By Pam Graham of NZPA

Wellington, Feb 9 NZPA - Melbourne-based logistics billionaire Lindsay Fox is keeping in touch with arrangements to help fire victims at home while in Wellington for an Apec Business Advisory Council meeting in Wellington from today.

He stayed up late watching the television coverage of the bushfires that have so far left more than 120 people dead and 5000 homeless.

He today talked to his wife and son about getting staff at Linfox to donate one hour's pay, matched by the company.

The son of a truck driver, who bought his first truck when he was 16, told his son to take the helicopter up to see what could be done.

"When we were kids we were told fire is a good servant but a bad master. That means if it takes control you have a problem," he said.

"Anything that we can do, we will do," he said.

Mr Fox also has a big business in New Zealand, which has a low profile.

He rang New Zealand boss John Kershaw to say he saw a Linfox truck on the road in Wellington and it was nice and clean.

Linfox employs more than 1000 people in New Zealand, where it runs 400 trucks and has large warehouses.

The company has operated in New Zealand for at least 18 years and in 2007 purchased Provincial Freightlines, a large privately owned transport firm.

It has long held the logistics contract for supermarket operator Progressive.

Like a lot of companies Linfox is in New Zealand because its customers are here.

New Zealand was probably the worst affected of the regions that Linfox operates in, Mr Fox said in response to a question about the impact of the global financial crisis.

"The New Zealand economy has slowed down more rapidly," he said.

Linfox runs about 6500 trucks, operates in 11 countries and employs 22,000 people.

Mr Fox's rags-to-riches business story has been well covered in the media.

Having amassed great wealth he still talks about "good old fashioned working class values of caring and sharing".

He is a typical Australian. He said he liked New Zealanders but they don't speak properly and he mentioned the cricket.

But business is still "a special treat" to the 71-year-old.

Mr Fox said his company has talked to New Zealand logistics company Mainfreight over the years.

He did not discuss Toll Holdings, his Melbourne-based rival, which sold rail assets in New Zealand back to the government.

Mr Fox has 13 grandchildren, who he expected would work for the company.

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