Wayne Martin once said Bivouac’s success was because of its staff. He is remembered for putting people ahead of profit.

Long-time Bivouac owner Wayne Martin died in late January after a four-year battle with cancer, aged 70.

Martin, who was at the helm of the popular retail chain for over 30 years before selling it to Brittain Wynyard in March 2025, has been remembered by the outdoors community for his integrity and commitment to staff.

Penny Hazard, a former co-owner of Bivouac and a close friend, said Martin never lost that care for his staff despite the size of the company. “He supported them right through Covid lockdowns when many businesses pulled back. He put his heart and soul into the selling of his business, prioritising looking after his staff as much as he possibly could.”

Hazard said his commitment was reflected in staff loyalty. “Many have worked [for Bivouac] for twenty to thirty years.”

Hazard first met Martin in the early eighties on a caving trip. Soon after, she started running Auckland’s Alp Sports, which became a hub for university outdoor club members. “Wayne used to come and hang out. He shared stories of multi-day caving expeditions and was an entertaining guy to have around. He was completing his PhD in radioactive isotopes and the shop was a happy avoidance tactic.”  

After Martin handed in his thesis, Hazard offered him a job. It was a timely pivot, Martin told Wilderness last year, as New Zealand soon after went nuclear free. 

Bivouac was founded in 1988 by Bernie Wicht; Martin became a business partner the following year. He and Hazard went on to buy out Wicht. Years later Hazard left to start a family, leaving Martin the sole owner.

She said the company was both a retailer and a distributor, an unusual thing in the early 2000s. Its distribution arm, Southern Approach, brought brands like Teva, Arc’teryx and Outdoor Research into New Zealand, sometimes in their infancy, on the recommendation of suppliers.

“We were very focused on relationships – staff, customers, suppliers. Doing well was a byproduct,” she said. 

Backcountry Trust national operations manager Rob Brown first got to know Martin when working for Macpac in the 1990s. 

“Wayne ended up owning and running what was to be a sizable and multi-layered operation,” Brown said. “It was a tough business to be in over the subsequent 30 years with bigger corporate players moving into the frame … Wayne successfully managed his way through all that through a combination of his integrity and having this intuitive feel for how to keep listening to customers.”

Brown renewed his connection with Martin when he started the Backcountry Trust in 2017. “Wayne was the first person I contacted to see if he wanted to be a sponsor. He saw the value immediately and within a couple of days we had a proposal from Bivouac. I thought of him in the same vein as Yvon Chouinard and Patagonia – a strong mental framework to stay true to your values because it is not just common sense but also the right thing to do on every level.”

Martin’s younger brother Gary, who has worked at Bivouac for three decades, said his brother was a natural moderator who liked to bring people together. “He was a thoughtful person, quite analytical, very interested in the human side of the business.”

The culture that Martin fostered continues, said Hazard. “Today, I love walking into the Bivouac stores. The welcoming, cosy, warm, knowledgeable culture is still there. That is a testament to Wayne at the helm and the huge team.” 

At Wilderness, we extend our condolences to Martin’s wife Charlene and his family and friends.