National Mortgage and Agency Company

 This is 45 Vogel Street

The National Mortgage & Agency Company of New Zealand Limited to give it its full title. This must have been a grand building in its day Although the painting scheme gives the impression of three buidlings it is in fact one from the white and yellow part to the left of the building all the way to the grey part at the right.

 This end of the building looks in the best condition and best displays the name. Although in this case your name at the top was not enough for these chaps and it is also cast into the ventilation grates

Despite its name NMA was founded in London in 1877 with its Head Office in Lombard St, London.

The first investment made by NMA was to takeover the firms of Russell Ritchie and Company and Russell Le Cren and Company. The first being the NZ end and the second being the London based end of an established business exporting wool and providing financing to farmers.

Russill Ritchies principal place of business at this time was Timaru but the principal office for NMA became Dunedin probably in response to its growing importance within NZ at that time.

NMA had grown steadily through acquisition and expansion and gradually diversified. In the 1920's the first of an extensive fishing fleet and freezers were established and the company pioneered the export of crayfish tails and became a leader in the industry. Meat exporting was another activity developed by the company.

A period of considerable growth in the 1950's saw NMA expand from a predominantly South Island company to full New Zealand coverage. The wide range of machinery activities in the company was consolidated under the control of MacEwans Machinery Limited and the manufacture of canvas goods and protective clothing was developed in two factories in Dunedin and Auckland.

In 1961 the NMA merged with Levin & Co and in 1972 NMA eventually merged with Wright Stephenson to become Wrightsons NMA, this was later merged again with Fletcher Holdings and Tasman Pulp and Paper to become Fletcher Challange which for sometime was New Zealands largest company.

The Stock and Station part of NMA lives on as that part of Wrightsons is now part of PGG Wrightsons.