About Us

Thomas Plumbing and gas was formed on May 6, 1974.

For the first four years all our work was done outside the Kapiti Coast area. This work included plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying.

Over the following years work has been done, not only on the Kapiti Coast but all over the Wellington Region and as far north as New Plymouth.

Some of the major contracts in the earlier years were at Wanganui Hospital, and the Linton Military Camp. These two were laying gas mains.

Harold Thomas himself, now company director spent one week in 1981 with the Australian Gas Light company in Sydney. This was to allow the company to diversify its activities into an area that led to 11 years work laying approximately 80% of the gas mains on the Kapiti Coast.

Another area of activity was laying cable ducting and some of the telephone cables for Telecom New Zealand.

The involvement with commercial and industrial gas conversions allowed the greater Wellington area to have installed and converted the gas fired hot air glasshouse furnaces and gas fired boilers. In the Hutt Valley Companies like Vita-Foam, Dunlop and Vaccine Laboratories had industrial gas fired steam boilers converted from oil to natural gas.

Closer to home in the late 1970's early 1980's, the development of Mahara Place in Waikanae took place. Thomas Plumbing and Gas were involved in a large number of roofing contracts in the shopping complex.

During this time Thomas Plumbing and gas had the opportunity to train 12 apprentices. Like many other companies, there has been good times and bad, but this has strengthened our company, allowing it to grow to what it is today and this is very much a testament to the calibre of the staff who have worked for our company over the years. Not only the qualified hands-on staff, but office staff as well.

Rural development between the mid 1990 through to 2004 on the Kapiti Coast into Nikau Valley, Pekapeka, Te Horo, Otaki, Manakau & Levin has seen this to be an increase in the drainage division with expansion into these area's had allowed our Company to offer Plumbing, Drainlaying, Gasfitting, Effluent Disposal Systems and Water Tanks to have the entire work scheduled with the builder and or the owner bringing the lifestyle of a small block owner as close to the 'City service' if they need be.

Harold Thomas is an independent qualified Effluent Disposal Designer so is able to provide an in-house service without waiting for an engineer or incurring an added cost the rural dream we can design and certify this side of the development.

The next major expansion we took was in April 2003, the small car sales showroom that used to house part of the Kapiti Toyota Complex was transformed within 3 weeks allowing us to open Paraparaumu Gas & Leisure Centre, creating employment for a further 2 staff.

This decision finally came to fruition because of a State Highway 1 location, being a specialised field we needed space to grow and have adequate parking for both the retail and commercial sides of the business.
The Kapiti Coast District Council has moved extremely fast giving approval to new subdivisions as demand allows, with natural gas reticulation throughout the subdivisions has given the new home buyer a cost effective and efficient alternative to spend money where it matters, with the total control that a gas lifestyle provides ensures a true lifestyle.

The retail side of the gas industry is to have trained helpful & friendly staff to advise the consumer on the right appliance for their needs, replacing older style appliances and offering an in-house appraisal with a fixed price quotation service, is backed up with the reminder mail out to protect the investment, just the same as a warrant of fitness on a vehicle.

During 2004 Paraparaumu Gas & Leisure Centre were nominated to the New Zealand Retail Association for Top Shop of the Year, there were 8 categories, and 16 entries in our category, we made it through to the semi finals (1 of 6) in the Homeware section, sponsored by VISA, our score was 88/100 and the judging criteria was wide and varied, so promoting excellence in gas is a further testament to our committed level of service we offer on the Kapiti Coast.