Helping communities to grow motivates Waimate businessman
Monday, 2 June 2025
Gary Rooney has been made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to business and philanthropy.
“I thought it was a joke,” the Waimate businessman said, on finding out he would receive the honour.
The notification came via email. “That’s why I thought it was a hoax,” he said.
“I feel privileged to get it, and it was definitely not expected. We just work very quietly behind the scenes to better our communities.”
The citation to Rooney’s MNZM stated that he was committed to the growth and success of the South Canterbury region.
Rooney started his career with a single bulldozer in 1976 and had since built Rooney Group into a major player in the central South Island economy.
The business encompassed multiple divisions and employed more than 300 staff members mostly in South Canterbury but also in Christchurch.
Divisions included earthmoving, pipe and cable laying, transportation, farming, property development, and a hunting business.
When he started, Rooney had one ambition and did not foresee where his career would go.
“I wanted to be a farmer, and I knew starting as a contractor would pay for the farm.”
Among his business interests, Rooney now owned several dairy farms including high-country stations.
“It has just been a lifetime of hard work,” he said.
“What gets me out of bed is helping people grow and trying to help our community.”
His work in irrigation scheme construction has made a significant impact in the central South Island.
That included the $90 million-plus Rangitata South irrigation scheme at Arundel, between the Rangitata and Orari rivers, the largest earthmoving project in the South Island since the 1970s when it was built and completed in 2012.
Rooney Group bankrolled, designed and built the scheme, which now irrigates 16,000 hectares of farmland and acts as a buffer against drought.
Rooney was an active member and chairperson of the Central South Island Fish & Game Council for 29 years, and he used his expertise in this area to encourage natural fauna regeneration.
He pioneered the development of a rock fish screen designed to prevent salmon smolt from entering irrigation schemes.
Rooney’s philanthropy has included work to revitalise the main street of his hometown, Waimate.
Examples are the redevelopment of the Waimate Hotel, now known as The Waimate; the development of an upmarket bakery and cafe in the former ANZ bank building; the upgrade of the old Post Office; and construction of a new medical centre, a project that came in at nearly $2m.
Rooney cut the ribbon on the medical centre in June 2019.
He provided funding and was a project partner with the Waimate District Council in building the Waimate Event Centre that opened in 2016, and also bought and restored the historical Quinn’s Arcade in the town.
In 2015, he donated $1m to Craighead Diocesan School in Timaru for a new gymnasium.
He was a key driver in the $8m redevelopment of Fraser Park, Timaru’s former main rugby ground that is now a multisport and function facility.
The facility’s pavilion was opened by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon last year.
Most recently, Rooney bought Timaru’s Majestic Theatre, a former cinema, in Stafford St as well as a four neighbouring properties.
He has made an offer to the Timaru District Council to develop the former cinema to become Timaru’s main theatre, at no cost to ratepayers.
Rooney had also supported a local food bank with three months of funding and established several scholarships for young athletes.
“I like to give to the community, and give back to the community,” he said.