Obituary: Ian Jenner
Tributes have been made to Ian Ronald Jenner, managing director of Jenners Worldwide Freight Ltd.
The 78-year-old passed away in Dunedin Hospital on December 5, and leaves behind a legacy of entrepreneurship and community service.
He founded the company in 1981 as Jenners Customs and Freight. It was an independent freight forwarder and customs broker focusing on delivering high-quality service. Now, exclusive agents of JAS, its global partner network enables it to handle freight from all parts of the world.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the sudden passing of Ian Jenner,” states a tribute sent by the Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders’ Federation of NZ (CBAFF) to its members.
“A visionary in the industry, Ian founded Jenners in 1981, and continued to influence and shape the freight network we operate in today. His dedication and enthusiasm for freight and customs were unparalleled.
“Ian’s remarkable journey included serving as the president of the Auckland Customs Brokers’ Association, significantly contributing to its amalgamation with the International Institute for Freight Forwarders, leading to the formation of the CBAFF.
“The CBAFF deeply mourns this great loss, and extends our heartfelt condolences to Ian’s family and to everyone at Jenners Worldwide.”
While Jenner’s life journey was marked by success in the freight-forwarding industry, he was also dedicated to Rotary, the Bush Tramway Club, which is a heritage railway near Huntly in the Waikato and car clubs. He also travelled extensively.
His memory will forever be cherished by his wife Marlene, children Craig and Katrina, and four grandchildren. In keeping with his wishes, please donate to Bush Tramway Club – account number: 12-3039-0311256-00 – in lieu of flowers.
About the company
Jenners Worldwide is an independent New Zealand-owned integrated logistics and freight-forwarding company. It’s a family-owned business and has been operating for almost four decades.
It is a company that has seen many changes in the economy, and the way importation and exportation are handled.
There has been, in its time, the shift from manual written customs entries with import licences to word processors, computers and the current EDI software. Over the years, it has been influential in changes at many levels with NZ Customs, the Ministry for Primary Industries and industry bodies.
The company came into existence in 1981 as Jenners Customs and Freight when it opened doors opposite Mangere town centre in Wanstead Way, south Auckland.
It shifted to purpose-built premises open at Airport Oaks in 1986 when it was the first company to move into Rennie Drive, an area surrounded by farms when cows used to walk down the road for milking. Four years later saw its relocation to another Rennie Drive site and then again in 1990.
NZ Customs introduced the CusMod computer system in 1997 and other practices. This meant entries could be sent electronically via EDI, which greatly improved clearance times.
After moving to a new premises in Richard Pearse Drive, Airport Oaks, the company merged with Jas in 2000, a large global forwarder network, to form Jas Jenners Worldwide. There was another name change in 2007 – to Jenners Worldwide Freight – after it established exclusive agency with Jas.
The company’s facilities were extended in 2008 with lots of racking required for pick-pack and logistics services, while a full warehousing package was added to support online web tracking. In the same year, Jenner Cargo International was formed to focus on the company’s work in the vehicle and project industries.
It was in 2018 that Katrina Jenner – pictured below with late father – was appointed general manager of Jenners Worldwide Freight.
