Mary Te-Au doesn’t know the meaning of the word can’t.
“I’ve helped to grow many businesses during my career, even when people have told me it can’t be done,” says the Royal Wolf Branch Manager – Whangarei and mentor for Business Mentors New Zealand.
“I don’t believe in the word ‘can’t’. There is always a way.”
Mary brings more than 30 years of sales and management experience to Royal Wolf following roles at Northpower and a range of companies in the freight and logistics sector, including DHL Global Forwarding.
Originally from Ashburton, a move to Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) in 2001 was the start of a deep love for the region. That year she opened a successful lodge in remote Te Ngaere Bay north of Kerikeri, became the first female CEO of the Northland Chamber of Commerce, and was also the first person appointed to do marketing and public relations at the Waitangi Treaty grounds.
Her time in the region has nurtured a passion for Maori culture and last year she started formally learning te reo.
Local knowledge key
“I have great local knowledge and a lot of contacts around Te Tai Tokerau. There are a lot of pockets of industry because Northland is so much more than just Whangarei.
“Over the last decade the region has grown significantly, right from the housing and construction sectors through to infrastructure and agriculture. I see a real opportunity for Royal Wolf to expand its business up here and my goal is to make Northland one of the company’s top markets this year.”
Mary says she is focussed on growing Royal Wolf in Northland through new business, expanding its existing client base, and capitalising on the region’s burgeoning development opportunities.
She points to areas such as Port Whangarei and the Dargaville racecourse that are undergoing major residential and commercial development where Royal Wolf’s wide range of container solutions can be utilised.
There is a growing demand for storage containers and specialist units, such as refrigerated and dangerous goods containers across the region.
“The most incredible thing about Royal Wolf, apart from the people, are the products the company makes out of containers, like the Christchurch container mall after the 2011 earthquake. They can create anything, hence the Royal Wolf slogan ‘You can do anything in a Royal Wolf’.”
Supporting Northland to grow
Paul Creighton, Royal Wolf Executive General Manager, New Zealand, says the local Northland market has seen tremendous growth in the past two years despite the pandemic.
“The pandemic and resulting supply chain issues has seen more Northland businesses turn to containers as a cost-effective solution for storing product and stock.
“It's important to have the right people in the right roles. By utilising Mary’s experience and leadership, we believe there is a real opportunity to expand Royal Wolf in Te Tai Tokerau and support the entire region to continue to grow and thrive.”
