maintenance System has been used to clean and maintain domestic and commercial roofs since 1959. Over time, our work grew to include roof repairs and replacement, supported by long-standing relationships with New Zealand roofing manufacturers and suppliers.

Today, more than 400 people across 16 branches, supported by contractors, provide roof cleaning, repair, maintenance and re-roofing for residential, commercial and institutional properties.

100% New Zealand Owned and Operated

16 Branches Nationwide

Over 65 Years in Business

Over 70 Apprentices New Zealand Wide