Hiflo Plumbing is hosting a 50th year celebration this week.
About 70 staff, both past and present, are expected to attend the event.
Hiflo Group managing director Peter Ryder said it was exciting to see people from all over the country reunite.
"People from all around New Zealand that have done well in their careers that originally started at Hiflo [will be attending the celebration] so that’s really pleasing."
Mr Ryder’s parents, Ian and Helen, started the company in 1972 and had just two employees.
He joined them in 1982, and they now have more than 40 staff members, including seven apprentices.
My Ryder and his wife took over ownership of the company in the early 2000s.
Since then, they have been involved in many projects throughout the district, including the Waitaki Aquatic Centre, Oamaru Hospital and both Oamaru high schools.
But the impact of the company has been felt throughout the country through not only their work but also the staff they trained, Mr Ryder said.
The company has been busy since coming out of Covid-19 lockdowns, he said.
"[I] didn’t anticipate how much work was going to come out of the Mackenzie and Waitaki districts since we’ve sort of got our head around Covid. It’s unbelievable."
Two of his sons as well as his son-in-law were also employed by the company.
He hoped they would grow the business and keep it in the family.
"We look forward to the next 50 [years]," he said.
By Nic Duff
