100% New Zealand Owned & Operated
The Lifeblood of New Zealand Industry.
Vertex Lubricants exists to keep essential equipment moving with supply certainty and without the guesswork.
Performance is a Discipline.
Andrew Stewart, Founder & Managing Director
In 1996, I didn’t start Vertex to build a corporate empire. I started it because I saw New Zealand operators getting a raw deal.
I saw generic products being pushed into unique environments. I saw operators left without real technical support when things went wrong. I saw supply chains that couldn’t be trusted when it mattered most.
We built Vertex to be the answer to the faceless supplier. If you ring us, we answer. If you have a problem, we fix it. That was the promise in 1996, and it remains our standard today.
Andrew Stewart
Founder & Managing Director
How We Got Here
Not a corporate timeline of “strategic milestones.” Just the real story of how a one-truck operation became the largest independent lubricant company in New Zealand.
1994
Andrew Stewart and Trevor Hockenhull Start selling Elf HTX Race fuels to the NZ Market.
1997
Andrew and Trevor establish Lubricants NZ LTD as the exclusive distributor of Elf Lubricants in NZ. They started working out of their makeshift office in Trevor’s garage and storing their stock in a self-storage unit.
1999
Trevor Hockenhull passes away.
2000
We move into our first commercial office and warehouse on Ash Road in Manukau.
2001
We purchase our first pump-over-truck, “Puddles”.
2002
Andrew Stewart purchases the remaining shares from Lyn Hockenhull to become the sole owner.
2004
The Tauranga Branch is opened.
2006
The Christchurch branch is opened.
2008
The Auckland head office moves to our first full site, 20 Marphona Crescent, Takanini. 1,300m².
2011
Vertex Lubricants is Born.
2012
We start our plastic repurposing program.
2013
The Palmerston North branch opens.
2014
We cease selling Elf race fuels.
2015
Vertex changes to its new logo.
2015
We employ our first full-time engineer.
2018
We custom-built our first Class 4 pump-over-truck, “The White Lady”.
2019
The Nelson branch opens.
2019
The Auckland head office moves into our new 3,000m² purpose-built production facility at 22 Marphona Crescent, Takanini.
2021
Lubricants NZ ceases to sell Elf Lubricants and moves to a single brand strategy with Vertex.
2021
We start developing a plastic recycling strategy.
2022
Lubricants NZ starts trading as Vertex Lubricants.
2022
Nick Anderson passes away. Nick was an integral part of creating Vertex and making us the company we are today.
2023
We finalise our bespoke plastic recycling system.
2024
We invest in a second plastic recycling system for our Christchurch branch.
2025
Vertex becomes an official recycling partner with Future Post.
2025
We launch our 360-degree e-commerce system for our B2B customers.
Globally Blended. NZ Controlled.
We work with trusted international blending partners while managing local testing, packaging and distribution here in New Zealand. Every batch is quality checked to ensure it meets OEM requirements and delivers consistent performance across every application.
Complete Control
We set the formulas, specifications and quality controls for every product, and decant and pack here in New Zealand.
Controlled Lab
We test every batch. Viscosity, TBN, Flash Point - the works.
OEM Certified
Products approved by Cummins, Daimler, Volvo, and others. Not just "meets spec" - officially approved.
Flexible Delivery Network
We operate our own delivery fleet alongside trusted freight and courier partners to ensure reliable delivery across New Zealand.
Why Operators Choose Vertex
We’re not selling magic. Just consistent quality, actual support, and logistics you can count on.
You Can Actually Reach Us
New Zealand owned, reachable, and stable in a market where distributors change hands every few years.
We Own the Trucks
Our warehouse. Our fleet. Our problem if delivery is late. No more “sorry, that’s the courier’s fault.”
Technical Backup That Actually Works
Tier 1 additive tech from the likes of Lubrizol and Infineum. In-house specialists. Batch testing. Not guesswork.
1000+ Products, One Supplier
From chainsaw oil to 300-tonne excavator gearboxes. Consolidate your suppliers. Simplify your life.
We're Independent, Not Isolated
Being independent doesn’t mean we’re blending mystery fluids in a shed. We use the same world-class additive packages and base oils as Shell, Mobil, and Castrol.
Additive Partners Lubrizol, Infineum, Oronite, Afton are the exact same suppliers that the global majors use. That’s how we guarantee OEM specification compliance. Same chemistry. Better service.
Lubrizol
Infineum
Afton
ExxonMobil
Real People. Real Expertise.
When you call Vertex, you talk to specialists—not call centers
Technical Specialists
Kial and Darren design our formulations, with more than 20 years' combined experience. Our 13-strong sales team brings many more years of experience across the industries we supply.
Oil Consultants
Our oil consultants have decades' worth of experience working in the oil industry. They speak diesel, hydraulics and gear drives fluently.
Direct Support
No automated menus. No offshore help desks. You get a New Zealand expert who knows your account and your equipment.
More Than Just A Job.
Walk into our lunchroom, and you won't hear corporate jargon. You'll hear debates about drift cars, classic restorations, and heavy machinery. We are a team of petrolheads, engineers, and mechanics. We don't just sell this stuff; we live it.
“We don’t hire salespeople. We hire problem solvers. People who understand that the right lubricant can save a business tens of thousands of dollars in downtime.”
— Chris (General Manager)
100% NZ Owned (and It Actually Matters)
Being 100% New Zealand owned isn’t a talking point for us—it’s how we operate. Profits don’t vanish offshore to Sydney or Houston.
They go back into Kiwi motorsport, local community sponsorships, and the families of the 45+ people who work here. When you buy from Vertex, you’re supporting a New Zealand business that’s staying in New Zealand.
Ready to Talk?
No automated phone trees. No “your call is important to us” hold music. Just real people who know lubricants and actually want to help.
