It’s time to say ‘farewell Fletty’. 

After 56 years in the wool industry, Alistair Flett, affectionately known to everyone as Fletty, is hanging up his hat. And his retirement marks the end of a remarkable era for New Zealand wool, one defined not only by deep technical knowledge and hard work, but by the trust, warmth, and friendships he built along the way.

For many growers, colleagues, and industry partners, Fletty has been more than a wool representative. He’s been a confidant, a mentor, and a constant presence in an industry that has seen its fair share of change. And while he may be stepping back, the legacy he leaves is woven firmly into the fabric of New Zealand wool.

From holiday job to lifelong career
Fletty’s wool journey began by chance. As a teenager on school holidays in Dunedin, he took a temporary job in the Otago Farmers’ wool store - a role he landed thanks to his cousin, who was a wool classer. But what started as a summer job quickly became a calling.

“I enjoyed it straight away,” Alistair recalls. “All the different types of wool made it interesting. It wasn’t man-made - it changed with the seasons, and you could feel the differences in your hands.”

Fletty never went back to school. Instead, he threw himself into the trade, starting with oddments and moving up to fleece classing. Back then, wool was pressed and displayed in bales stacked three high at auction, not in boxes as it is today, and he says it was a great way to learn.

“You’d class wool, then go to the auction and press it up for the buyers. You saw the whole process.”

And he was never short of role models. Names like Carl Reed, Jack Dickson, and Barry Fitzpatrick still stand out in Fletty’s memories.

“They were old school, and I remember thinking ‘there’s no way I’ll be doing this job when I’m that old’. And here I am, past them.”

Summit Wool Spinners: A pivotal chapter
In the late 1970s, Alistair took on what would become a defining role as Wool Manager at Summit Wool Spinners in Oamaru. For 23 years, he managed the procurement of around 40,000 bales annually, overseeing their journey through batching, scouring, carding, spinning, and dyeing.

“It was fascinating work,” he says. 

“We made carpet yarn that was sold worldwide. I was lucky enough to travel to Japan, England, and Australia with the job. And the Japanese owners were fantastic to work for, very loyal, very supportive.”

He recalls one lesson clearly - never try to impress by speaking the language. 

“If you spoke Japanese, they’d reply only in Japanese. If you spoke English, they’d reply in English. It wasn’t about words, it was about listening. You were born with two ears and one mouth for a reason and listening to your clients is the most important skill.”

‘On the road again’ with PGW Wool
After decades inside manufacturing, Fletty returned to the grassroots as a PGW Wool Representative. Based in Alexandra, his patch stretched up to Geraldine, often requiring 600 - 700 kilometres of driving in a day.

“You leave home at 5am to be in Twizel by 7, work through Tekapo, and get home by six at night,” he says. “The roads aren’t always kind in winter. But you do it because you like it.”

And he did like it, but it wasn’t just about the wool, but the people. 

“The biggest thing I’ve enjoyed is my customers and clients. You end up becoming personal friends. You know their families, you keep in touch about their kids’ rugby. And it’s the rapport that really matters.”

Farmers invited him into their homes for coffee, shared meals and eateries along his regular driving route became so familiar that they knew his order as soon as his vehicle parked up outside.

“There’s one café in Omarama who would always let me go straight to the front of the queue, with my cappuccino ready in just a few minutes, even if they had a bus load of tourists ahead of me.”

A mentor to many
Fletty has always taken pride in helping those new to the industry to find their feet, being especially supportive of Sam, who is stepping in to fill his very large boots.

“As long as someone is willing to learn, I’ll help them,” he says. “Give them the space to ask questions, let them make their own decisions. That’s how you grow.”

And his philosophy is simple, to treat people how you want to be treated.

“No one is better than anyone else, no matter their role. Don’t try to be something you’re not.”

Colleagues pay tribute
Those who’ve worked alongside Fletty are quick to highlight both his skill and his character.

Dave Burridge, who has known him for more than 25 years, describes him as a cornerstone of the trade.

“Alistair has been a key personality within the wool industry - well known, well respected. His ability to connect with people is second to none, with a natural way of making complicated things simple. Farmers have always trusted him to add value to their wool clips.”

Dave also credits him as a mentor.

“Fletty always took time to pass on his expertise to younger members of our business - his knowledge of the region is unmatched, and his role will be very hard to fill.”

Aaron Wilson, who first met Fletty as a teenager when he was head classer at Reid Farmers, remembers him as a refreshing influence in an old-school environment.

“He brought new ideas, and he was generous in sharing his knowledge when others weren’t. He was a tough, hard taskmaster, but always fair. I look back really fondly on those times.

“What you see is what you get with Fletty - loyal to a T, down to earth, and just as comfortable in a boardroom as he was in a woolshed.”

Aaron also laughs reflecting on Fletty’s timeless quality. 

“We all like to joke about how he doesn’t seem to age, I remember him looking the same all those years ago at the start of my career as he does now. 

“But in all seriousness, the industry will certainly miss the length and breadth of his experience. But we have been told to stop by if we’re ever in Alexandra, so I’ll be sure to take him up on that offer.”  

“Thank you everyone, talk to you soon.” 
Retirement won’t mean slowing down completely. On his lifestyle block in Alexandra, Fletty will keep busy restoring vintage machinery - including a 1937 Chevrolet pickup and an old Valiant - and following his grandchildren’s sport. He’s looking forward to more time with family, though he jokes retirement might leave him ‘a bit poor,’ so the industry may not have seen the last of him.

What he’s certain of is the gratitude he feels. 

“I’d like to thank the friendships I’ve built with clients, farmers, and colleagues - those in the wool stores and the office in Christchurch who I’d ring to have a yarn to while I was out on the road. It’s been a privilege and the relationships have meant everything to me.

“When I was saying farewell to one of the farmers I’ve worked with over the years, he, his wife, and their teenage sons sat me down for a cup of tea and sent me home with a roast of venison.

“The boys wanted to chat about rugby and cricket and it’s those personal connections which are the special part of the job I will miss.”

A lasting legacy
As the wool industry says ‘happy retirement’ to one of its most enduring figures, it’s clear that Fletty’s contribution goes far beyond the bales he’s classed, bought, or sold. His real legacy lies in the people he has helped, the trust he has earned, and the countless cups of coffee shared in farm kitchens across the South Island.

But as he steps into retirement, Alistair Flett can do so knowing he leaves behind a career stitched together with loyalty, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to New Zealand wool and the people who grow it.