This series of profiles on local businesses is supported by Land Matters and Pritchard Civil.

Dave Eastwood has an interesting history for a man who’s an expert in fixing small machinery.

He now operates Matai Mower Repairs on Riverbank Road servicing and selling lawn mowers, trimmers,  chainsaws and the like, but he started his working life as an telecommunications engineer. He was for several years a telecommunications engineer for the New Zealand Post Office in the days before exchanges became digital.

About 1987, he moved to Australia and was soon appointed to project manage several highly technical telecom jobs. He also took his OE to Europe, and when not travelling, had a job with the British Post Office.

Later he had an assignment to Fiji, where he successfully established the first telecoms IP network for Fiji Electricity. It was there he met his future wife, Sala, and they had their first of what was to be three children. Sala now works as a nurse.

Back in New Zealand, Dave worked for a while as a project manager for Geni, the successor to Telecom, and Fujitsu, before becoming a telecommunications and IT contractor for several government departments.

However, about 10 years ago, he had a life-changing cancer diagnosis.

“I knew something was badly wrong, but my doctor told me I needed to stop smoking and that I had celiac disease,” Dave says. “My wife convinced me I needed a second opinion and eventually I found out what it was.”

Dave was told it was stage 4, so he wasn’t sure what his future might be. He remained positive but his recovery was both debilitating and slow. It took five years before he felt well enough to return to work.

He worked for a couple of years for the Aviation Security Service, during which time the Covid pandemic struck. He was assigned to help out with security at the managed isolation and quarantine hotels for repatriated Kiwis.

Then he met Dave O’Callaghan, who was operating a mechanics business in Riverbank Road. Dave Eastwood was to help the mechanic with business advice, but the other Dave realised he had some nous tinkering with the mowers and chainsaws that needed repairing. The business mentoring was forgotten as Dave became busy fixing the machines.

When Dave O’Callaghan sold to Elliot Parkinson, the business was split. Elliot’s Mototech took on the servicing of motorcycles, quad bikes and ride-on mowers, and Dave Eastwood set up Matai Mower Repairs to service and sell the smaller gear.

Three years down the track, Dave is loving it.

“I’m not making the money I’m used to, but I’m my own boss – I can make my own decisions, and I get to talk to people about all sorts of things, not just repairs or a new mower.

“I get real satisfaction out of helping people, whether they’re commercial operators or just the average home gardener.”

In his short time in business, Dave has built a local reputation for fair prices and quality workmanship. He will do only the work required and give an honest opinion about whether customers might be wasting their money.

Dave services and repairs mowers, chainsaws (including chainsaw sharpening), trimmers, water blasters, blowers and generators. He also sells quality machinery made by Briggs & Stratton, Masport, Echo, Shindaiwa and Ego.

His advice for winter? Get your gear serviced now so everything works when spring comes.

Matai Mower Repairs, 36 Riverbank Rd. 06 262 9007 or 0204 6282 46. www.mataimowers.co.nz