Hallifax, Half A Century Meeting Tourists' Needs

June 18, 2007

Half a Century Meeting Tourists' Needs

50 years ago a six foot six Englishman with a monocle and a quiet determination, started a business in Christchurch. His name was Peter Hallifax, and today his company Hallifax has a staff of 40, are finalists in the ANZ Export Awards and are celebrating their 50 years on June 27 with keynote speaker Jim Anderton MP.

Originally selling anti-rust and lubricating fluids, travelling salesperson Peter then expanded his product line to include souvenirs to supply to tourists.

Peter purchased items from local suppliers, including teaspoons, natural wool jerseys and paua shell ornaments. Peter's wife, Helen Hallifax, remembers Peter's determination: "There were times when I was a little bit nervous about what Peter was doing but he was absolutely sure that tourists were going to come to New Zealand in droves. There were not many people who talked about tourists in those days."

However, demand for New Zealand souvenirs steadily grew as jet air travel enabled larger numbers of travellers to visit the South Pacific. From their first warehouse in the front room of the Hallifax family home in Hartley Ave, Christchurch the business has grown rapidly to their 2,200 sq m premises in Essex Street and now employs over 40 staff.

Peter Hallifax died in 1992 but his son Rick has carried on his father's vision for Hallifax, creating their leading brand Alpine Silk in 1990, a lanolin based souvenir skincare range.

The idea of developing lanolin-based products had come from Rick's mother Helen and her high country based Johnstone family. Gladys Johnstone and her mother-in-law used to make soaps and cosmetics when living in the Canterbury back country at Mt Potts and Erewhon station some 100 years earlier, after it was noticed how the rough and tough shearers had such soft hands.

Hallifax is celebrating their 50th anniversary in style with a gala event at Hotel Grand Chancellor on June 27 with featured speaker Jim Anderton MP, as well as Peri Drysdale CEO of Snowy Peak. The following night Hallifax will be at the ANZ Export Awards in which they are a finalist.

"It's an exciting week for the company and one I'd have loved dad to have been here for" said Rick Hallifax.

At their 50th celebration Hallifax will also be presenting the 'Hallifax Emerging Art Award' giving away a first prize of $4000 to an artist whose painting has captured the unique spirit of New Zealand. All of the top ten paintings will be exhibited at the Bealey Gallery from June 28 - 13 July.

"We had a large range of entries from around the country for this our inaugural year of running this award. The idea is to give something back to the community and with the two other award sponsors, Forbes Packaging and Castle Parcels, we are all looking forward to growing and expanding the award in the years to come" said Rick Hallifax.

ENDS

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