Andrew Todd (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Todd was one of four brothers who built one of New Zealand's biggest industrial and commercial enterprises. He was an important figure in the car assembly industry.
, Otago
in 1904. His grandfather was Charles Todd (1834-1892), a Scottish immigrant who had arrive in New Zealand with his wife, Mary O'Sullivan, in 1870. Charles worked at wool-scouring in Milton
and gold-mining at Table Hill, Blue Spur
and then Bendigo, all in Otago
. In 1884, Charles commenced a fellmongery
business at Heriot, Otago. The Todd Group was commenced in Heriot when Andrew Todd's father, also named Charles Todd
(1868-1942), from 1888 expanded the fellmongery into a successful stock and station business. He imported the district's first car in 1908 and in 1913 established a garage which later expanded into the Todd Motor Company. Andrew Todd commenced his primary education at the local Heriot School. In February 1915 Charles Todd, his wife Mary Hegarty and their seven children (Charles Patrick (CP), Desmond, Kathleen
, Moyra, Bryan
, Andrew and Sheila) shifted to Dunedin
where Bryan Todd attended the Christian Brothers School
. When he was older he was sent to Sydney to board at Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview..
plant assembling Hillman
, Humber (car)
, and commercial vehicles. Later he became managing director and, in 1970, group chairman. In 1970 the company acquired the Mitsubishi
franchise when planning for New Zealand's biggest assembly plant was under way and in 1975 Todd Park was opened at Porirua
.
, not just on Sundays; he tried to live up to the precepts of Pope Leo XII's
encyclical Rerum Novarum
. He was also noted for his philanthropy. With his siblings he established the Todd Foundation in 1972 and as chairman of Todd Motors announced the company's gift of $1,000,000 to establish it. Andrew Todd was a member of the Wellington Golf Club and interested in a wide range of sporting activities. He died on 09 November 1976 and was survived by his wife and six daughters.
Early life
Todd was born in HeriotHeriot, New Zealand
Heriot is a small settlement in West Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand. It is located 20 kilometres southwest of Raes Junction and 15 kilometres north of Tapanui....
, Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
in 1904. His grandfather was Charles Todd (1834-1892), a Scottish immigrant who had arrive in New Zealand with his wife, Mary O'Sullivan, in 1870. Charles worked at wool-scouring in Milton
Milton, New Zealand
Milton is a town of 2,000 people, located on State Highway 1, 50 kilometres to the south of Dunedin in Otago, New Zealand. It lies on the floodplain of the Tokomairiro River, one branch of which loops past the north and south ends of the town...
and gold-mining at Table Hill, Blue Spur
Blue Spur
In New Zealand there are two geographic areas called Blue Spur.The first one is situated close to the Westland District Capital of Hokitika. It stretches from the Tasman Sea in the west about eastwards towards the area of Humphreys and the Blue Spur Range. It can be accessed by road along the...
and then Bendigo, all in Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
. In 1884, Charles commenced a fellmongery
Fellmonger
A fellmonger was a dealer in hides or skins, particularly sheepskins, who might also prepare skins for tanning. The name is derived from the Old English ‘fell’ meaning skins and ‘monger’ meaning dealer...
business at Heriot, Otago. The Todd Group was commenced in Heriot when Andrew Todd's father, also named Charles Todd
Charles Todd (New Zealand)
Charles Todd , fellmonger, wool-scourer, motor car importer and assembler, petrol importer and retailer, industrialist and community leader; he was a leading New Zealand businessman and was a principal founder of the Todd Corporation-References:...
(1868-1942), from 1888 expanded the fellmongery into a successful stock and station business. He imported the district's first car in 1908 and in 1913 established a garage which later expanded into the Todd Motor Company. Andrew Todd commenced his primary education at the local Heriot School. In February 1915 Charles Todd, his wife Mary Hegarty and their seven children (Charles Patrick (CP), Desmond, Kathleen
Kathleen Todd
Kathleen Mary Gertrude Todd was a pioneering New Zealand child psychiatrist.-Early Life:Kathleen Todd was born on 19 November 1898 in Heriot, Otago, She was one of the seven children of Charles Todd, an auctioneer and stock and station agent who founded a firm that became the Todd...
, Moyra, Bryan
Bryan Todd (New Zealand)
Bryan James Todd was one of four brothers who built one of New Zealand's biggest industrial and commercial enterprises. He was an important figure in the development of the New Zealand oil and gas energy industry and, incidentally, in the development of New Zealand tax law.-Early life:Todd was born...
, Andrew and Sheila) shifted to Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
where Bryan Todd attended the Christian Brothers School
Kavanagh College
Kavanagh College is a Catholic Secondary school in Dunedin, New Zealand. The school in its present form dates from 1989 but its origins as a secondary school go back to 1871....
. When he was older he was sent to Sydney to board at Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview..
Business
Andrew Todd like his older brothers began work in the Todd Bros Ltd stock and station company wool store and then its motor garage in Dunedin before moving in 1924 into Todd Motor Co. He worked in the office and as a car salesman. Four years later he (with Bryan Todd) was appointed a director and he took over the management of the Auckland operations. In 1934 he transferred to Wellington where the head office of Todd Motors was located. When the Government tariff policy encouraged the assembly of cars in New Zealand, Andrew Todd was responsible for establishing the Petone motor assembly works in 1935 - the second assembly plant to open in New Zealand. Andrew Todd was effectively managing director (his father, Charles had the formal title), responsible for the entire factory and assembly operation. The new PetonePetone
Petone is a major suburb of the city of Lower Hutt in New Zealand. It is located at the southern end of the narrow triangular plain of the Hutt River, on the northern shore of Wellington Harbour...
plant assembling Hillman
Hillman
Hillman is a British automobile marque created by the Hillman Motor Car Company, founded in 1907. The company was based in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, near Coventry, England. Before 1907 the company had built bicycles...
, Humber (car)
Humber (car)
Humber is a dormant British automobile marque which could date its beginnings to Thomas Humber's bicycle company founded in 1868. Following their involvement in Humber through Hillman in 1928 the Rootes brothers acquired a controlling interest and joined the Humber board in 1932 making Humber part...
, and commercial vehicles. Later he became managing director and, in 1970, group chairman. In 1970 the company acquired the Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi
The Mitsubishi Group , Mitsubishi Group of Companies, or Mitsubishi Companies is a Japanese multinational conglomerate company that consists of a range of autonomous businesses which share the Mitsubishi brand, trademark and legacy...
franchise when planning for New Zealand's biggest assembly plant was under way and in 1975 Todd Park was opened at Porirua
Porirua
Porirua is a city in the Wellington Region of New Zealand, immediately north of the city of Wellington, with their central business districts 20 km apart. A large proportion of the population commutes to Wellington, so it may be considered a satellite city. It almost completely surrounds...
.
Character
Andrew Todd had the special quality of engaging personally with all those he met from the Prime Minister to the newest worker on the line. He had considerable personal charm and had a gift for drawing people together. This was important in managing a factory employing a large labour force. In all his years, his factory did not have a single strike. He was a good CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, not just on Sundays; he tried to live up to the precepts of Pope Leo XII's
Pope Leo XII
Pope Leo XII , born Annibale Francesco Clemente Melchiore Girolamo Nicola Sermattei della Genga, was Pope from 1823 to 1829.-Life:...
encyclical Rerum Novarum
Rerum Novarum
Rerum Novarum is an encyclical issued by Pope Leo XIII on May 15, 1891. It was an open letter, passed to all Catholic bishops, that addressed the condition of the working classes. The encyclical is entitled: “Rights and Duties of Capital and Labour”...
. He was also noted for his philanthropy. With his siblings he established the Todd Foundation in 1972 and as chairman of Todd Motors announced the company's gift of $1,000,000 to establish it. Andrew Todd was a member of the Wellington Golf Club and interested in a wide range of sporting activities. He died on 09 November 1976 and was survived by his wife and six daughters.