Cutting the Cake: Ross’s Plumbing Celebrates 20 Years' of Service
2025 marks a major milestone for Ross’s Plumbing – two decades of trusted service to homes and businesses across Auckland. What began as one man fixing leaky taps for a friend’s property management company has grown into a thriving nine-person team with a stellar reputation for quality workmanship and customer care.
WiriLink sat down with directors Ross and Maureen Collins-Wright to chat about their journey into small business ownership, what drives them, and what’s next for this proudly family-run plumbing business.
If you ask Ross and Maureen what they do, they’ll tell you straight:
“We’re certified plumbers, certified gas fitters and certified drainlayers. We look after property maintenance, landlords, renovations, broken toilets, hot water cylinders – we’re a one-stop shop for your plumbing needs.”
Their capability has made Ross’s Plumbing the go-to name for both residential and commercial clients alike. As Ross puts it with a grin,
“Everyone’s got a toilet!”
Ross’s journey into plumbing and into business ownership, wasn’t a straight line.
“I started a 4 year long plumbing apprenticeship as a 20-year-old. I thought it was such an exciting job, and I still do today.”
After working for the Manukau City Council, Ross took leave to serve in East Timor with New Zealand’s peacekeeping forces.
“On my return, I had to find a job. A friend’s partner was a property manager and kept calling me for plumbing jobs. One or two jobs a week became three or four days a week – and then it just grew from there.”
Soon after, Maureen joined the business to help manage the books.
“We still haven’t had that review and that was 18 years ago,” Maureen laughs.
Over the past 20 years, the plumbing industry has transformed, and Ross’s Plumbing has evolved right alongside it.
“When we started, everything was paper based. Now it’s 98% technology. Even during COVID, we stopped using paper job sheets altogether and never went back,” says Maureen.
Their commitment to innovation extends to the products they use. From lead-free tapware to digitally controlled shower mixers, Ross’s Plumbing prioritises quality and safety over cheap imports.
“We use New Zealand-made products wherever possible. We’ll never put a low-quality pipe in someone’s wall,” says Ross.
Even new technologies like AI have a place – in moderation.
“AI’s good for research and for writing up job notes, but it can’t replace customer service. Our philosophy is about the personal touch,” says Maureen.
Step inside their Wiri workshop and it’s clear Ross’s Plumbing is built on family values.
“We’ve always treated our team as whānau. If someone’s child has a school concert, we say go. If there’s a family emergency, we manage. That’s our philosophy,” says Maureen.
It’s a culture that breeds loyalty and camaraderie.
“You can hear the banter downstairs. It’s a lot of fun and the boys have each other’s backs,” says Ross.
Even the next generation has had a hand in shaping the business. Ross’s daughter Sarah, a trained legal executive, helped draft the company’s original terms and conditions, and Ross’s sister worked alongside them for a few years.
“We’ve just always kept it family-focused,” says Maureen.
Ross’s Plumbing takes pride in helping train the next generation of skilled plumbers, taking on new apprentices regularly.
“We train people to be plumbers. They go off into the world, and sometimes they start their own businesses. That’s a bit of kudos for us,” says Ross.
Mentoring is something Ross takes seriously.
“The last thing you want is them to do one step wrong and destroy a house. Everything is checked through the steps, so at the end of the day, we can turn the water on and say, hand on heart, we’ve done a good job.”
For over a decade, Ross’s Plumbing has called 17 Hobill Avenue, Wiri home.
“It was the first building we looked at. It ticked all the boxes – access, size, security, and affordability,” says Maureen.
Their connection to the Wiri Business Association has strengthened those local ties and has grown their customer base within the district.
“Being involved helped us really understand the business community here. It’s how we’ve picked up some of our best customers,” Maureen adds.
When asked what’s kept them going strong for two decades, both Ross and Maureen are quick to answer: people.
“The biggest learning has been getting the right staff. Along with building trust with customers, being available, and making sure no job is too small,” says Maureen.
“We love what we do. We love serving our customers and we love this area,” adds Ross.
From emergency call-outs to major renovations, Ross’s Plumbing continues to deliver the kind of service that only comes from decades of experience and genuine care for their customers.
Servicing Auckland from south of the Harbour Bridge to Pukekohe, and from Hillsborough to Howick (including Wattle Downs), no job is too big or too small for the Ross’s Plumbing team.
For friendly, professional plumbing you can rely on, call 0800 00 19 69 or visit rosssplumbing.co.nz.
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