About Us

Landpower delivers integrated machinery solutions that include combine, forage and potato harvesters, tractors, hay and forage equipment, spreaders, sprayers and tillage tools. We have selected brands that specifically meet the needs of Australasian farmers, contractors and growers; these partnerships span more than 40 years with premium European manufacturers such as CLAAS, AMAZONE, JCB, Väderstad and Grimme.

We offer a high-quality alternative to the multi-national companies that provide only one brand of machine for many different farming applications. Unlike single brand companies, we have hand-picked our partners from a range of world class manufacturers that specialise and lead the world in machinery that has been developed for specific farming activities. We are 100% family owned, and like many of our customers we understand what it requires to run a family business. Our supplier companies and dealer network are also family-owned, and it is this commonality between our businesses that makes us value-orientated and like-minded.

Our Story

Herby Whyte

“When I started out, I was looking for partners that shared the same sense of innovation, quality, passion and commitment to improving on-farm productivity and efficiency.”

Herby Whyte, Founder & Director

In the early 1970’s, Herby Whyte was one of New Zealand’s most progressive farmers. He and wife Pam operated a successful potato growing enterprise at Lochiel, near Winton in the South Island. Herby was focussed on improving productivity and making farming a more profitable business, and he knew that machinery was a critical part of this. Frustrated by the lack of availability of fit-for-purpose machines and the quality of back up service and support, he decided to do something about it, and in 1975, the Whytes established Landpower (then known as Farmrite).

Since then Landpower and its CLAAS Harvest Centre retail dealership network have grown into a significant business spanning New Zealand and Australia, while still staying true to Herby’s vision of: working hard, doing honest business with good people, sourcing the best farm machinery worldwide, fronting up to any issue, and always looking to stay one step ahead.

CLAAS Harvest Centre is now the largest privately-owned farm machinery distribution network in Australasia, servicing primary producers and agricultural contractors from 32 strategic locations throughout New Zealand and Australia.

Each of the CLAAS Harvest Centres is a regional sales, service and support hub for the complete range of CLAAS, AMAZONE, JCB, Väderstad, Trioliet and other leading farm machinery brands. All of these brands are acknowledged as leaders in their fields. Like us and many of our customers, they are family-owned businesses that recognise the importance and value of long-term relationships.

Today Landpower employs 100 staff across a range of sales, marketing, technical support, parts and administrative roles in its Christchurch and Melbourne headquarters. A further 300 staff are employed across the CLAAS Harvest Centre distribution network.

Our Timeline

CLAAS Harvest Centre was established back in 1975 as Farmrite Industries, and over the past 45 years has maintained the same dedication to providing farmers and contractors in Australasia with industry-leading, fit-for-purpose agricultural machinery, parts and service back-up.

1975 - Farmrite Industries is established
Herby Whyte establishes Farmrite Industries Ltd - the start of the CLAAS Harvest Centre story

1978 - GRIMME potato harvester franchise secured
Distribution rights for GRIMME potato harvesting equipment are secured.

1982 - Farmrite Australia established and GRIMME secured for AU
Farmrite Australia Ltd is formed and distributes GRIMME equipment throughout Australia

1987 - Farmrite secures CLAAS franchise
Farmrite secures the CLAAS distribution rights for New Zealand

1994 - Farmrite secures JCB franchise (NZ)
JCB is added to the family of brands in New Zealand

1995 - Farmrite rebrands to become Landpower

1997 - CLAAS distribution is secured for Australia
CLAAS distribution is secured for Australia

1998 - AMAZONE franchise is secured for New Zealand
Distribution rights for AMAZONE spreading, spraying, cultivation and seeding equipment are secured for New Zealand

2001 - AMAZONE franchise announced (AU)
AMAZONE distribution expands to Australia

2005 - CLAAS Tractors are introduced
CLAAS Tractors are added to a growing product line up

2006 - CLAAS LEXION joins the line up
The CLAAS range of products is extended to include LEXION Combine Harvesters in Australia

2008 - New Australian headquarters are opened in Melbourne
New National Office facilities open in Melbourne to support the growing Australian network

2009 - Key dealerships are rebranded to CLAAS Harvest Centres
20 dealerships are rebranded to CLAAS Harvest Centres. CLAAS Harvest Centres are appointed as distributor for Grégoire Besson cultivation and tillage equipment

2010 - CLAAS Financial Services is established and the SEED HAWK franchise is secured
CLAAS Financial Services is established in conjunction with De Lage Landen and CLAAS Harvest Centres begin to distribute SEED HAWK seeding equipment throughout Australia

2012 - New headquarters are opened in New Zealand
New purpose-built premises are built as an Australasian headquarters for Landpower in Christchurch. This office provides support to the New Zealand and Australian dealership network

2013 - CLAAS Harvest Centres continue to expand
New CLAAS Harvest Centres open in Geraldton, Warrnambool, Wanaka and Hastings

2017 - Expansion in the west
To better serve our Wheatbelt customers CLAAS Harvest Centre opens in Northam

2019 - Foray into South Australia
In 2019 long-term partners G&J Easts open a dedicated CLAAS Harvest Centre in Kadina, representing a first CLAAS Harvest Centre in South Australia. 2019 is also marked by expansion in Ballarat, Victoria and Ranfurly, Central Otago