Our Story
We didn't come from money. We came from Hawke's Bay.
From one man, one machine, and zero guarantees.
In 2008, the founder didn't have a business plan — he had a second-hand tractor, a ute that needed a new radiator, and the phone numbers of three growers who'd give him a shot. That was DML.
He'd spent his twenties working on other people's orchards, watching how the work was done and — more importantly — watching how it was done wrong. Crews who didn't show. Gear that broke in the middle of a harvest. Contractors who disappeared when things got hard. He knew he could do it differently.
The first season was brutal. Long days, tight margins, no room for error. But word got around fast — not because of advertising, but because growers talk. If you turn up on time with good people, they tell the next grower. Then the next.
By 2012 the phone was ringing faster than one man could answer it. He brought in his partner, and together they built the systems, hired the first crew, and opened the doors on the Hastings depot — still our busiest.
Today, DML operates from a single local depot in Hastings, employs over 100 people in peak season, and manages labour, recruitment, equipment hire, and full contracting services for some of the region's biggest orchards and vineyards. The ute's been replaced. The tractor got retired. But the values haven't moved an inch.
We're not a national corporation that turned up and decided Hawke's Bay looked like a good market. We grew here. We sweated here. And when the Cyclone came through in 2023, we were the first crew back in the mud helping growers salvage what they could. That's not a press release — it's just who we are.
What we stand for
Not a list of corporate values someone wrote in a boardroom. Just how we actually operate.
Show up.
Every time. On time. With the people you were promised and the gear in good nick.
Be straight.
Good news or bad, you'll hear it from us first, direct, and without spin.
Know your craft.
We work with skilled horticulture people who take pride in how they prune, pick, and operate. Quality work isn't optional — it's expected.
Look after your crew.
Our workers are our reputation. We pay fairly, train properly, and treat people like they matter.
Stay local.
Our money, our staff, our knowledge — all Hawke's Bay. We're not going anywhere.
Own your mistakes.
If something goes wrong, you'll hear from us before you notice it. Then we'll fix it.
Part of the Hawke's Bay Agri Network
DML is a proud founding member of the Hawke's Bay Agri Network — a collective of trusted local agri-businesses sharing knowledge, resources, and a commitment to keeping the region's horticulture strong.
Visit hawkesbayagrinetwork.co.nz →