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Renner Fencing Contractors is known for handling complex commercial and viticulture fencing projects across Marlborough and beyond. With four crews on the ground, the business delivers security, viticultural, residential and rural fencing.

One standout commercial client has been Calder Stewart, through whom Renner Fencing has completed work for Bascik Transport, installing depot perimeter fencing for both its Nelson and Blenheim depots.

The frontage features 2100mm-high black powder-coated Chiefs Panel supplied by KC Fence Systems and manufactured by Edgesmith. The remaining perimeter is secured with chainlink fencing topped with three strands of barbed wire.

The Nelson site was particularly challenging, featuring a boundary line with multiple obstructions and, on one side, a narrow 100mm gap between the fence line and neighbouring shipping containers. There were also the logistics of working away from home for the crew, which Mike said added to the complexity of the job.

By contrast, the Blenheim depot was a more straightforward rectangular site, which was completed on time. “Both projects had the same end goal – a really sharp-looking commercial fence.”

Mike has recently been awarded a third Bascik Transport yard through Calder Stewart, installing fencing at their Palmerston North depot. “They are a great client to work for, and the finished job looks really good.”

Viticulture – a core business focus

Viticulture fencing is a major component of Renner Fencing’s workload. Crews handle full vineyard development, redevelopments and maintenance, from post layout through to intermediate posts, strainers and stay assemblies.

A recent 15-hectare vineyard redevelopment project involved replacing older wooden infrastructure with steel Eco Trellis, installing around 8,000 intermediates and 380 box strainer assemblies.

To manage labour challenges, Mike outsources intermediate post installation to a Fijian crew, citing high turnover among local staff due to the repetitive nature of the work. “You might train a group of young local guys to do the intermediates, but they’ve usually gone and found something better to do after one round of that!” he said, laughing.

An incentivised pay scheme – offering bonuses for completing more than 2,000 intermediates driven – has proven effective for his Fijian crew. “They’re getting very efficient now,” Mike laughs. “I might need to lift the target for the bonus.”

This 15ha job wasn’t without its complexities. Narrower row spacings compared with the original layout meant some new strainers landed close to old post holes, causing issues with strainers diverting away from the new line. The solution was to refill and compact the old holes to provide a solid base.

Material selection is evolving alongside innovation, with steel and wood now used in equal measure. Steel can be faster for crews to work with, making jobs more economical, but Mike explains that much of the remaining Marlborough viticulture land is hard, stony ground, where steel posts can bend or become difficult to install. Mike often fields calls from developers seeking advice on the best materials for their ground conditions.

While 2024 was a strong year for vineyard development, Mike says 2025 has been quieter, with 2026 and 2027 expected to follow suit. “Diversification has been key,” he says. “When one sector slows, the others keep our crews going.”

Family graft key to growing business

Renner Fencing stretches back to 1968, when Mike’s father Terry began fencing in Marlborough. Like many rural operators of the time, fencing wasn’t his only focus. He worked on the family farm and also ventured into shearing.

By the mid-1990s, Terry had purchased a shearing run which came with seasonal shearers and shed hands. This expansion led to the establishment of Renner Contracting Ltd in 1999. The shearing run was then sold, a turning point that allowed him to focus on fencing and farm management work.

The company took another step forward with the purchase of its first tractor, the lease of a second, and an investment in two Taege post drivers. Vineyard development work soon followed, aligning the business with Marlborough’s expanding viticulture industry.

Mike and his brother Brad both left school early to work full-time. Brad left at 15 in 1991 to help with fencing at Muller Station, and Mike was pulled out of seventh form after his First XV rugby season ended to help his father and brother.

Both brothers worked at the freezing works and fenced in the off-season. In 2001, Mike headed overseas on his OE, fencing and shearing in the UK.

Time spent in Scotland proved especially valuable, where he gained experience in residential fencing. On returning to New Zealand, Mike established a residential fencing crew within the family business. Further training through KC Fence Systems later expanded Renner Fencing into security fencing.

When the freezing works closed, Mike and Brad bought into the business using their redundancy payouts. Ownership structure has changed over time, with the three families now each holding a third share of the business. Over the years, the business has steadily grown, specialising in vineyard development and fencing, and employing up to 16 staff at its peak.

In 2012, Mike took over quoting, initially handling it after hours while still fencing full-time. With the support of a business mentor, he eventually stepped away from the tools to focus on management. “It was pretty all-consuming trying to do it all,” he said.

Today, Mike oversees new quotes, client meetings, material ordering, staffing, invoicing, and health and safety. His wife, Olivia, manages data entry, account reconciliation, invoice payments and wages. Brad remains very much on the tools in the business, running one of
the crews.

Managing four crews spread across Marlborough can be challenging. “It would be good to eventually establish a central yard and office to allow for regular toolbox meetings, and I think that would help us stay connected as a team a bit better,”
he said.

“At the moment, I try to pick a day and time when most of us are going to be within close proximity to each other to have a catch-up, but it can be hard when there’s a bit going on.”

Technology helps, with a mobile app called Tradify used for quoting, job assignment, timesheets and invoicing, which then feeds through to Xero. Mike sees potential value in integrating a health and safety tab into the programme. “The guys already use Tradify every day, so they would probably get into a good habit of entering risk management and pre-starts.”

He has tried in the past to get his staff to use another health and safety app, but found it wasn’t well adopted. “Those programmes are only as good as the information going into them. We are pretty old school in that aspect – we’re good at keeping ourselves safe on the ground, recognising and minimising hazards and risks – but the recording of it all is where we need to get better.”

Engaging business mentor Daniel Fitzpatrick around a decade ago proved transformative for the business’s bottom line. Gross profit improved from about nine percent to between 20 and 30 percent, with turnover averaging $3.4 million over the past three years. “Getting a mentor has been absolutely worth it,” he said. “This year we have downsized and will be around $2.5 million turnover. Net profit is still looking about the same, and that’s the number to keep an eye on. As they say: production is vanity, profit is sanity.”

Written by Alice Scott

Published in WIRED issue 80/March 2026 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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Who can remember what they were up to in business 18 years ago? Well, that was about the time when I penned an article in this magazine about the rise of the hop fields going in around the Tasman region.

So how about an update direct from the horse’s mouth? I got in touch with Brent McGlashen from Mac Hops to see how the hops market has fared.

In nearly two decades, there has been a near-quadrupling in area of hop fields established in the Tasman region, producing over 95% of New Zealand’s hops. The influx of the Craft beer boom sure took hold and didn’t go away.

The early adopters of those acreage increases were often family farms (whose numbers at the time were down to 17 families left in NZ), who battled through the tougher years and then could see potential for a little longer-term growth. This growth was then recognised by the corporate investment sector, who piled a significant amount of money into several larger farms. This happened not only in New Zealand but also worldwide, where non-traditional growing regions felt they could also succeed, trying to create their own story.

No one has been immune to the significant rise in cost of production, and the Hop industry has definitely experienced that. Hop poles (an internal structure pole is 5.4m x 125mm) went from $45 to $90+; wire and cable prices rose to the point of even becoming scarce in some parts of the full development cycle; even hop pegs doubled in price. This, coupled with an increasing supply of hops and a post-Covid era of lowering beer demand, as well as young people changing their socialising habits, has culminated in a large hop surplus build-up worldwide. A recent international review suggested that even if 10,000ha were removed worldwide, it would still take a few years to balance out the current demand.

So, where to from here? Well, in the 2025 crop year, growers I talked to had not strung/grown at least 30% of their crop, just to lower their input costs, and were doing their best to hang on through the (now very low part of the) hop market cycle.

Talking with Mac Hops in Motueka – who I joined for the celebration of their farms’ 125th year of growing hops last year – they mentioned that it has been a tough part of the cycle.

“Our family has seen this kind of market a number of times through our five generations of growing. It is never an easy part of the cycle, but you just have to hunker down, reduce spending as much as you can, but also don’t compromise on crop quality. Yield and efficiencies become even more important, so you aren’t having to grow more area at a cost to then produce less amount of hops. Also, the land that you are resting, pull out older or less saleable varieties and regenerate it with cover crops so when they are ready to replant, they are in good condition, ready to maximise their full potential.”

I think that has happened to many businesses in the last couple of years. Those who have overspent and not had the work ahead of them to pay off the rise in all things business-cost-related haven’t survived. Maybe your old tractor can hang on for another year or two. Maybe that extra employee isn’t actually earning us any more money. Maybe that job our ‘friend’ wanted us to do has cost us income somewhere else… I’m sure you can relate to some of these thoughts going through your own head.

So, with the 2026 harvest starting at the end of February for the hop growers, you can guarantee they will be focused on efficiencies in their operations. Quality has been exceptional in the last couple of years, and that must be maintained to hold a very high bar in the world of hops (New Zealand only produces 1.5% of world production).

The new varieties must continue to punch above their weight against the more established ones and gain traction in an overcrowded market. I look on in the hope that a number of my friends in this niche little industry can continue to grit their teeth and find their own little wins to pull them through. I think we should all raise a beer to that.

Article supplied by John Noakes. A big thanks to Brent McGlashen of Mac Hops for contributing.

Published in WIRED issue 80/March 2026 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

You may also like Cloudy Bay vineyard development

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In February, we heard from Derek at Cloudy Bay about pricing for a vineyard development they were planning for spring. After a few conversations around different end assembly options, they settled on a box stay system using a steel pole as the horizontal post, with two timber strainers acting as the end and butt posts.

We chose a 180mm diameter end strainer with a slightly smaller 150mm diameter butt post, knowing the ground was going to be extremely hard.

Once the job was confirmed, we decided to invest in another tractor and post driver so we could run two crews on the project. The job involved driving 1,280 strainers, each 2.4 metres long, into ground so hard that digging a single hole by hand could take close to an hour. Most of the rocks were around basketball size, and working through that kind of ground can be tough going.

We pre-drove a 120mm spike and then drove the posts to a depth of 1,100mm. Once the posts were in, we set up an assembly line drilling holes into the timber strainers so the steel horizontal poles could be fitted. Because the steel poles were pre-cut, post spacing had to be spot on. If the posts were too far apart, the steel pole would be too short.

After drilling, we painted the holes with a wood preservative. Steel poles can sweat inside timber posts, and if moisture sits inside the wood over time, it can cause the post to rot from the inside out, so this step is important for long-term durability.

To get vineyard end assemblies looking neat and consistent, accuracy matters. Post placement, straight lines, and post heights all need to be right. Having the right gear and operators who know what they’re doing makes a huge difference.

We stayed busy on other jobs through winter, and before long, spring rolled around. Derek got back in touch to line up a start date, aiming for the week after Labour Weekend. That timing usually works well, with ground temperatures right and enough moisture in the soil for new vines going in.

As usual, we were juggling several projects at once. When we got the call that the new irrigation pump shed had been delayed due to power supply issues, it took some pressure off the schedule. We were still keen to have the project finished before Christmas, as we’d planned to take three weeks off and wanted to come back to new jobs rather than unfinished ones.

In the end, we started about a month later than planned. There were 640 end assemblies to complete. Post driving was slower than expected due to a very wet spring. While the extra moisture helped early on, once the ground dried out it went hard like concrete, making the posts much harder to drive than anticipated.

The ground was the biggest challenge, along with wind and dust. At times the conditions weren’t safe to work in. Visibility was poor and it was difficult to stand up, which doesn’t help when you’re trying to keep everything straight.

This job also lined up with the rollout of our new health and safety app. The team was getting used to doing daily site briefings and machine pre-starts through the app, and this project helped everyone understand the process and why it matters.

Cloudy Bay runs a strict site when it comes to PPE and safety. Halfway through the job, we were audited by their in-house safety manager. We passed with flying colours, with the only issue being one of the boys wearing sunglasses that weren’t safety approved.

We did hit a couple of water pipes while driving posts, which is never ideal. Power was clearly marked, so posts in that area had to be hand-dug. On the plus side, our new drone captured some great aerial footage of the job, showing the scale of the work and the finished result. The team should be proud of what they achieved.

In the new year, Cloudy Bay brought us back to finish rolling out the vineyard row wire, and we also fenced off their irrigation dam using old vineyard posts.

All up, it was a great project to be part of. The team faced new challenges and really grew, especially in time management, teamwork, and how we document health, safety, and machine processes.

A special mention goes to Point Lumber for supplying the posts. They were pre-chamfered, lathed and ideal for the conditions – out of all the posts driven, only a handful were broken.

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Published in WIRED issue 80/March 2026 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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Choosing the right tools for the job is key when installing ground screw building foundations in challenging ground conditions. In a recent job undertaken at the Masterton Medical Centre by Quick Slabs of Wairarapa, Kyne Equipment’s post driver and Rock Spike stood out from the crowd.

Quick Slabs was tasked with installing foundations at the Masterton Medical Centre, a site with extremely challenging ground conditions. The subsoil consisted of demolition material from a previous concrete building combined with river gravel. The original design called for 1-metre-diameter augered concrete piles, some extending over 3 metres to reach virgin ground. Based on site investigations and experience, traditional augering was deemed costly, high-risk, and inefficient.

Large augered piles would have required extensive excavation and removal of contaminated soil, creating environmental compliance issues, higher costs, and logistical complexity. Quick Slabs proposed stop-dig screw piles as a more practical solution, and worked alongside Kyne to come up with a custom-built rock spike to do the job.

Multiple spike sizes were trialled to achieve the ideal balance between penetration and pile engagement. A 90 mm spike created holes that were too large, preventing piles from achieving full load, while a 50 mm spike was too narrow, restricting screw advancement. After testing, a custom 75 mm rock spike from Kyne proved optimal, consistently penetrating the hard, abrasive material while maintaining required pile performance.

This combination allowed screw piles to be installed efficiently, reliably, and repeatably. The solution eliminated ongoing auger replacement, reduced pile damage, avoided large-scale excavation and disposal of contaminated soil, and kept the project on schedule.

The Kyne Super Thumper with custom rock spikes proved simple to operate on a confined commercial site and delivered significant time and cost savings:

• Reliable pile installation through demolition fill and river gravel
• Consistent achievement of 60 kN design load
• Minimised equipment wear and reduced labour requirements
• Eliminated the need for large-scale excavation and contaminated soil disposal
• Streamlined installation within tight site constraints

Following this success, Quick Slabs and Kyne Equipment are exploring enhancements to allow stop-dig screw piles to be installed directly using the post driver, removing the need for a separate auger system. This innovation promises to further reduce equipment, labour, and site congestion on future projects.

Kyne Equipment has an innovative team set-up and specialise in working directly with the end users – we all know the importance of getting the right tools for the job. Kyne has been working with fencers and farmers across New Zealand and Australia to ensure the fencing sector is set up to achieve results, whether it be using our range of post drivers, rotating bases, fencer forks, spinning jennies or augers.

Ryan Garrity, founder and operator of Quick Slabs said, “Quick Slabs would confidently recommend Kyne Equipment’s post drivers with a purpose-built rock spike for installing stop-dig screw piles on similar commercial projects, particularly where ground conditions are hard, abrasive, contaminated, and not suitable for conventional auguring. What could have become a costly and high-risk foundation installation was instead delivered as an efficient and practical solution through innovation, collaboration, and adaptability.”

Ryan went on to say, “The Masterton Medical Centre project demonstrated the strength of Kyne’s integrated solution. By combining the Super Thumper post driver with custom rock spikes we were able to deliver a high-quality, cost-effective foundation solution in ground conditions that would have challenged conventional methods.”

Kyne’s equipment proves to be innovative, reliable, and adaptable, making its post drivers and custom rock spikes the preferred choice for stop-dig screw pile installations in hard, abrasive, or contaminated ground conditions.

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Published in WIRED issue 80/March 2026 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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When Michelle and Rhett Matson started Kiwi Structure, it wasn’t part of a grand business plan. It was born out of necessity, good timing and a very real gap in the Whangarei kiwifruit industry.

Based in Maungatapere, Northland, Kiwi Structure is a family-owned fencing and orchard infrastructure business that has grown steadily since its establishment in 2020. What began as a one-man operation is now a tight-knit team of four, specialising in kiwifruit orchard development, maintenance and repair, alongside more conventional agricultural fencing.

The catalyst for the business was close to home. When Rhett’s family decided to develop a new kiwifruit orchard, they discovered the nearest specialist contractors were based in Kerikeri. With transport, availability and timing all adding pressure, it quickly became clear Whangarei needed local expertise.

“There was a gap that needed filling,” Rhett said. “And if someone was going to do it properly, it might as well be us.”

From fencing wire to orchard structures

Rhett has been fencing for more than a decade, including time spent working overseas before returning home to Northland to raise a family. His family has been involved in the kiwifruit industry for more than 30 years and has been part of the Maungatapere community for over 150.

That history has shaped the way Kiwi Structure operates today.

“I understand the seasonal pressures growers are under,” Rhett said. “You’re not just building a fence or a structure – you’re supporting a crop, a harvest and someone’s livelihood. That changes how you approach the job.”

Kiwi Structure now works predominantly in the kiwifruit industry, with around 80 percent of its workload coming from orchard developments, expansions, repairs and maintenance. The remaining 20 percent is made up of agricultural fencing, a sector the business leans into during quieter years.

Michelle handles everything behind the scenes. With more than 10 years’ experience in business operations and marketing, she keeps the wheels turning.

“Anything you don’t see on site – that’s me,” she laughs. “Bookkeeping, admin, compliance, marketing and being a general gopher.”

Originally from Hawke’s Bay, Michelle met Rhett overseas before the pair decided to settle in Maungatapere. Today, they juggle business life with raising three young daughters, a reality that shapes how Kiwi Structure runs day to day.

A job that shows what Kiwi Structure does best

One recent project highlights the specialised nature of the work Kiwi Structure now undertakes – a 30-metre artificial shelter installation for a kiwifruit orchard.

Kiwifruit vines are notoriously sensitive to wind, and effective shelter is critical for both plant health and productivity. In this case, a 30-metre gap existed between established living shelter trees, leaving the orchard exposed. Artificial shelter was the only viable solution.

“This wasn’t a massive job by our standards,” Rhett says. “But it had plenty of complexity.”

The structure was installed in close proximity to live power lines overhead and a high-pressure water scheme below. Before any work began, Kiwi Structure secured a permit from the local power company authorising work within the four metre exclusion zone, to within one metre of the 400 V lines. They also worked closely with the local water utility to identify pipe locations, enabling them to safely operate inside one metre of underground infrastructure.

“That coordination is just part of the job now,” Rhett says. “You can’t afford assumptions when you’re working around services like that.”

The build was completed in stages. While the concrete around the poles was left to cure for two weeks, Rhett and his two-man crew moved on to work elsewhere on the same orchard, maximising efficiency and minimising downtime.

Bigger, higher and tighter

Orchard infrastructure brings a very different set of challenges compared to conventional fencing.

“Everything is bigger, higher and tighter,” Rhett says. “The loads we’re dealing with are on another level.”

Cables used in orchard shelters can be strained to 2.5 tonnes – a stark contrast to the roughly 150kg strain of a standard fence wire. While the team has never had a failure or close call, the consequences of a mistake are never far from mind.

“When you’re five or six metres off the ground, things get your attention pretty quickly,” Rhett says. “You don’t cut corners.”

Health and safety is a daily focus on site. Toolbox meetings are held every morning, and for this particular job, working at height alongside live power and water infrastructure required detailed planning and constant awareness.

“It’s not just ticking a box,” Michelle adds. “Everyone needs to go home at the end of the day.”

The satisfaction of getting it right

Like many fencing contractors, Rhett takes pride in visible progress.

“There’s something really satisfying about looking back at the end of the day and seeing what you’ve achieved,” he says. “You know if it’s been a productive day.”

One of the most satisfying aspects of orchard shelter work, however, is tensioning the windbreak material itself.

“I’ve spent the last few years refining that technique,” Rhett says. “You don’t want flapping or billowing in a well-built artificial shelter. When it’s tight – really tight – and sitting exactly how it should, that’s a good feeling.”

Efficiency also plays a big role in how he works.

“I’m always thinking two steps ahead. It annoys me if I have to walk back to the ute because I’ve forgotten something,” he laughs. “Time in motion matters.”

In the early days, Rhett listened to podcasts while fencing. These days, running a business means his head is often too full to focus on anything but the job.

Weathering the tough years

Kiwi Structure’s growth hasn’t been without challenges. Shortly after the business was established, Covid hit. That was followed by two tough seasons for the kiwifruit industry, with low returns and damaging weather events slowing investment.

“When things are tight, growers batten down the hatches,” Rhett says. “Only the essential jobs get done.”

During that period, the business pivoted towards agricultural fencing to stay busy and keep cashflow moving.

“When kiwifruit picked back up, we were straight back into it,” Rhett says. “But having that flexibility made a big difference.”

That adaptability has paid off. Kiwi Structure now has a strong base of repeat clients, many of whom call them back for new developments as orchards expand, or for ongoing maintenance of existing structures.

Looking ahead

In 2025, Kiwi Structure was named a finalist in the Northland Business Excellence Awards micro-business category, recognition that reflected both their workmanship and the way they operate.

Rhett is also currently completing his Level 4 Certificate in Fencing through NorthTec, underscoring his commitment to continual improvement.

“I still want to learn,” he says. “You can always do things better.”

For Michelle and Rhett, Kiwi Structure remains very much a family business – built on local knowledge, strong relationships and doing the job properly the first time.

“At the end of the day,” Michelle says, “we’re building structures that have to stand up to Northland weather and support people’s livelihoods. That responsibility isn’t lost on us.”

And in a region where specific expertise once had to be trucked in from hours away, Kiwi Structure has become exactly what it set out to be – a strong, reliable solution built close to home.

Written by Alice Scott

Published in WIRED issue 80/March 2026 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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When it comes to reliability and ease of use, the Waratah Longlife Blue 25kg coils are ideal for contractors who value performance and ease of use.

In challenging environments where access is limited and conditions are unpredictable, having a fencing product that can be moved easily and installed confidently makes a significant difference on the job.

Contractors across New Zealand are going blue, just like South Canterbury fencing contractor Dan Douglass, owner of Dan Douglass Fencing. Dan says the lighter coils’ weight are a major advantage when working in hill country. “The 25kg coils are great for New Zealand. A lot of hill fencing means you need to carry it in by hand, so if you can carry a Longlife Blue® 25kg coil in by hand, it’s great,” he explains. Dan also values the product’s consistency, noting that it performs reliably and remains stable in price, allowing him to plan jobs with confidence.

Another key benefit of Waratah Longlife Blue® fence wire is how it works as part of a complete fencing system. When used alongside JiO® Star posts and JiO® Clips, the installation process becomes faster, easier, and more dependable. As Dan points out, having the entire fence designed as a system means it is quicker to build while delivering long-term performance and protection for farmland.

For contractors, achieving the same result every time is essential. Dan says the quality and consistency of Waratah Longlife Blue® sets it apart. “I like the quality and the consistency of the wire. It’s always the same,” he says.

That consistency is echoed by fencing contractor Tom Evans, who regularly works in steep, rocky terrain where access is difficult and conditions can be harsh. “The hardest part of my job is the terrain and the weather,” Tom says. “I like working with Waratah because of the quality, it’s easier to use. There is no comparison between Waratah and cheaper competitors.” He explains that using inferior products in the past has led to dangerous situations, with fencing materials failing while being installed on difficult ground. “Longlife Blue® wire has that extra protection. It’s worth it in the long run, and it makes sense to use it.”

When advising farmers, Tom consistently recommends Waratah fencing products. “Farmers like quality, especially in hill country. You don’t want to be doing things twice if you don’t have to,” he says. Built for demanding landscapes and designed to work as a complete system, Waratah Longlife Blue® 25kg coils provide a practical, reliable, and long-term fencing solution for contractors and farmers across New Zealand.

For more information on Waratah products, visit www.waratahfencing.co.nz or call Brendon Crequer on 021 393 010.

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Published in WIRED issue 80/March 2026 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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Across horticulture and viticulture, growers are under constant pressure to do more with less.

Labour shortages, rising input costs and the need for long-term infrastructure performance mean that every decision – from pruning to tying and trellis setup – must deliver efficiency, durability and consistency.

That’s where Strainrite Fencing Systems’ vineyard professional tools and solutions play a key role in supporting modern vineyard operations.

Clean cuts and smarter pruning

Pruning remains one of the most critical tasks in the vineyard calendar. Done well, it sets the foundation for vine balance, fruit quality, and long-term plant health. Timing and technique matter, but so do the tools.

INFACO electric pruning shears, distributed by Strainrite, including the F3020, deliver clean, precise cuts while reducing operator fatigue. Consistency is crucial when pruning large blocks, and electric pruners help maintain cut quality throughout the day. Built-in safety systems and ergonomic design support safer, more comfortable work during long winter pruning sessions.

As vineyards scale up, reliability and repeatable performance become just as important as cutting power – making professional-grade tools a worthwhile investment.

Faster, more consistent vine tying

Tying is another labour-intensive job that benefits from mechanisation. INFACO’s AT1000 electric tying tool provides fast, consistent tying across a wide range of vineyard training systems, including single and double Guyot, Chablis, arching, and trellis applications.

The AT1000’s fully automatic operation, adjustable twist settings and high-capacity reels allow operators to work efficiently with minimal interruption. Thousands of ties can be completed on a single battery charge, supporting productivity during peak periods while reducing hand and wrist fatigue.

Consistent tying saves time and contributes to uniform vine positioning, improving canopy management, airflow and light penetration.

Superior bungy performance in harsh environments

Strainrite’s Premium Bungy range is widely used in horticulture and viticulture for irrigation droppers, vine support and flexible trellising applications. It is superior to all other bungy cords available, particularly in demanding outdoor environments.

Unlike traditional bungy cords that use multifilament natural rubber cores, which perish rapidly when exposed to the elements, Strainrite Bungy features a unique solid core made from specially formulated, UV-protected rubber. Combined with a tightly braided sheath incorporating stainless steel wires and high-denier polyester fabric, pre-treated with a UV inhibitor, it provides an additional barrier of protection.

In short, Strainrite Bungy is built to last and perform in harsh environments, maintaining elasticity, strength and reliability season after season.

Permanent wire strainers for vineyard trellis systems

A vineyard trellis is only as strong as its tensioning system. Strainrite offers a range of permanent wire strainers for horticultural and viticultural applications, including Insul-Clip, Durashield, XT1, and Cliplock strainers.

These strainers are designed for long-term installations where wire tension must be maintained and adjusted as vines mature and seasonal loads change. Permanent strainers allow growers to re-tension trellis wires efficiently, helping protect vine structure, reduce maintenance and extend trellis life.

For commercial vineyards focused on longevity and return on investment, reliable wire strainers are a critical component of vineyard infrastructure.

An integrated approach to vineyard efficiency

From pruning and tying to irrigation support and trellis tensioning, modern vineyards perform best when tools and infrastructure work together. Strainrite Fencing Systems’ vineyard professional tools and solutions, including INFACO pruning and tying equipment, Premium Bungy and permanent wire strainers, support growers in building systems that are efficient, durable and designed for long-term performance.

In an environment where labour, time and reliability matter more than ever, investing in quality solutions across every stage of vineyard management ensures consistent results – season after season.

 

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Published in WIRED issue 80/March 2026 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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By the time this goes to print, most people will have forgotten what their New Year’s resolution was and will be back in the grind of working to stay afloat or to buy that dream boat or toy.

We get wrapped up in the day-to-day life of survival and the pressure of commitments until some date, event, or moment in time makes us reassess who we are and what we do. The old cliché comes out: “What is your why?”

But it is a question that needs an answer to really balance your own needs, versus the needs of your career or business. Your ‘Why’ may change depending on what stage in life you are and what personal position you may now sit in. For example, the young fencer coming out of school will have desires, hopes and ambition. A life of unknowns, with responsibility only for their own needs – and perhaps a date on Friday night.

The 40-year-old business owner with five staff, machinery and a family is at the other end of the spectrum. I expect those reading this will know the pressure this stage of life brings and remember the pressure of dating with a dry smile.

But just as the younger version of you put your best foot forward on those Friday nights to portray strength and confidence, the older version of you needs to do the same, to be the best you can be for the many aspects of your life now.

What if this year wasn’t about being everything for everyone? What if it was about tuning in – to YOUR needs, YOUR limits, and YOUR wellbeing? Showing up for yourself doesn’t have to mean dramatic change. Sometimes it looks like going to bed earlier. Saying no when something’s too much. Making time for things that matter to you. Speaking up when something’s not right, especially if that’s to do with your own wellbeing. It means recognising that your needs matter too – you don’t have to wait until you’re completely burnt out to honour them.

This year will be a big year for me and the team at Lean on a Gate. I am a little bit anxious about the amount of work to be delivered – generated by the needs of so many we have spoken to.

What have we created? A training programme for rural professionals and those in the service industries who regularly visit those in need or who work with many who could use a supportive hand on their back. But it’s not just us anymore; the partnership with Mates in Construction and their support networks for those who go through the training programme will be a game changer in rural mental health, and this helps me quieten that anxiety. My biggest worry was what would happen to the work we do if I, or one of the team at LOAG, wasn’t able to continue it. This new partnership gives that work longevity and stability.

I prioritised my family time this Christmas with a trip away; three horses in a float and the three ladies in my life who often miss out due to my commitments. Hardly any arguments, great friends to share meals with and to introduce our girls to, and some success and growth in their riding and competing. I wasn’t that keen to go, due to my having moved away from that part of my life recently. But it was refreshing: my eldest daughter showed just how competitive and determined she is (no wonder we clash occasionally); my youngest daughter winning the biggest smile competition every time she rode; and my wife – who puts everything into ‘us’ – got to enjoy her passion, with the support that allowed her a less stressful trip and to enjoy her moments of happiness as we travelled. Right there is my new ‘Why’.

So for me, the focus has changed. The work we do in the mental health space needs me to focus more on what makes me happy. Supporting my family, a bit of fishing and hunting where possible, and of course the knowledge that what we do matters. (If anyone is looking for a mate on a boat or for a wee hunt, please let me know, shameless plug!).

I had very limited success on Friday nights, as I remember, but they say it’s all about the effort you put in. Thank goodness we find worthy causes as we age and focus on more important things. What I have found is that life finds its own path, and whatever you do matters!

This year, make space for yourself. The people around you benefit when you’re looking after yourself too. www.leanonagate.co.nz

Published in WIRED issue 80/March 2026 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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Google what the weather is like in Southland in mid-February and you are told that “In February, Southland experiences its peak summer weather, characterised by mild to pleasant temperatures, long daylight hours, and high, often changeable, rainfall.

While it is one of the warmest times of the year, sudden showers, cool evenings, and winds are very common.” Which basically means pack for every kind of weather. This couldn’t have been more accurate for the three days of the event, with rain and sun on day one, a sweltering 30 degrees on day two, and rain and wind on day three. Farmers and fencers are a hardy bunch though, so we still had plenty of people pop by.

This was our first time at the Southern Field Days in a number of years, and certainly the first time we had brought Fencing Central to the people. It was great to be back on site and reconnecting face-to-face with contractors, farmers, suppliers, and industry supporters. Under the FCANZ umbrella we were joined by seven of our Gold partners and their local sales reps, providing a one-stop hub in which visitors could talk all things fencing. Having everyone together in one space made it easy for people to ask questions, compare products, and have practical, real-world conversations about fencing solutions.

A demonstration area was set up in the centre of the site, where visitors could see and touch Partner products rather than just hearing about them. This hands-on approach was great for those wanting a closer look at systems or materials they hadn’t seen before.

To keep things spicy, we ran a knot-tying competition, which added a bit of friendly rivalry and a lot of entertainment. While some of the work was questionable, most of it was excellent, and it was great to see such strong skill levels on display. Everyone who gave it a crack went into the draw for a $500 wire voucher, thanks to PGG Wrightson, which certainly helped encourage participation and enthusiasm.

Congratulations to Brent Jamieson, who was the lucky person to have their name picked out of the hat by Craig “Wiggy” Wiggins, Association Patron and head of our charity of choice, Lean on a Gate. A big thanks to Craig for taking the time to be involved and for the ongoing support he provides to the Association and the work he and his team do for mental health in the wider industry.

Thanks to Gold Partners Gallagher, Stockade, Bayonet, Beattie Insulators, Strainrite, Summit and Point Lumber for joining us to deliver what is undoubtedly a great concept – and one we look forward to repeating at the South Island Agricultural Field Days in Kirwee next year. The feedback from both partners and visitors was definitely positive, reinforcing the value of bringing industry expertise and product knowledge together in one accessible space. Next stop for Fencing Central? Mystery Creek in June. See you there!

Written by Jaime Bigwood & Phil Cornelius

Published in WIRED issue 80/March 2026 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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Now in its fourth year, the FCANZ Industry Awards return to celebrate those who truly embody the Association’s mission – championing fencing as a professional trade, delivering exceptional workmanship, and upholding best-practice standards across the industry. Here are this year’s categories.

Trainee of the Year – Level 3

This award recognises an individual who undertakes fencing work as their primary form of employment and who completed the NZQA National Certificate in Fencing Level 3 course in 2025. They will have demonstrated to the tutor that through the course, they have obtained the skills and knowledge for excellent fence line installation.

Criteria

• Completed NZQA Level 3 course during 2025
• Employer is a FCANZ member (including during the period the trainee was enrolled in the course)
• Nominated by the course tutor
• Shows excellent knowledge of fence line practices, and it is evident that they have been trained well by their employer

Selection process

• 1 nominee per course, put forward by the course tutor
• FCANZ to facilitate the appointment of three independent judges
• Nominees are invited to attend the FCANZ Gala Dinner, where the winner is announced

Level 4 Excellence

This award recognises the graduate of the NZQA National Certificate in Fencing Level 4 who consistently displayed excellence across their coursework. Awarded to only one of the 2025 graduates, this award acknowledges the student who consistently produced excellent work, identifying them as a true asset to the fencing industry.

Criteria

To be considered for this award, students must have excellent attendance and consistently:

• Participate openly in all group discussions, assisting other members of the group by sharing their knowledge and experience while maintaining an open mind to the opinions and experience of other members,
• Complete all study and assessments within appropriate time frames while demonstrating a willingness to achieve and maintain consistent gains within their learning,
• Demonstrate a willingness to accept new and alternate methods and systems, and the ability to adapt their thinking to consider and apply gained knowledge where applicable into their approach to the operational processes within their given business and working environment.

Selection process

• Nominees for this award will be identified by the NorthTec Course tutor.

The recipient will also be determined by the tutor according to the criteria above.

Emerging Talent – Youth

This award is for those in the industry who have demonstrated a commitment to fencing as a career opportunity and demonstrated growth and excellence in their workplace.

Criteria

• Under 25 years of age
• Employed in the industry by a FCANZ member
• Been employed by the employer for a minimum of two years

Signed Employer Declaration confirming worker:

• has demonstrated good work habits
• is punctual and reliable
• demonstrates interest in the job and a willingness to learn
• has demonstrated good uptake and understanding of fence line systems
• has good uptake of Health and Safety and demonstrates a willingness to engage

Selection process

Nominees will be expected to provide video evidence of their work, and to attend an online meeting with the independent judging panel, which will decide the winner.

Women in Fencing – Excellence

This award recognises a woman who supports and advances the New Zealand fencing industry. Recipients of this award are chosen by the Board to acknowledge the great work put in by women in a predominantly male environment, adding value on the fenceline or within the wider fencing industry.

Industry Contribution

This award recognises and acknowledges individuals who go above and beyond to champion and support the fencing industry’s growth and development. Recipients of this award are chosen by the Board for their commitment to the betterment of the fencing industry as a whole.

FCANZ Legacy Award

The FCANZ Legacy award (formerly known as the Lifetime Award) is the highest award that FCANZ can bestow. The achievements and contributions of the individual must truly be outstanding and significant, over a sustained period of time. Recipients must have contributed to the industry across several capacities, contributing significantly to the improvement of industry and supporting the Association to meet its goals. To be eligible to receive this award, the individual must have been an FCANZ member at some time in their career.

The FCANZ Legacy award is a special and infrequently awarded honour, with recipients receiving honorary Life Membership.

Published in WIRED issue 80/March 2026 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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