NMA Wright Stephenson Holdings Ltd

"National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand Limited [NZBN 9429040970899] owned a nationwide stock and station agency business originally intended to invest directly in New Zealand pastoral activities and lend to other participants in that industry. By the 1960s as well as the export of wool and meat and dealing in livestock it provided grain and seed merchandising, wholesale grocery services including wines and spirits and arrangement of property and other real estate sales.

The business was founded in 1864 in Dunedin by G G Russell and that was taken over by the new London enterprise in 1878. NMA Wright Stephenson was formed when NMA Co. Ltd. merged with competitor Wright Stephenson & Co... [and transferred its centre of operations from Dunedin to Wellington in 1971.] On 31 October 1973 NMA Wright Stephenson changed its name to Challenge Corporation Limited." (wikipedia)

Roy Cowan was commissioned by NMA Wright Stephenson Holdings Ltd in 1972, to create a mural for its new headquarters in Europa House, 109 Featherston Street, Wellington. This work is currently hidden behind a wall.

See also:

• Hugh Stringleman, 'Stock and station agencies - The 20th century and beyond', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
• wikipedia