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This Week’s Issue

Adding shades to their sails

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September 9, 2025

The shade side of the business has grown out of manufacturing yacht sails.

Lidgard Shades started as a sail making business over 50 years ago and the shade side of the business has grown out of manufacturing yacht sails. Sailing is a big part of the future and waits to grow more with the current keen sailing clubs on The Coromandel.

But it is the shades aspect of their business that has stepped up to meet the growing demand for homes in our extended summer season.

Grant has a long connection to the water and to sailmaking having worked in Lidgard early in his career and now has taken over the business as one of the company’s directors.

Lidgard Shades is also one of the only New Zealand manufacturers of Shade Sails (with most now being imported from overseas). It’s why they can do custom shade solutions and aren’t limited to off the shelf products. Lidgard Shades range also includes Ziptrak outdoor blinds, fixed canopies, retractable awnings and retractable roofs. They also provide a range of commercial and education shade solutions, and have manufactured and installed the Barrel Canopy used at Kupe’s Car Wash, Whitianga.

Grant owns a batch in Whitianga and is a regular visitor to the area. Due to demand in the Coromandel area, Lidgard Shades have partnered with local Coromandel business, Peninsula Shades that now represents Lidgard Shades in the entire Coromandel region providing local service, sales and support.

Grant can be contacted through grant@lidgardsails.co.nz or is available for a phone call on 027 226 9855. Or go to www.lidgardshades.co.nz.