1904-1906
Mick Jukes immigrated to New Zealand from Maryborough, New South Wales in 1904, and he worked in flax mills around the Tuatapare and Otautau areas over the next two years.
1906-1911
In 1906, Mick made his way from Bluff to Waituhi in the Gisborne region, where he worked on the Wi Pere Estate bush clearing and scrub cutting. He next moved to Te Karaka, where he started working in the sawmill industry, carting timber from the Hall family mills into town for the Drummond brothers.
He was well known for the handling and care of his teams of horses.
As timber processing slowed, the mill was packed up and he moved on in 1911.
1911-1917
It was time for a change, so Mick and his in-law’s farmed blocks in Manutuke.
The farms were sold in 1917, and Mick moved his family into town.
1919-1936
Mick started a local carrier business – M.E. Jukes Carrier – in 1919, operated at the time by horse and dray.
1936-1960s
In 1936 he decided he needed to go with the times and brought two brand new Ford trucks.
Driving trucks was not something Mick was familiar with, so his son Arthur came on board to help.
The company name was changed to M.E. Jukes & Son.
Mick never did manage to get the hang of driving. It appeared control with a mere “whoa” was more than he could comprehend.
1962-1966
Arthur’s sons Trevor and Colin joined the game in 1962.
They brought Mick’s shares in the company and the name was changed again this time to M.E. Jukes & Son Ltd.
All efforts were made to get 79-year-old Mick to slow down and enjoy retirement. All efforts failed.
Mick remained around the depot with staff keeping an eye out to make sure he didn’t do anything too strenuous right up to a few days before he passed away aged 84 in 1967.
1966
A daily freight run was provided to Tolaga Bay, which started in the early 1960’s. This daily service closed in 1924 and is now provided on an as-required basis.
1966-1978
Around 1966 the company purchased a Hiab crane, the first in the district. Work flooded in and more cranes were bought. Hiab work remains a key part of the business today.
1978
In 1978, out of a need for more space, the company moved from it’s depot in Derby Street to Stanley Road, where it remains today.
2019
The company celebrated its 100th year in business.
Today
The business has diversified from purely trucking work into recycling concrete, steel and metal, including car bodies. The large site has allowed its activities to expand and include a MFE registered transfer station, certified weigh bridge, and provide storage for a large quantity of landscaping supplies.
M. E. Jukes & Son Ltd have the equipment to shred timber from demolished buildings and will even dispose of builder’s waste in a fully consented, privately-owned class 1 landfill site, which they developed on a forestry property they own.
They recycle unwanted concrete into roading metal and base course, which they sell in their depot, along with products for the home-owner’s garden, driveway and landscaping needs.
This includes driveway chip of all sizes, landscape rocks, river stone, drainage metal, topsoil, sand, builders mix, cement and gravel of all sizes.
Cartage service is available to cart general freight and farm requirements, bundles of posts and fencing wire, even repaired tractors, deliveries of metal and chip. Hookbins are available to be dropped on site for collection of waste and Hiab’s to deliver general freight, collect waste bags and move shipping containers
Jukes have moved and evolved with the times. Descendants have ensured it has remained a family business, with fifth-generation family members among its employees.