News

We are proud to announce our appointment as the official North Island dealer for Merlo S.p.A. Industries, representing Merlo across the agriculture, civil, construction, and specialist vehicle sectors.

Merlo’s origins date back to 1911, when the Merlo family began operating a small workshop in Cuneo, Italy. The business evolved over the decades and was officially established as Merlo S.p.A. in 1964. Still family-owned today, Merlo has earned a global reputation for innovation and engineering excellence. With operations in over 80 countries, seven subsidiaries, and a network of more than 800 dealers worldwide, Merlo is a recognised leader in telehandler and construction equipment technology.

We would like to acknowledge and sincerely thank Power Farming who have decided to end their relationship with Merlo after 25 years to pursue other avenues. Their dedication to supporting Merlo customers and building the brand in New Zealand has been invaluable, and we wish them every success in their next chapter.

However, a new era in Merlo’s journey is about to start. With over 1,000 machines already in the NZ market and a loyal customer base, Merlo is well placed in the North Island with their new partner Ag & Civil Machinery Direct Ltd supported by Waikato Tractors Ltd and The Tractor Centre Ltd Pukekohe to continue providing exceptional service and parts coverage.

As a division of Waikato Tractors Ltd, we are perfectly positioned to support long-time Merlo customers and welcome those beginning their Merlo journey, while ensuring the North Island has access to the sales, service, and parts backup needed to keep every machine working. Backed by over 35 trained technicians across our group, extensive experience with premium equipment brands, and a strong North Island footprint, we’re ready to ensure your Merlo machine performs at its best. Our access to Merlo Australia’s resources means we can provide time-critical parts and support to minimise downtime.

Plans are also underway to expand our presence across the North Island with permanent locations to enhance service, parts, and sales coverage. We look forward to sharing these developments soon.

We are excited to be supported by and work alongside Ken Bill known as “Mr Merlo”, who has joined Merlo Group Australia (MGA) to support the New Zealand distribution network. MGA is owned by the Merlo factory, further strengthening the Merlo experience. Ken has done more for Merlo in NZ over the past 25 years than any other person and has likely had a hand in nearly every machine sold in NZ to date. The value of his experience, knowledge and customer relationships gives us confidence in a successful future.

Our technical capability is further strengthened by Daniel Strachan (MGA), now based in New Zealand as part of Merlo Technical Support. Daniel brings a wealth of knowledge from his previous national technical support role with Merlo and reinforces our commitment to strong local service.

The future is bright for Merlo in New Zealand. We look forward to working with our South Island counterparts at JJ’s Ltd and continuing to grow the Merlo legacy together.

Please see all points of contact below. Any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.


J.P. Chapman
Manager, Ag & Civil Machinery Direct Ltd
027 302 0080