After an incredible 33 years of dedication, hard work, and leadership, Derek Purver is hanging up his Conroy shirt. At 68 years young, Derek is stepping back from his full-time role at Conroy Removals, easing into retirement with a golf club in one hand, a tennis racquet in the other, and decades of memories behind him.
Derek’s journey with Conroy Removals began not when he joined the company, but before – as the manager at DJ McGregors in Christchurch for 15 years. When Conroy took over the business, Derek stayed on, leading a team of just five. Under his guidance and with the support of the wider Conroy family, that small crew has grown into a team of around 45.
“I’ve worked in logistics all my life,” Derek says. “I started straight out of school with Kinsey and Co doing invoicing, working with agents and customs.”
Unlike many in the industry who come from a trucking background, Derek came from an office and administration background but that didn’t stop him from earning his Class 4 licence and getting stuck in.
“Back in the early days in Dunedin I would go and quote a job, do the packing, then move it all,” he laughs. “I’m still very much hands-on.”
Conroy Removals isn’t just a workplace for Derek, it’s a family. His son Anton, daughter Renee, wife Sam, and stepson Tyla, have all worked with him.
“It’s a family business through and through,” Derek says. “David and Fiona put family first, and that flows through to the rest of us. The kids see you working hard – they understand why we have to go to work and leave them at home sometimes. They get to see it firsthand.”
That family culture, along with the steady leadership of people like David Conroy, is something Derek has always tried to emulate in his own management style.
“I’ve always treated the staff like David treats us. He’s calm, and I try to be the same.”
Conroy Removals Managing Director, David Conroy says Derek has been part of the Conroy family for so long, it’s hard to imagine Conroy without him.
We’ve been through a lot together over the years, and I’ve always admired his work ethic, leadership and the way he’s handled the tough times and celebrated the good ones,” David says.
“Derek’s made a huge impact here, and while we’ll miss seeing him every day, we’re pleased to see he’s taking time for himself now. He’s earned it a hundred times over.”Among Derek’s standout memories is a once-in-a-lifetime experience travelling to Antarctica – twice!
“We unloaded containers at the US base, full of ergonomic furniture. We spent about two weeks unpacking everything and carrying it up lots of stairs. The first time we went it was dark 24 hours a day. The second time, it was daylight the whole time.”
Through highs and lows, Derek has seen it all. After the devastating Christchurch earthquakes in 2010/11, while the city struggled to recover, the moving industry was in high demand.
“I was doing 14-hour days, six days a week. It takes a toll on your body, but we were lucky to be working.”
Then came the downturns, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 in particular.
“No one was moving. We had to make hard decisions. Letting people go is the worst part of the job. I even had to lay off my own daughter, Renee. That was a really difficult time.”
Despite the challenges, Derek’s legacy is one of loyalty, compassion, and contribution – not just to Conroy Removals, but to the wider transport industry. A lifetime member of the Road Transport Association, Derek has always made time to support others in the field, earning respect from all corners of the industry. He attributes his longevity in the industry to support from the Conroy family.
“I’ve never felt alone,” he says. “The support from David, Gary, and Fiona has meant everything but I’m starting to feel tired, and I’m pleased to be leaving on a positive note.”
While he’ll still be around on a casual basis, Derek is looking forward to slowing down.
His next chapter involves more time on the golf course, plenty of tennis (he’s president of his local club), and enjoying the rewards of a career built on integrity, hard work, and heart.