Wired Magazine

“This will be my last article,” I wrote to Heather, editor of WIRED magazine, in an email back in July.

I’ve been writing this column for over five years now, and I’ve run out of ideas. I’ve overshared Shaun’s life to the point of TMI (Too Much Information), and that’s my main (and let’s face it, most interesting) content. Also, things have changed in my own life – I no longer spend time in Davies Fencing like I used to. Things tick along nicely with the systems, people, and exit strategy I’d put into place.

“Please reconsider,” was Heather’s reply.

But I’d made my mind up. I’m done.

The following week, Shaun and I made our way to Taupo for Conference. As we neared the National Fencing Field Day venue, we felt our anticipation rise. We fondly remembered past conferences and the people we get to catch up with yearly, and wondered who might win the awards and how much money we might raise for Wiggy. Conference always gives us a sense of belonging and connection, a key ingredient for feeling good about life (aye Wiggy?).

We pulled into the car park and walked to the table where the FCANZ team were. Big hugs and arm punches were had. Within minutes, Jaime says, “See that guy there – white beard, walking stick – he’s a big fan of your articles”.

Gulp.

“Oh.. um… really… um… well… I have news… um… I’m not writing the column anymore.”

This elicited a long conversation of me explaining my reasons, and them reminding me of how well received A Wife’s Tale is. I was flattered but not swayed.

That night at the Meet n Greet, a partner came up to me at a bar leaner and said, “Hey, I know you. You write those articles about Shaun.”

Which confirmed my suspicions of my Most Interesting Content. I let him know that I’m done writing, and he shared with me that it’s the first article he reads when WIRED arrives, and to please keep writing.

Gulp. Gulp.

At dinner the next night, I had a big, burly man tell me that he keeps copies of WIRED in his Ute, down the side of the seat, and he pulls them out to read A Wife’s Tale at smoko. “You have a great way of writing. Please keep it up.”

At lunch the next day, as I was walking out of the restaurant – it was freezing cold and pissing down – a ‘seasoned’ fencer saw me and proceeded to tell me in the doorway how much he loves A Wife’s Tale. I stood there shivering as I listened to his favourite stories I’d written. He said it makes his day, and to please keep writing.

Gulp. Okay, this is getting weird. I thought A Wife’s Tale would be a chick read, but it seems the audience includes beards.

At the awards ceremony, I sat with Noksee and told him my decision. His jolly face was not going to let me quit.

“I can give you some ideas,” he said. “Why don’t you write about the young dairy farmer I know, whose boss asked him to do a ‘favour’ for his wife’s 50th birthday party, and dress as a stripper and go and vacuum her floors. He turned up in a little G-string with a crocodile on it, women were cackling, it was a hoot! When his boss went to pay him, he said he’d rather keep the vacuum so he could go and do it again as a side hustle.”

Awkward pause. A conversation involving Noksee and crocodile speedos wasn’t something I thought I could write about (but see what I did there?) Also awkward was looking over at Shaun and seeing him considering a new side hustle (joking! As if.) (But also, maybe).

This trend of bumping into people throughout the conference, telling me how much they enjoy reading A Wife’s Tale was all a bit… humbling, to be honest. When I began with the idea of the column, I selfishly thought it was good publicity for Davies Fencing. I didn’t realise how much you all would love reading about Shaun’s life and the antics we get up to in business.

So, I’m going to keep writing. Just for another year. If you have any ideas for me, then please let me know at .

As long as it doesn’t involve crocodile speedos, I’ll consider it.

Written by Angelena Davies

Angelena Davies is a wife and mum who happens to have a Masters degree in Social Sciences. Alongside running Davies Fencing she is also a coach, facilitator and author helping children and adults to access “flow” so their lives are easier and more fun.

Published in WIRED issue 79/December 2025 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

You may also like: A Wife’s Tale – September 2025

Read WIRED online
Follow us on Facebook

© Fencing Contractors Association NZ (FCANZ)

A perfectionist who took pride in his work

There was a time in Frank Prince’s life when he did not consider fencing as a profession. Fortunately, as his family recalls, he ‘fell into it’, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, commitment, and a high quality of workmanship that set a benchmark for New Zealand fencing.

Francis John Robert ‘Frank’ Prince was born on 25 June 1941 in Whanganui. His father, Frederick ‘Frank’ Prince Snr, worked as a fencer in the greater Whanganui district around Marton and Turakina his whole life. Travel wasn’t as straightforward then as it is now, and staying local offered many good work opportunities. He and his wife raised a family of six children: daughters Josephine and Janice, and sons Frank Jnr, Louis, Neville, and Maurice.

Frank Snr fenced at a time during the Second World War when timber was plentiful in New Zealand but wire wasn’t. Three-wire was the norm, all work was done by hand using a post hole borer for the strainers and angles, and stays were chopped with an axe. Frank Snr died at the age of 92, having fenced well into his 70s.

As a young man, Frank Jnr had no desire to be a fencer like his father, although he had learned basic skills by helping out on jobs after leaving school. Instead, he became an engineer/boilermaker, doing his time on the railways. As an apprentice, Frank helped to construct a railway bridge over the Whanganui River at Aramoho. This bridge, still in active service today, is one of the few riveted bridges remaining in New Zealand. It was built on top of the old one and then lowered down onto it.

Moving from a boilermaker to a fencer was quite a transition for Frank. Fencing was still not his profession of choice, but he took it up professionally after he and his wife, Marie, purchased a lifestyle block in the small farming community of Maxwell, about 20 kilometres west of Whanganui.

Frank married Marie in 1961, and they had four children: Robert, Rick, daughter Tracey, and the youngest, Marcus. They raised their family on the Maxwell block of three acres divided into six paddocks, including the yard and garden. They had dairy cows, a pig, and a house cow that kept them in milk and butter. Marie remembers having 41 pounds of home­made butter in the deep freeze one time.

The mid-80s offered opportunities with the rapid development of horticulture in New Zealand, and Frank worked extensively with Jim Erickson, who was the ‘guru’ in this expanding industry.

Frank worked in areas around Whanganui, including Raetihi, Ohakune, Waverley, Bulls, and the Whanganui River, sometimes staying away from home when the jobs were big. One of the first major jobs he took on was a 10km deer fence up the river. He usually had brother Neville working with him and hired others from around the Maxwell district, many of whom ended up with him at Fieldays as part of a large group from Whanganui. Fencing was a ‘family affair’ with Robert, Rick, and Tracey all helping out. Rick recalls getting “a truck and trailer load of materials every week, that’s a load of timber, and we were putting that in the ground each week.”

Frank wasn’t big on machinery and often made or modified his own equipment. He dug posts in by hand. Robert remembers, “Dad swore he’d never use a post driver, waste of money, saying the bloody tractor and driver would be sitting doing nothing”, but he gave in during his last big job in 1997. He and Robert installed 25km of electric fencing in 24 days, each working with a post driver. “He never went away from post drivers after that!”

Marie claims credit for one job where she told Frank to construct a mole plough for an underground cabling job. “The plough was highly sought after when we sold the Maxwell land, and Frank would never admit it was my idea to get it.”

Tragedy struck the family in 1985 when Marcus was killed by a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Marcus had just turned 18 and had been working with his father at the time of the accident. Marcus and another boy travelling in the car lost their lives.

There was a time later on when Marie and Frank broke up for a while. Marie moved to Pukekohe where her sister lived, and remembers “Frank couldn’t live without me”. He sold the family block at Maxwell and joined her. “Selling that block was huge,” Marie recalls. “It was a big move. Frank was born and bred in Whanganui, so leaving there was a big thing for him.”

Pukekohe proved to be a good move for Frank, as he found the work plentiful. People on lifestyle blocks with money to spend employed him for property fencing, and he did a lot of horse double fencing too, plus maintenance and engineering work.

Fieldays beginnings and competitive fencing

A visit to Fieldays in 1975 with Neville sparked an interest in competitive fencing. An oftheard saying is, ‘Watching won’t do anything for you’, and there were hard lessons in store for the brothers. After driving up that first time in Neville’s Chevy truck, True Blue, the brothers stood on the sidelines, confident they could take on the competitors and ‘kick their backsides’. That first attempt ended in a sobering outcome that had them retreating with tails between their legs. Undaunted, they swallowed their pride and returned year after year. Fieldays became the annual holiday. It was the only competition venue in the country at the time, and everyone wanted to have a go.

Frank entered the competitions every year from 1976 to 1988, appearing in two Golden Pliers finals with a best of third place, and five Silver Spade finals with a best placing of fourth, a notable achievement as he had a different partner each year.

Competitors often say, “That’s where you really learn to fence”, watching top-class fencers showcase their skills within a competitive environment that demands not only speed and skill but high-quality craftsmanship too. In those early years of Fieldays, many attended for that reason, to acquire knowledge, familiarise themselves with the high standard required, and to learn from champion fencers. For Frank, the learning curve was one he mastered and took into his own professional work. Partner those skills with his engineering background, and you had a recipe for perfection and fences that have lasted for 20-30 years plus.

Frank competed at Fieldays for a few years until giving up competition to judge the Golden Pliers event. He also judged at the regionals in Waverley, one of the longest running and largest events of the time. Frank’s sons competed there; however, he did not judge them.

Teaching, leadership, and national influence

Frank’s expertise, ability to share his knowledge and to nurture young talent saw him taking over the position of NZ Wire Chief Instructor from Bill Schuler in 1987. He was responsible for overseeing around 30 instructors nationwide, delivering courses in the many fencing training schools throughout the country.

The role required expertise in the technical aspects of fencing (for example, multi-strand wire, loadings, wind breaks) – an area in which Frank excelled – and, coupled with his work in the developing field of deer fencing, quarantine work, shelter belts, and horticulture. Frank is remembered by so many as a skilled educator and role model. Frank travelled extensively, holding demonstrations at fencing schools that were innovative for their time, popular, and well attended. Frank collaborated with the NZ Agricultural Engineering Institute to write the manual for the Master Fencer course (launched 1986/87, no longer active today), intended to offer fencers a qualification (NZ Wire Industries National Certificate in Fencing) additional to the Golden Pliers. In 2016, Frank was recognised for his training work, receiving a Lifetime Award from the Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand.

Retirement, legacy, and final years

Frank retired at 79, working full-time right up to the day. Marie said it was “bull’s wool” to claim he was part-time because “… he was on call, worked full-time and most weekends if there was something going, because he loved fencing.” There was no shortage of jobs as Frank was so well known and respected for the quality of his fencing.

As Frank’s health deteriorated, moving home to Whanganui felt right. He enjoyed reading books, and a friend of Tracey’s would send down boxloads from Rotorua, making sure he was never short of a good selection. He also loved his phone, keeping up with the world news and happenings.

Frank and Marie were married for 64 years, and she remembers him saying to her, “I don’t think we’ll see our 65th.” Frank passed away at home on 28 September 2025, aged 84, surrounded by family.

Frank was proud of his work, and rightly so. Much of it has stood the test of time.  He made significant contributions to the development of fencing in New Zealand, both as an educator and a skilled and highly respected fencer, and leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire for years to come.

Written by Nick Liefting

Published in WIRED issue 79/December 2025 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

You may also like: Tough toil in life brings an empathy for others

Read WIRED online
Follow us on Facebook

© Fencing Contractors Association NZ (FCANZ)

The Certificate in Fencing Level 3 course, delivered by NorthTec in collaboration with the Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ), continues to provide valuable learning opportunities and strong outcomes for both students and the wider fencing industry.

As a tutor involved in this programme, I have seen first-hand the benefits it brings to participants, as well as some of the challenges that come with facilitating a blended learning model.

The course is designed to develop the practical skills and theoretical understanding required for safe and effective fencing practices. Within the programme, students complete unit standards in tractor safety and chainsaw operation, both of which are essential components of modern rural fencing work. These standards ensure that learners are competent in handling machinery and tools safely, meeting workplace health and safety expectations, and applying best practices in the field.

Another important part of the course covers fence design and compliance requirements. This section ensures that students understand not only how to construct a fence but also why certain standards exist. Topics include land types, soil conditions, animal containment requirements, and regional compliance factors. By understanding these principles, students gain the ability to design and construct fences that meet professional and legal standards, which adds real value to their employers and clients.

The course follows a blended learning format, combining online study with three practical block courses, each lasting three days. The online component allows students to complete theory work at their own pace, developing self-management and digital literacy skills. The block courses, on the other hand, provide valuable opportunities for hands-on learning under the guidance of industry experts.

During these practical sessions, students gain experience in wire joining techniques, netting, posting, footings, and the construction of various end systems, including stays. These workshops simulate real-world situations and allow students to apply their knowledge in a supportive and collaborative environment. Working alongside peers and tutors, they can problem-solve, refine their techniques, and learn from one another’s experiences.

From a tutor’s point of view, one of the more challenging aspects of this course is student motivation and time management, particularly regarding the completion of theory work and the submission of evidence. Because the online component requires students to upload photos and videos of their practical work, some learners struggle to stay on top of these requirements. For many, the online platform represents a new and unfamiliar way of learning. As a result, tutors often spend additional time chasing up work, providing reminders, and offering extra support to help students meet their deadlines.

This can have a flow-on effect on the rest of the class. When some students fall behind, it can delay group progress or affect the flow of feedback and marking. However, with consistent communication, encouragement, and flexibility, most learners are able to catch up and complete their assessments successfully. The process also helps them develop a greater sense of responsibility and independence — skills that are just as important as their practical abilities.

The benefits of this programme are clear and far-reaching. As students progress through the course, their efficiency and quality of workmanship improve noticeably. They become more confident in their decision-making and develop a stronger understanding of how to achieve professional standards in the field. For many, this increased confidence translates into better job performance, improved employment opportunities, and a stronger sense of pride in their trade.

Another significant advantage is that the course provides a clear pathway to the Certificate in Fencing Level 4 qualification. Many students choose to continue their studies, motivated by the sense of achievement gained from successfully completing Level 3. It is particularly rewarding to see learners who may have struggled academically in the past gain confidence through this qualification. For some, this is the first formal recognition of their abilities – a milestone that often reignites their interest in learning and personal development.

From an industry perspective, the Level 3 Fencing course contributes to raising overall standards within the fencing profession. By equipping workers with both theoretical knowledge and practical expertise, the course supports a more skilled, safety-conscious, and professional workforce. This benefits not only the participants but also the wider community and agricultural sector that depend on high-quality fencing.

While the Level 3 Fencing course presents some challenges in terms of learner motivation and assessment submission, the outcomes far outweigh the difficulties. As a tutor, it is incredibly satisfying to witness students grow in confidence, competence, and professionalism. The combination of practical training, online learning, and industry engagement ensures that graduates leave with valuable skills that will serve them well throughout their careers. The course not only strengthens individuals but also enhances the overall quality and reputation of New Zealand’s fencing industry.

Photo credit: Davies Fencing
Written by Doug Butcher, Tutor

Published in WIRED issue 79/December 2025 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

You may also like: More than just a piece of paper

Read WIRED online
Follow us on Facebook

© Fencing Contractors Association NZ (FCANZ)

Some would say that Peter Preesman, the owner-operator of PKP Fencing, lives and breathes fencing and farming.

As a teenager, Peter began working on farms – milking, managing stock, and maintaining pasture quality. For a short time, he ventured into the construction industry, producing and engineering concrete products. He then decided to take the plunge into becoming an independent fencing contractor and, in 2022, started PKP Fencing, securing a few jobs in the Whangarei area through word of mouth. Those jobs allowed him to get his foot in the door and establish himself in the district.

Peter particularly loves the challenges of designing and building rural fences and stock yards – taking careful consideration of stock movements and behaviours, as well as maximising land use.

Working in Northland creates its own set of challenges with varying soil types, land uses, and most importantly, working around the ever-changing weather. Peter says the biggest balancing act is timing jobs around the ongoing wet season and how it can impact the way heavy machinery is used on a job site. “No client wants to have their pasture damaged, and I don’t want to deal with a stuck tractor.”

Stock yards project

One job Peter completed recently was custom designing and building stock yards for a customer’s lifestyle block. In Peter’s experience as a farmer, the priority was always animal welfare and having streamlined systems.

“When I was designing the stock yards, I prioritised having curved pens with no areas where cows could get blocked in, or gates that swung the wrong way, causing cows to have to back up and become stressed.”

The functionality of the gates also had to be designed to keep the farmer safe. “Not only do they need to open and close in a way that avoids anybody being crushed, but they also need to have strong enough latches to be fit for purpose.”

There were a number of subterranean obstacles on this job site, which also affected the layout of the yards. “Using the rock spike on my post rammer made short work of some of them, compared to the days of digging holes by hand and changing the plans one post hole at a time”

Working with the smallest livestock

Peter has also completed projects on lifestyle blocks where people farm goats, sheep, and chickens, where consideration needed to be had for the size of the animal and how that affects the design of the fence.

One property was a goat farm in a valley with very little flat ground to work with. All of the fences were seven-wire with wire placements being closer together on the lower half. The undulating land created spots where wire was either touching the ground, or gaps were created between the ground and the bottom wire. These fences had to be stepped out in specific sections to suit the contour of the land, yet still created a good-looking fence.

This property also had streams and waterways to work around. One part of the property was a swamp, so a digger had to be brought in for drainage. “I couldn’t put up a fence on swampy, unstable land, and the clients wanted that area to be usable.”

A post & rail challenge

In another memorable lifestyle fencing project, a client required a steep 50m hillside driveway to be fenced with post and rail. It had recently been cleared and was on the south-facing side of the hill.

“When I first looked at the job, it was the very beginning of Autumn, so conditions were still dry, and the job site looked reasonable. Unfortunately, weather conditions changed quickly, and by the time I got there to do the job, I was looking at a whole new set of challenges.”

The hillside was slick from being cleared, and there were not enough dry days between heavy rain, so getting tractor work done was a nail-biting experience. “Ideally, jobs like this would be saved for the summer, but that’s not how this industry works, and that’s part of what makes it so enjoyable,” said Peter.

Written by the team at PKP Fencing

Published in WIRED issue 79/December 2025 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

You may also like: Building functionality and passion into small lifestyle blocks

Read WIRED online
Follow us on Facebook

© Fencing Contractors Association NZ (FCANZ)

Lifestyle fencing is a game within its own, in my opinion. Clients dreaming of Yellowstone, but living with the reality of a much smaller ‘ranch’.

Our operations cover all aspects of fencing, and lifestyle is included in this. It’s not our main revenue stream, but we certainly do a fair amount each year.

I think it’s one of those sets, you either love it or just think, “Bugger that.” It’s usually a game of, “We need 10 paddocks; a set of yards for sheep and maybe two cows; a pig… yeah, probably a pig; a nice, railed entrance; and we have three troughs for water and need water in each paddock.” All on 5ha. Yip, too easy.

I find lifestyle jobs are unique and can really work the brain – with the clients trying to fit everything they require to make their holding work, to be efficient and user-friendly for both man and stock and fitting it all into 5ha, not into 500ha. Challenging, but so rewarding once it’s done.

Growing up in a family farming environment and living on 30 acres, I believe has helped me in this area of work. Balancing size, what’s really necessary for stock, and an understanding that it’s a huge outlay when broken down to a stock unit investment, and that it’s done for the love of it, not for the production.

Decisions and planning with the client are the most crucial part of this work. Finding out what stock they have, or are planning on having on their property, and stock numbers. This then leads you to work out what sort and size of yard facilities would be required, and an idea of the number of paddocks that would work effectively and efficiently.

In saying this though, you’ve still got to be thinking beyond the fence. Keeping good clear access to underground services in case they’re ever needed, and a water supply to each paddock, once complete. Then it’s onto drawing up a plan, making things fit and work, and discussing once again with the client to check if it’s meeting their needs and expectations.

Having a good understanding of the client’s budget and being on the ball with your pricing is the next big juggle. Open cheque book – you’re dreaming. Keep looking for those hens’ teeth buddy.

Sometimes the dream and plan are all there and achievable, but financially it may be restricted. We have had a few jobs like this, and by working with the clients, we have achieved their goal and dream. It may have taken longer to get there, but we got there. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a dream.

We have priced a job, and it was more  than expected – a lot of gates, with the clients not realising the cost of gates. So, we suggested, as the job was still some time off starting, that the client buy a gate a month until we start. They’d have four gates by the time we started, and that would be enough for the first few lines. Then we started by doing the internal fences to give the client control of the grazing. We came back in 12 months and did the road fence, the railings at the entrance, and the new pen in the yards. In the meantime, each month the client bought another gate, or four or eight lengths of timber, and put it away in the shed until we came back. The job was completed in two stages, but was still completed within 13 months – so the dream was achieved and cashflow managed for the client, when initially they were considering delaying it for a few years and making do.

Not all jobs are full set ups and developments, like any place there are always repairs, maintenance or replacement jobs. The same considerations need to be taken into account.

Thinking back to a job we did for a client – his son organised with us to come in while his parents were away overseas, to sort out their little block. They had about four muttons and 20 odd pigs, heavenly smells. They wanted to split a paddock in half, put in some actual gates to replace the netting and other things that were created as gates, repair some wires, and build a small pig pen and race.

It was a good, simple job to do and pretty straightforward. The thing about this job though, was the interesting things that were used to make gates – block holes and an old car as the side of the pig pen –were pretty well done. But the main thing that held this ranch together was the good old faithful cable tie. Not just a few, but thousands. Cable tie staples, cable tie wire, cable tie termination knots, cable tie nails, cable tie latches, cable tie gudgeons. You name it, the cable tie had it sorted. Very impressive.

I guess it doesn’t matter what job you’re doing – lifestyle, rural, or security – the principles are all the same. Client interaction, asking questions, planning, pricing, delivery, thinking beyond the fence and treating every job the same – providing a high-quality product to a client and striving to improve each job from the last.

All in all, I enjoy these jobs. You meet a huge array of people who are great to deal with, who all have a huge passion for their animals. Whether they are just some randoms to keep the grass down, or it’s Bubbles and Fluff Muff that were cute as lambs, then were meant to go to the white walls, and now the clients are 12 lambs deep and needing their grass in a protein shake – it’s what it’s all about.

Written by Ben Fisher

Published in WIRED issue 79/December 2025 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

You may also like:  A growth frontier for Tauranga contractor

Read WIRED online
Follow us on Facebook

© Fencing Contractors Association NZ (FCANZ)

Lifestyle fencing has grown to become the main line of work for Tauranga-based Stag Fencing and Rural Services, broadening its scope of work to be able to take on any type of project.

It specialises in both rural and lifestyle fencing across the Bay of Plenty, including orchard construction and retaining walls. With a team of four to five staff, led by owner Lance Brough and his wife Gin managing administration, lifestyle fencing now accounts for 60 to 70 percent of their workload.

It adds a huge variety to the scope of work, Lance says.

“It’s challenging, but the reward is seeing a landowner’s vision come to life.”

The company’s lifestyle projects range from the standard post-and-rail fencing to interlock systems and deer fencing for clients who want fallow deer on their properties.

The diversity of projects keeps the work interesting, often requiring custom solutions and a high level of finish,” Lance says.

This has included some pretty unusual jobs, he says.

“One was a set of pig dog kennels and an exercise area for a keen hunter. The whole thing was enclosed in a deer-fenced area, and the posts on either side of the gate were clad to look like square columns because the client didn’t like the look of round posts.”

Another standout project involved constructing a large retaining wall with a built-in clay bird thrower and a custom fire pit.

The client wanted to be able to stand on the wall and shoot clays,” he says. “It was a bit different, but a lot of fun to build.”

Lance says there is a huge variety and creativity in lifestyle fencing that comes with the satisfaction of delivering a tailored solution.

He says it’s hard to pick a favourite project from over the years.

“We’ve completed some really cool ones, and they’ve all been enjoyable in different ways.

“What I like about lifestyle fencing is the challenge to bring the landowner’s vision to reality in a way that they are going to love the end result.”

It also comes with its own set of challenges – particularly when it comes to materials, Lance says.

Sourcing dry timber is critical for post-and-rail fencing, and he’d like to see a more consistent supply across the industry.

“I always try to source dry timber when working on post-and-rail fencing. Otherwise, you end up doing a beautiful fence, only to come back a couple of months later and find the joins have opened up.”

He would like to see an industry-led approach to addressing the issue.

“I think as an industry we should be pushing timber merchants to supply quality dry timber.”

Stag Fencing takes pride in its attention to detail and the high quality of its work, using uni rounds – also known as landscape posts – for their consistent diameter, with each post finished with a router to quarter-round the tops. They also arris the rails, which Lance says gives a clean, professional look.

“Little things like that don’t take much longer to do but can set you apart from the fencer down the road,” he says.

While the company continues to service working farms, orchards, and council contracts, Lance sees lifestyle fencing continuing to be an area of growth for the business.

Stag Fencing came about when an opportunity presented itself three years ago.

“We had been managing sheep and beef stations for over 15 years and felt like a change,” Lance explains.

At the time, Lance and Gin were managing a station in the Kaimai Ranges, with their two children attending good schools.

“So, we didn’t want to move them out of the Tauranga area.”

Lance was offered a contract, fencing for Armer Farms in Te Puke in early 2022, and jumped at the opportunity. From there, the business grew rapidly, he says.

The lifestyle fencing side of the business grew with the increasing number of lifestyle blocks around the Tauranga and wider Bay of Plenty area, and a high demand for timber fences.

Lance had a background in building before going into farming and has always enjoyed working with timber, so timber rail work and custom-built wooden gates came naturally and were a good fit for the business.

With the high quality of workmanship going into the fences, it didn’t take long for word-of-mouth to get out, and the business grew a lot faster than expected.

They now give back to the community through sponsorship of local hunting competitions and the annual Te Puna Speed Shearing Competition.

“It has been great to give back to the community that has welcomed and supported our business from the beginning,” Lance says.

The future looks bright with plenty of work on the books, thanks to strong support from the locals.

And with son Hunter leaving school to join the team, the couple are excited to continue growing the family business.

Written By Rosa Watson

Published in WIRED issue 79/December 2025 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

You may also like: Balancing farm and lifestyle in Central Otago

Read WIRED online
Follow us on Facebook

© Fencing Contractors Association NZ (FCANZ)

In the small town of Roxburgh, tucked into Central Otago’s Teviot Valley, you’ll find Abercrombie Fencing Services, a father-and-son team keeping rabbits out and standards high.

Brian started the business nearly 20 years ago, and these days his son Andrew runs the show. Brian still works alongside him, joking that his official job title is “the boy.”

Roxburgh is a place of about 600 people, where the locals know your name and the Clutha River cuts through rolling country and orchards. It’s also where Andrew and Brian have built a reputation for quality work, fair prices, and a good yarn at the gate.

“We’re not out here trying to buy Ferraris; we just take pride in doing a good job at a fair price.”

The balance between farm and lifestyle

Abercrombie Fencing naturally splits its time evenly between farm fencing and lifestyle or residential projects.

“We might spend a month on farm fencing, then the next couple of months on lifestyle,” Andrew says. “It keeps things balanced, and lifestyle work helps with cashflow – it’s more consistent through the year.”

While Brian still loves the big open-country jobs, Andrew has brought a new energy to the lifestyle side. Since joining the business ten years ago, he has expanded their offering to include paling, steel, equestrian, post and rail, and their most popular: macro fencing.

“We’ll do everything apart from rock and brick.”

The Brassknocker project

One standout job was a major subdivision in Brassknocker, just out of Chatto Creek. The project included nine kilometres of seven-wire Y-post fencing, with two kilometres of rabbit netting to combat a local infestation.

“We got into one house, then the neighbour wanted a fence, then the next one – and before we knew it, we’d done every house in the subdivision.”

It was their biggest quoted job at the time, back in 2022, and came with its fair share of challenges.

“The ground was frozen through winter, and we were doing it while Covid was making its rounds,” Andrew recalls. “Staff were off sick, and we had to juggle timing with other contractors. But apart from that, it went pretty smoothly.”

The team on site included Andrew, Brian, Genna, and Becky, along with their Kubota Series 2 Kinghitter, an orchard tractor, and plenty of manual wire running. The land itself was once an old farm paddock that had rolling hills, and was full of character.

Six years on, Abercrombie Fencing still does work in the same subdivision, building equine fencing and macrocarpa entranceways. “If you’re doing a subdivision in Central Otago,” Andrew laughs, “and you haven’t got schist stone or macro involved… you’re not doing it right.”

Lessons from the lifestyle side

That Brassknocker project opened Andrew’s eyes to the business side of fencing. “It taught me a lot about pricing, communication, and management,” he says. “It showed me how important it is to ask the right questions and really understand what clients want.”

Communication, he reckons, is what sets them apart. “Clients come to us through word of mouth. We talk to them properly, explain what things cost, and try to find the right fit for their budget.”

“People come in with big ideas – it’s about giving them the best result within their budget.”

Between them, Brian and Andrew have more than 30 years of farming experience, giving them a practical edge when it comes to layout, stock movement, and yard design. “A lot of people buying lifestyle blocks haven’t fenced before,” Andrew says. “We try to give them maintenance tips too – like checking rabbit netting monthly, keeping timber stained or painted, and adding a hot wire if needed.”

Local supply, local pride

Staying local is a key part of how Abercrombie Fencing operates. Around 95 percent of their timber comes from Stuart’s Timber, a family-run sawmill in Tapanui. “We’ve got to be organised, but it’s worth it,” Andrew says. “Supporting local businesses is important to us.”

Finding staff in a small town, however, isn’t easy. “If we could click our fingers and find a replica of us 20 years ago, it’d be a lot easier,” he laughs. For now, they stick to what works – which is a small, reliable team that gets the job done right the first time.

Looking ahead

Next on the horizon is work in Queenstown, where rabbit netting will again take centre stage. “There’s no point putting six figures’ worth of natives into a property that’s just going to feed some rabbits,” Andrew says.

Outside of work, he enjoys exploring the South Island with his wife – “driving to Queenstown for noodles and a beer,” or unwinding at home or the local pub. Watching his son play sport, catching up with mates, and enjoying a Hazy or a Speight’s if nothing else is on tap.

From paddocks to lifestyle blocks, Abercrombie Fencing Services continues to set the bar in Central Otago, proving that skill, communication, and good old-fashioned pride in your work never go out of style.

Written by Brooke O’Connell

Published in WIRED issue 79/December 2025 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

You may also like: Macrocarpa post & rail fencing a rewarding project

Read WIRED online
Follow us on Facebook

© Fencing Contractors Association NZ (FCANZ)

Building 2.6 km of macrocarpa post and rail for the Brookfields Heights subdivision in Timaru was a major step beyond the usual agricultural fencing work for South Canterbury-based Tony Brady Fencing.

The project came about through a long­term client whom Tony has worked with for over 25 years.

“It was going to be a big job and a lot different to the normal farm fencing we had done for this lifelong client before, so we couldn’t really turn it down,” Tony says.

The job required the largest supply of macrocarpa fencing materials to one job at that time, sourced from Pankhurst Sawmill in Otago. Although more expensive than the typical tanalised pine, the client wanted the distinct macrocarpa look and was willing to pay for it.

The project took over 12 months of coming and going, waiting for the supplier to get the timber to site and for windows in the weather.

“The weather had to be good when you are digging in clay,” Tony explains.

In total, the team carried out around 2,300 man-hours, with two to four staff working along the fence line at different times.

“Some days there were a few of us tackling the more difficult contour sections that needed an extra eye for detail,” says project leader Kyle Perrin.

The timber was substantial, with strainer posts measuring 250×250mm and 2.1 metres long, the line posts were 200×200mm, and rails at 150×75mm.

“They were heavy, but good, solid timber that looked sharp,” Kyle says.

Installing the posts required boring each hole, installing the rails into the mortise that were 50mm deep into the posts, then ramming the bases of each post to about 150mm high, a section at a time, just to hold it all in place.

“We would do one or two hundred metres, then we would get the mini concrete truck in every couple of days, setting them into place. We also chamfered all the rails on site to give it a nice finish,” Kyle explains.

The contouring terrain added to the challenge, with the fencing needing to flow nicely with the ground.

“So we had to keep an eye on the tops of the posts and stand back every now and then, to get a better look at the contour of the fence, and adjust it if needed.”

The result was a strong, eye-catching fence that both Tony and Kyle are proud of.

The client was “pretty chuffed” with the result, Kyle says.

With sections around 5000sqm, there could be more work on the cards, as buyers may look to add more fencing if they’d like to keep that same style.

The project had provided variety to the team, and added another string to the bow, Kyle says.

“It’s always good to have a bit of everything to mix it up.”

It had required a much slower pace, with the team averaging around 80 to 100m per day.

“It’s a lot slower than agricultural fencing. It takes a day or two to get the process or method down; it’s pretty straightforward,” Kyle says.

“You’ve got to slow down. You’ve got to think a bit more and give a bit more attention to detail.”

With Kyle managing the build over the year of construction, Tony was able to continue with the company’s usual agricultural fencing.

Tony has 40 years of fencing under his belt with the business in its 32nd year. It all started when a big flood came through the Pleasant Point area in 1986, and a local contractor desperately needed more workers.

Tony took on the work with the fencing contractor before going out on his own seven years later. Kyle joined the team four years ago.

Most of their work is in the rolling South Canterbury countryside, on sheep and beef, cropping, and deer farms, with some high country work up on the Hunter Hills – something that is challenging and Tony loves getting stuck into.

“It’s a satisfying job, being able to see the results of your hard work at the end of the day – knowing it’s going to be standing there for a long time,” Tony says.

He says he is fortunate to have some “very loyal clients” who kept the business humming.

Written by Rosa Watson

Published in WIRED issue 79/December 2025 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

You may also like: One man, many posts

Read WIRED online
Follow us on Facebook

© Fencing Contractors Association NZ (FCANZ)

As I write this, we are still in a state of emergency following the severe gale-force winds and rain that hit Southland in late October; the phone and emails have been off the charts, and to be fair, they already were prior to this weather event.

This year has been very busy with enquiries, and our spring has been very testing in terms of getting work done. Despite all this, only this week I’ve completed 2km of deer fencing for a wonderful client.

My name is Adam Smith, and I own and run (I’m the only worker!) A.J. Smith Fencing Ltd, on the outskirts of Invercargill. I’m not the young fencing entrant, having only started properly in the business at 48 years old. I’ve been told to slow down a bit, but actually, fencing is a really good fit for a person of my age.

I come from a farming family in eastern Southland, and I already knew enough to be dangerous! Having helped and witnessed my father and older siblings on repairs and upgrades in the ‘80s and ‘90s, then working on my own projects, I knew that strainers were big; they had to be compacted well, lines straight, and wires tight.

My Dad was a damn hard worker. The home farm is passed on now, but most of his work still stands strong from the 1950s to 1980s. That work ethic was definitely picked up by myself and my brothers – even though I chose other careers, my last being an Agricultural Service Tech, I knew I had to evolve into something else. I left that role and started a small landscaping and lawn mowing business, but soon found that it really didn’t cut it for me.

I was offered a winter post and rail job, and from there it seemed obvious which way to go. Things grew quickly, and initially my brother started as a sub­contractor to me, until he moved from the farm to Cromwell. He now works for another fencing contractor there.

I have been asked to write this article about lifestyle fencing – yes, I do a lot of that, but you will find that it encompasses a wide range of work from the two-acre block to the 40-acre small farm, to rural farm/commercial projects, and horse containment. I have also been involved in many town fence jobs.

The town jobs have to be measured perfectly; you have to know your stuff (underground services can be quite fun, ha ha). The discipline across them (town vs rural vs lifestyle) is very similar, although the application is totally different.

I tell people, “A rural fencer should do town fencing, and a town fencer needs to do rural fencing,” so that they understand that doing things right on different levels matters. I am fussy. Too fussy sometimes – I can get hung up on how a certain project is going or the way I’m doing things. You can tell when you’ve done a job well from your client’s reactions; sometimes I’ll leave the job at 6pm and there’s a certain part I’m not 100% happy with. The next morning it usually becomes clear within the first minute if what I’ve done is good or not. That’s why I really admire the FCANZ Best Practice techniques and methods. I spend a lot of time practising this, and I am a very hands-on guy. At the start I practised wire knots, terminations, straining etc., all in my spare time until I was blue in the face.

Rail installation variations – I’d see another way to do something that looked top class, and I’d foster that. It definitely pays, as now I have clients who are just so happy with what I’ve done. I installed a whole lifestyle block fence back in February, and afterwards, the client was so happy that he even paid a little more than the invoice.

He said, “Well, I’ve done a lot of farm fencing before, but I’ve never seen the quality of this before. Your knots are consistent, the stays look amazing, everything is just awesome.” It makes you feel good and makes you go the extra mile. Another client recently asked what materials to use for a three-rail post and rail I was involved in. I suggested 200 x 1.8 line posts, 150 x 50 rails, with a 1 metre post height. He agreed, and it really did come up well.

You have to know your materials. I won’t use inferior or undersized posts or timber. Often you will have a job where the client has bought the materials, and it’s obvious price has been the only factor for them. I have been known to return client purchases before and select the right stuff for the job.

Client expectations have actually been very good recently. I’m seeing acceptance of quality materials, and a whole appreciation for doing it right the first time. Respect for my work has really grown. I have a long list of clients waiting, which is comforting.

I do really need to complete a Level 4 Certificate in Fencing because it’s being offered; it’s great that the industry is becoming very professional. I have to admit, I do need employees, and as I grow older there is no denying that the work is very physical, but I do surprise myself as to the type and amount of work I can do alone.

I’m not a fan of the paperwork side – quoting and bookwork. But having run a very different business years ago and having held leadership roles, I know the drill. It is 100% necessary.

My equipment makes a huge difference too. Now on my third tractor and second post driver, the newest one makes difficult situations easier. I could never go back!

Let’s keep moving this industry forward. I have found my place! I will no doubt still complain about the weather though!

Written by Adam Smith

Published in WIRED issue 79/December 2025 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

You may also like: The art (and challenge) of lifestyle fencing

Read WIRED online
Follow us on Facebook

© Fencing Contractors Association NZ (FCANZ)