Fire at Mitre 10 Te Puke
Event Details
DescriptionTe Puke Mitre 10 was burnt to the ground in the early hours of Saturday April 1st, 2000. The Te Puke Times of Wednesday April 5th reported that it was a suspected arson attack thought to have been caused by rubbish which was pushed up against the back wall of the store and set alight. The Te Puke Volunteer Fire Brigade were joined by colleagues from Maketu, Pāpāmoa, Mt. Maunganui, Tauranga and Greerton, who tackled the fire for some hours before successfully extinguishing it. The owners at the time were Lynne and Gordon Avery who had been operating the Mitre 10 since July 1990.
The store was rebuilt and Lynne and Gordon stayed on until 2003, when they elected to sell to new owners from Wellington, Bob and Berwyn Fergusson.
The first hardware store in Te Puke was Gibbings Ltd., run by Te Puke man Dick Gibbings, situated in the old King's building which was in Jellicoe Street. Gordon Avery's father Fred worked for Gibbings Ltd. for a number of years, learnt the hardware trade and later bought the business. Son Gordon became involved in in the hardware business in 1980 after returning from overseas. Gibbings Ltd. became Gibbings Value Rite, then Gibbings Gift World. In 1990, Gordon and Lynne bought the business and in July that year moved to larger premises in the old Farmer’s Trading building which had closed down. Te Puke’s first Mitre 10 opened for business after a complete refit on July 28th 1990.
DateApril 2000
The store was rebuilt and Lynne and Gordon stayed on until 2003, when they elected to sell to new owners from Wellington, Bob and Berwyn Fergusson.
The first hardware store in Te Puke was Gibbings Ltd., run by Te Puke man Dick Gibbings, situated in the old King's building which was in Jellicoe Street. Gordon Avery's father Fred worked for Gibbings Ltd. for a number of years, learnt the hardware trade and later bought the business. Son Gordon became involved in in the hardware business in 1980 after returning from overseas. Gibbings Ltd. became Gibbings Value Rite, then Gibbings Gift World. In 1990, Gordon and Lynne bought the business and in July that year moved to larger premises in the old Farmer’s Trading building which had closed down. Te Puke’s first Mitre 10 opened for business after a complete refit on July 28th 1990.
DateApril 2000Photographs
Organisations
Related Information
OrganisationsTe Puke Volunteer Fire Brigade
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Fire at Mitre 10 Te Puke (April 2000). Western Bay of Plenty Community Archives, accessed 19/04/2026, https://westernbay.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/3983
