Craig Andrews tracked down Kara Transport’s tidy six-wheeler Hino to find a very busy Corey Kara going about his daily work.

Dunedin-based, Corey is no stranger to hard work. He had just pulled into the depot after a metro drop-off and was about to head to Central Otago in a Western Star with a load of steel onboard. A quick chat was all it was going to be today.

The transport game for Corey started back in 2005 when he obtained his HT in a Nissan and started as a contractor for a couple of companies in the Dunedin area.

Like many people, he recalls sitting alongside his dad when he was a young fella. Ben Kara was a storeman/ driver for ASC Flowers in Palmerston North and then for Owens. Corey has fond memories of those days.

He spends most of his time driving the Western Star and running the small company alongside his wife, Jen. The Western Star goes into Central Otago two to three times a week, so he’s just busy enough. Ideally, he would like to spend more time just managing the company, so is on the hunt for a full-time driver for the Star.

Kara Transport got its start in July last year, which was challenging by any measure. Corey’s only industry negative is the effect Covid-19 has had on his clients, while the upside is meeting great people and building relationships. He loves the personal touch, and people interaction is the key for him. He says everything he does is for his family.

The Hino he had just jumped out of was a 2005 model, with about 380,000km on it. It’s one of two Hinos doing largely metro work in Kara’s colours. The koru on the side of the Hino was designed by Corey and represents the five members of his family.

The vexing question for Corey was green or grey? “Green all the way,” he said. It’s one of the primary colours of the Green Island Rugby Club, and the teal featured strongly on the trucks happens to be Jen’s favourite colour.