CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

Founded in 1926 by W L Cooke as a plumbing and heating engineering business in New Zealand, Cooke Industries has grown from humble beginnings in Remuera, to become a leader in innovative HVAC solutions. Over the decades, we've evolved alongside the industry, expanding into air handling, cooling, acoustics, dehumidification, and air diffusion & distribution - always prioritising excellence in design, engineering, quality manufacturing, and sustainable performance.

From family roots in Ireland to establishing a state-of-the-art facility in Penrose, Auckland, our heritage drives us to deliver bespoke, reliable systems that stand the test of time. Explore the timeline below to see key milestones, landmark projects, and the enduring legacy that continues to shape comfortable, efficient environments across New Zealand and beyond.

1856 - The Beginnings in Ireland

B. Cooke and Son started in business as plumbing and heating engineers in 1856 in Cork, Ireland. They had a workshop at 14 Tucky Street, and were later supplemented by a workshop in Colles Lane.

Around the 1890’s, B Cooke and Son were appointed agents for Rover Bicycles, and set up a store at 32 Grand Parade, Cork to retail their bicycles.

1923 - Emigration to New Zealand

WL Cooke Ltd, the original business, was established at William (Bill/Levy) Cooke’s home at 747 Remuera Road in 1926. The plumbing business outgrew his family home’s garage, and the business leased property at Kent Street, Newmarket. The elderly lady that owned the property was reliant on the rent , so William Cooke only purchased the property when she died.

The properties were both eventually bequested to The Auckland Institute and Museum upon William’s death, and were duly sold and the money invested in an enduring fund.

1930's

In the early days of W L Cooke, our trusty Chevrolet truck found itself well and truly bogged down while heading south over the notorious Bombay Hills. The unpaved, muddy roads of the time posed quite the challenge - a far cry from today’s smoother journeys, even if the occasional pothole still keeps things interesting!

Thankfully, the roads have improved dramatically since then, allowing us to serve our customers across New Zealand far more reliably. This snapshot is a fun reminder of how far we’ve come at Cooke Industries.

1949 - Growing a Family Business

By 1949, W.L. Cooke Ltd had grown rapidly from its humble beginnings into a well-established plumbing and heating engineering business. Despite the expansion, the company remained a true family business at heart - guided by strong values, close relationships, and a deep appreciation for the dedicated people who make it all possible.

We know that we are only as good as our employees, and that principle continues to define Cooke Industries today.

1953 - Growth into Ventilation and Air Conditioning

The growth in workload and the growing emergence of heating and air conditioning in commercial buildings saw the business split into two, Cooke Plumbing Company and Cooke Heating, with the latter taking on mechanical contracting.

The property at 31 Station Road was purchased from Department of Lands and Survey in 1952 for £1,150. It was a portion of a larger block that was a “surplus school site.”

An Office and Sheetmetal Workshop were built, followed by the Fabrication Shop in 1960’s for the manufacture and assembly of heat exchangers and chillers.

1950's - A Legacy of Craftsmen and Engineers

Bob Ferguson was born on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, and exemplifies the legacy of apprentices who learned their craft at Cooke. As a master craftsman pipefitter, he certainly learned to bend an iron pipe to perfection, a trade not needed much these days. Hundreds of apprentices and cadets have made their way through the business, with many going on to found their own firms in the industry.

1960's – Manufacture of Cooling and Heating Equipment

In the 1960s, New Zealand’s strict import and foreign exchange controls created significant challenges for the industry. Rather than being limited by them, we seized the opportunity to expand into local manufacturing.

The company began producing its own range of chillers, air handling units, and potable water heaters - marking a major milestone in our evolution from plumbing and heating engineers into a full equipment manufacturer.

This strategic move not only strengthened the business during a difficult economic period but also laid the foundation for the broad range of heating and cooling solutions Cooke Industries offers today.

1960’s - Milestone Projects

The University of Auckland School of Engineering relocated from Ardmore to their current location in the late 1960’s, and continued to expand.

1970's - Milestone Projects

The University of Auckland School of Engineering relocated from Ardmore to their current location in the late 1960’s, and continued to expand.

1980s - Expansion of Product Ranges

Acoustic products were added to the manufacturing mix in 1980.

1984 - Mechanisation of Ductwork

The mechanisation of ductwork manufacture with the first rectangular duct coil line, plasma cutter for fittings, and MEZ slip on flanges in the mid-1980s, revolutionised the duct industry in New Zealand.

1987 Double-skin Air Handling Units

The introduction of modular double skin air handling units to the market in 1987 was a first for the market, and a real focus on iAQ (indoor air quality) for air handling plant.

1991 – Exclusive Focus on Manufacturing

Following the 1987 sharemarket crash and the prolonged economic downturn that followed, Cooke Industries made a strategic decision in 1991 to close its contracting division and concentrate exclusively on manufacturing.

This pivotal shift allowed the company to streamline operations, strengthen its core manufacturing capabilities, and dedicate all resources to developing high-quality heating, cooling, ventilation, and acoustic products for the New Zealand market.

2003 – Introduction of Polyurethane Foamed Panels to Air Handling Units

To continue to lower the total cost of ownership of their air handling units, Cooke invested in a dedicated polyurethane foam injection plant for the production of AHU panels in 2003. The high-pressure foam injection machine and associated heated multiple platen press produced the highest strength and highest thermal performance panels on the market, all with an ecologically benign blowing agent, and in combination with the marine grade colorsteel with PVDF anti-corrosion coatings, increased their resilience.

2006 - Development of VisualAHU Selection Software

To further cater for growth in the AHU business, the VisualAHU software was introduced in 2006 to configure an AHU for selection and production. This featured a complete customized 3-D selection, costing and manufacturing system enabling quick automated production of technical data, submittal drawings, costing, quotation, cultists, bills of materials, and manufacturing/assembly drawings.

2008 – Fully-Automated Rectangular Duct Production Line

Twenty years after the introduction of the first duct coil line, 2008 saw an upgrade to the first fully automated rectangular duct production line for the rapid automated fabrication of rectangular duct whilst maintaining unrivalled build quality and air-tightness. The line, and associated machinery, was opened by the soon to be Prime Minister, Sir John Key.

2023 – Refurbishment of Cooke Offices

Out with the old 1970s décor - in with the new!

In 2023, we gave our head office a much-needed refresh. The refurbishment brought our workspace into the modern era while preserving the character and history that make Cooke Industries special.

A brighter, more comfortable, and updated environment for our team - reflecting the continued evolution of our family business.

2026 – Celebration of Centenary

The Cooke Group celebrated their centenary of operation within New Zealand with a celebration dinner for staff and families Under the Dome at Auckland Museum.