The Houkamaus ran Matakaoa Passenger Courier Services from Te Araroa to Whakātane, and the Cooks looked after the East Coast from Te Araroa down to Gisborne, naming their business Cooks Passenger Courier Services.
The Cooks started their business when NZ Road Services departed from the Coast.
“That left the Coast in a huge dilemma,” Aomihi said.
“We had a hearing with the court in Gisborne and got accepted to start.
“We registered our timetable with GDC, sat a passenger licence test and anything else that was needed to be legal to begin our venture.”
With a lot of advertising and word-of-mouth promotion, Coasties became accustomed to the new service six days a week and the business grew.
“I’m so grateful and blessed my husband rose up every morning to run both Matakaoa and then on to Cooks Couriers,” she said.
“After a while people got to know who we were and what the business provided for everyone, whether it be freight, KFC, banking, paying accounts, pharmacy meds, delivering the Gisborne Herald and so on.
“Ours was the only registered passenger service on the Coast to transport whānau, then and now!
“Dick and I are so grateful to Kingi and Rose for believing in us and giving us the opportunity to become self-employed business owners,” Mrs Cook said.
Over the 35 years, Dick and Aomihi have operated two 10-seater buses and a 15-seater with a trailer.
“We’ve had four Toyota Hi Aces, the best workhorse ever running SH35, so very reliable and serviced so well by Gisborne Auto Services.
“Harris Tyres have always supplied us with the best hard-wearing tyres for our vehicles.
“They have also provided awesome service over the years,” she said.
The couple have made some memorable trips up and down the Coast highway over the years.
“We were driving along Tatapouri to come home one day and a cop going the opposite way spun around and followed us,” Aomihi said.
“The officer apparently thought we were throwing rubbish out the window. But no, we were delivering the Gisborne Herald to the various throw-off points.”
It turned out the officer was new to Gisborne.
On another occasion a couple in a motor home were driving from Tikitiki to Ruatōria.
“They moved over to let us pass — on a blind corner! With all the logging trucks on SH35! No way!
“So they pulled up in Ruatoria and I told the man driving the motor home that we know our road and where we can overtake. It’s OK to just drive it!
“His wife said — ‘I told you’ — and told her to ‘give yourself a tick’.”
Several times Dick told Aomihi to learn how to change a tyre.
“I said ‘why?’ There are lots of logging trucks on 35 and they will help me — thinking to myself that we pass one another every day,” Aomihi said.
“He gave up telling me.”
The couple said they were very grateful to the Gisborne Herald.
“Especially Michael Muir, for your tautoko (support) when it was needed.
“To one and all — ka nui te aroha ki a koutou katoa.
“It’s that time for Dick and me to retire and to enjoy life and one another.”
Dick Cook retired as Chief Fire Officer for the volunteer Fire and Emergency Brigade in Te Araroa in September last year.
For 44 years Dick served the wider Matakaoa community, Potikirua (north of Lottin Point turn-off) to Maraehara bridge south.
Aomihi remains a volunteer with the Te Araroa Brigade.
