Our Story

The World’s Largest Wool
Processing Facility

Our story began in October 2000, when Cavalier Corporation purchased a shareholding of Hawke’s Bay Woolscourers from David Ferrier. From that time forward, the company embarked on a long-term expansion program, with the vision to transform our wool processing facility into a state of the art, sustainable and environmentally friendly operation.
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Our wool scouring process uses continuous reused and recycled water, with reduced power consumption. We recycle all waste, making reusable products wherever possible. This move towards sustainability demonstrates that companies can operate in an environmentally friendly way without compromising product quality. We still produce the brightest, cleanest wool from happy New Zealand sheep.

As a result of several mergers, our company is now the sole service provider for wool scouring in New Zealand and operates the largest wool scouring facility in the world.

WoolWorks is owned by Mr David Ferrier, with 37.5% shareholding, Silver Fern Farms Co-Operative with 12.5% shareholding, and Tanarra Capital Partners holding the remaining 50% shareholding. Both David Ferrier and Tanarra have been prolific in the wool industry for many years. To mark the transformation to becoming the sole service provider in New Zealand, the company rebranded and is now known as Woolworks.  Silver Fern Farms Co-Operative purchased a 12.5% share of WoolWorks in October 2024.

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Our History

1999

Hawkes Bay Woolscourers is created

David Ferrier purchases the former Tucker Woolscour site at Awatoto and Hawkes Bay Woolscourers is created

2000

Cavalier Corporation buys into Hawkes Bay Woolscourers

Cavalier Corporation buys into Hawkes Bay Woolscourers and closes down their Auckland scouring site at WIRI. HD Press number 2 relocated from Auckland to HBWS.

2002 and 2003

Hawkes Bay Woolscourers receives a major reconfiguration

Hawkes Bay Woolscourers receives a major reconfiguration and modernization of scourlines. 4000 sqm of new buildings were added for storage.

2004

WoolWorks acquires SeaView Woolscour

WoolWorks acquires and rationalizes SeaView Woolscour in Wellington.  Winchester and Washdyke

Canterbury Woolscourers is created

2005 and 2006

Cavalier Woolscourers Ltd expands into the South Island

Cavalier Woolscourers Ltd expands into the South Island with the purchase of Ferriers Winchester Woolscour and Fairlie Woolscour at Washdyke

Canterbury Woolscourers is created at the Washdyke site.

Washdyke undergoes a major expansion program with the installation of a new 3.0M ANDAR Topmaster scourline, a major refit and modernization of existing 2.4M Mentec plant and an extensive building program.

Woolgrease recovery equipment was purchased from Port Philip Woolscour in Melbourne following its closure.

2009

David Ferrier purchases assets

David Ferrier purchases the assets of Clive and Clifton Scouring Company from Godfrey Hurst.  David amalgamates the assets into Cavalier Woolscourers Ltd  and rationalizes the Clive and Clifton Woolscour sites.

2017

Cavalier Woolscourers Ltd merges

Cavalier Woolscourers Ltd  successfully merges and then rationalizes Whakatu Wool Scour and Kaputone Woolscour into a single entity.

2018

David Ferrier Purchases a 70% stake

David Ferrier Purchases a 70% stake back in the business.

March 2021

The company is rebranded as WoolWorks New Zealand

The company is rebranded as WoolWorks New Zealand, indicating the future growth path that the company is working toward.

April 2021

Woolworks announces Decarbonisation strategy

Woolworks announces the Decarbonisation strategy for the Timaru site and the successful bid for GIDI funding, which commences the transition to clean energy

This is not the end of the Journey, this is just the beginning!

January 2022

Equal shareholders

Lempriere exits and David Ferrier and Tanarra now equal shareholders.

We’re proud to serve New Zealand farmers who grow this wonderful product.

11 Waitangi Road, Awatoto,
Napier, New Zealand.
Phone: +64 6 834 1421

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