Double Coin Imaging Awards

Longtime Wairarapa transport operator Fred Burling reckons it was quite simple – the process of coming up with Burling Transport's distinctive red, white and yellow livery.

It started out as just red and white – back when he started the company more than 50 years ago: "Oh, they were just the colours I wanted to use – so that was it." 

He'd bought the carrying side of the "Baileys topdressing outfit" in Masterton – taking over "about three" petrol-engined Commers. 

"They were grey, some of them." He had them repainted, with white cab roofs, white guards and front bumpers – and red in between.

When he bought out another Wairarapa operator, Tony Pye, he repainted those trucks too. After all, they were pink! 

Fred isn't big on talking about his Masterton business, but does allow that much, much later – in the mid-1990s – he decided to brighten-up the original red and white livery a bit….