S&K Collision Centre is a locally owned, independent panel beating and collision repair workshop at 35 Sheffield Crescent in Harewood, Christchurch. Founded in 2008 and led by owner and senior panel beater Dave Kennedy, the team restores vehicles to their pre-accident condition — from minor dents and scratches through to major collision damage, insurance repairs, truck and fleet work, and classic car restorations.
The workshop is MTA Assured, accredited by the Collision Repair Association (CRA), a Vero Approved Repairer, and an authorised Mazda and Toyota repair centre. Structural work is carried out with computerised measuring systems and precision welding, while paintwork is finished with Spies Hecker technology for factory-quality refinishing. S&K works directly with all major insurance providers, and reminds drivers that they have the right to choose their own repairer.
Practical support comes as standard: loan cars are available while your vehicle is being repaired, and quotes are fast, free and no-obligation. Dave runs the workshop alongside Nic Kennedy (operations and admin), workshop manager Steve Barnard and office administrator Debbie Harris, and the team is trusted by rental companies, private owners and businesses across Christchurch.
When a car comes off second best, the difference between a patch-up job and a proper repair shows in the details — panel lines that line up, paint that matches in any light, and a structure that's genuinely sound again. That attention to detail is what S&K Collision Centre has built its name on. Founded in 2008, the locally owned, independent workshop at 35 Sheffield Crescent in Harewood has become a leading name in panel beating, collision repair and repainting in Christchurch, serving everyday drivers, businesses and vehicle enthusiasts from across the city and beyond.
The shop's story starts well before its 2008 founding. Owner and senior panel beater Dave Kennedy picked up the trade at 15 and spent a stint in the UK specialising in chassis structuring before returning to Christchurch to manage multiple shops. Since 1999 he has led what is now S&K Collision Centre, and decades on the tools still shape the way the workshop operates: every vehicle is assessed closely, damage is repaired to manufacturer specification, and jobs are finished with precision and care.
Dave isn't doing it alone. Nic Kennedy, his partner in life and business since she was 19, handles operations and admin support. Workshop manager Steve Barnard oversees daily operations, and office administrator Debbie Harris — who ran a panel shop before moving to New Zealand — handles bookings, parts and insurance claims. There's family warmth around the reception desk, along with some good-natured rugby rivalry of the international kind.
The workshop's core work is panel beating and structural repair. Using computerised measuring systems, the team pinpoints any deviation from manufacturer specifications, then carries out careful frame realignment, precision welding and panel reinforcement — so a repaired car isn't just restored cosmetically, it's safe and structurally sound.
Paint is where the finishing work shines. The team uses Spies Hecker paint technology and advanced colour-matching so new paint blends seamlessly with existing finishes, sprayed in a temperature-controlled environment to avoid dust contamination or streaking. That ranges from subtle touch-ups to complete resprays, plus custom work in matte, metallic and pearlescent effects.
Smaller damage gets its own treatment: paintless dent removal eases minor dents out without compromising the factory paintwork, while deeper scratches and dents are repaired with advanced filling, sanding and refinishing. Beyond accident damage, S&K offers protective coatings — ceramic coatings, clear coat protection and rust prevention — along with high-quality polishing and buffing, and custom detailing that runs from graphics and airbrushed designs to deep cleaning and interior refinishing.
The scope is broader than cars, too. S&K takes on truck and fleet repairs, classic car restorations and full repaints — which is why private owners, rental companies and businesses all rely on the workshop.
One thing many drivers don't realise: your insurance company can't force you to use their preferred repairer. S&K makes the most of that right to choose, working directly with all major insurance providers, and it's a Vero Approved Repairer as well as an authorised Mazda and Toyota repair centre using manufacturer-approved parts and methods. From the initial damage assessment through disassembly and reassembly, the team manages the process end to end.
Accreditations back that up: the workshop is MTA Assured and accredited by the Collision Repair Association (CRA), and it has been featured by MoneyHub among "The Best Panel Beaters in Christchurch".
Practical touches round out the experience. Loan cars keep customers mobile while repairs are underway, quotes are fast and free with no obligation, and before-and-after examples of past work are on show in the gallery. Whether it's a bumper scrape or a full collision rebuild, the promise is the same: precision, care, and a vehicle returned to its pre-accident condition.