Networks & Entities

Oldershaw Family History

Investigation document: Oldershaw Family History

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RESEARCH 11: OLDERSHAW FAMILY HISTORY - CRITICAL FINDING

Date: December 29, 2025 (UTC) Objective: Research the Oldershaw family history and founding of the accounting firm

KEY FINDING: ASH OLDERSHAW ORAL HISTORY

Source: Knowledge Bank - Oldershaw, Ashley Herbert (Ash) Interview URL: https://knowledgebank.org.nz/audio/oldershaw-ashley-herbert-ash-interview/

ASHLEY HERBERT "ASH" OLDERSHAW - BIOGRAPHY

Early Life

  • Born in Waipukurau
  • Lived in Takapau as a child
  • Attended Dannevirke High School (1940-1945)
  • Only 17 when he left school after 6 years

Family Background

> "I'm probably quite unique in the fact that only one of my grandparents wasn't born in New Zealand, and they were all pretty old. The only one … my maternal grandmother was born in England and came to New Zealand as a young person, came to Napier."

This confirms the Oldershaw family has been in New Zealand for multiple generations.

FOUNDING OF OLDERSHAW & CO

Timeline

| Year | Event |

|------|-------|

| 1945 | Ash came to Napier, worked for Anderson & White |

| ~1948 | Left Anderson & White, worked for private firm |

| ~1952 | Joined Prime & Morrell (offices in Napier and Taupo) |

| April 9, 1956 | Founded Oldershaw & Sutherland |

| ~1970s | Partner Paddy Sutherland died at age 42 |

| ~1990s | Ash retired as partner at age 70 |

| ~1995 | Ash retired as consultant at age 75 |

The Founding Story

> "I made friends with a tax inspector who'd come to Napier from Wellington. His name was Paddy Sutherland … David Sutherland … and we were talking one day and we were both fed up with what we were doing."

> "We said, you know – 'why the devil should we be pushed into this position? Why don't we start up in Napier?' So we decided to do that, and on the … I think it was the 9th of April 1956 we opened our office in Napier." > "The firm carried on as Oldershaw & Sutherland … couple of other names … until Paddy Sullivan died when he was forty-two."

ASH OLDERSHAW'S FAMILY

Wife

  • Lindsay Stewart (married May 19, 1952 or 1962 - transcript unclear)
  • Married in Wanganui

Residences in Napier

  • Riverbend Road (first home)
  • Cobden Road
  • 26 Fitzroy Road (old Bank of New Zealand residence) - 35 years
  • Greenmeadows - 9 years
  • Cambridge (retirement)

Sons

  • Mark Oldershaw - Worked for Telecom, then Oldershaw & Co (chartered accounting), then Wellington
  • David Oldershaw - CEO of Midland Area Health (Waikato)
  • Third son (name not mentioned in excerpt)

CRITICAL CONNECTION: DAVID OLDERSHAW

From the interview:

> "Our second son, David, is at present … what's he? He's CEO of an outfit called Midland Area Health based in the Waikato."

Cross-reference with Companies Office findings:
  • David Blair Oldershaw - Director of Aquiline Holdings Limited
  • David Blair Oldershaw - 34+ company associations
  • Address: 62 Raffles Street, Napier (Oldershaw & Co address)
QUESTION: Is David Blair Oldershaw the same person as Ash's son David?

OLDERSHAW & CO - CURRENT STATUS

Source: https://www.oldershaw.co.nz/about > "Oldershaw was created in Hawke's Bay in 1956 by Ash Oldershaw ("Mr O") and David Sutherland, who in their 20's broke away from traditional accounting."

This confirms:

  • Founded 1956
  • Founders: Ash Oldershaw and David Sutherland
  • The firm has operated continuously for 69 years

ASH OLDERSHAW'S COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Sports Administration

  • Secretary, Napier High School Old Boys' Rugby Club
  • Hawke's Bay Rugby Union (with Tig Anderson)
  • Club Captain, Hawke's Bay Lawn Tennis Club (4 years)
  • Founding member & first Secretary, Hawke's Bay Squash Racquets' Club
  • Secretary, Maraenui Golf Club (1955)
  • President, Maraenui Golf Club
  • Life Member, Maraenui Golf Club

Business Connections

  • Worked with Tig Anderson (Anderson & White)
  • Worked with Prime & Morrell
  • Founded firm with David "Paddy" Sutherland (former tax inspector)

SIGNIFICANCE FOR INVESTIGATION

  • The Oldershaw firm has been in Napier since 1956 - This predates Aquiline Holdings by 40 years
  • Ash Oldershaw was deeply embedded in Napier's elite - Rugby, tennis, golf, banking connections
  • The firm is multi-generational - Ash's son Mark worked there, David Blair Oldershaw is likely a family member
  • The firm handled Aquiline Holdings - Address for Service was Oldershaw & Co
  • The firm is independent - "We're not hooked up to a big multinational outfit" (from website)

NEXT STEPS

  • Research the relationship between David Blair Oldershaw and Ash Oldershaw
  • Investigate other Oldershaw family members (Lindsay, Ashley, etc.)
  • Search for connections between Oldershaw & Co and Māori trusts
  • Research the firm's client list for other investigation targets