Ever since our humble beginnings in downtown Nelson in 1945 the Bowater Motor Group has been very focused on community involvement. We believe that you are only ever as successful as the support that you can give back. It is with this philosophy that we continue to be as involved as we can be in the wider Nelson / Tasman community.
This section of the website houses stories, links and content from a collective of organisations and events that we are involved with or support through sponsorship or partnerships.
The menu to the right has got comprehensive articles from those events, organisations and charities that we regularly involved with, click on the menu items to read more, or scroll down this page to keep up with events as they unfold.
If you think you have an event, organisation or group that would benefit from our community interest feel free to contact us.
Mini on restoration road
Labour of love benefits Relay for Life
Article from The Nelson Mail 05/07/12
Photo: MARION VAN DIJK/FAIRFAX NZ. Nick Harrison, left, and Bob Croy are starting to work on the panels of the 1975 Morris Mini Relay for Life fundraiser.
A Wakefield project to restore an old Mini to raise money for the Relay for Life has continued to accelerate, with the car receiving panelbeating work, a personalised plate, and a starring role in a calendar.
In March retired mechanic Bob Croy, retired carpenter John Bruce, and tinkerer Martin Reid joined forces to restore a 1975 Morris Mini Mark 3 to raffle for the 2014 relay, with profits going to the Cancer Society.
Since the project began, the group has partnered with businesses and groups, including Sun City Panel and Paint, the Bowater Motor Group and Hotwash Water Blasting.
The Thomas Oliver Band: Bad Talkin' Man
This years Bowater Toyota sponsored show is The Thomas Oliver Band.
We are very excited, these guys are quite remarkable......
check it our for yourselves, this is the official video for their track Bad Talkin Man.
Meet the Thomas Oliver Band
The Thomas Oliver Band, affectionately known by fans as The T.O.B., have taken modern rock by the collar and shaken the soul back into it. The T.O.B. seamlessly fuse genres and bend the rules.
Their debut album, Baby I'll Play, blends grinding blues beats with clean folk melodies, and slips solid rock into big-chorused country / roots ballads.
The strength of this critically acclaimed album scored them the Best New Zealand Blues and Roots album 2011 on iTunes and saw the album debut at #12 on the New Zealand Music Charts.
“When I finally saw the T.O.B. live, I got that feeling that you get when you witness something special. Chops, guts, self-belief and taste, rough and smooth, they've got it all.”
— Peter Urlich
Thomas Oliver and company came together over the course of 2005, through a shared love of Dave Matthews Band and The Roots. Originally a trio, The T.O.B. expanded to a five-piece in 2007 after Thomas met sax player, "Mowgli", at a skatepark. "We are all tight friends who share a passion for good music, skating, surfing, getting drunk and having a good ol' time," says Thomas Oliver, “but all 5 of us are also quite different, which adds to the dynamic when we come together musically."
Bowater Toyota presents The Thomas Oliver Band
This year Bowater Toyota are very excited to be sponsoring one of New Zealand's top emerging bands at the NSOM Winter Music Festival - The Thomas Oliver Band on Saturday 21st July from 7.30pm.
The fresh instrumentation of this 5-piece band, including lap-slide guitar, double bass and baritone saxophone, creates a distinctive sound.
The Thomas Oliver Band have pleased audiences across the nation with their dynamic live shows which cover the broodiness of alt-country, to slamming rootsy rock pieces.
Baby I'll Play their debut album released last year was named Best NZ Blues & Roots Album in iTunes 2011 and received rave reviews.
