Alan Hiscox said he liked the three Ts – Te Kūiti, Taumarunui and Taihape.
A man described as an iconic stock agent, Alan Douglas (Hizzy) Hiscox died at his Taumarunui home on May 2.
In a career stretching back to the 1970s, Alan became a top Central North Island auctioneer, following humble beginnings as a National Mortgage Association trainee from Feilding.
As one of the company’s front men, he was regarded as a talented operator, telling the King Country News in a 2016 interview that he prided himself on always doing his best for both client and company.
“‘Hizzy’ always did things his way,” fellow auctioneer and friend Carl White said.
“He was truly iconic in my view; though he only really sold in the Central North Island, he was second to none, definitely under-utilised.”
White said Alan outshone many others due to his presence and his diction – you could always understand him.
“Beyond that, one of his greatest assets was knowing the market. He had orders; he always knew where to place cattle and sheep.”
King Country News files preserve some of Alan’s own comments on his career:
After being promoted from general office duties as a young man, Alan said he naturally took to the role as a stock agent and never looked back.
“I had no experience in the livestock industry and as a young fella I was just looking for a job and I ended up at NMA.
“They were advertising for a trainee so I basically grew into the livestock game rather than coming off a farm or anything like that. But it’s an industry that’s once you are in it you don’t really want to do anything else.”
After finding his feet in Feilding, Alan was transferred to Wrightsons in Taumarunui in 1984 and felt right at home.
“I accepted a transfer back to Feilding in 1987 but I didn’t want to leave Taumarunui,” he said.
“I liked the three Ts – Te Kūiti, Taumarunui and Taihape.
“They were hill country farmers and I liked the way they operated.
“After only about a week back in Feilding I didn’t like it but I couldn’t go back to Wrightsons because I had resigned so I became an independent.”
Operating under Alan Hiscox Livestock, one of the first independents in New Zealand, he returned to Taumarunui and remained there all his days.
Soon after his return, Taranaki Farmers purchased Fagan Farmers in Piopio and Te Kūiti renaming it King Country Farmers.
Alan was approached by King Country Farmers to sell his business, which he didn’t, instead agreeing on a 50-50 partnership and King Country Farmers Livestock was born.
Taranaki Farmers then acquired Manawatu Farmers and Waikato Farmers becoming Allied Farmers and then – New Zealand Farmers Livestock Ltd.
Through it all Alan said he specialised mainly in sheep and beef because of the down-to-earth way that industry does business. His area covered Te Kawa to Mōkau.
“Cattle farmers, right from the first day I started dealing with them – what you see is what you get.
“Still to this day they look you in the eye and shake your hand on a deal.
“The average day-to-day transaction between two farmers and the stock agent who makes it happen, is just a handshake.
“Everyone pays and that’s what it has always been like.”
A complex job, Alan said the main role of a stock agent was to do everything they could to achieve the maximum value for the farmer who has trusted them to do their business.
And having good old-fashioned values went a long way to doing just that.
White noted that Alan had both an amazingly high IQ and a dry sense of humour and was capable of lively repartee.
“But this was never cruel; it was always just banter.”
Alan was made a life member of the Taumarunui Eels Rugby and Sports Cub about a week before his death from cancer, receiving his jacket at a ceremony at his home. Over the years he had taken on many roles within the club.
Alan is survived by his wife Arlene, their children Nathan and Kelly and their grandchildren. His funeral was held at the Taumarunui Cosmopolitan Club last week.
