Travel Innovator Tony Laker

Sad news from our own community this week with the passing of Tony Laker.

It’s been well recorded that Tony Laker along with his wife Tracey started their own travel agency 22 years ago, with more than a few in the industry advising them against it and building it up to be one of New Zealand’s most successful operations under the House of Travel banner. Not bad for a boy from a modest upbringing in Bluff.

A point that Tony made many times over the years is that when he left Air New Zealand to go out on his own, he had no money and no idea. Perseverance paid off and success and many awards followed.

It’s also well recorded that Tony and Tracey and made a thing of taking tour groups of Southlanders to places near and far, probably many would not have ventured so far had it not been for Tony and Tracey.

A work colleague of mine mentioned that there would not be many places on this earth that Tony had not travelled too.

Back in radio days I recall Tony and his team were instrumental in organising trips to several big concerts and sports events in Auckland. Nothing was too much trouble.

Sadly and probably when House of Travel Laker was at the peak of it’s powers, a cruel and devastating illness struck along with the Covid pandemic thus forcing a major re-think of the business. Simple, instead of taking folk overseas, take ’em to New Zealand, which they did with some success.

Perhaps one of the Laker’s most ingenious ideas was the day trip to the Melbourne Cup just a few years ago. Just proved that talking to the right people at the right time made the seemingly impossible, possible.

Tony was also a sports fan and patron with many clubs big and small getting their trips organized through House of Travel Lakers. No doubt many other provincial cities would give their eye teeth so to speak to have such a canny travel operator as Tony Laker.

His sports patronage extended to a long time association with his beloved Old Boys Association Football Club. To mark the loss of Tony, the senior teams will observe a minutes silence prior to their games and team members will wear black armbands as a mark of respect.

whatsoninvers.nz founder Mike Sanford said, “I’ve always admired three local businessmen who knew how to maximize old media print and radio back in the day when it had impact. They were Dennis O’Brien from Rices Appliances, the late Kevin Sexton the musicman and Tony Laker”.

Listening to Tony talk about his guided tours hypnotized you and you just wanted to go and book one. He was a real nice bloke.

To conclude, Tony Laker’s effervescent personality and extraordinary business acumen is a massive loss to Invers and wider Southland at a time when those qualities are needed most .

RIP Tony, husband of Tracey, father of Meg and Flynn, employer of many and friend to pretty much everyone. Taken way to soon, way to soon!

A celebration of Tony Laker’s life will be held at ILT Stadium Southland at 11am on Monday.

Mal