As part of OCS’s 125th anniversary, we’re celebrating the colleagues who’ve helped shape our journey – people like Peter McDonald, who has supported operations across the Bay of Plenty for 29 years.
Pete joined OCS in 1995 to help out in the Whakatāne branch – ‘just for a while’. However, a temporary role evolved into a full-time Area Manager position, and three decades later, he remains a trusted and respected member of the team.
“I’ve had other job offers over the years,” Pete says. “But I never left because OCS was good to me and I respected the people around me.”
That loyalty has gone both ways. Under Pete’s leadership, his region boasts an impressive list of long-term clients. For many, it’s not just about pricing, but relationships, follow-through, and trust.
“People remember how you made them feel. Whether you showed up. Whether you listened.”
“It’s still the same work – but the expectations are higher”
The job might still involve quoting, cleaning and supporting sites – but today’s environment brings a different layer of visibility, compliance and accountability.
“Everything’s got to be documented now,” Pete says. “Back in the day, you’d just go in, do the job, and move on. Now there’s a system, a sign-off, a paper trail – and customers can see how their work is tracking while you’re still doing it.”
Pete hasn’t resisted the shift. In fact, he’s helped others adjust. Whether it’s navigating audits, quoting through digital platforms or setting up jobs to meet customer SLAs, he understands that technology isn’t replacing the work – it’s reinforcing the trust behind it.
“It’s not that the cleaning’s changed,” he says. “It’s just that you’ve got to have a plan, and you’ve got to be able to back it up.”
That level of transparency gives customers peace of mind – knowing they’re working with a company that doesn’t cut corners, stands behind its standards, and looks after its people.
Synchronised swimming, anyone?
Over the years, Pete’s seen just about everything on site – including a few moments that still make him laugh.
“I had a couple of window cleaning lads doing some external glass at a local council water treatment plant. To reach one section, they pushed a 6-metre plank across the top of an open water tank. It was solid enough for one of them – but they thought they’d get it done quicker if they both went out at the same time.”
The inevitable happened. The plank snapped, and both operatives landed waist-deep in the tank.
“They were fine – just wet, embarrassed, and scrambling back to the side while the customer’s site team watched on. The jokes started straight away: ‘Training for synchronised swimming?’ ‘No one’s drinking that water now!’”
While it might not fly under today’s safety protocols, Pete says the story is a reminder of how far the industry’s come – and how humour, when handled well, can defuse even the messiest of moments.
“You’re only as good as the worst cleaner behind you”
Pete is proudest of the teams he’s helped build. Over the years, he’s hired, trained and guided dozens of colleagues – many of whom are still with OCS today.
“It was never about micro-managing. If someone was struggling, I’d be there. But mostly, I trusted them to get on with it.”
His legacy isn’t just in the contracts retained – it’s in the confidence and capability of those he’s helped along the way. His support is steady, understated, and values-driven.
“You’re only as good as the worst cleaner behind you,” he says. “If one person drops the ball, it affects the whole team.”
That mindset – of shared standards, mutual support and personal accountability – is what the OCS TRUE Values are all about.
A steady presence in a changing world
Now in his sixties, Pete could’ve walked away. But instead, he’s chosen to stay on in a part-time role – one that lets him keep supporting others, mentoring new managers, helping resolve customer issues, and providing backup when things get busy.
He’s still the go-to for urgent quotes, tricky customer requests, or just knowing how to get something sorted.
“I don’t interfere, but I’m around. The guys know I’ve got their back.”
Pete recently received a commemorative award as part of OCS’s 125-year celebrations – a small acknowledgement of his decades of loyalty, common sense and care.
“I’ve done my time – and I’ve been proud to do it.”
From handwritten ledgers to SOPs, mop buckets to compliance audits, Pete’s story is part of OCS’s wider evolution – and a reminder that some of our most important shifts happen one clean, one conversation, and one relationship at a time.
