From One Van to a National Whānau: The Rise of Glass Group
When Simon Faull (Te Atiawa, Ngāti Rahiri) and Trent Berge (Te Atiawa, Ngāti Tama) talk about Glass Group, they don’t begin with products or profit. They start with people; the people who raised them, the kaimahi who’ve grown alongside them, and the community they proudly call home.
Simon began his career in Wellington as a young glazier, eventually buying a van and hiring his very first employee Shaun at just sixteen. That relationship now more than twenty years strong set the tone for the type of business Simon wanted to build: one grounded in loyalty, whanaungatanga, and genuine care for others.
After selling his first glass company and spending several years living rurally, Simon thought he’d left the industry for good. He moved into honey production and launched Pouatu Mānuka, exporting Aotearoa honey overseas. But the pull back to the glass trade and to Taranaki was strong. Five years ago he founded Glass Group with Trent, this time with a clear intention: to create a national business with a true local heart.
That same spirit is shared by his business partner Trent, whose journey is woven deeply into the foundations of Glass Group Taranaki. Born and bred in Taranaki Trent left school at just 15 to step straight into the glazing trade at Jones & Sanford. After nearly a decade in the industry he shifted gears and countries moving to Perth in 1996. There he spent eight years playing rugby league and working a wide range of jobs gaining a broader view of life beyond the workshop.
In 2004, Trent returned home with his wife and their two tamariki, picking up work with a local glazing business and re-establishing himself in the community. By 2016 he backed himself wholeheartedly buying a van, starting his own glazing business and bringing on Lucas Rauner as his first employee (now also proudly part of the Glass Group whānau).
Everything changed again in 2021 when Trent and Simon met. Their kōrero revealed shared values: care for community, respect for people, and a drive to build something meaningful in Taranaki. That discussion led to an opportunity with Shaun and Simon to form Glass Group Taranaki, a business now known for its craftsmanship, generosity, and commitment to uplifting local whānau.
Today, Glass Group employs around 70 people nationwide, with 14 of them here in Taranaki. 70% of the Taranaki team are Māori tradespeople, and many have stood with Simon and Trent across multiple chapters of their careers. What keeps everyone connected isn’t just the work, it’s the feeling of belonging to a big extended whānau.
Supporting the region is central to the business. Glass Group sponsors Taranaki Rugby’s junior wāhine, U16 and U18 teams, partners with Box Office Boxing to ensure tamariki from low-income families can access training and every Christmas the team runs a community giveaway that has literally changed lives including double-glazing the home of a woman in Inglewood who had been struggling with poor health.
As for advice to young entrepreneurs Simon is clear: back yourself, even when it feels uncomfortable. Confidence grows from doing, not waiting. “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, I’ve made plenty,” he says. “But every step teaches you something. Surround yourself with good people, take the opportunities in front of you and trust your own hustle. If you don’t believe in your dream first, no one else will.”
For both Simon and Trent giving back is simply part of their whakapapa. Guided by mentors like Gavin Faull, Simon has learned the value of generosity, integrity, and backing people fully. Trent naturally steps into a tuakana–teina role, offering guidance to friends and whānau in both business and life. Their shared vision is clear: to build a strong, intergenerational brand like Yarrows while staying true to the region that shaped them.
At the heart of it all is one belief: relationships and communication are everything. When businesses put people first, the whole community rises.
