Meet the team

Mark was born and bred in Timaru and is a local through and through. Mark joined the team here in 2008 as a Vehicle Sales Representative. In 2011 he moved onto the Sales Manager role and in August 2018 became the Branch Manager. He enjoys all aspects of the Vehicle industry but mostly the networking and friends made from both staff and customers. At home he enjoys spending time with his Wife Jannah and 3 young children.

Bryan has recently joined the team as the Vehicle Sales Manager. Coming from the agricultural sector he has a good understanding of the importance of providing the correct vehicle to meet the customer’s needs along with the importance of after sales service. When not at work he enjoys spending time with family and friends and when time allows escaping on either the mountain or road bike.

Born and raised in Timaru, John has spent the last 27 years selling cars and never tires of it. John came to us in 2002 after 12 years of service at Timaru Motors. A travel agent prior to selling cars, John did this both in Timaru and New Plymouth. An involved member of the RSA not surprisingly one of his interests is snooker. He also enjoys watching golf and motorsport.

Hamish is originally from the Wairarapa where he was around cars from a young age, with his father in the industry and being heavily involved in motorsport. Hamish continues his father's passion for people, cars and motorsport. Hamish and his wife moved to Timaru in 2013 after spending 7 years in Melbourne in the industry. Hamish looks forward to an ongoing relationship with his customers and getting on the road and meeting clients, making their next Toyota purchase as smooth as possible.

Kieran joined the team in December 2013. He attended Otago University and gained a Bachelor of Arts and a Post Graduate Diploma in Political Studies. Kieran is our internet specialist.

Alicia joined our team as Business Manager in April 2017 and comes from a finance and insurance background. Her aim is to help customers achieve their dreams by customising quick and easy financing solutions to suit their budgetary needs. If you want the car of your dreams now – contact Alicia today and make that dream a reality.

Georgie is a country kid through and through, having lived in the South Canterbury region since day dot. Georgie has recently returned back to Timaru after four years of study in Dunedin. Outside of work Georgie enjoys playing sports, having a bash on the guitar, running her side-business and is studying part time along the way.

Gareth joined us in 1997 as an apprentice technician. He has steadily moved up the ranks becoming our workshop foreman in 2011 and then in 2017 Gareth became our Service Manager. He is also our first Toyota New Zealand Diagnostic Master Technician. Gareth is a very busy man! He is motorsport mad and spends time in a crew for a motorsport team, is part of our mountain bike team, Mr DIY on his property and enjoys spending time with his wife and children.

Beth joined our service team in October 2016 after coming from a hospitality background. Outside of work she is kept busy with her 2 young children.

Jess started with us in June 2017 in our Service Department. She enjoys playing sport and is looking forward to the new challenge within South Canterbury Toyota.

Toot is very much our Jack of ALL trades. There doesn’t seem to be much that Toot cannot deal with. His role includes delivering customers and vehicles to and from the dealership, doing repairs and maintenance around the dealership, and fashioning up anything that we require. In a previous life Toot was in the Merchant Navy, builders’ labourer and worked in warehouse sales.

Russell joined our service team in September 2017 after spending 14 years in the insurance industry. He is a builder by trade which is helpful with the jobs he does around the building. Russell enjoys motorsport, building hot-rods & restoring classic motorcycles.

Since starting with us in 2006 as an apprentice technician, Ross has moved up to a senior technician and in 2017 became our workshop foreman. Ross is currently working towards becoming a Toyota New Zealand Diagnostic Master Technician. When not working Ross enjoys crewing for motorsport teams and photography.

Kieran was born in Wellington and moved to Timaru when he was one. Kieran attained his one year Pre-Trade Certificate at Aoraki Polytech and as part of this, he completed his placement at South Canterbury Toyota. Kieran completed his apprenticeship in April 2017. Some of Kieran’s interest include motorsport, travel and socialising.

Stephen is a very experienced franchise Service Technician. He joined South Canterbury Toyota in 2006 and has spent his entire working life in the motor industry.

Glenn May joined us in February. He started his apprenticeship in December 1967 and has been in the motor industry ever since. Glenn is one of the most active members of staff being involved in 4 wheel driving, amateur radio, search and rescue, table tennis and tramping.

Zayne joined us in July 2015 after 5 years with another franchise. Zayne has the most well behaved American Staffy called Tyson and enjoys taking him for a walk or to the park. He also enjoys working on his own vehicles & helping his friends with their vehicle projects.

Dean joined our service team as a technician in April 2018. He has been a technician for about 20 years since he was 15 years old! In his spare time he enjoys fixing classic cars & motorbikes, enjoys 4WD’ing and spending time with his wife and two kids.

Ben completed an Aoraki Pre Trade course in Mechanics Level 3 prior to joining South Canterbury Toyota as an apprentice. He has previously enjoyed rugby and played for the 1st IX for Timaru Boys High. Ben enjoys working on his cars, spending time with family and friends and watching motorsport.

After completing a pre-trade course at Aoraki Polytechnic, Isaac moved to Auckland for 6 months before returning to Timaru and joining our team as an Apprentice Technician. Isaac enjoys working on cars & going to the track to watch motorsport.

Jeremy has completed the level 2 Automotive course at Aoraki Polytech and joined us in 2016 to continue his studies of the motor industry by becoming an Apprentice Technician. Jeremy enjoys playing the piano & wishes to continue his studies in music. He also enjoys working on cars & watching drift formula.

Mit started working with us in January 2019 as an Apprentice Technician. In his spare time Mit enjoys DJing, socialising and is a Qualified Auto Electrician, which will be an exciting addition to our team here at South Canterbury Toyota.

Aaron started with us in August 2017 in the grooming department. Aaron completed a Motor Industry pre-trade course in 2015 at Aoraki Polytechnic & his interests are motorsport, travel & food.

Jason has had over 20 years of experience in the motor industry and started at South Canterbury Toyota in July 2012. He enjoys skiing &mountain biking. He also does a great deal of DIY.

Hayden has been with us in our parts department since February 2016. He enjoys days out on his dirt bike and the odd building job.

Rikki joined us in August 2015 with previous parts experience. He enjoys spending time with his son and working on his numerous car projects. Rikki watches motorsport and enjoys gaming.

James is the Manager of our in house Bridgestone Tyre Centre. He enjoys talking to customers and fitting the right tyre to meet their needs. James was with Firestone Church Street for 9 years prior to joining us in 2007. James enjoys mountain biking (which has ultimately caused a few broken ribs) and has been part of our winning corporate team at the 12 hour mountain bike race.

Mick has lived in Timaru for as long as he remembers. He started in the motor trade with Timaru Motors on leaving school and has been involved with cars, 4x4’s and tyres for a very long time. When not working, Mick enjoys watching motorsport, rugby and spending time with his family.

Alana started working with us in August 2013 as a Service Advisor. In October 2016, Alana joined the administration team and in July 2018 she was promoted to our Administration Team Leader role. Alana enjoys travelling, sports and getting out in the outdoors.

Naomi started at South Canterbury Toyota in 2005 as our Receptionist. She later became our Administration Team Leader and as of July 2018 is enjoying her new role as Senior Administration. Her interests include roller skating, shooting and spending time with her family.

Donny started working with us in December 2018 as our Receptionist/Administration. She has worked in the motor industry for nine years in various roles. Donny’s interests include travelling, catching up with friends and family and listening to music.

Paul has been a part of the grooming team since 2002. Paul gets great pleasure out of seeing the results a little TLC can do to vehicles, especially the used commercials. Paul has also worked in the general cleaning industry, service stations and tyre shops. He is a keen fisherman specifically, West Coast Blue Cod.

Daryl has been with us since 2004 and seems to be the fittest staff member, never running out of energy to keep our cars clean at a million paces. In Daryl’s spare time he expends more energy on his bike, and he likes golf and having a drink with his work mates.

Marlene joined the grooming team in Feb 2017. Originally from South Africa, she married a Timaru boy and moved to New Zealand in 2001. Marlene has a keen eye for detail and her feathers do not ruffle easily. Marlene is very artistic & she is a very good baker who makes & decorates custom cakes.

Andy has a tremendous amount of experience in the Motor Industry beginning in the summer of 1990! After relinquishing the reigns of Branch Manager at South Canterbury Toyota in August 2018 he has taken on the well-deserved challenge of Group General Manager for Used Vehicles for the McDermid Group. This entails managing the used vehicle inventory for Blenheim, Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Ashburton and Timaru branches. Andy and his wife Helen have a very full social life which includes spending a great deal of time with their four grandchildren.

Chris was born and raised in Timaru before heading on a rather extended (12 year) OE. After seeing most of the “other side of the world” Chris returned to Timaru in 2006 and joined our team 3 days later! Chris’s background before joining South Canterbury Toyota was mainly in the banking sector. She enjoys skiing, running, cycling, travelling overseas and spending time with her daughters.

Sharon has been with South Canterbury Toyota since 1999. During that time Sharon has worked as a Service Advisor, Parts Manager, Warranty & Administration & is now part of the Customer Relations Team. In 2008, Sharon won the Toyota New Zealand Service Advisor award & won a trip to Japan. In her spare time Sharon loves car racing, baking & getting out to pound the pavement as well.

April joined the team as a Service Advisor in mid-2016 at the Rangiora branch and has been in the Automotive Industry since 2012. In mid-2018, April moved to the Customer Relations and Marketing team. Outside of work April enjoys spending time with her fiancé, two children and animals.

Originally from a hospitality background Talei moved to South Canterbury in 1996 from Wellington. She had a brief stint at Lake Tekapo before joining our team as our Business Manager. She then moved into admin in 2004. In 2015 Talei became our Group Admin Manager when Rangiora & Ashburton Toyota joined our group of South Canterbury & Blenheim Toyota. In her spare time Talei doesn’t enjoy running but Chris Ward & Sharon Wood make her do it from time to time. She does enjoy water and snow skiing, sewing and spending time with her daughter.