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Fencing has been running through the veins of the Collins family for at least three generations. Steve started fencing alongside his father John, as a young boy trying to avoid doing his schoolwork. John still fences today with Steve’s sister.

Steve worked with his father fencing for many years before deciding to take a break, where he went spray truck driving for two years. During this time, he met me, his wife, Sarah. Just before our wedding in 2011, we needed some extra money to help pay for our wedding. A good friend of my sister needed some fencing, so I spoke to Steve, and before you know it, we had our first client. Steve then mentioned to a few others he might go back fencing, and before the end of the week we had about two months’ worth of work ahead of us.

I decided I had better come up with a business name. S & S Fencing Contractors Ltd was officially brought to life here in Reporoa. We now have 2-3 teams and cover the Taupo/Hawke’s Bay region. We focus on all styles of rural fencing, as well as doing the odd town pailing fence. You just can’t beat a good post and batten fence from the top of a hill, overlooking the hills towards the sea.

At that time, I was trying to run a home-based childcare business, as well as doing our office work. I remember the first time I offered to try to help on the fence line; Steve gave me a hammer and some insulators and post staples. I’m pretty sure I left in tears, as it took me quite some time to get a staple in, and even then, it still did not look right. Clearly, somewhere in the last six years, my skills have improved.

We had been in business for about two years when my younger brother Hamish asked for a job. Hamish became our first staff member. He worked for us for about 18 months before completing a Bee apprenticeship and was fencing every opportunity he got. Before we knew it, Hamish had started his own fencing business in Te Awamutu.

Having a brother who can fence has added bonuses, especially if you’re on a big job and need an extra set of hands. Having someone who knows your standard of work and how you operate means you can get job site flow straight away. It also means you can run different ideas past each other, and give feedback – the good and the bad. It helps to keep a high standard. Having family you can call at the drop of a hat to share how you came up with a way of making a job more efficient, or poaching that new tool to test it out before you decide to buy one, definitely has its plus sides.

While my dad has done the odd bit of fencing on the farm growing up, he took on a career as an accountant which is also a great advantage, as he is able to help with all the niggly tax obligations, as well as providing advice at the drop of a hat. I should also mention the support that both our mums have given, from endless encouragement to us to get started, babysitting so we can work away, or just being able to turn up and dinner is made. All these things make a big difference to our lives.

The downside is, you live and breathe fencing. There is always some job on the go that you’re talking about, or discussing who needs to organise what in the evenings, or how we can grow or adapt to the market.

I feel privileged to have the family that I have around us to support us with all the highs and lows of fencing.

Written by Sarah Collins

Published in WIRED issue 75/December 2024 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

You may also like: Family Fun on the Fence Line

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The expression “You will never work a day in your life” rings true for David Swansson and his son Jordan. Combining farming with family fun on the fence line creates a typical successful Kiwi business model for the Swanssons.

David and his wife Janine, well supported by their parents, had been dairy farming for 30 years but decided it was time for a change in their business as grandchildren were on the horizon for their eldest daughter Sara and fiancé Josh. At just 15, Jordan, who found school unfulfilling, worked alongside David on their dairy farm. One wet rainy day, they realised they were more interested in fixing fences than milking cows. This sparked the decision to sell the dairy farm and launch Bang It Fencing. Since 2020, David and Jordan have been the driving forces behind this venture while also managing their drystock farm in the Tararua District.

David’s passion for fencing dates back to his youth when he left his cabinet-making job to spend 18 months on the fence line before committing to a successful dairy farming career. These early experiences instilled valuable skills and a long-held dream of owning a flash post rammer.

The duo forms a perfect team on the fence line, with attention to detail and efficiency being key aspects of their workmanship, along with a shared sense of fun and a lot of playful banter, creating a positive working environment. David takes pride in their strong relationship, which has naturally extended to include other family members. David’s daughter Anna and Jordan’s fiancée Emma have also contributed to the business, while Janine manages administrative tasks.

Fencing offers a fantastic opportunity for young people to start their own business. Despite rumours of a humorous rift, the timing is right for Jordan to forge his own path. David believes in empowering his son to create his own business rather than waiting to ‘have’ to take over an existing one. As David continues with Bang It Fencing, Jordan has this month launched Ridgetop Fencing with Emma, just as they prepare to welcome their first baby in December. Fencing provides the perfect versatile business for Jordan and Emma, with farming connections in both Tararua and Hunterville, where Emma’s family farms.

David and Jordan are very grateful to their local customers, who are central to their success. The fencing industry also fosters a strong sense of community, which Janine and David enjoy and embrace through their involvement with FCANZ and NZ Fencing Competitions. David is particularly proud to compete alongside Jordan at local fencing competitions, learning and growing their skills from the experience. Competing alongside other true fencing legends is a great privilege.

In May, David and Janine hosted 88 attendees at an FCANZ Best Practice Day on their property, featuring fencing legends Paul Van Beers and Tim Stafford. This event provided an invaluable opportunity for local fencers to come together, share knowledge, and learn new techniques. The day was humorously MC’d by John Noakes (Noksee), a local reminiscing about his youth in the area, now part of the land David and Janine purchased from Janine’s parents. Fencers and local farmers left with new insights and skills, further enriched by the support of sponsors and partners who enhance the fencing community.

In 2023, David and Jordan completed their Level 3 Certificate in Fencing. They gained essential fencing skills and knowledge, including important business aspects such as health and safety in their trade, while connecting with like-minded individuals.

Looking to the future, the family business model works well for David, especially as Anna prepares to head to university and will join him on the fence line. Meanwhile, Emma will support Jordan. Although David and Jordan will operate independently, the nature of fencing allows them to collaborate on projects as needed, maintaining their strong family ties and shared passion for their work.

David and Jordan’s relationship reflects a healthy dynamic between both men, important in any business, emphasising growth, learning, and family values while navigating their respective journeys in fencing and farming. When not having fun working on the fence line, David and Jordan enjoy the outdoors, hunting, fishing and diving.

Advice from David to Jordan (Dad to Son) as Jordan starts his own business.

• Embrace independence: “Take the opportunity to build your own brand
  with Ridgetop Fencing. It’s important to carve out your own identity in the business world.”
• Focus on learning: “Always be open to learning from every experience, whether it’s on the job or through competitions. The more you know, the better you’ll be, there’s always room for new knowledge and growth.”
• Maintain relationships: “Value the connections you make in the community. They are your support network and can lead to future opportunities.”
• Balance work and life: “As you step into this new role, remember to prioritise family and personal time, especially with the baby on the way.”

Written by Janine Swansson

Published in WIRED issue 75/December 2024 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

You may also like: Communication Key to Successful Family Business

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The Barnes family’s history of manufacturing farming and fencing equipment began in 1969 when Steve Barnes launched the ‘UFO Single’ Mower.

Due to its simplicity and durability, the UFO range of mowers became one of the most popular farm mowers in New Zealand history. In 1989, the Maxam mower range was born and led to the Barnes family selling two of their Manawatu farms to focus on manufacturing farm equipment.

The Barnes’s entered the Fencing industry when FencePro was purchased in 2009. At that time, FencePro was a small business, but one with innovative products and a desire to supply the New Zealand fencing industry with the best equipment. The attitude of innovation is what FencePro was founded on and has been continued by the Barnes family. Products like the RB800 180° Rotational base have enabled NZ farmers and fencing contractors to take their efficiency and capability to a new level.

Throughout the 2010s, the Barnes family continued to develop and manufacture the FencePro post driver range, leading to it becoming New Zealand’s No.1 post driver brand. These days, FencePro customers are looked after by Grant Barnes and long-time family friend, Tobi Currie.

In 2015, the family business changed names from Maxam Machinery to Farmgear Ltd with the vision to add more brands under the one ‘parent company’. This vision was realised in 2019 when Kinghitter and Hooper were added to the family of brands. Kinghitter was the first brand to introduce hydraulics into the post driver industry, which redefined post drivers as we know them today.

Whilst working on the family farm, Nick Barnes still clearly remembers; “The day Dad (Steve Barnes) came to the farm with a hydraulic top link to use on the banger – the farm manager and I thought we were made!” This would have been the case for many people when this new method was developed.

For over 45 years, Kinghitter has been known globally for its ‘tried and trusted post driver designs’ and continues to be a major player in the global post driver market. These days Kinghitter’s range of next-gen post drivers are exported all over the globe as farmers and fencing contractors seek to purchase quality NZ-made equipment.

The Barnes family business currently operates out of two Manufacturing facilities in Palmerston North and Feilding (Manawatu). The recent acquisition of Aitchison Seed drills and the continued manufacturing of Maxam, have enabled the business to be spread across multiple industries. This resilient business model is especially important in economically challenging times as it allows product development to continue and a high level of customer service to be achieved, even when other businesses are going to ground.

Steve Barnes’s three sons (Nick, Nathan & Grant) are still well involved in the running of the business. Nick in Operations, Nathan in Product Development and Grant in Sales. The third generation has been involved in the business for over 7 years, with Archie in Production, Jack in Sales, and Dallas in Marketing. The attitude of innovation and customer care which founded the business is still well engrained, with the company’s No.1 value being to “Put our customers front and centre”.

Working in a family business can have its challenges. One of these is maintaining a strong family relationship, especially when there are some tough decisions to be made. Being able to put aside disagreements and still be able to get together as a family is above all else. However, working together in a family business certainly has its benefits. Knowing each other so well enables us to have some robust conversations and draw on different people’s strengths to achieve outcomes that are best for our customers and the business.

As for the future, we will continue to innovate new products and improve our existing range, while providing the best customer service. These two principles are what the business was founded on, and have worked for the last 55 years. We don’t see that changing anytime soon. There are some very exciting projects in the pipeline, so keep an eye out!

Article written by Dallas Barnes

Published in WIRED issue 75/December 2024 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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In the heart of the Hawke’s Bay, NDP Fencing and Earthworks stands as a testament to hard work and family dedication.

Nigel Parkinson had been working in orchards since the young age of 16 and progressed throughout the years to working for corporates in managerial positions. “As I worked for corporate entities, I understood that when it comes to contracting, scale is key if you want to make a serious go of it,” he said.

He began his contracting business in 2002 and refocussed the business towards fencing in 2013.

Over time, he has expanded the enterprise, adding machinery and staff to keep pace with rising demand. The business now offers both earthmoving and fencing services, with a full-time staff of 14 and two fixed-term employees. They also subcontract staff for the wire crew season. It is a genuine family business with Nigel at the helm, his wife Deidre in the office, their 22-year-old son Angus a crew foreman and Deidre’s father Jim driving the transporter. The couple’s younger son James (19) is completing an engineering apprenticeship in Napier and may join the business at a later stage.

With the team’s age ranging from 16 to 77, the business tackles everything from conventional and commercial fencing to earthworks, including cutting out driveways and creating drainage systems. “It keeps things pretty interesting,” Nigel said. They service the Hawkes Bay area and travel as far as Gisborne for orchard development projects.

Deidre’s background as a legal executive and trust accountant brought a valuable skillset to the administrative side of the business when she joined her husband in 2021. “When I came into the business, Nigel had been doing that side of things for nearly 10 years, so I didn’t want to come in, take over and change everything,” she said. “As I learnt his processes, I just made small tweaks here and there and created new templates to streamline things a bit more.”

Deidre looks after vehicle servicing and registrations, marketing, invoicing, payroll and health and safety from their home office. “I also do material and fuel deliveries to the teams when required, and I hold our Transport Service Licence,” she said. “Nigel is out on the road a lot, and we come together two or three times a week to finalise invoicing and complete pricing and the like.”

A professional brand was also important to Deidre, and she facilitated a rebrand of the business to better reflect everything the company offered. “I like a clean, modern design. We pride ourselves on being a professional company to deal with, and I felt our brand needed to reflect that better,” she said.

The couple’s eldest son Angus has been fencing since he was 16, initially working during the school holidays, he has worked his way up and is now a crew foreman. When time and workload allow, Nigel will ask Angus to join him and learn some other facets of the business. “He’s been learning how to estimate jobs and organise teams, but I am very aware he is still bloody young, so I’m mindful not to overwhelm him,” Nigel said.

During a significant knee surgery, when both Nigel and Deidre were away, Angus took control, ensuring operations carried on without a hitch. “He organised the teams and transporter and the business continued running, which we were extremely grateful for, it took a lot of the pressure off Nigel,” Deidre said.

As the director, Nigel’s role is demanding. “I’m the guy that makes it all happen,” he laughed, Managing it all from client phone calls, quoting jobs, ordering gear and materials, dealing with staff, handling the odd breakdown and planning forward work for all five fencing crews, Nigel agrees it’s relentless but he admits he thrives on the challenge, “my phone is going all day, and I am all talked out come six o’clock, I am happy to sit down, watch the news and just say nothing for a good while”, he said.

The family enterprise is complemented by Deidre’s father, Jim Henderson, whose 77 years of wisdom makes him a valuable team member. “Some weeks Jim will do 10 hours, other weeks 30, it just depends on what’s going on. Being flexible to the workload is a huge asset to us,” Nigel said. Jim particularly enjoys working alongside his grandson Angus. “Dad is a bit of a gruff farmer type, he doesn’t show too much emotion, but you can tell when he works alongside him that he is super proud and enjoys every minute,” Deidre said.

Family dynamics do come with their own unique set of challenges, and with Angus and his partner living under the same roof as his parents, the family were mindful of keeping a balance between personal and work life. “When the day is over, we tend not to talk about work,” Deidre said. “It becomes all-consuming otherwise and very hard to switch off,” Nigel adds.

The key to working and living together is to have your own hobbies. Deidre’s is horse riding, and Nigel’s is his beloved modified XF Falcon. Deidre explains just how far back the couple go: “We grew up together and started going out at the age of 15. I know exactly what Nigel is thinking just by the look on his face,” she said, laughing.

With his father-in-law on the payroll, Nigel concedes there was a short settling-in period for Jim. “He was his own boss for a very long time and came from that old-school mindset where everyone should be tools in hand and on the job by 7am, so he found our morning toolbox meetings and health and safety briefings frustrating to begin with,” Nigel said. “He is coming around to it all now though, and these days when he’s being a bit of a grumpy old bugger, the crew will humour him and have a bit of banter,” Nigel laughed.

The couple’s advice for those entering a family business: “Make each member’s role clear, Deidre said. “Try not to overstep each other’s mark. Be open and talk about where the business is going and where you see it heading in the future, it’s important to listen to everyone’s ideas,” she said.

“In this day and age, it is extremely important for any business to be diverse in what they do – we have found diversification across a lot of industries has enabled our business to keep afloat in hard times, hence the range of services we offer, which means we are always busy in a number of sectors,” Nigel said.

Article written by Alice Scott

Published in WIRED issue 75/December 2024 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

You may also like: Husband and wife fencing team leading by example

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Mitchpine has been supplying quality fencing products since 1975.

FCANZ’s newest Silver Partner, Mitchpine started when Keith Mitchell swapped a batten sawmill with the Oxnam family from Foxton in exchange for 230,000 fence battens. He then put his three sons to task and got them to complete the order.

“We were all keen to earn some extra money, so when Dad got the sawmill batten, he put us to work” said Grant Mitchell (Butch), Keith’s son and former owner of Mitchpine.

“He made a strong point to note that we were not to neglect any of our farm jobs.” Butch said.

Nearly 50 years later, Mitchpine has had three generations of Mitchell’s leading the business and has grown from Keith and his three sons to Lee Mitchell (the grandson) and a team of over 75.

One thing that has remained the same is the drive to offer the best products.

“I believe we have set the standard for quality products, over the years we have been driven to offer the best. To do this, we have made a huge investment in technology and equipment,” said Lee Mitchell, current Managing Director.

“We have imported equipment from all around the world to stay up to date with the latest technology. By investing in technology, not only do we get better products and the ability to use the right part of the tree for the right product, but we are also reducing waste and creating a safer workplace.

Things have changed a lot in the industry since 1975, and Mitchpine continues to evolve.

“We want to keep changing to meet demands, our team is currently working on a new roundwood mill, which we are excited to open next year to coincide with our 50th year in operation.” said Lee.

“We are proud to be a part of the fencing industry, an industry that plays an important part in New Zealand’s landscape.” says Lee.

Article supplied by: Mitchpine

Published in WIRED issue 75/December 2024 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

You may also like: Fencing their way to a half-century: Strainrite celebrates 50 years of innovation

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There are many things – situations, events and people – that have an effect on our lives. A lot of these are positive,but there are plenty which are negative, that don’t complement our wellbeing.

We often get involved in things (causes, clubs, community) for the right reason – it’s at the right time at that moment in our life – but find after a while, these things start to develop a more negative path – draining us of the original passion or desire to be involved.

Sometimes, the fight it takes within us to stay involved is accelerated by confrontation that is taking place outside of our control, by someone or something that is really working against us. This creates a negative spiral, and can lead to bad decisions and confrontation, or worse still – an overwhelming, all-consuming thought process that puts us in a state of anxiety and stress.

It’s at this point we need to take a step back, breathe and give ourselves space to process how we are feeling, analyse what is driving the feelings we have, categorise the influence that’s causing the anxiety and then make a decision to improve the situation.

Once you step back, it can become clear as to what needs to happen. Firstly, ask and write down the answers to some simple questions:

• Is this issue within my control or outside my control?
• Is what I am involved in – that is causing an issue – going to compliment me and grow me? Or hold me back?
• How important is the time I give this issue in comparison to my needs, and those who need my time, such as family and friends?
• What are the pros and cons of staying in this space vs moving away?

The answers, if honest, will normally present the solution!

Recently, I was faced with this exact same scenario, and I think it’s important I ‘walk the talk’ when writing or speaking to others on their mental health, so to own and talk about my journey hopefully shows an honesty and connection to those who may need it.

Since I was 12 years old, I’ve been involved in a sport/industry as a club member, competitor, administrator, board member, coach and team manager, commentator, and public defender, and have faced many social media and personal attacks because of the roles I’ve been involved in. This involvement has led to many great opportunities for me personally, and had I been a bit more selfish, it would not have mattered when the people within the sport disrespected the efforts I took to grow it, foster the youth development and give many hours of what should have been family time to it. But I was wrapped up in it. To say it was my life was an understatement; it was who I was. Or was it what I do, not who I am?

This year I decided that the last part of my connection to this sport had become toxic; out of my control, was no longer a complement to my life – taking my time away from my family, and consuming my mind with negativity that was impacting my life.

How did I come to that decision? I asked the questions above, and the answer became clear! Move away and foster the positive, don’t enable the negative. Start devoting time to where my life seems to be heading or where the need for my work is taking me.

The result has been a weight off my shoulders, more family time, and not having to appease the agendas of others but instead foster my own agenda: to help develop and grow the Lean on a Gate campaign.

This has been a realisation of that simple fact: what we do is often not who we are. When the world throws rocks at us, it may be time to change path, as the world has a better or different plan for us that we may not know while stuck in a void of negativity.

The problem with my changes is that they are often public, due to the nature of my work, such as the roles with the Young Farmers competition, NZ Rodeo, The Farmers Weekly and other commentary work. However, I think we can care too much about public perception rather than the reason for change.

I read of a preacher who had been with a lot of people as they took their last breath. Never once had anyone asked for their trophies, awards and accolades, or their money and assets at the end of their life. They want only one thing; to be surrounded by the people that they love, the people that have supported them or they have supported, the positive influences they have had in their life or invested in.

Feed what’s positive and starve what’s not!

Written by Craig (Wiggy) Wiggins

Published in WIRED issue 75/December 2024 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

You may also like: Wiggy’s World – September 2024

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The award-winning Styx Batten is designed and manufactured in New Zealand, and is a proven alternative to traditional wooden battens, metal lightning droppers or end-of-life insultimber battens.

The battens/droppers (depending on what part of the country you live in) are manufactured from a high-quality UV-resistant plastic material comprising 40% virgin and 60% repurposed plastic that won’t rot, splinter, or leach, like some treated timber products do and are completely recyclable at end of life which means no plastics destined for landfill.

Originally designed to take a wire diameter of 2.50mm and suit wire spacings from three to nine, the newly designed Styx Batten (due for market release in late August/early September 2024) can be customised to suit wires of 2.50mm, 4.00mm (number 8), and barbed wire. The 3.15mm diameter wire will be catered for later in the year. If the customer requires a 7-wire fence with the top wire barbed and the bottom wire number 8, then this can be done.

The Styx Battens are proving to be extraordinarily successful in retaining, or keeping out all types of livestock. Our customers enjoy the ease of installation, either by hand or with the Styx Batten installation tool for larger projects.

Farm fencing costs are front of mind for our customers. The Styx Batten eliminates the need for using barbed wire on the top and lower wires, which is often only used to stop wooden battens from moving along the fence line. The patented Styx Batten design not only stops the battens moving along the fence, but also allows individual wires to be restrained without pulling the battens/droppers out of alignment.

Barbed wire (75mm pitch x two strand 2.50mm soft) can cost upwards of $1.14 per linear metre compared to HT 2.50mm diameter wire costing around $0.19/m. Coupled with the extra labour costs of installing barbed wire versus smooth HT wire, the overall reduction costs per metre is a no brainer, especially with the Styx Batten not moving.

Staples are also not required as the Styx Battens are designed to interweave down through the wires, effectively creating a woven structure, whereby battens cannot be released from the fence by stock pressure. The removal of staples results in average savings of between $0.90 and $1.20 per batten depending on the type of staple used and based on using 10 staples on an 8-wire, 2.50mm high tensile fence whereby at least one of the 8 wires are double stapled.

Customer feedback on the product has also highlighted that less battens are used between the main support posts, and in some cases the main posts/waratahs are pushed further apart, resulting in more savings for customers through reduced driving costs and materials.

Freight costs also continue to escalate. The Styx Batten weighs only 0.315 kgs compared to a dry 50mm x 40mm wooden batten weighing 4.2 times the weight at 1.33kgs. Not only does this mean freight volumes and weights are down, but the batten is also lighter to carry and install on steep and difficult hill country and reduces the sprung weight on the fence wires. Every Styx Batten is identical, negating the need to sort and sift out wooden battens that may fail due to knots and splits by the fencing contractor or farmer before installation.

Attaching battens has a high labour component. Carrying equipment (stapleguns, staples, compressors, and extra insulators), and installing battens can often involve two people. One person can carry 50 battens easily and install a batten within 20-40 seconds by themselves. Fencers often say to us that not having enough time and labour can be a real issue for them. Anything that can utilise labour more effectively and efficiently must be an advantage.

On a recent project in North Canterbury, the customer, with financial support from the QEII National Trust, had removed old broken wooden battens and twisted lightning droppers, restrained the fence, added some insulators to the main posts for electrics and then installed 80 battens in under 2 hours – which included digging out the bottom wire that had been buried. All of this was conducted on extremely steep hill country that was too steep for vehicle access along most of the fence line.

Each batten has a tie down/anchor location at the bottom of the batten, which is useful for increased stock pressure and pulling the fence down into undulations or in flood fencing situations.

To complement the Styx batten/dropper, we manufacture a Styx Outrigger/Offset/Standoff which attaches seamlessly onto the batten without tools, in multiple positions, including back-to-back on the batten, or it can be nailed or screwed directly to wooden posts either horizontally or vertically.

No metal is used in our outrigger/offset (made from the same plastic as our battens) ensuring no electrical shorts. The outrigger includes multiple features for the attaching of wire, rope, or tape, and all can be electrified, the design of the features also reduces damage and breakage to wire, rope or polytape.

The outrigger is available in three lengths: 175mm, 300mm and 400mm. They are great for providing further defence against animals pushing up against the fence, and are popular:

• for cattle and deer
• the equine community due to the safe design and ease of use when using wide Polytape
• bull farmers
• positioned low on the fence for keeping sheep off the fence

Our customers have found that the Styx battens and outriggers are an extremely robust solution to other traditional materials. Both the batten/dropper and electric fence outrigger come with a limited 5-year warranty against breakage.

Styx Solutions also provides a range of New Zealand made and imported German-designed and manufactured AKO brand of fencing insulators, retractable gate kits, electric fence gate handles, Topline equine fencing wire & accessories, and a comprehensive range of electric fence solar energizers to suit all situations, ranging in size from 0.4 joules to 20 joules with a 5-year warranty on the power unit and solar panel.

A comprehensive range of New Zealand and German-made polywire, polytape and electric bungy cord is also available, with some 40mm wide polytape delivered with the lowest electrical resistance on the market and coupled with a 5-year
UV warranty.

Styx Solutions delivers to all parts of New Zealand and has sent products to Australia, Great Britain, the Falkland Islands, Canada, and a bit closer to home, the Chatham Islands.

Supplied by: Styx Solutions

Published in WIRED issue 74/September 2024 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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Based in Wellington, Strainrite Fencing Systems lead the way as a New Zealand manufacturer, renowned for their innovation. The company designs and builds an extensive range of high-quality fencing tools and equipment.

This year marks a significant milestone for the company as it celebrates its 50th anniversary, reflecting on its journey from humble beginnings to becoming a powerhouse in agricultural equipment manufacturing in New Zealand with global distribution centres in the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia.

In 1974 Maurice Wooster acquired what was a one-person business specialising in abattoir and other meat works equipment. The company rapidly evolved, driven by a passion for innovation and a commitment to serving the needs of farmers across New Zealand. This growth led to the establishment of leading brands Runrite Abattoir Equipment, Cutrite Harvester Blades, and Strainrite Fencing Systems.

For Maurice, the biggest thing was keeping the manufacturing here in New Zealand to preserve local skills and expertise. “It’s a skill we do not want to lose because once it’s gone, it’s gone.” Many companies outsource manufacturing overseas to keep costs down. “We concentrate on the mechanisation to help reduce costs to remain competitive.” Despite this, Strainrite still employs over 60 staff members across their divisions, proudly maintaining their status as a 100% New Zealand-owned and operated entity and the sole NZ manufacturer of permanent wire strainers.

Reflecting on the company’s achievements, Maurice highlights the development of the Ratchet Handle as a proud moment “One Saturday morning I went into the workshop, and two hours later I had it designed and manufactured. I wanted to reduce farmers’ frustrations and break away from making brand-only gear. Our ratchet handle is a testament to that. It’s a simple product, yet compatible with all brands of wire strainers, not just our own.”

“Another proud moment was seeing a Strainrite wire jenny for the first time at an NZ fencing competition. Only one team out of ten had our gear, but it was a proud moment for me.” Nowadays, Strainrite is one of the most popular brands of tools and equipment seen at national fencing competitions. Maurice adds, “We receive considerable support from contractors and competitors when we transform their ideas into products they have confidence in and depend on.”

With a focus on product development and innovation, Strainrite prides themselves on delivering market-leading fencing products that withstand New Zealand’s tough and demanding farming elements. Their innovation shines when you see their Activator Strap, an International Innovations Award-winning new system for electric gate activators. This unique post-termination insulator enables multiple gate handle connections, eliminates protruding activator plates, and saves time and money with single strap installation, all while reducing potential harm to livestock.

Behind product development lies a team of dedicated engineers and designers committed to pushing the boundaries of fencing technology. Through rigorous testing and continuous feedback, Strainrite strives to meet the ever-changing needs of their customers and deliver solutions that redefine industry standards. Maurice remains humble despite the brand’s growth and success over the years, emphasising the company’s commitment to serving the industry above all else stating “My policy is to service the industry, for me, it’s not about anything else.”

Strainrite stays ahead of the game with their fast and forward-thinking ideas. In 2017 their sustainability efforts included the early adoption of cardboard packaging – a testament to their commitment to environmental responsibility. Keeping sustainability at the forefront, Strainrite acquired two new machines last year to further enhance the efficiency of their pigtail production while maintaining a continuous recycling process for water throughout their plastic manufacturing.

As Maurice expresses his gratitude, it’s evident that the success of Strainrite Fencing Systems is not just measured in milestones and achievements, but in the enduring relationships forged with customers and stakeholders. “We want to thank you for all your ongoing support over the last 50 years. We wouldn’t be where we are today without you.”

To learn more about Strainrite’s range of fencing tools and equipment, visit www.strainrite.co.nz

Supplied by: Strainrite Fencing Systems

Published in WIRED issue 74/September 2024 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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For generations, New Zealand farmers have relied on Waratah Fencing, which is synonymous with quality and reliability, to safeguard their properties and their bottom line.

This enduring relationship has only been strengthened by the stories of success that have been woven throughout the country creating a legacy to be proud of.

As a provider of quality fencing solutions, Waratah prides itself on having the right fence design for any scenario. If a farmer is looking for a premium fixed knot fence, Stockgrip® Longlife Blue® is one of the best options available.

Stockgrip Longlife Blue has long been a favourite prefabricated fencing wire of New Zealand’s fencing contractors. John from Noksee Fencing, who has been involved with FCANZ over many years stated, “It allows me to guarantee my work because it’s one of the best products on the market. I can rely on it to perform well.”

The unique design of the Stockgrip knot allows for a small amount of movement. This movement helps to spread impact loads across the fence instead of isolating it to a single place. This improves the strength of the entire fence line, making it the best solution for securing larger livestock or excluding feral animals such as deer.

The rolling hills of the New Zealand landscape often present a barrier for farmers when it comes to fencing. Stockgrip’s knot allows you to follow the contours of undulating ground and space posts further apart. This means an easier installation for you, saving you both time and money in the process.

Stockgrip’s unique design also features tension curves, which are crimped into the wire during the manufacturing process. These crimps allow for expansion and contraction of the wire, meaning the wire is less affected by the extreme climates of New Zealand, while also resisting loss of tension and permanent distortion on impact. This reduces maintenance time over the lifetime of your fence, allowing you to focus on more important tasks.

Stockgrip is built with Waratah’s Longlife Blue technology, which builds you a reliable fence that is more resistant to corrosion and outperforms both galvanised and heavy galvanised wire. If you combine your Stockgrip with JiO® Star® and JiO® MaxY® technology, your fence will see all the benefits of using the full Waratah Fencing System.

Waratah’s Stockgrip Longlife Blue isn’t just a prefabricated fencing wire, it’s an investment in your farming enterprise. With its superior strength, adaptability, and long-lasting durability, Stockgrip offers New Zealand farmers a cost-effective and reliable solution. For a fence that can handle anything the land or your livestock throws at it, look no further than Stockgrip Longlife Blue.

If you’re interested in finding out more about Stockgrip Longlife Blue, contact Brendon today on 021 393 010.

Supplied by: Waratah

Published in WIRED issue 74/September 2024 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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Industry training is not always as easy as it sounds. One of the things we must constantly do as trainers is learn from our experience and strive for improvement. The Certificate of Fencing is no different.

The ongoing restructure of the training organisation that is happening behind the scenes at present, and Te Pukenga reverting back to the individual entities post-elections last year is making it all the more difficult to navigate.

Certificate in Fencing Level 3

One of the inherent problems I have found whilst coordinating the courses is the lack of self-help. Learners struggle to ask for help if they don’t know how to upload photos or videos of their evidence for both Level 3 and Level 4 courses. The tutors are there to aid with this, and I, as the coordinator, can also help with this. The sooner information is loaded into the system, the quicker we can result the courses.

Enrolments into this course have been slow. In order to maintain these courses so they are not lost, we need to have at least one in the North Island and one in the South Island annually. The minimum numbers to make a viable course sits around 10, however, we like to have 12 enrolled as inevitably a couple always withdraw.

Engagement and participation
Trainees need to keep engaged in their own learning and development. We now have more time allocated for trainers to run short online sessions once a week in the evenings to help trainees keep up with their program and form stronger trainer/trainee relationships. The block courses have been altered from 5 two-day practical sessions, to 3 three-day practical sessions, these can be less if the students are up to speed.

The overall enrolment for the courses has grown from 11 in the 2018 pilot to over 50 in the courses run towards the end of 2022 and into 2023. These numbers are dwindling. Across the three courses in Northland, Hawke’s Bay (which will likely be run in the Fielding area) and Christchurch – we have 20 enrolled, but I am struggling to get returned communication from the applicants and align a site or date to start the courses. In the Hawke’s Bay/Gisborne area, we have had people asking for a course there for four years, I just don’t have the uptake to roll one out viably.

Certificate in Fencing Level 4

Level 4 is very consistent in numbers, and we have had two courses run per year in 2023 and 2024, the next cohort is set up to start in February 2025. NorthTec is taking enrolments for this course now, so get your applications in.

The sessions are run online once a week in the evening with the tutor. The course is based on live examples of what you are working on within your, or your employer’s business.

The Level 4 assessment structure is being reviewed at present, and we are trying to tweak a couple of things to open it up to all sectors within the fencing industry, i.e. security and residential. Therefore, the outcomes will be the same but via different business scenarios. Watch this space.

Maintaining momentum
Having the support from the industry, and two-way communication between trainers, trainees and coordinators, will keep the momentum going. If people want courses in specific areas, we can arrange for that to happen, as long as we have at least 10 students to make the courses viable.

Apprenticeships
I am asked often about an Apprenticeship. The biggest issues in allowing fencing to be aligned to an apprenticeship are:

• Both courses have to be completely rebuilt to be Unit Standards rather than Achievement based – this is a 12-month process, minimum.
• Unit standards are a pass or fail. They do not reflect excellence at all.
• What often happens with apprenticeships is the student does the bare minimum to pass, therefore we lose the best practice standards we are aiming to achieve for the industry.
• It is very difficult to reflect a portfolio and evidence-based work for a unit standards based assessment.
• The skills standards framework is being done and will be the next big change – there is uncertainty as to what it will look like, other than it being an amalgamation of unit standards and achievement based assessment.
• The course would be ‘unified’ – giving all other Te Pukenga institutes the ability to grab it and run with it – the industry then has lost control! Unification is a core principle of Te Pukenga.
• ITOs would, at that point, want the course in their portfolio, and it would be run as profitably as possible.

Ongoing Certificate in Fencing course delivery:

• Improving course delivery will just happen, as long as tutors and students are sharing ideas and issues. If you have ideas, please share them.
• Many people don’t understand the work behind the scenes in compliance that needs to be done to run a course. Yes, much of this is what we consider ‘superfluous bullshit’. But it has to be done. The more times the course is run in the same locations, the easier it should become.
• It needs to be remembered that the course can always be ‘overtaught’ – if students/tutors feel something should be added to the course, it will be considered at the next formal review.
• We are unable to take any subject/assessment away from the course until a formal review is undertaken.

As the course stands now and going forward
Courses need more students. NorthTec is collating some ‘good news stories’ to highlight the benefits for employers to get their people trained. If the industry and course providers keep pushing and highlighting the advantages of the Certificate in Fencing qualification through advertising, it’ll happen.

Certified Fencers and Accredited Fencing Contractors will be advertised more and more, and as regulation in certain entities (particularly local government) becomes more prevalent, the more purpose these courses and processes will have.

Written by Donna Upton
National Course Coordinator

Published in WIRED issue 75/December 2024 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

You may also like: Lack of enrolments place future of fencing NZQA courses at risk

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