Our Story
Hydra Plumbing values artisan craftsmanship on a global scale, and we are proud to have our hand-made products installed in over 25 countries worldwide.
We believe we make the best showers possible, and celebrate the unique differences of working in copper and brass. From a modern chrome-plated finish to an antiqued copper that ages with time and blends with your environment, we have crafted our range to offer beautiful plumbing options to suit every home.
Built from the ground up following the devastating earthquakes that rocked Christchurch, New Zealand, Michael Brown and his family have built a truly worldwide business from the rubble.
Our product difference:
Versatile
Our range of showers are suitable for indoor and outdoor installation. Whether you’re looking to add value to your home, bring a touch of warmth and escapism to your bathroom, or simply rinse off after a swim at the beach, a Hydra shower unit provides a luxurious bathing experience and a beautiful addition to your home.
Durable
Copper and brass tarnish, but they don’t degrade or rust like ferrous metals do. Our products have survived tropical storms and extreme cold, and are great for harsh environments like the seaside or high sunlight. Hydra products have a long lifespan and are far more reliable than traditional plastic alternatives.
Sustainable
Copper is a great metal for recycling - if you choose to replace your shower in the future, 100% of the recycled copper can be reclaimed as clean copper at the end of the process. We aim to make our packaging as recyclable as we can, only using high grade cardboard and paper products where possible.
Healthy
The antimicrobial properties of copper make it a great product to use in a bathroom to help protect your health. Copper is an antimicrobial metal and has been proven to kill 99.9% of bacteria within 2 hours, as well as preventing other bacteria from multiplying. Tested bacteria include Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli O157:H7, and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE).
Our Family Team:
Michael Brown
Our artisan and maker - if you have a concept or an idea, he can make it.
Nathan Brown
Our marketing guru, getting our products out to the world.
Phyllis Brown
Our financial chief, keeping us in motion and inspiring the team.
Part of our focus following the Christchurch earthquakes has been supporting local business in our area, working with other artisans to create amazing products.
Our extended team:
Michael Daly
Our metal spinner, who crafts our shower roses from simple copper disks.
Sharon Ford
Our local potter, who hand-crafts the ceramic inserts for our tapware.
The team at Custom Tooling, who help us with the more involved engineering problems.