Pettigrew for hall of fame

Sir Russell Pettigrew

The late Sir Russell Pettigrew, who left school at the age of 12 to work on the family farm and who went on to create the country's largest transport service operation, is set to be inducted into the Business Hall of Fame later this month.

Sir Russell was a teenager when he arrived in Hawke's Bay in the 1930s, and he not only became a leading businessman but also a devoted philanthropist.

His determination to make a mark in the transport industry saw him use savings from his initial job at the Hawke's Bay Motor Company to buy three horses, which he used to cart fence posts and battens from the Pohokura bush block to the Napier-Taupo road.

After service with the Royal Navy in World War II he returned to the Bay and was back in transport action, buying an eight-seater Packard car to run a service between Te Pohue and Napier.

He formed RH Pettigrew Transport in 1945 with two Leyland trucks and over the following 40 years grew the business into a major transportation force. By 1964 there were more than 100 trucks in the fleet and after merging with transport firms in Auckland and Wellington he created Freightways Express.

His served as a director in 14 companies, and his interest in sport led to a period as president of the Hawke's Bay and New Zealand Rugby Unions. He was a founder of the New Zealand Rugby Federation, which was formed to assist players with serious injuries.

Sir Russell was passionate about helping the community and he and his wife Lady Glenys provided a $500,000 boost for the development of Taradale's Pettigrew Green Arena.

In 2006 he was inducted into the Hawke's Bay Business Hall of Fame and in 2013 was inducted into the New Zealand Road Transport Hall of Fame. He was also honoured with a knight bachelor and life membership of the International Chartered Institute of Transport. In 2004, he and Lady Glenys were granted the Freedom of the City of Napier.

Sir Russell died in March, aged 94. The New Zealand Business Hall of Fame ceremony will take place at a black tie dinner hosted by the Governor-General in Auckland on July 29.