Ray and Noeleen Mayne founded Ray Mayne Hose & Fittings in April 1991, operating initially from their property at Fairton. Ray brought years of irrigation industry experience to the business, along with a foundational partnership with Snap-Tite – a relationship that began in 1988 and has continued without a formal contract ever since. Built entirely on trust, that gentleman’s agreement remains in place to this day, and Snap-Tite is now the leading irrigation hose brand in New Zealand.

In the early years, Ray wore every hat – salesperson, irrigation designer, installation crew, and after-hours service technician. Those foundations of hard work and personal service shaped everything the business became.

The first permanent employee, Chris Harrison, joined in the mid-1990s, followed by Richard Green and Cairan Bennett – both of whom remain integral to the business today. As the team grew, so did capability, including bringing fabrication and engineering work in-house. The business also relocated to Dromore, where a purpose-built workshop was constructed alongside the Mayne family home.

During this period, Ray Mayne acquired the TurboRain range of fixed boom travelling irrigators, following the receivership of the previous Christchurch-based manufacturer. The team began manufacturing new TurboRain systems and TurboReel hose trailers from Dromore, as well as servicing and maintaining existing systems across the region.

Following an irrigation conference in Brisbane, Ray was introduced to the Reinke centre pivot irrigator range. After meetings in Melbourne and a trip to Reinke’s headquarters in Deshler, Nebraska, Ray Mayne Hose & Fittings became New Zealand’s first and only Reinke dealer – a milestone that transformed the scale and scope of the business.

The company’s first three Reinke systems were installed simultaneously at Dorie and Makihihi, with a Reinke representative on-site to guide the team through the builds. Since then, the company has installed many hundreds of Reinke systems across New Zealand.

To support the growing operation, a new workshop was established on Range Street in Ashburton in the early 2000s.

In 2023, the business entered a new phase with a planned succession, bringing in Miles Gliddon, Stephen Lee, Bruce Kell, Richard Green, and Stephen McCloy as directors and owners. Ray Mayne remains on the board as a Director, ensuring the values and relationships built over three decades continue to guide the company forward.

Ray Mayne Hose & Fittings 2023 Ltd continues to grow – expanding across Canterbury and into new territories – while maintaining the customer-first philosophy that has defined the business from day one.