Wired Magazine

In the heart of Central Otago, on State Highway 8, south of Alexandra, James Russell runs a fattening operation on a block down the road from Gorge Creek Station (GCS), his main farm.

Moving cattle back and forth from the home yards became a hassle that James wasn’t willing to continue dealing with from this second block. At the end of the day, the quicker you have cattle through the yards and back out on grass, the better from an ROI standpoint. Being a sharp operator, James saw the need for another, more central set of yards.

James was a bit hesitant when he saw the cost involved for a set of yards around the 100 head mark, before discovering Onefarm. James reached out to Onefarm, and we kicked things off with a site visit at the unique Roxburgh site. The old site, with existing mining-era ruins still present, required a fair bit of earth moving and tree removal to prepare the site for the new yards. Having to work around the existing ruins was a unique opportunity and made for a cool end result, very true to Central Otago. James was pleased to add utility to the site, which was otherwise dead space.

After the initial site visit, we overlaid our 120-head yard on the drone shot to show how the yard would sit on-site, how stock would flow into the yards, and how the loading ramp would be positioned to ensure ease of loading and stock truck access. Pleased with what he was seeing from a planning perspective, James wanted to see one of our Commercial yards in place to get a gauge on general quality, how our slam latches worked, and how our forcing circle worked. We had one over in South Otago which James viewed and concluded he was happy to proceed with the Commercial 120-head option. Now having used the forcing circle a few times, James had this to say:

“We love the forcing circle. We think the bent gates that line it are awesome now that we’ve work with them. We love how it’s a very safe system.”

As site works began with a bunch of trees being ripped out, James and Kieran decided to change the operation of the yard from left-hand to right-hand after changing their minds on how they would feed the yards and how holding pens would work. This isn’t very common; however, we were happy to adapt and make it work.

“We had a couple of adjustments we had to make on the fly, and you worked with us on that. So we found the whole service very dynamic and cohesive from site design plans to timely communication to the end result.”

James opted to concrete just the Working Area and fill the balance of the yards with Central Otago shingle. Rather than banging pegs in the ground for all panels and gates that lined the outer pens, James and his team poured concrete footings for all panels and gates, subsequently benefiting from the strength of bolting panels and gates to concrete. It’s a cost-effective and innovative solution that many of our customers are now considering.

James and Kieran no longer dread having to move stock for miles from one block back to their home yards. Instead, they love using their new steel system. When we spoke with James a few weeks ago, we asked how he was enjoying the yards, and he said:

“We used both our home yards and the new yards in the same day last week, and the difference was chalk and cheese! That big non-stock working area, that’s a bit of a luxury. Once you’ve had one, you wouldn’t go back!”

James set a budget for the project from the outset, which we committed to. Despite a few stock delays as a result of COVID shipping challenges, we delivered this project bang on budget. The price we agreed upon at the beginning was the price paid in the end. There were no overruns or extras added throughout that hadn’t been considered from the outset. At Onefarm, we pride ourselves on ensuring our proposals are complete from the beginning. We’re completely transparent about what is included and what isn’t before committing to a project. That way, there aren’t any surprises down the track.

This yard is situated just south of Alexandra on State Highway 8. If you’d like to have a look, please contact us.

Article supplied by: Onefarm

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

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

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

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

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

Fencing remote pasture in hard-to-reach corners of farms has become easier with the launch of Gallagher’s MBS6500i energizer, which can function like a talking fence.

The powerful new energizer is a versatile three-in-one system capable of being powered by mains electricity, mains with battery backup, or off-grid with solar energy. Its design ensures durability in all weather conditions, keeping stock secure even in the most challenging environments.

The MBS6500i is designed to work in remote locations, from the back of large farms, to run-offs, and farms where connecting mains power to a fence line can be a challenge.

Gallagher Head of Animal Fencing Kelvin Wong says the system can act like a “talking fence” when paired with Fence Monitors and the i Series Energizer Remote and Fault Finder, used across the fencing system.

“Farmers essentially get a talking fence that they can monitor 24/7, even in the most remote locations on their farms,” he says.

“The total system gives farmers peace of mind, knowing what’s happening with their fence and that their stock is safely contained.”

Fence Monitors can be added at up to six strategic points along a fence line, and the MBS6500i comes complete with an LCD controller screen that conveniently displays the energizer’s performance and data from each Fence Monitor on the farm, says Kelvin.

The same data is also displayed on the handheld i Series Energizer Remote and Fault Finder.

“It makes fault repairs so much easier, and you can see how the energizer is performing to give you peace of mind the fence is performing, and your stock is controlled,” says Kelvin.

“With Fence Monitors installed, you can also isolate any areas where a fault occurs, rather than checking the entire fence line,” says Kelvin.

It also allows users to power off the energizer by simply holding the remote on the wire anywhere on the farm, without the need to go back to the energizer and turn it off.

These features are a significant time saver, especially when the fence is at the back of a large farm, in a hard-to-reach area, or many kilometres long, says Kelvin.

Designed for large-scale fencing, the MBS6500i can power up to 40 kilometres of multi-wire fencing under optimal conditions.

“This system enables farmers to fence remote areas without a direct main power source. With its solar power option, the energizer can operate efficiently in remote areas and, with the right number of batteries, can last up to a week even without sunlight,” says Kelvin.

Farmers who have tested the MBS6500i appreciate its reliability and how it creates a talking fence for their farms.
“Being able to see how the energizer is performing and power it off from wherever you are with the remote is such a time saver, particularly when you are finding and dealing with faults. The system helps you do it all with ease.”

Supplied by: Gallagher

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

The passion of youth keeps old men invigorated!

As I sit down to write this article, it’s pouring with rain, and a southerly has hit. I remember the days in Raetihi where growing up in the hills and rain was the norm and the passion for all things rural filled my mind: rodeo, hunting, working alongside men, and a pocket full of cash at the end of the week meant life was grand.

Last night while judging the FCANZ Emerging Talent Award, alongside Paul Van Beers and Justin Tilly, we all got to go back in time as we witnessed that same youthful passion in the three nominees. The same drive that we had as young men came out of the mouths of those we questioned, judged and deliberated on.

The outcome will be known by the time this goes to print, but what the industry won’t know is the incredibly hard job we had separating the nominees: Kalani Snooks, Murray Graham and Galen Monks. They are a credit to the industry and together are the rising tide that will lift all ships. To have staff like these is a credit to the contractors that have trained them and the NorthTec industry training programmes that Donna Upton works so hard to organise and Justin facilitates.

I spent eight years as Manager/Coach of the New Zealand Rodeo High School programme and, with the help of my (recently passed) friend Ross Ford from Australia, we developed a Trans-Tasman contest and development programme. Ross and I worked tirelessly on this, with a few cuts in our hides along the way. We knew what we were doing meant the world to the young people. We travelled to each other’s countries. We watched them develop into adults taking their own paths in life, and that has been the most rewarding part of my rodeo career.

To see NZ rodeo youth competing in America this past month at the World College and High School Finals is what Ross and I wanted as an end goal for our country’s rodeo youth. It made this old man proud but tinged with sadness that Ross didn’t get to see it.

As I write this, I realise I’m driven to show youth the same help many an older generation showed me in my youth growing up in Raetihi. It’s an investment I hope I pay back to them for as long as I can.

The ultimate opportunity to be involved in and experience the growth of rural youth was when I was asked to host the Young Farmer of the Year Contest. Forty-six regional finals and six grand finals around every rural region in this country meant I witnessed the passion, the emotion and the joy that this contest created in the contestants, the organisers and often the parents and families who travelled miles in support. Again, I see those young people travelling well in their own lives; some are now politicians, industry leaders, and many others honoured for their work.

In the last three years, I have been the Chair of a school board that has so many layers of compliance, staff management, public scrutiny and parental management that it’s a minefield of anxiety and stress, with many who sign up for the role leaving as soon as possible. But again, the reason for being involved is the youth. The treasure of unknown potential, the passion of life, the ability to support and develop the needs of all, from the gifted to the challenged, and knowing that one day the investment will return or be paid forward. If not by all, by some that have understood the journey. The cuts in the hide from this space scar deep, but the results of the mahi heal most wounds.

Recently I was contacted by a young farmer who was struggling with life, feeling isolated and not in the best of thoughts. As we celebrate those who go forward, we must also catch those who fall back! I’ve seen so much success in the people who have travelled the harder roads, so that’s where my life spends a lot of time now. The ‘Lean on a Gate’ campaign works not only for those in need but also for those who are trucking along well. The reassurance of knowing what you do matters, and the telling of your stories, good or bad, makes us human; it gives us connections and can lift those in need or simply reassure the person who seeks positive affirmation. But equally, it fills the cup of those who invest the time to give support.

Passion is something we can lose as we grow older; the reason we get out of bed in the morning, the work we do and the relationships we are in. Take a word of advice from me: the passion of youth is infectious, and it will keep an old man alive!

Written by Craig (Wiggy) Wiggins

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

 

A demanding job with tricky bluffs and steep terrain was made even more challenging with continual wet weather disruptions for the Gisborne-based Fisher Fencing Matawai team. But getting in the right gear and some good old-fashioned ingenuity got the job done.

Owner Ben Fisher was approached by the client to do a secondary quote for a QEII National Trust (‘QEII’) project she was planning on her property near Otoko.

“She had funding for plants and was working with QEII for funding to fence the area off,” Ben explains.

The job was approximately one kilometre of new deer fencing with two small top-up sections around the house.

“One being a top-up of three wires and the other of two additional railings to increase the height of the original fencing.”

The quote was accepted for the project and plans were made for a start date as it could be worked in and around jobs.

As trees were ordered and funding needed to be used, it became “a bit of a priority job”, Ben said.

Gear was ordered to arrive before the start date, which was planned for the end of April/start of May.

However, the weather did not cooperate, and the team managed to get started on 24 May.

Ben was joined on the job by Allan Spice, Bus Sterk, and Jaime Johnson, with the Komatsu D37 bulldozer creating access to the site and blading the lines ready for fencing.

There were challenges finding the best line around boulders, Ben said, dodging tomos and working with a couple of springs at the base of the hill that needed channelling through the fence line.

Two steeper bluff sections at either end of the hill meant the team was unable to blade the entire line.

“But we could access the top of the ridge from a track further around the road. Once on top, it was a nice easy line along the ridge.”

Once bulldozing was complete and the materials laid, they got started with the 360m line along the ridgetop to stockproof the adjoining paddock. This was completed in two days – and then the rain came again.

“This held us up for a few days, so off to tidy up a couple of small jobs elsewhere.”

The weather cleared and they were back into it again with a couple of days thumping posts where they could, the wet ground limiting progress.

“The spades came out and the remaining posts up the steeper sections were dug in.”

Then rain came again, halting progress for another few days.

When the weather cleared again, the ground was still wet and saturated, and a day was spent on the top-up sections of the job.

The decision was made to purchase a set of Kyne tractor spikes to get the job done. A netting rig for the front of the tractor had already been built about two years earlier.

“So, a mad dash to Pahiatua was done to collect [the tractor spikes] and then home to install and hopefully get the last 500 metres of netting out and sorted.”

With this all done, the last stretch was the fencing of the bluff at either end of the ridge.

“For this, we decided to swap out the netting and do a 13-wire and batten fence due to the conditions and terrain.
“One end was easier than the other; we were able to post where possible to get a line down the 50-metre section. The shorter line of about 30 metres took a lot more thinking and ingenuity.”

Steel brackets were made and 4×2 timber bolted to them as posts. These were then bolted to the rock and used as the rise posts.

For the foots, plates were bolted with an eyelet to the rock with a chain D-shackled to it and the wires fed through the chain.

“This was best as if we had done the 4×2 and bracket, we wouldn’t have been able to staple the top wires off. But with this, as we strained the wires, the chain lifted to height.”

The job was finally completed on 11 July. In total it took seven weeks to get 12 days’ work done.
“Bloody rain.”

Written by Rosa Watson

 

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

It’s not easy hosting the prestigious National Fencing Competitions every year.
The team at NZ Fencing Competitions does an incredible job, with the following being just a small insight into the precision planning and dedication of the voluntary judges and committee.

Monday 10th June, 7.00am: the gate to Yellow Car Park at Mystery Creek is unlocked. It’s heats day; fencers drive their loaded Utes in, eager and hoping that by the end of this crucial day, they have achieved a place in the prestigious Golden Pliers® by WIREMARK® Singles and/or Fieldays® Silver Spades™ Doubles competitions, held at the end of the week.

The caravan is in place, fence lines are laid, and the food tent is up – the chief judge and his crew of helpers have been preparing since Friday. Fencing judges have attended their meeting the afternoon before; everyone is ready to go, the weather just needs to hold. Fingers crossed.

There are 24 singles heats entries, with 15 teams for the doubles heats, featuring many familiar faces and a number of newcomers, including a team from the South Island and the USA. A big day of judging is ahead.

Today, the difficult task of competing for a place in the finals is performed, with eight fence lines available in the Golden Pliers® by WIREMARK® Singles final, and space for six teams in the Fieldays® Silver Spades™ Doubles final. There is automatic entry for the teams from the South Island (Craig Sinclair and William Pei) and the USA (Jason Day and Alexander Masser).

6pm: The gate is locked, the heats are done and the finalists have been notified. It will be another full day tomorrow, pulling the fence lines down and moving everything to the fencing site at the Fieldays.

Wednesday 12th June

7.00am: The site is looking great, all laid out for its week of fencing. The WIREMARK® tent is centrally placed, where sponsors, judges, fencers and their families will gather to eat and catch up.

8.30am: The Fieldays Silver Staples competition commences with two cadet teams entered from Smedley Station, Geraldine High School and Pukemiro Station.

9.00am: The Bill Schuler competition kicks off; a consolation round for six of the singles fencers from the heats, who have missed qualifying for the Golden Pliers.

Anchoring for the week are Craig Wiggins and Craig Graham, whose information and knowledge abound over the microphone during the competitions, amusing spectators and setting the tone.

4.00pm: The WIREMARK® tent is full as we hold the Silver Staples prize giving. Congratulations to Smedley Station’s Bradley Anderson and Cameron Chambers. The Bill Schuler contestants have to wait until Friday.

Thursday 13th June

7.00am: Eight finalists are setting up for the event of the week, the prestigious Golden Pliers® by WIREMARK® Singles Competition. Borers roar to life at 8:04am, with a marathon of fencing ahead – the competition is capped at 6.5 hours to finish. A generous crowd of spectators gathers over the day to witness the physical and mental effort of the fencers to build a quality fence in the fastest time.

Line 5 calls time first at 1:24pm, finishing in 5h:20m:06s. A time penalty of 1 point per 2 minutes is now on the mind of the remaining contestants.

7.00pm: In the caravan, the result reveals only slightly more than half a point difference between first and second place. There is much double and triple-checking to ensure that nothing has been missed!

Friday 14th June

7.00am:  It looks like the task of building a deer fence for the Fieldays® Silver Spades™ teams is going to be done in the rain! The teams from the South Island and the USA are about to compete at their first ever NZ National Fieldays Fencing competition, they are unknown adversaries for the other qualifiers.

Comments are heard from spectators nearby; they are pleased to see the challenge of building a 2.1 metre high netting fence again. This style of fence was last built at the 2004 Fieldays® Silver Spades™ competition. The rain eases a little as the judges begin their task, some armed with waterproof paper!

There are busy times in the caravan finalising results and preparing for the main prizegiving in the pavilion at 5pm. Fencers disappear to the showers and return, smart in their Golden Pliers Jackets, displaying badges showing years of participation and their wins. New finalist Cameron Hamerton will receive his jacket and first badge today, with hopefully many more to come, and always the potential for a win on the horizon.

Congratulations to Tim Garrick for winning his first Golden Pliers® by WIREMARK® Championship. Tim also collected the Fieldays® Silver Spades™ Doubles Championship trophy with partner Cory Twigley. The Bill Schuler trophy was lifted by Michael Trott.

It was another superb week showcasing New Zealand’s unequalled fencing prowess. There had been huge organisation and input behind the scenes for this to happen, and our grateful thanks go to all who are involved, including Leanne Stanger, Joeline Bouskill and Debbie White.

The Judges team comprised of Chief Judge Owen Peterson, Craig Shortall, Paul Van Beers, Warren Herlihy, Mark Lambert, Shane Tilson, Campbell Bryce, Wayne Newdick, Nick Liefting, Colin Brown, Owen Petersen and Kim Petersen. Technical Judges comprised Richard Broughton, Craig Graham, Cambell Clark, Pete Anderson, Victoria Power and
Marty Hepburn.

A special mention to our sponsors WIREMARK®, Goldpine, Cyclone, Stockade, Stihl, Strainrite, Steel & Tube/Hurricane, Revolution Postdrivers and FCANZ, without whom there would be no event!

COMPETITION FINAL RESULTS 2024

Golden Pliers® Singles Championship by WIREMARK®
1st Tim Garrick
2nd Jeff Joines
3rd Cory Twigley
4th Tony Bouskill
5th Shay Robertson
6th Jared Nicholson
7th Cameron Hamerton
8th Wilton Weeks
Best Quality: Tony Bouskill
Nick Liefting First Off The Line Trophy: Tim Garrick

Fieldays® Silver Spades™ Doubles Championship
1st Tim Garrick & Cory Twigley
2nd Shane Bouskill & Tony Bouskill
3rd Jeff Joines & Craig Smith
4th Shay Robertson & Cameron Hamerton
5th Wilton Weeks & Burne Maxted
6th Martin Leveridge & Troy Brooky
7th Craig Sinclair & William Pei (South Island Team)
8th Jason Day & Alexander Masser (US Team)

Bill Schuler
1st Micheal Trott
2nd Craig Sinclair
3rd Murray Graham
4th Troy Brooky
5th Tom Dingle
6th Burne Maxted
Best First Year: Craig Sinclair
Best Second Year: Cameron Hamerton

Fieldays® Silver Staples Cadet competition
1st Bradley Anderson/Cameron Chambers (Smedley Station 1)
2nd Thomas Batty/Lachie O’Connell (Geraldine High School 1)
3rd Jackson Marriott/Cullen Gordon-Wilson (Geraldine High School 2)
4th Ryan Craw/Holly Bird (Pukemiro Station 1)
5th Harry Peacock/Ben Solomann (Pukemiro Station 2)
6th Jordan Miles/Angus Kopua (Smedley Station 2)

Written by Kim Petersen
Photos reproduced with permission of NZ Fencing Competitions

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

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Fencing Solutions Waikato (FSW) were recently contracted by Livingstone Builders to build a retaining wall on two sides of the new McDonald’s restaurant in Mt Wellington.

One thing that you learn quickly, being from the Waikato, is that place names that start with ‘Mount’ usually have something volcanic about them. This job was no exception.

The retaining wall was going to end at 2-3m high, so the poles needed to be 3 metres in the ground. Logistically, this was going to be difficult to say the least, as the site was previously a commercial yard with many layers of metal and volcanic rock.

The holes were either bored or dug with a digger. The holes for the poles were to be 600mm round and 1.2m apart, and as the holes were prone to cave-ins, every second pole was concreted in before the pole in the middle could be dug. As the ground was metal, cave-ins were an everyday occurrence. If there was water in the hole, a trash pump was used to clear the hole before concrete could be pumped in.

Finally, with all 65 poles in place, it was time to put on the timber. 6m lengths of 150mm x 75mm timber rails are heavy to manoeuvre, often being winched into place. The day the last rail was installed was definitely a welcomed sight.
In the end, the scheduled 18 cubic metres of concrete escalated to 32 cubes, so I can safely say that those poles are not going to fall down. Once the wall was backfilled, and the poles architecturally cut to the finished height, a timber handrail was installed with 40mm vertical pickets.

Written by Todd Sherburd – Fencing Solutions Waikato

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

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