When Brad Mahony and Kieran Rutherford launched their business out of a single-car garage in 2014, they had no idea their humble set-up would transform into one of Tauranga’s most successful businesses.

But fast forward a decade, and Aquaholics has been named Business of the Year at the prestigious Farmer Autovillage Tauranga Business Awards 2025.

The award marks a major milestone for the plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying company which, in the last 10 years, has earned a reputation for its strong leadership, commercial success, and innovative approach to employee well-being.

Convenor of Judges, Jamie Lunam, says the judges were blown-away with Aquaholics’ story – particularly its exponential growth, and the commitment to its people and community.

Brad and Kieran set out with a dream to own and operate their own business that did things differently, and they have succeeded remarkably.

It takes bravery to be in business, and Aquaholics is an amazing local example of that. – Jamie Lunam, Convenor of Judges.

Today, with a team of almost 50 and some of the city’s biggest projects on their resume, Aquaholics is a model for businesses in the region to follow, says Jamie.

Start small, grow fast

Aquaholics began with a simple yet powerful vision: two young men who wanted to run a plumbing business that did things differently.

Brad and Kieren borrowed $10,000 each, bought a van, combined their tools, and set up in Kieran’s garage in Brookfield.

In year one, they took on any work they could find, travelling across the North Island to build their client base.

We started with leaflet drops around our local community and literally door knocking to see if people needed any work done.

Brad Mahony, Co-founder of Aquaholics. 

 

Their big break came in the form of a tender for the Department of Conservation: a $100,000 septic system project in Kaitawa, Lake Waikaremoana. It was the job that provided the platform to take on larger, more complex work.

“We enlisted help from family members and mates, as we had no staff at that stage, and faked it till we made it,” says Brad.

“The project was a great success and gave us a platform to launch from.”

Their commitment to delivering quality work on time and within budget quickly earned them the trust of key clients. By year two, they had expanded to a team of 16, and by year three were opening a second branch in Hamilton.

“We focused on building strong relationships with key clients, picking up projects in the commercial plumbing and drainage space, and man… did we grow.”

Now, a decade later, Aquaholics is unrecognisable from the small startup.

With 48 employees, Aquaholics has landed some of Tauranga’s most significant construction projects, including the Te Manawataki o Te Papa civic precinct and new Devonport Road offices for Tauranga City Council.

Aquaholics sets itself apart from its competition by focusing on larger, complex commercial and industrial projects, says Brad.

“We pride ourselves on being experts in all three disciplines of the trades (plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying) which allows us to provide the total package for our clients.”

Passionately people first

Despite the pressures of running a large business, Brad and Kieren have always prioritised their people.

Aquaholics’ growth strategy has focused on fostering a team-oriented, supportive environment where employees are continuously upskilled and developed.

Motivating our team and growing people to be the best they can be is a massive driver for us,” – Brad Mahony

 

“We recognised from our inception that supporting staff members by providing them with the right equipment, environment and support allows them to focus on producing the best results they can.”

Brad and Kieran share a passion for dissolving the tough-guy stereotype often associated with trades, and have championed a culture of care for support for their employees as a result.

“We need our young people to be supported and encouraged in the trade industry, and we pride ourselves on being leaders in this space.”

On top of team building camps, guest speaker nights, and staff awards, they offer staff access to health insurance, counselling, crossfit and boxing. They also deliver bespoke training for their apprentices, including financial literacy and life skills courses.

 This commitment to nurturing young talent has helped them build a team that is both loyal and highly skilled, ready to face the challenges of an ever-evolving industry.

Looking ahead

 As Aquaholics looks to the future, Brad and Kieran remain focused on sustaining its growth while continuing to support the community.

Their strategic goals include maintaining strong relationships with key clients, while ensuring the profitability and sustainability of the business.

“We are always looking for innovative ways to streamline our work in certain areas,” says Brad.

“We are currently putting our drainlayers through a New Zealand Apprenticeship in Infrastructure Work, with the intention to get approved for water connections by Tauranga City Council.”

Perhaps most important to the pair is continuing their efforts to support local charities and initiatives. Aquaholics has already made significant strides in this direction, contributing to disaster relief efforts and sponsoring local organisations.

“A really proud moment was sending a team to Hawkes Bay, my hometown, on the back of Cyclone Gabrielle to offer support and equipment.

“Our team worked for free for over a week, helping people in need, and it was an extremely humbling experience.”