Why we’re
1st Class is not just an arbitrary name—it’s a promise. In all of our mahi, we aim to provide the absolute best: 1st class quality, 1st class service, 1st class result.
Make it stand out.
Local Family Business
We are very much a local business. Fearless leader Chris started out in 2009 with just a lawn mower and a few hand tools, building the business—and the 1st Class ethos—from the ground up. Becoming an incorporated company in 2012 was a big milestone for us, as was taking over the work and client base of Backyard Services, a Henderson-based lawn and garden maintenance business.
Since then, we have expanded into a talented team of passionate gardeners and retained the whanau feel of a small local company. Our clients are our top priority, and we always aim to provide them with the absolute best service and experience along with quality results.
In the past three or four years, sustainability and eco practices have become increasingly important to Chris and the team, and we have incorporated this into our work in many different ways.
Manaaki whenua, manaaki tangata, haere whakamua. Care for the land, care for the people, go forward.
Sustainable gardening practices
Sustainability is embedded in all of our practices.
Here are just a few of the things we do to ensure that our work benefits the planet.
All of our work vehicles are either full electric or hybrid.
We use electric power tools
The solar panels on our vehicles charge our tools.
We make some of our own mulch
We send most of our garden ‘waste’ to commercial composting
We love to help our clients in their own sustainability efforts by installing garden rainwater tanks and managing bait stations.
We care for our environment and community with how we get about the city.
We purchased our first fully electric van back in 2018 and because this was such a successful move, we purchased our second less than two years later.
Of course, the best EVs are on two wheels, so we make use of e-bikes where it makes sense. Most of us commute to work by bike and where practical we ride to consultations and other meetings too.
Safe and efficient transport is not only good for business but for the whole city.