Autoport’s Story

Autoport’s story began over 20 years ago when David Paviour (Founding Director), looking to change his car, couldn’t find a website in New Zealand that sold cars. Frustrated that he could not find such a website David partnered up with Hamish Lusk and AutoBase was born.

Knowing for AutoBase to be a successful, long term business it needed to drive a high volume of web traffic to its website. To achieve this David and Hamish formed a joint venture with a young tech entrepreneur named Sam Morgan creating Trade Me Motors. In 2012, Trade Me bought out AutoBase from David and Hamish. This lead to them starting up Autoport - a business dedicated to importing and selling cars at wholesale.

With online buying gaining in popularity David and Hamish decided it was time to disrupt the used car market and offer a totally unique buying experience, this time for the Consumer - much the same way Uber in transport and Airbnb in accommodation have.

In 2018 Autoport successfully launched its retail website – a marketplace for people to buy cars online. Without the unnecessary overhead costs of car yards, finance costs associated with holding stock and removing a number steps in the supply chain, Autoport is able to offer significant savings to the Consumer.

Today, Autoport has a global presence with offices in Japan, United Kingdom and New Zealand achieving its goal of – changing the way people buy cars.

Autoport is focused on providing the best possible buying experience for the Consumer driven by the company’s core values.

The Autoport Group of companies is managed by 2 Directors based in New Zealand bringing a wealth of industry and business experience.

David grew up in Hamilton attending Southwell School and then St Paul’s Collegiate. After a short time working, he headed to the UK for 4 years and gained accountancy experience.

On returning to NZ he attended Auckland Unitec and studied for a Diploma in Accountancy while working for the software development house, Best Knowledge Systems, in Auckland. After starting as Financial Controller he achieved the position of General Manager. David then moved into the diverse and growing area of contract accountancy – with his last contract being with Ericsson Cellular.

David looks after finance, strategy and general management. Outside of Autoport David enjoys time with his family, motor racing, his mancave, playing golf, fishing, diving, travelling, thoroughbred breeding and racing and watching sport.

After attending King's College in Auckland Hamish attended Auckland University for a two year period before leaving to pursue his passions of skiing and sailing. During this time he worked as a sailmaker for North Sails and was part of the NZ America's Cup Challenge in San Diego in 1992, interspersed with winters spent working in the ski industry.

A return to Auckland University in 1993 for 4 years, culminated in a Bachelor of Information Technology Honours Degree. Hamish commenced his career working at Ericsson Communications in the telecommunications industry in Auckland. Whilst working at Ericsson, he met the other founder of Autoport, David Paviour.

As well as general executive director duties at Autoport, Hamish handles all the platform development and technical infrastructure. Outside of Autoport he spends his time occupied with his children's various sporting activities but does find time to play cricket, tennis with diving, fishing and boating being particular passions.