In 1993, Murray Grant, in partnership, imported a horizontal Bandmill with the objective of supplying wholesale R/S green pine to the finger jointing and other markets in Whangarei. Shortly after starting operation these markets crashed forcing them to look elsewhere. He processed and marketed some macrocarpa logs from a local forest and saw the potential for developing a reputation as supplying well graded and cut macrocarpa - it worked, and they never cut pine again. Changing the company name to MacDirect Ltd, the mills output increased dramatically every year to eventually became the main wholesaler of Macrocarpa into Auckland. In 1999 Murray became the sole owner of MacDirect, and he determined to continue to take advantage of the growing awareness of the special benefits and sustainability of Macrocarpa/Cypress timbers. In 2003 with the business out-growing its site and production ability, a decision was made to purchase an existing macrocarpa mill (P&D Sawmill) in Franklin, South Auckland at Patumahoe. This allowed MacDirect Ltd to grow the customer base, source trees from Central North Island Plantations, and move into finishing/dressing timber themselves. MacDirect has continued to grow every year. Today they are well placed to meet the increasing demand for high quality macrocarpa/cypress. With a good reputation in the forestry industry MacDirect have a plentiful supply of quality plantation logs. The mainstay of a small sawmill is the team who work there. Most of the team have worked several years at MacDirect and have become experts in the specialist cutting and grading needed in a macrocarpa/cypress sawmill.
