About

Established since 1996 Mike’s Panel Shop is a business based on the principles of pride in a job well done and ensuring customers have their expectations met.

Business Owner: Mike Bate

Mike Bate qualified as a panel beater because cars have been a central influence for most of his life.

‘As a kid I grew up watching my own father working on cars. He also had an interest in car racing so it was quite natural for me to gravitate towards cars,’ says Mike.

Mike eventually got into motorsport himself, winning the New Zealand Touring Car Championship two years in a row, racing a Toyota Corona.

‘I’ve never lost the passion or the interest. These days I race my Potent Honda Civic Type R around the North Island circuits and still enjoy my share of success,’ he says with a smile.

The car theme branched into what became another all consuming passion – creating a show car. Despite being a recreational interest, the project got the same high attention to detail as all Mike’s work does.

‘I developed a standard Nissan Primera into a show car which won an award at the Fast Fours & Rotary Show in 2009,’ he says proudly.

Completing this project gave Mike a new interest – restoration of cars.

‘It’s hugely satisfying to take an old vintage that’s been hanging about in someone’s farm shed for years and restoring it to its former glory. Doing the work gives me a buzz but seeing the pleasure on the owner’s face at the end is what makes it all worthwhile.’ 

Mike set up his own business as ‘Mike’s Panel Shop’ in 1996 and now employs another qualified panel beater, also called Mike! 

‘Mike and I share the same values about our work standards and he’s about as passionate as I am about cars.  We make a good team,’ says Mike, ‘and as a small business can keep everything very personalised.’