Kowhai Southland/The Lakes has been proudly owned and operated by Cleanlines Decorating Maintenance Ltd, T/A Kowhai Roofs Southland Lakes, since 2017.

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Owner Graeme Howie, who grew up in Otatara, is a qualified painter with experience managing large painting crews in England and Australia. After traveling overseas, Graeme and his wife Deb returned to Southland in 1996 and established Cleanlines Decorating Maintenance Ltd.

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Deb, a former school principal, brought her exceptional organizational skills to the business, ensuring that administration, communication, and paperwork were handled promptly and to the highest standard.

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In 2016, they took on the Kowhai Southland & Lakes franchise and have since grown their team to four. Safety is a cornerstone of their company ethos—every team member is Site Safe, Working at Heights, and Ropes & Harness Certified.

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Their commitment to safety extends beyond work. Both Graeme and Deb are volunteer firefighters with their local brigade—Graeme since 2013 and Deb since 2015.

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Based in Athol, Kowhai Southland & The Lakes proudly services the region from Lake Hawea to Bluff.