For Rotorua fencing contractor Kim Costello, fencing wasn’t the industry she thought she would end up in.
“If you had told me back in high school that I’d grow up to be a fencer, I would have laughed – not because it sounded crazy, but because honestly, I wouldn’t have even known what that was!”
But 13 years after setting up DKH Contracting with partner Daniel Holmes, she hasn’t looked back.
Kim was born and raised in Rotorua and met Daniel at high school, and like many women in the agriculture industry, she became a ‘farmer’s wife’.
But being ‘barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen’ was never going to be the life for her, she told WIRED Magazine. She was looking for a more active role.
The couple has five kids, aged between six and 12, and having a young family gave her perspective on what kind of lifestyle she wanted for her and her family.
“It made me realise how important it was to be in control of my own time. I wanted flexibility, the ability to be there for my kids, and a balance between work and life that suited us, and being self-employed ticked all those boxes.
“It’s also been a great way to show our kids that no matter what the job is, anyone can do it if they put their mind to it.”
She said Dan often jokes that if the machines are at home, he has to hide the keys.
“There have been plenty of times he’s come home to find me halfway through a new project! I love being pushed out of my comfort zone, and there’s no better place to do it than in your own business.”
When DKH Contracting was started, Kim took on more of a behind-the-scenes role while spending time with the children.
“While I spent a lot of that time at home with the kids and working behind the scenes, I never imagined how much I’d enjoy the physical side of the job too. I knew that to run a successful business and be a good employer, I had to truly understand what fencing involved, and that meant being able to lead from the front, knowing the ins and outs of a quality product.
Having previously been sharemilkers, the couple bring plenty of experience with stock and a good understanding of what works and what doesn’t, and can pass on sound advice to clients on their rural jobs.
DKH Contracting provides all types of fencing; Rural, Lifestyle and Residential, with its main service area across the Central Bay of Plenty. They employ anywhere from two to five fencers working alongside Kim and Dan. They have been involved in farm conversions, rural and lifestyle development projects, and subdivisions.
Kim said being a woman in the fencing industry was not without its challenges.
“I still get a laugh out of the looks I get from male tradies when I turn up on-site and start backing a trailer or unloading the truck.”
But she said attitudes are changing.
“Female tradies are becoming more and more common, and it’s only a matter of time before women are fully recognised and respected across all trades, including fencing.”
Kim’s passion for the industry is obvious, and she is keen to see more women join.
“The message I want to share with any woman thinking about entering this industry is this: fencing is seriously underrated. It’s not just building a fence; it’s learning a huge range of skills. It’s the satisfaction of seeing what you’ve achieved at the end of the day, it’s the people you meet, the suppliers you work with, and the clients who trust you to bring their projects to life.
“It all adds up to a pretty great day – and a career that’s well worth considering.”
Article by Rosa Watson
Published in WIRED issue 77/June 2025 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ
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