Meet the Team

Meet the PENINSULA ROOFING & SCAFFOLDING Team

Richard Vetter - Owner/General Manager

Hi, I’m Richard Vetter, Owner/Manager of Peninsula Roofing and Scaffolding in Whitianga.

After initially starting out as a management trainee with Lion Breweries in Wellington, I was lured across the Tasman to join my brother-in-law to learn about waterproofing. I spent time as a labourer, and then set up a roofing company in Sydney and spent eight (8) years carrying out a variety of waterproofing services including membrane roofing on high-rise buildings, lift wells, pond liners, torch-on membranes and the re-coating of buildings around Sydney which often required us to be harnessed in swinging cages dangling down the sides of high rise buildings!

It was during this time in Sydney where I met my wife Diane, and courted her through many weekend jobs where she worked alongside me learning the ins and outs of waterproofing – often being referred to as ‘the young lad’.
We moved to Wellington in 1992 after my father passed away suddenly and I continued to contract my waterproofing services in and around the Wellington area. The unreliable Wellington weather was the catalyst that prompted me to learn to install metal roofing tiles and I spent four (4) years contracting to Harvey Roofing in Wellington installing metal roofs manufactured by AHI Roofing.

AHI Roofing approached me in 1996 to relocate to the Coromandel Peninsula and take on the distributorship for their products - I haven’t looked back since! I believe that every customer should enjoy their building or renovating experience and endeavour to ensure that they get the products, information, options and services that are best for them.

My family has grown since Diane and I moved from Sydney and we now have three children aged 17, 15 and 13. We all love the Coromandel Peninsula and enjoy taking the opportunity to get out and explore this wonderful piece of paradise whenever we can.

I am Geoff Smith, from the initial measure for quote, through the installation process, to the final fitting of the spouting and down-pipes I co-ordinate your job for Peninsula Roofing.

After completing a building apprenticeship in the early 1970’s I pursued my trade in Australia for some years. On returning to New Zealand in the early ‘80’s I settled in Tauranga, where, over the next nineteen years I set up and operated two joinery businesses and a construction company specialising in residential housing.

In 2002, looking for a change in direction, I began contracting to Peninsula Roofing. I found myself installing fascia, waterproofing materials, asphalt shingles in fact anything that Richard asked me to turn my hand to. I found too that I enjoyed working for a company that is willing to get involved in the local community, from assisting with the K2 Cycling Event to getting involved in the school holiday ‘Day Camps’ for the kids.

For twelve months I commuted from my family home in Tauranga on a Monday morning, returning on a Friday night, then the appeal of living on the Coromandel became too much and we became permanent residents of Whitianga in 2003.
I accepted my present position in 2005, I work hard to establish a good working rapport with the customers we service, also our staff and sub contractors. I have a ‘can do’ attitude and take pride in offering a superior job, completed professionally and on schedule (weather permitting).

I can be found in my spare time enjoying a cup of coffee at one of the local cafes (where I am very well known.) or, on the finer days, cycling anywhere from Kuaotunu to Hot Water Beach.