His 12 to 14 employees were his first priority.
Shorland said he was reassured to learn everyone had found jobs, “especially in these times”.
Others had retired or were on medical leave, he said.
Shorland said he had a “bad health year” in 2024 and was “lucky to be here”.
“[I] got through it good as gold, but it sort of just changed my thinking … we had a business in Tauranga which we sold just not long after that.”
An opportunity arose after the family was asked if they were interested in selling the Rotorua business.
They decided it was “the right thing”.
“We looked at relocating, but we couldn’t find anything quick enough for the timeframe for the developer. So, to find somewhere and set it up, it would have been a big gap anyway and we thought might as well … go and do something else.”
His next step was still to be determined.
Shorland said the family-run business had been operating at the site since February 1992.
Reflecting on his time at the dealership, Shorland said the industry had “dramatically changed” in the last five to six years.
“It’ll never be what it was. I think the loyalty’s gone out of the industry … from customers, from distributors.”
He believed this was driven by Chinese brands entering the market, which, in his view, “won’t all last”.
“They can’t survive. It’s unsustainable in this market. We’re not a big enough market to have 30-something Chinese brands … ”
Shorland said “too much Government interference” had also impacted the industry, such as introducing subsidies and taking them away.
ShorlandAutoCo is closing after almost 35 years of operations. Photo / Megan Wilson
He said the dealership currently sold Peugeot and Mahindra cars and Isuzu trucks. It used to sell Holden, Subaru and Daihatsu.
Shorland said he was trying to work with distributors to “find a solution” for its Isuzu truck and Holden customers.
For its automotive customers, he suggested going to Birchall and Maunder or Emersons.
Shorland thanked customers for their support.
Depot to be built
R & B Property Group Rotorua managing director Ray Cook said the company would design and construct a purpose-built 2600sq m logistics centre for NZ Post as part of a long-term leaseback arrangement.
Construction was expected to start in November, with completion scheduled for June, Cook said.
Local subcontractors, suppliers and tradesmen would be involved in the construction, he said.
A new NZ Post depot has been planned for Rotorua, at the corner of Old Taupo Rd and Riri St. Photo / Megan Wilson
NZ Post network management general manager Megan Watson said it would be moving from its Waterford St site in Rotorua to a larger, purpose-built facility.
This would ensure NZ Post had the space and facilities to serve Rotorua “now and into the future”, she said.
Its parcel and mail processing would move to the new site, as would everyone who worked at the existing depot, Watson said.
Watson said it would be leasing the building and hoped to move in the second half of 2027.
Megan Wilson is a health and general news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times and the Rotorua Daily Post. She has been a journalist since 2021.