WIRED ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
Publication of the Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand
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In this issue
ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
15
FCNZ News 5
The President’s Report
6
The Board Blog
8
Marketing & Events update
11
Obituary: John Samuel Millar
Industry & Innovation 13
The 49 year-old company that continues to evolve
15
Insulated fencing an innovative solution
17
Summit Steel & Wire and X™Fence®
20
Get more done with a Rotating Post Driver Base
FEATURE: Careers & Training 22
Fence crew grows in talent and strength
24
Hard work pays off after switch to fencing
27
Pathway to employment
28
Respect and friendship on the fenceline
22
Training & Events 30
FCNZ Webinar Series
33
FCNZ 2022 Annual General Meeting and Conference
34
Fieldays Fencing Competitions – 15-17 June 2022
35
Proposed Career Pathway & Qualification Structure
33
Business, Health & Safety, Environment 36
A proposal success story
39
Kick off the New Year: Health and Safety 2022
41
Is your coolie bag fuelling you enough to perform at your best?
42
5 incentive ideas – so your best staff never want to leave
44
Minimum Wage Increase effective 1 April 2022
41
Our People 45
A Wife’s Tale
46
Shane on the Wire
Disclaimer: WIRED takes all due care in the preparation of this magazine but is not responsible or liable for any mistakes or omissions. Articles that appear in WIRED do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Fencing Contractors NZ. WIRED welcomes contributions but reserves the right to edit.
WIRED MAGAZINE
39 Editor: Heather Kawan wired@fencingcontractors.co.nz 0226 308 533
Advertising & Subscriptions: Jeanette Miller admin@fencingcontractors.co.nz 027 432 2033
Graphic Design: dkdesignstudio.nz 027 405 7646
ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
3
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President's Report Another Christmas and New Year rolls on by. In the December report I mentioned having some fun with family and friends in the festive season. Hopefully most of you did just that. The weather definitely turned it on for the summer break.
Overridingly though, we are all caught like mice on wheels treading the COVID-19 merry go round. I, like everyone keep wondering when this will end, maybe it never will, maybe it will be a moment in time, maybe this is the new normal, feels like something has to majorly give soon. Who actually knows? What I do know is, it is bloody hard to plan or organise anything that’s basically not work related and everything work related is becoming a minefield as well. Staff shortages, people are screaming for staff around the country to no avail. Materials and fuel increases, if it’s not one thing it’s another, well so it seems. Autumn has snuck up quickly, the leaves are turning and everyone will be trying to get as much done as possible before the onset of winter. Our thoughts have been with the West Coast and Taranaki region members with their terrible weather events end of January beginning of February. The flow on effect from COVID with not only lockdowns, but the Tertiary
education system having mandated the CVC passes, has meant the NorthTec fencing courses have been further postponed due to unavailability of tutors and insufficient student numbers in some regions. I know the team behind the scenes have been trying their best to get these off the ground and are looking at other ways they can implement portions of the course to get the ball rolling in some form. These courses are available on a ‘fees free’ basis until the end of 2022. If you are interested in becoming a Tutor for the Level 3 Certificate in Fencing, please get in touch.
FCNZ News
Welcome to the latest edition of WIRED magazine.
All that said, the beginning of the roar is just around the corner, so although in the background we are all dealing with a lot of uncertainty, we always have things to look forward to. Let’s see what the next few months bring. As always, if you want to have a yarn, don’t hesitate to give me or any of the board a call. Phil
Phil Cornelius
Our Mission To increase the profile of fencing as a recognised profession and encourage a high level of workmanship through knowledge and standards. WIRED MAGAZINE
ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
5
The Board blog You can only do so much with online meetings and, after 7 months apart, the Board and Operations Team recently went ahead with a physical meeting (in a well ventilated area in a private residence). active, and has started a website revamp, making it easier for clients to ‘Find a Fencing Contractor’.
Jaime will be contacting media companies regarding the supply of regular features
– starting off with a focus on what a great industry Fencing is to work in and its
many benefits, in an effort to attract some attention to our industry’s constant plight for workers.
Event planning Of course unfortunately there are many considerations at hand with our events and much thought and discussion has
been put into trying to accommodate the situation we have been dealt with in light
of the Government mandates, and working to deliver to all our members. With Mike Renner joining us on the
screen and our first physical meeting
with Jaime Bigwood (who joined us as
Communications and Marketing Manager
in October), it was a relief to be able to talk (socially distanced) face to face.
Operations Team changes We are currently working on a reshuffle of the support team at Fencing Contractors NZ.
Heather Kawan has stepped back from the Operations Manager role to concentrate solely on the WIRED. Heather has been an excellent and dedicated Operations Manager over the last two challenging
years and we will miss her effective Board management skills. We are delighted Heather will continue to produce the
WIRED magazine, to which she has already made significant improvements over the last 18 months.
Jeanette Miller is stepping up with some of the Board and meeting support. We have added the Events portfolio to
Jaime’s current Communications role, with Jaime having a strong events background. The Events portfolio includes –
Conference 2022, Webinar series, Best
Practice Days Roadshow in 2022, and the concept of industry awards and localised regional social get togethers.
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ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
This leaves the Partners / Sponsorship side exposed so we have taken some of the hours that Heather has dropped and put them towards a Partnership Development Manager which we are now advertising for (see page 7). Ideally, we’re looking for someone with a working knowledge of the farming / fencing industry and who has a sales background to help capture the increased partnership categories that we have introduced: Retail – for those with a retail footprint; Brand – which covers a number of our existing partners; and Corporate services – targeting professional services that our members use / can benefit from.
Board changes Shaun Davies resigned from the Board at the beginning of February, with Members advised of the vacancy on 16th February and a Board Nomination process instigated. We look forward to introducing you to our newest Board member in the coming weeks. The Board would like to thank Shaun for his contribution and commitment to Fencing Contractors NZ.
Other activity Jaime has been working on getting to know our Gold Partners, keeping our FCNZ Facebook and Instagram page more
With industry event after event being cancelled we are planning for our
Conference with a Plan A and a Plan B. In
the meantime our proposed Best Practice Day Roadshow in the spring of 2022 will require some outside-the-box thinking
under the current circumstances, but we
hope things may have calmed down by the time the events actually roll around.
Webinar series With the view of assisting with your Professional Development we are
arranging a webinar series on various issues that you face as a Fencing
Contractor and small / medium business
owner. These will be held in the evenings
and we hope you will take an hour of your
month to take advantage of the learnings and guidance that will be available in these webinars.
Partners survey A Partners survey has just been sent out with regards to material price rises and
shortages – we look forward to using the feedback from our partners to support
one of our webinar topics (see page 30 for more information).
Those who took part in last year’s
Members survey were sent the results as a Christmas present. A useful tool providing industry insight, the next survey will be sent to members in late February.
WIRED MAGAZINE
Partner Development Manager Vacancy Fencing Contractors NZ (FCNZ) is an industry organisation that supports and benefits the fencing industry of New Zealand. During the past 10 years the Association has established a solid foundation and steadily grown membership year on year, with total membership exceeding 500 members in the rural, residential, commercial, civil, security, horticulture and viticulture sectors. FCNZ is supported by commercial partnerships with organisations who share the mutual vision to see the fencing industry grow in professionalism and in quality standards through the recognition of Fencing as a professional trade. We are looking for a Partner Development Manager to support Fencing Contractors NZ and its governing Board through the establishment, development and maintenance of successful commercial partnerships which reflect the diversity of the fencing industry.
THE ROLE
Working alongside our experienced and passionate team, you will be able to identify and develop partnership opportunities which provide mutually beneficial initiatives, and professionally represent Fencing Contractors NZ through presentations and all negotiations. You’ll develop and strengthen effective relationships with all commercial partners through regular contact and communication. To succeed in the role you will need: •
Great relationship building and management skills
•
To have a sound knowledge of the NZ rural sector and a good understanding of the fencing industry
•
Excellent interpersonal skills and be passionate about delivering excellent outcomes.
•
High levels of motivation and resilience to achieve and sustain a high level of personal productivity
•
Excellent time management skills with an ability to be organised and work to deadlines
•
To be able to work collaboratively within a diverse team and to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
•
To be willing and able to travel nationally, where required
•
To have the right to work in New Zealand
The position is offered as a part-time ongoing contract (approximately 10 hours per week). The role will be carried out from the individual’s own home and can be based anywhere in New Zealand, with some national travel required. Applications should be submitted via: seek.co.nz/job/56015306
Marketing and Events update In the media
Website update – members area
In 2022 FCNZ will be actively contributing to rural print publications to raise the profile of the industry. Depending on the audience of the publication, our contribution will focus on:
The most visited pages on fcanz.co.nz for the past 12 months have been the “Find a Fencing Contractor” pages. These pages function well for potential customers, so our focus has turned to making the rest of the website work better for our members. We have created a Members Area on the site under which you can find all of the info that may be of use to fencing contractors. At this stage this info is available to everyone, not just members. Tell us what you think of the new layout or if there is anything else you’d like to see by emailing communications@fencingcontractors.co.nz
• Fencing as a career – to encourage new workers into the industry
• How to find a fencing contractor – actively promoting FCNZ members to potential customers
• Fencing best practice – tips and advice for those in the fencing industry
Facebook & Instagram
FCNZ 2022 events
Since December we have increased our activity on our social spaces and we’re looking
Planning is well underway for both FCNZ
to run some great competitions and promos in coming months. Make sure you follow us on Facebook or Insta so you don’t miss out. facebook.com/fencingcontractorsnz
instagram.com/fencingcontractorsnz
Conference 2022 and Best Practice Day Roadshows. As we are sure you can appreciate, any event must abide by many “normal” rules and regulations and the constantly changing COVID requirements add an extra level of complexity to planning.
Our aim is to provide events that are as accessible to as many FCNZ members as possible so we are planning the following events under multiple scenarios: • Best Practice Day Roadshows – planned for Spring 2022. Details to follow in next WIRED • Conference 2022 – save the date! The link to register will be sent to members in coming months. Watch your inbox.
Conference 2022
SAVE THE DATE 3-5 August 2022, Dunedin
Dunedin Railway Station
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ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
WIRED MAGAZINE
CALLING ALL
FENCERS!
NorthTec is seeking contract fencing tutors to assist with the delivery of the New Zealand Certificate in Fencing Levels 3 and 4. Our ideal people will have a sound knowledge of the industry, strong overall fencing skills, be a Fencing Contractors NZ Certified fencer, or be prepared to work towards this accreditation. NorthTec’s fencing programme has students spread across the country from Oamaru to Northland; therefore, working location can be flexible. Full-time or part-time contract work may be available with contractors able to continue working for their own clients.
Skills, Experience, and Attributes: • Experienced fencers willing to pass on knowledge and skills • Trade qualification (Level 3 or 4) preferred but not essential • Suitable industry references • Fencing Contractors NZ Certified or willing to attain certification • Be willing to greet people in Māori and pronounce Māori words properly • Have a minimum understanding of Māori culture, or be willing to learn, with the intent of supporting students • Basic computer literacy or access to basic support • Good communication and organisation skills • Willing to operate under a contract basis • Able to provide a valid vaccination certificate. • A full, clean drivers’ licence • Experience in teaching or training adults is preferred but not essential. Staff Benefits: • On-going professional development opportunities • Flexible working arrangements • Great work-life balance
If you are interested in joining our organisation to teach fencing at sites across New Zealand, please register your interest by emailing your CV with your full contact details to dupton@northtec.ac.nz
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OBITUARY
John Samuel Millar John was formerly a shearer, including shearing overseas and a long time Wairarapa fencing contractor well known for his prowess on a bulldozer and fencing abilities. John was an unassuming, well-liked character, an old school fencer with an exceptional acquired knowledge of stock movements and yard designs. His attention to detail and workmanship in yards was second to none. A keen supporter of FCNZ, John enjoyed a good read of the WIRED and
helped with the organising of the FCNZ Masterton Conference. John attended a number of FCNZ conferences throughout the years and Field Days throughout the country. A mainstay on the Revolution Postdriver site at Field Days for 17 Fieldays, and attending Central Districts most years, visiting all the fencing sites. John was also a regular on Noksee’s trips to Stewart Island.
FCNZ News
On February 10th 2022, peacefully at Wairarapa Hospital, aged 71 years, with wife Alison, son Jason and Jason’s partner Cassa at his side.
John will be greatly missed by a number of his mates in the fencing community.
Fencer Man I’m a fencer man through and through I’ll fence until I die I’ll put those fences across any ground I’ll fence to the sky. I’ll ram and bang and dig those holes, Through any dirt or rock I’ll keep going all day long Until I’ve done the lot. My strainers are my pride and joy My strainers do me proud They’re packed down solid and rammed up tight Ask any man around! My ears may be filled with hair And my hair may be turning grey But I still shoulder lift planks and posts every single day. And if any man should come along, claiming to be the best. I’ll test his claim through and through I’ll never let it rest. Hmm, think you’re top dog do you? Think you know it all? Well my lad, I’ll tell you this You’re set for a mighty fall. Because I don’t like cocky bastards No one knows more than me! If you don’t like it than bugger off, I’ll tell you that for free! This poem was meant for John Millar, and rings true for so many!
A portion of Peter Millar – Johns son – tribute relating to his father as a fencer He might have been just your fencing contractor, It’s quite possible he was your fencer for many years and also became your friend. It’s also possible that he was someone you got sick of waiting to turn up and was no longer your fencer but still your friend He might have been your patient and your fencer He might have been a fencer for your dad and then became your fencer.
Poem written by Libby Handyside – an English lass that worked for John about a decade ago.
WIRED MAGAZINE
ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
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The 49 year-old 3rd generation Kiwi company you’ve never heard of. We’re passionate about wire and steel, and since 1972 we’ve amassed vast experience and expertise for manufacturing right here in Tauranga. Our technical knowledge and expertise delivers high performing products. From 5m rolls to 1000m rolls and bigger, for farmers, fencing contractors, small block owners and DIY do-it-yourselfers —
Talk to Bayonet, we have the solution.
0800 330 320 bayonet.co.nz
The 49 year-old company that continues to evolve
Wayne was appointed Sales Account Manager for Central and Lower North Island. Growing up on a Hawke’s Bay sheep station was the start of Wayne’s life-long love for farming and rural life, and he has been serving in the rural industry ever since. Kiwi as – Wayne (left) and Andrew (right) show the wire who’s boss by perfecting the fence knot
The guys are full of smiles and confidence while setting up the Kiwimesh Roof Safety Netting which successfully passed its drop test
Contact the Sales Manager in your region to discuss any fencing or roofing construction product requirements you may have.
with these new utes and they’re wrapped with us! They are driven by our three Sales Account Managers, so will be seeing a lot of New Zealand sights, and a lot of Bayonet customers.
Martin Grant 021 244 0688 (Upper North Island) Wayne Hurunui 021 608 299 (Central & Lower North Island) Andrew Arnott 027 279 4470 (Lower South Island)
Based in Dunedin, Andrew is the new Sales Account Manager for the Lower South Island. With over 30 years’ experience in Account Management and Customer Service, he’s worked in a variety of Sales roles dealing with customers from all walks of life including many in the rural sector. As Sales Account Managers, Wayne and Andrew are responsible for looking after and building strong relationships with customers throughout the country, while delivering exceptional communication, organisation, and business acumen skills. These additional Sales Reps will allow greater accessibility and availability to visit customers across all nooks of New Zealand. WIRED MAGAZINE
The company has seen significant changes over the past year, with the prospect of these changes providing a renewed focus on company growth and enhancement.
Industry & Innovation
Amongst the craziness of 2021, our team grew! We gained three new valued Bayonet staff members – Wayne Hurunui, Andrew Arnott, and Felicity Klein Ovink.
Our latest staff investment is Felicity, a recent University Graduate. She has filled the new role of Marketing Manager. Felicity comes to us from Whakatane where her family has a rural equipment engineering business. With this industry knowledge, she will help facilitate the marketing and advertising of Bayonet to enrich the brand further. Bayonet’s training programs ensure staff have a surplus of product and industry knowledge on hand facilitating high quality
We’re rapt with the new ute design. First stop, Earnscleugh Station in Alexandra to visit Bayonet customer, Mike Samuel
interaction with our customers. Getting a hands-on feel for our products & their uses is a critical component of our training systems, with these skills being developed to a level where our people can actively assist working on a fence line or demonstrate industry practice for installation of roofing products. With relevance to additions and upgrades, you may have seen our new ‘Bayo’-wrapped utes floating around the country. We’re rapt
We have exciting things still to come for Bayonet, including another addition to the team. Keep an eye out for the next update about our new Upper South Island Sales Account Manager – Adam Gillespie.
Article supplied by:
ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
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HURRICANE RURAL RANGE BUILT TO LAST FENCING WIRE | FARM FENCE | RURAL GATES | GATE FITTINGS FENCING STANDARDS | FENCING PANELS | CHAIN LINK PANELS NAILS AND STAPLES | REINFORCING PRODUCTS
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Recognised as a name connected with quality wire products and innovation, Hurricane supplies a full range of products to support New Zealand’s key agricultural, horticultural and viticultural industries, residential and commercial developments and infrastructure projects. Designed to speed up fencing and make installation easier, self sprung stainless steel clips holds the fencing wire in the slot, doing way with the need to cut tie wire
0800 800 947 steelandtube.co.nz
The Electric fence, re-invented... From the ground up. Insulated Line Post
The Tailor-made Electric Fence Post. Simple, low cost installation – no machinery required Multiple wire heights – pre-formed wire attachment locations with snap-on clips Strong, yet flexible – solid 16mm fibreglass core enables flex on impact Perfectly insulated – UV stabilised polyethylene outer For more info visit our website and available now through your local farm supplies store.
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How to install Insulated Line Post Gallagher Fencing Product Manager Graham Johns demonstrates how to install the Gallagher Insulated Line Post Fencing System.
Insulated fencing an innovative solution
Gallagher’s Insulated Line Post system includes a fully insulated polyethylene and fibreglass post for low-cost, lowmaintenance, permanent electric fencing for sheep, cattle, deer and horses. The system comes with pre-formed wire attachments and snap-on clips. “The concept first caught my eye at the Mystery Creek Fieldays,” Mike, who has an agri-banking and business development background, recalls. “Because of the coastal location of our property, I needed something durable that was UV resistant and wasn’t prone to corrosion in the salty sea air. The look of Gallagher’s Insulated Line Post System means our views of the property are not interrupted. “It also appealed to me because, while it’s great as a permanent fence, I was looking for a solution that could be easily removed and reused in the future if we decided to subdivide further.” Mike purchased his Taranaki property in 2018 and redeveloped it into 50-acre blocks, with contouring and refencing work. He finishes cattle and also breeds bull sires for dairy farmers to use postartificial insemination (AI).
WIRED MAGAZINE
Mike says he has confidence in Gallagher’s Insulated Line Post system to keep his stock where they should be. “I needed a solution that could withstand all classes of cattle, from 4-day old calves to 700kg bulls scrapping and fighting. The flexibility of Gallagher’s Insulated Line Post system means I can select the number and height of my wires, depending on the animals I am rearing. Then it’s all powered up with one of Gallagher’s high-voltage energizer units.”
“
“I have had some wayward cattle run at the wires and I’ve watched the line posts flex over and then bounce back with the clips still in place
Insulated Line Posts are strong yet flexible on impact, making them safe for stock. “I have had some wayward cattle run at the wires and I’ve watched the line posts flex over and then bounce back with the clips still in place. The product is certainly meeting my expectations,” he says.
Industry & Innovation
Taranaki beef farmer, property developer and dairy farm investor Mike Swift is a keen early adopter of new technology. When redeveloping his 150-acre coastal property on the outskirts of New Plymouth, he was looking for an innovative fencing solution that was functional, simple to install and easy on the eye.
Mike’s fencing contractor Daryn Laurence is used to putting up traditional post and wire fences. He had his reservations about the Insulated Line Post system but says as an electric fence solution it has its advantages. “The system is really easy to install and ideal for a property on the coast like Mike’s. You don’t need a hammer or staples and there’s no heavy machinery required, so there’s a cost saving there. “The line posts are fully insulated, which is a huge advantage, and they are light so you can carry up to 20 at one time,” Daryn says. Mike is so impressed with the performance of the line post system he has recommended it to a friend who is doing some riparian planting. “Fencing waterways on farm is a costly exercise, but these days it’s not negotiable,” he says. “Gallagher’s Line Post System is a costeffective way to protect waterways and ensure that, as farmers, we are meeting our environmental obligations.” Article supplied by:
ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
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TRUSTED PERFORMANCE
stockade.com
Summit Steel & Wire and X™Fence® Standing 1.8 meters high with 100mm x 50mm – 2.5mm wire cross sections, this product can cover a range of fencing needs. comes with 500mm of pre-stripped ends, making it easier to tie off and join. Taggart Earthmoving recently got in touch with Andy Johnson at Central Fencing down in Christchurch to discuss their next security fencing job. Needing to clear a section for more storage and equipment management, Andy was quick to recommend X™Fence® security netting to do the job. 800 meters has been installed around the roadside (see image below). Posts were placed at 4 metres and with a couple of barb wires on top, Taggart become another happy customer protected by X™Fence® security netting.
The X™Knot used to create X™Fence® is forged, instead of tied, like other fencing knots. Additionally, the X™Knot is made using high tensile wire. X™Fence® is coated in a Zinc / Aluminium XtraLife™ coating and has proven itself time and time again in the harshest New Zealand environments. For both aesthetic and quality reasons, why look past this great option. Other security products use soft wire that require guidelines and lacing. A fence that is hard to climb and difficult to penetrate. X™Fence® is manufactured to be self-supporting, so is easier to install and will not sag over time. All X™Fence®
Article supplied by:
“
X™Fence® is manufactured to be self-supporting, so is easier to install and will not sag over time
Industry & Innovation
Whether it’s keeping it in, keeping it out or protecting those assets, your security needs can be serviced with Summit Steel & Wire’s Security X™Fence® products.
C T H Canterbury Timber & Hardware
THE ORIGINAL X FENCE
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LEAVE NOTHING TO CHANCE
vailable in 200m and 500m rolls
THE THE THE ORIGINAL ORIGINAL ORIGINAL FENCE X FENCE X X FENCE TM
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Also available in 200m and 500m rolls Also available in 200m and 500m rolls Also available in 200m and 500m rolls WIRED MAGAZINE
ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
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Part# BSG401
Get more done with a Rotating Post Driver Base Kyne Post Driver Bases are saving fencers time all over the country. We make fencing easier and more enjoyable, while improving your profitability. The Kyne Range of Post Driver Bases are made to fit on to any brand or model of post driver; old, used or new. With a range of models available there is a base that suits your style and way of post driving. Not every fence line is suited to a rear or side mounted post driver and with a Kyne Rotating Post Driver Base you have the
ability of either; 90, 125 or 180 degrees rotation and with 460 or 600mm travel at any point of rotation. With a base you can almost get your post driver anywhere without putting you and your tractor in danger.
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ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
There are Kyne bases all over the Wire Products ™ in | Gallagher™ country, recently Fletcher delivering to teams the Manawatu, Waikato and Otago. They continue to impress fencers with the improved flexibility and time saved.
| Steel & Tube | WIREMARK®
Adding a Kyne base is particularly attractive to small teams, with less moving theCanterbury tractor and making it easier to Timber & Hardware get the rammer in exactly the right spot, which also has a safety benefit.
C TH
The team at Kyne Equipment are constantly developing new Fencing equipment to make your life out on the fenceline easier and more profitable. Keep an eye on our website and Facebook page for new products coming up. At Kyne Equipment we welcome and listen to your feedback, call us to have a chat. Article supplied by:
WIRED MAGAZINE
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HAVE A STOCK READY PADDOCK AFTER HARVEST WITH STOCKGRIP® LONGLIFE BLUE® WIRE! Give Brendon a call today: Phone: 021 393 010 www.waratahfencing.co.nz
Email: brendon.crequer@waratahfencing.co.nz
FEATURE CAREERS AND TRAINING
FEATURE
Fence crew grows in talent and strength
When Genna Allan took a step out from her role as an early childhood educator in Central Otago, she thought giving an old mate a hand in his business might bide some time over the summer. A year on, she is on the tools, fencing everyday across some of New Zealand’s most striking and awe-inspiring countryside. “One of the greatest rewards of my job is the variety of office space. I’ll get up a hill and say, ‘This is a nice office for today!’ or walk away at the end of a week, looking back on an amazing fence.”
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ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
While Genna didn’t “seek out” a fencing career, she now enjoys an office view second-to-none, a workplace that doubles as a fitness centre, job satisfaction and an ideal mix of using her existing talents while building and refining new skills. Brian Abercrombie started off Abercrombie Fencing Services in 2006.
His son Andrew joined in 2015 and learnt the finer skills of rural farm fencing. Since then, they have expanded into security, residential, and retaining walls. “Pretty much everything.” Andrew Abercrombie, Genna’s boss, says many things take time for new staff to learn. “What I have found with Genna is her commitment and eye for detail.” WIRED MAGAZINE
CAREERS AND TRAINING FEATURE
The same close attention to detail has helped Andrew be more on the mark too. Many residential clients love having Genna on board. “We have had a couple of female clients who have come over for a chat and advice on the aesthetics of residential jobs.” Obviously, there are physically challenging times in the fencing game, particularly farm fencing. At Abercrombie Fencing Services most heavy and repetitive work is done by machinery. Andrew explains that over time Genna has built up enough physical strength to do what she needs to do. “She has had to find her own way around it. As long as the result’s the same I am happy.” And, while Genna finds the creative aspect and the physicality of fencing rewarding, she is the first to admit that there were things she couldn’t do at the beginning. “I’d say my hand strength was zero for cutting wires with pliers. Reels of wire, netting and posts could be super heavy. I am quite capable now.” On top of her growing hand and upper body strength, she hasn’t been for a single run since she started. “I don’t need a gym and I don’t think I could work in an indoor job again.” ”Now I carry weights over several kilometres every day, or spend eight hours squatting putting in waratahs or threading wires — and I get paid for it!” Good quality tools make everything easier too. Andrew says if he didn’t have a Stockade ST400i stapler tool, he wouldn’t
have Genna and it is her favourite piece of equipment. “If she was stapling by hand, I think she would have left a long time ago!” “It’s true. I don’t really like hammering in staples. I think the stapler tool gives a better, cleaner finish. You are just boomboom-boom in a straight line down the netting. It is all about controlling the angle, positioning on the post and the depth as well. That’s the attention to detail!” “Right at the start, when you are doing five kilometres of fencing up and doing hills the tool could get pretty heavy
“
Genna at work at a residential property
Now I carry weights over several kilometres every day, or spend eight hours squatting putting in waratahs or threading wires – and I get paid for it!
on the arm, but since then it is literally ‘boom-boom-boom-boom – next post – boom-boom-boom-boom’. A couple of times Andrew has stood back with a smile onNet hisfencing face and said, ‘I’m so proud of how you do with that now’.”
FEATURE
That sharp eye came to the fore straight away. “When I started, I’d notice when a line was off and call it. I guess I bring a bit of a woman’s perspective.”
Business is good and two months ago, Becky Rae joined the Abercrombie crew as a casual employee and is loving the job. Genna also enjoys seeing women joining the fencing community. “It’s definitely a talking point around the region! With all the trade gear, tools, and work wear too, there is more variety and fit for women. Still, it can be pretty funny to see some of the reactions to Becky
Central Otago landscpae
and me dressed in our gear, lifting the palings out and using the impact drivers.” “We do a huge variety of fence construction and we are starting to do more cut steel, lifestyle, and macrocarpa fencing with new technologies. We have joked about me going into the fencing competitions. Sometimes I think I’m pretty good!” Article supplied by: Andrew, Genna, Becky and Brian
WIRED MAGAZINE
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FEATURE CAREERS AND TRAINING
Hard work pays off after switch to fencing Kia ora, I’m Harrison Waara, a foreman for CPC Fencing. I grew up in the city of Auckland where at the start of my high school years I moved to Whangarei. I completed high school at Tikipunga High School with all my qualifications, having the world at my feet. The next step was University where I would go to study a Bachelor in Health Science to pursue Radiography.
FEATURE
After a year it didn’t feel right – partying, late nights and women – so I took a year off to get some work experience constructing rock walls at the Whangarei Quarry Gardens. I got to learn how to cut rocks, stack rocks and learn every rock had a special place, with every rock having its own unique size and shape. I had the privilege of meeting a lot of elderly volunteers and learnt a lot of life lessons from which I carry to this day. Their life stories and journeys consisted of a lot of changes and surprises and became the reason why they help the community, to hopefully one day inspire others to do the same. Ending up back in Auckland after what had been a good life lesson, I found myself being a Dad just after my 21st birthday. This meant my journey in life would take another change, I found my passion as a Dad and began working in Aquaculture.
Working at Future Cuisine in West Auckland, you had a day to learn to shuck a mussel in under 5 seconds, or else you were sent down the road to find another place to work. There were a lot of different people from all over the world, who just enjoyed shucking, but I needed more. Within a month I was running dispatch and international orders to China and Singapore, working big, long days, but I lost sight of what I had at home. This made me have to grow up fast, as a solo Dad to my son who was 1 at the time. My son and I headed back up to Whangarei, where I had support from family and friends. I furthered my knowledge in Aquaculture working with farming Paua. It was an experience which helped shape my perspective on my love for the ocean. I also found myself taking on the challenge on helping unionise the company, where workers who would work long days were being under paid and had no voice to stand up for themselves. I became their voice and within a year had a skills matrix set up, where pay rises were more rewarding. For employees who hadn’t seen a pay rise in 5+ years, they could finally be happy and feel appreciated. During my time there, I found myself at a concert (Six60) where I met my now partner who was a solo mother of two kids. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I was getting back into playing rugby and having a 4 year old son who never really got a chance of having a mother figure around, it was a perfect fit. I was in a place in life where I was happy, my son was happy and we were happy to try blend our families together.
I found myself during the Christmas holidays in 2018 talking to friends and family about a new venture, something close to where I was living. I got asked to jump in the truck, I was driven down to the CPC Fencing yard where the boss asked “Do you know how to fence?” I replied “No”. Then, “Do you want a job?” I replied “Yes”. Then was asked “Do you want a beer?“ From there we got talking just about life, and the following day I handed in my notice to the Paua farm and have never looked back. Not knowing what I just signed up for, I knew I had to do it for my kids, my partner and my family.
We lived in different towns and I worked 40 minutes from where I was living, so to get to spend time together was a strain and about a 3 hour round trip. The next step was to get a place together. I would commute from where we lived to get to the Paua farm. This was still taxing so I started looking for another job and another challenge.
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WIRED MAGAZINE
CAREERS AND TRAINING FEATURE The first week had to be the hardest week of my life, carrying battens all day in the summer sun, up hills, and at times I felt like just going back to the Paua farm. Trying to soak up as much knowledge as fast as possible – there were too many skills, techniques and general common sense, which I hadn’t experienced – I had to learn to be patient. In my first year of employment I saw so many people come and go, some lasting a few days, to a few weeks, and felt like I didn’t want to be that person. I don’t give up and having something to wake up for, being my kids and partner, I knew I had to push to strive to be better and push to be the best for myself and a role model for my kids.
Fencing has opened my eyes to the realisation that hard work does pay off. With the right employers and team, any job that may seem impossible is possible if you work together. Communication is key. Understand what your reason for work is. My reason is family. Article supplied by Harrison Waara:
www.cpcfencing.co.nz
The work ethic and challenges as a fencer always changed with jobs, and fence lines being different made every day more interesting. With the help of my employers and foreman I took on my own crew and learned I was a leader within myself. The trust I have been given is never taken lightly.
FEATURE
I thought to myself “Where could I find fencers that were in my position, where I started, someone to give the opportunity as I was given?” So I put some feelers out to my local rugby team and we hired two green horn fencers, who had never fenced before but had the fitness to hit the hills and carry out the work load, turning everyday into a training session. We also had the opportunity to get our Level 3 Certificate in Fencing (which is still in motion) this means we can work towards becoming qualified in a trade. The training will open more doors. Level 4 is next, to help fencers who wish to become Certified Fencers and eventually Registered Fencing Contractors. These opportunities have set the pathway for everyone who chose to do the training in our crews to have a new challenge to strive for.
“
With the help of my employers and foreman I took on my own crew and learned I was a leader within myself. The trust I have been given is never taken lightly
WIRED MAGAZINE
ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
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DELFAST TRAINING
CALL FREEPHONE 0508 782 753 FOR YOUR FREE ONSITE TRAINING & SERVICING AVAILABLE FOR YOUR DELFAST FENCING TOOLS
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CAREERS AND TRAINING FEATURE
Pathway to employment Building strong relationships with local secondary schools and employers critical to channelling young talent In July 2019 Cabinet agreed to the Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE). This reform offered an opportunity to encourage more people to consider vocational education as a pathway to employment. As part of this initiative, 20 brokerage positions were created throughout the country and tendered to suitable organisations. Here at the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce we exist to unlock business vitality. We support local business
Local businesses also told us that they were not engaged with local young people, though many had a desire to employ directly from our community. All they needed was some support to understand the Government programmes and develop relationships with our community schools and students. Our business community has identified it is critical to address this by building strong relationships with our local secondary schools and employers, to channel the young talent within our community into rewarding, local vocational employment. Since the commencement of the Ministry of Social Development funded E2EB service in the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce, we have worked to increase the familiarity between business and schools. This includes class trips to local businesses, or individuals spending time with employers finding out what it takes and what that industry is about. One such employer is Mike Renner of Renner Fencing. If you know Mike you’ll know he’s passionate about fencing and WIRED MAGAZINE
FEATURE
growth through effective promotion and business development opportunities. The Education to Employment Brokerage service was a natural fit for the Chamber as we had identified a need to bring our young people into local jobs. Even prior to Covid-19 our business community was consistently telling us that the single biggest barrier for business confidence was their inability to employ skilled and unskilled people across the region.
Mike Renner’s son Charlie is put through his paces.
the opportunities for young people to earn a living in a growing industry. Mike has taken several young people and shown them the world of fencing, both in school time and over the holidays. One student has become a regular with Mike and has the potential to move onto a fencing apprenticeship. Through opportunities such as the one Renner Fencing offered, or school visits to workplaces, or people from the world of work coming into schools, we are able to increase young peoples’ awareness of the opportunities that exist in their own community. Here at the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce we’re passionate about contextual education. In Marlborough we’ve been working with schools and teachers to find opportunities for businesses to
support learning in class. What better way to learn basic maths than to help someone like Mike lay out a fence line, calculate the number of posts, wire, staples… and of course working out the relative value of an hourly rate versus contract. If you think this is something you’d like to be involved in, google Education to Employment Brokerage in your local area and see what difference you can make to your industry, to young people and to your community. Or you could ring Mike and see what he has to say! Article supplied by the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce
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FEATURE CAREERS AND TRAINING
Respect and friendship on the fenceline They say you can pick your friends, but not your family, which often rings true with your work mates. While many in the fencing industry share similar interests, having a work mate or crew that you get on with well, despite your backgrounds can make a huge impact on your job satisfaction and desire to turn up each day.
FEATURE
Therefore, as we all know it’s not just about having a good boss, good pay and good working conditions. From an employer’s point of view its satisfying when workers get on and are able to work, despite task allocation and ranking within the company, as equals in their respect for one another. Its also productive both mentally and on the bottom line. We have two such characters in one of our crews who are likely to cringe at this article, but the way they get on, have respect for each other despite their age difference and bring different life skills to the table is a huge asset to our company and their individual growth.
Murray Murray Graham was a 17-year-old school leaver with no real work experience when he joined our company. The son of a friend who partners with Tony in a 4-wheel drive competition truck, well that’s often not a good reference. Although tall and fit he looked like the wind might just get hold of him and give him a toss down a gully, but nowadays few would keep up with him. Murray is bright and had chosen subjects at school that were hands on – engineering, woodwork, outdoor education. With the School system advocating university Murray felt compelled to try looking for an outdoors hands on job, which is why fencing appealed to him.
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Murray fits a fencer’s brief well – he’s into outdoor pursuits, hunting, fishing, rugby, has a number of 4-wheel drives, mainly Patrols but has recently picked up a Landcruiser, and don’t ask how many vintage chainsaws he has in his collection, some of which are stored under his bed.
“I prefer the fencing side over the Hort side,
When Murray started, we put him on the Stockade posting gun pretty much straight away, the gun nearly tipped him over but within 3-4 days he was away and as productive as any seasoned veteran with stapling. Murray has been with us 5 years and with his interest in machinery Tony has moved him onto the post driver, both tractor and remote skidsteer with Tony working on the steeper country with Murray.
going to work, it’s easier being able to talk
“I enjoy working with machinery and all the different locations and variety of where we work and what I do,” says Murray. “I did my Level 3 fencing course in my 3rd year and started competitions with Tom Dingle in my second year, both which has let me meet a bunch of new friends and I’ve met a bunch of good people through this job.”
though that does give me some broader work experience and opportunities to
expand my skill set. I’ve had some cool trips with Tony taking us to Stewart Island with John Noakes and fishing trips.
Willy and I share a bunch of similar
interests. We get on and it helps with
with someone about the job – a problem shared is a problem halved and with his
farming background he has some good ideas. He’s helped with relationship advice too,” says Murray.
Willy Willy Jenkins grew up and has worked in our local area with few previous
employers. Having left school, he worked a couple of years at a local tree Nursery and then 18 years for Cashmores Farm, a 3000 acre sheep and beef farm. Willy
and his wife Claire also leased 600 acres
of quite steep country and ran 800 ewes, 120 cows and replacements. They have two children, both attending the local primary school.
WIRED MAGAZINE
CAREERS AND TRAINING FEATURE
Willy and I share a bunch of similar interests. We get on and it helps with going to work, it’s easier being able to talk with someone about the job
Willy Jenkins (L) and Murray Graham enjoy a great working relationship
“What we did on the farm at peak times is pretty much the type of production we do every day fencing,” says Willy. “Fencing’s hard work but I find it really rewarding, learning new things and how to do them right, picking up good systems and then working through them in different conditions and terrain,” he says. Fencing’s also allowed me to grow from my isolated bubble living my life in the Orere Valley and we travel up and down roads and into areas that I’ve never been, even though it might only be half an hour away. I’ve met some good people and enjoy working with the wider crew of Tom, the two Ian’s and Patrick. I tend to work mainly in the fencing but enjoy going across to the Hort side to help out.
With 9 dogs at one stage while Willy employed his farming job it was time for a change and to emerge from his localized environment. He had enjoyed fencing on the farm and had competed in a couple of fencing competitions with his mate Craig Wade, which he enjoyed. Knowing Tony, he asked about work and his been with White Fencing for two years. WIRED MAGAZINE
While both occupations of farming and fencing are weather dependent, Willy finds fencing is about keeping things moving – time is money and fencing is more client dependent. The step into fencing as a specialty has earned Willys respect.
FEATURE
“
Murray and I get on well, we share a bunch of similarities despite our age, its good having youth and vigor and someone attached to the rest of the world. He’s even enlightened me to “Netflix and chilling”.
Article provided by: Debbie White White Fencing Ltd
www.whitefencing.co.nz
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Webinar Series Throughout 2022 FCNZ will be delivering a series of online professional development topics aimed at improving the industry knowledge base.
Open to current FCNZ members (and our Partners) the Association is sourcing and securing knowledgeable speakers to present on key topics for business owners in the fencing industry.
Each webinar will be late evening and only 45 minutes long – with a 15-minute Q&A session at the end. Members – keep an eye on your inbox for the email confirming dates and times and proving the link to register.
Proposed webinar topics for discussion include:
Quotes / Estimates Tuesday 15 March
• • • • • • •
Why quote? Difference between quotes and estimates / definitions Variations – definition and process of issuing Handling the process – timing on when to do what New clients – dealing with the unknowns of whether they will pay Existing clients – why quote? Managing / recouping costs to businesses – site visits / travel / admin
Terms & Conditions Tuesday 29 March
• • • • • •
Why have them? What should they contain? Validity to take action – privacy laws Getting client to sign to confirm job Ongoing clients – introducing them Enforcement – leverage, legal action
3
Material supply
• • • • • •
Why supply? Logistics – delivery costs / timeframes / on charge to clients Material price increases and supply issues – techniques to cover increases when quoting Margins Implications on cashflow and how to manage (deposits) Clients supplying – influencing their decisions on material selection, quality / fit for purpose
4a
Working out operating costs (Part A)
• Labour • Base rate / holiday pay / public holidays / sick pay / ACC / Kiwsaver / super / domestic / bereavement = actual cost
1
2
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5
6
7
8
9
10
Working out operating costs (Part B)
Machinery – factoring operating costs Purchase price Financing options Upkeep – fuel / maint / depreciation Factoring operating cost Charging out machinery Tractor / post driver Ute costs and travel Chainsaw and power tools Posting / battening gun Charging out plant for hourly work
Getting paid
• • • • • • • • • •
Getting it right Steps to take prior to starting the job On site On completion Importance of structuring cashflow Deposits Progress payments FCNZ mediation facility Investigation process Costs
Employment
• • • • • • • • • • • •
Attracting workers in a tight labour market Employment contracts and what’s legal Full time / Part time / Casual Annual leave / Holiday entitlements / sick leave / bereavement / domestic abuse Sub-contractors Who’s responsible for what Good worker management Employer / Worker rights Performance issues How to manage Dismissal Employment court
Account-ability
• • • • • •
Entity options and accounting / tax advantages Business structure resources Simplifying your systems Xero / MYOB etc Tradify and other apps Benefits of a good accountant
Health & Safety
• • • • • • • • •
HSWA 2015 H & S policy – value of industry specific Worker involvement Identifying hazards Incident / accident reporting Importance of investigation Serious Injury / Worksafe Steps to take Working with Worksafe
• • • • •
Factoring into operating costs Payment options Workers off work – Employer / worker rights Returning to work Monitoring injuries and ensuring accident / incident / investigation process has been undertaken by both parties
ACC
Employer / Worker wellbeing
WIRED MAGAZINE
Training & Events
4b
• • • • • • • • • • •
• Looking after yourself – support options for physical and mental health. • Sources of mental and physical wellbeing • Worker wellbeing and employer obligations – ensuring you are meeting these legal requirements – including in the dismissal process
ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
31
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! e m o c e w e r e h in d Dune
2022 Annual General Meeting and Conference Wednesday 3 – Friday 5 August 2022 Tucked into a sheltered harbour on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island, Ōtepoti Dunedin is a city rich in heritage, renowned for its wildlife and distinctly quirky character. And it’s our destination for the Fencing Contractors NZ 2022 Annual General Meeting and Conference. Planning is well underway for a fantastic few days in the South. To be fair, it was well underway in October last year, but COVID lockdowns, mandates, Traffic Lights and Phases have been rather disruptive to our preparations. The AGM & Conference preliminary
Training & Events
programme includes a Mix and Mingle dinner on the evening of 3rd August, with the AGM and Conference on Thursday 4th August, and an opportunity to visit some of Dunedin’s best sights that afternoon before enjoying a highly competitive quiz night. Friday 5th we’ll go exploring further afield, with a day of activities in and around Dunedin. Registrations for Conference 2022 will open shortly on the Fencing Contractors NZ website. Keep an eye out in your inboxes for details.
National Fencing Field Day Due to the uncertainty of EVERYTHING the Board has taken the decision to hold a scaled-back Conference in 2022. The National Fencing Field Day will not feature on the programme in 2022, which is extremely disappointing given the success of the event last year and our desire to put on a bigger and better event. Current restrictions on outdoor events make it financially unfeasible, and members will appreciate it’s not something we can pull together on short notice, should restrictions be lifted. The National Fencing Field Day is, however, definitely expected to return in the 2023 AGM and Conference programme and this gives us plenty of time to prepare for an upsized day out.
WIRED MAGAZINE
2021 FENCING CONTRACTORS NZ CONFERENCE PROGRAMME: Wednesday 3 August • Welcome Dinner & Drinks
Thursday 4 August
Friday 5 August
• Dunedin Sightseeing
• Dinner & Entertainment
• AGM & Conference
• Dinner & Quiz Night
• Conference Fieldtrips
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8:30 am Bil 6 JUNE Wednesday FENCING COMPETITIONS 11:30 am Fie 15-17 JUNE 2022 Go 7 JUNE Come Thursday 8:15 am and see all theFENCING action!COMPETITION Ch 16 - 18 JUNE 2021 Fie 8 JUNE Friday 8:15 am Do 8 JUNE Friday 4 pm Pri Who will win the Fe 8 JUNE Friday From 5 pm Brought to you by NZFC
Brought to you by NZFC
Wednesday
15 June
8.30am 11:00am
Bill Schuler Final Fieldays Silver Staples
Thursday
16 June
8:00am
Golden Pliers™ Singles Championship by WIREMARK®
Friday
17 June
8:00am
Fieldays® Silver Spades Doubles Championship
Friday
17 June
4:00pm
PRIZEGIVING in the WIREMARK® MARQUEE Fencing Competition Area
National Championship Sponsors
Golden Pliers™ by WIREMARK Will it be YOU?
Entry forms out m FENCING COMPETITIONS Brought to you by NZFC
16 - 18 JUNE 2021
MYSTERY CREEK HAMILTON
14 JUNE Monday
8 am 8:30 am 16 JUNE Wednesday 11:30 am
Qualifying heats Bill Schuler Final Fieldays® Silver Staples Who will win the Golden Pliers™ Singles 17 JUNE Thursday 8:15 am Championship by WIREMARK® Golden Pliers™ by WIREMARK®? Fieldays® Silver Spades Will it be YOU? 18 JUNE Friday 8:15 am Doubles Championship MYSTERY CREEK HAMILTON Prize giving in the Village Gree 18 JUNE Friday 4 pm 14 JUNE Monday 8 am Qualifying heats 18 JUNE Friday From 5 pm Fencers/Sponsors Dinner 8:30 am Bill Schuler Final
nal Championship Sponsors -
16 JUNE Wednesday
11:30 am
Fieldays® Silver Staples Golden Pliers™ Singles 17 JUNE Thursday 8:15 am Championship by WIREMARK® Fieldays® Silver Spades 18 JUNE Friday 8:15 am - National Championship Sponsors -Doubles Championship 18 JUNE Friday 4 pm Prize giving in the Village Green 18 JUNE Friday From 5 pm Fencers/Sponsors Dinner
Entry forms out mid-March
Entry forms out mid-March - National Championship Sponsors -
New Zealand Fencing Competitions
New Zealand Fencing Competitions
Please check on FB for t Fencing Competitions entry for office@nzfencingcompet
Please check on FB for the Fieldays Fencing Competitions entry forms or email office@nzfencingcompetitions.co.nz
Proposed Career Pathway and Qualification Structure The below proposed Fencing Career Pathway and Qualification structure has been circulated with Fencing Contractors NZ Members for consultation. Should you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding the structure, please contact any of the FCNZ Board members (See page 50) who would be happy to talk you through the proposed changes.
Master Fencer Details • •
Proposed – for future use FCNZ has permission to use via Fletcher Steel Limited New Zealand
Mast er Fencer Regi g stere d Fencin Cont r actor
Care ers & raining T Registered Fencing Contractor
Certified Fencer
Details
Details
• • • •
Business Entity qualification Subject to five-year renewal audit Not transferable on sale of the business Application process – refer to criteria list below
• •
FCNZ current member One of the ‘Principles’ of the business must have NZQA National Certificate in Fencing Level 4 Three client testimonials (including contact details) Signed declaration and agreement to comply with the Registered Fencing Contractor programme, FCNZ Rules and Standards Professional Development: Attendance at two FCNZ Best Practice Days and one FCNZ Conference over five year period (evidence required for renewal) Must provide evidence of: - A minimum of three years in business - Current First Aid Certificate - Completed third party Health & Safety prequalification OR working Health & Safety manual audited by an External Auditor - Employment Contracts - Sub-contractor Contracts (if used) - Public Liability Insurance (minimum $1 Million)
Requirements
• • • •
WIRED MAGAZINE
• • •
Individual qualification – Foreman level or business owner Annual Certificate Renewed annually
Training & Events
Cert ified encer F
Requirements • • •
FCNZ current member and employed in the industry NZQA National Certificate in Fencing Level 4
Employer verification confirming that the fencer is a foreman or capable of running a job
Careers & Training Details • • •
Worker level qualification NZQA National Certificate in Fencing Level 3 Apprenticeship – being explored
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A proposal success story I was recently helping a client to price a proposal for a significant contract. She had done everything right. The team she assembled had read the evaluation criteria and addressed all of the items
that required addressing in the Request for Proposal (RFP).
She had enlisted the right expertise to
help her define and cost the services that she was going to need to provide. The
team had looked at the cashflow side of things to come up with an appropriate
payment system that would ensure that
the contract would be cashflow positive through the contract.
The proposal was excellent. The client was shortlisted and asked to present to an evaluation team.
The client’s team did a sterling job of
presentation. A short while later, they
were told that they were the preferred Service Provider and asked to attend another meeting.
At the meeting the team were
congratulated on their success and
told they were not the lowest priced
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ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
tenderer and nor were they the highest. The problem was that while the Customer could see that the service that my client was going to provide was very high quality the price was too high and was there anyway that it could be reduced to fit the budget? There was great discussion and some options kicked around that gave my client some options to work on. My client and her team went away and worked on this. They found that they were able to meet the requests of the Customer, restructure their payment
“
If there is some external information required, such as insurance costs, quotes for materials, costs of bonds and so forth, that take time, get those requests off early
system, remain cashflow positive and make a more than acceptable return. This is a great story but unfortunately not such a common one when it comes to pricing proposals. Often, you don’t get that second chance to submit.
A guide to success Fortunately, there are some things you can do to give your proposals the best chance for success. Here are some easy tips to help you be as successful as my client: 1. Read the documentation thoroughly and make notes of requirements and evaluation criteria. This gives you an idea of where to put the most effort in your written proposal. 2. Make sure you know the deadlines for submitting pricing and also the award timeframe. If the deadlines are too close for you to give the proposal proper attention, do not be afraid to ask for an extension. Do this as early as possible. WIRED MAGAZINE
4. If you are uncertain on some aspects, get help from others that know about them. Sometimes this will cost you money but it will be money well spent. 5. When pricing, think about how much margin you are prepared to accept for this project. This can be in dollar terms or a percentage and may be set at different levels depending on how much you need the work, how many competitors are pricing the job and so on. 6. Always submit a bid that complies with the Customer’s requests and if you have some alternative ideas that may be better for the customer, then submit them as an appendix or alternative bid. 7. Always look at and understand the payment terms of the contract, then look at how the cashflow will work for the contract. Always offer something that works for you rather than just accepting. This may mean that you
Read the documentation thoroughly and make notes of requirements and evaluation criteria. This gives you an idea of where to put the most effort n your written proposal
If you are responding to requests for pricing or putting together a proposal and need reassurance or guidance, go to someone with experience for that assistance. Graeme from Biz Assist has years of experience in these matters so feel free to make contact with him if you need help.
Graeme Bratty www.bizassist.nz graeme@bizassist.nz 022 587 0149
need to talk to your suppliers to get them to accept the same payment terms so that you are not needing to pay them before you get paid. 8. Always look at what it is going to cost you to set up for the project and make you get an upfront payment to more than cover this. 9. Be careful of the impact of retentions on cashflow.
Hands on assistance is available There is a lot of pressure to get a proposal right and it can be an intimidating process to go through. Fortunately, you are able to seek expert advice on how to correctly assemble your next proposal.
Manufacturing quality fencing tools and equipment for over 46 years. Check out these products to help get your fencing jobs done at www.strainrite.co.nz
Graeme Bratty operates Biz Assist Limited, a consultancy that specialises in providing small and medium businesses with wide ranging advice and guidance in how to make their businesses stronger and more efficient. He has 30 years’ experience in senior commercial finance roles and has a passion for guiding small and medium business owners to plan for and achieve their aims.
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Business, Health & Safety and Environment
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3. If there is some external information required, such as insurance costs, quotes for materials, costs of bonds and so forth, that take time, get those requests off early.
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Kick off the New Year: Health and Safety 2022 Welcome to a new year! With many changes in the workplace around pandemic planning (the big topic currently), workloads, sunny weather challenges, fatigue, fire danger and compliance requirements, once again your year begins with lots to think about and do (the joy of been a business owner). Rather be at the beach with a beverage?
Have you pulled out the health and safety policy and management system? Part of good safety management is a reassessment of the workplace health and safety risks you face in the business. Can you show reasonably practicable management of the events that could happen? Shaken the dust off or decided to try using it better this year? “Been a bit slack filling out the documents” we often hear, “but will get on to it”.
it is you as the business owner who has the responsibility to ensure you have this covered for any industry type you may be in. Sometimes an expert in this area can offer a few words of wisdom to make it run more smoothly. •
meaningful for what you want to achieve today in the safety and health space?
•
Ask for help if you’re not sure how to use the systems you have in place. Remember •
•
•
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Re-sign or renew your Business Health and Safety Commitment and safety values, risk statements and PCBU, Officer documents: is it still relevant and
Reassess the workplace risks and how to controls these, have new risks and hazards appeared that you need to look at and mitigate? Are the Safe operational procedures you have still relevant or could they do with a refresh? Look at what training is required ahead for your team to stay competent and safe for the tasks and equipment you use. Give all plant and machinery a good service and check over for the new season ahead, does anything need an upgrade? $$$$ may be needed but your safety is worth it. Health checks are important: as a business have you undertaken your annual health and wellness and checks
such as hearing, vision, and spirometry or other checks as required for the work you do. Ensuring people stay healthy and having records of health checks are becoming more increasingly a requirement of the business to ensure no long-term health injury or sickness to people within the workplace.
If you are looking to see what the legislator does check out the data, they provide https://data.worksafe.govt.nz interesting reading but confronting stats also. Safety is your journey and how that goes is dependent on your commitment.
Make it a good one for your business, the team and yourself
Stay safe out there. Tight wires, straight lines and a safe workplace gets you home to the people that need you most: FAMILY. Deb and the RuralSafe team. Deb | RuralSafe | ruralsafe.co.nz
Business, Health & Safety and Environment
Ensuring good planning for workloads ahead means also looking at your health and safety for the year.
ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
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Is your coolie bag fuelling you enough to perform at your best? Fencingis a physically demanding career. The output of energy your body is expending on a daily basis is massive. If you aren’t fuelling your body with the right things to match that, not only will your energy levels take a hit, your performance and productivity will also.
When building your Meal you want to choose:
What about when it comes to Snacks?
•
A Protein source
The cool thing is, you can fuel yourself to meet these demands in a really basic way.
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One or two Fat sources
The need to snack is often driven from either not having a substantial “meal” or a habit.
•
A few Carbohydrate sources
There’s no need to overcomplicate nutrition. It’s just about understanding and implementing the basics and being consistent – not perfect – with them.
When you fuel yourself with good sized balanced meals there is less tendency to “need” a snack and also allows your body’s digestive system to have a break from constantly working to breakdown food.
As a Nutrition Coach I like to educate people on how to “Build their Meals”. This means you are choosing what you enjoy having while ticking the boxes.
Ticking the boxes of Protein, Carbohydrates and Fats.
Example of how that might look: •
Protein: Chicken
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Fats: A spread and cheese
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Carbohydrates: Bread, Lettuce, Cucumber, Tomato, Beetroot
Why?
A sandwich or two that ticks the boxes.
Carbohydrates are your body’s first choice in energy source. Bonus is that they are delicious!
Leftover dinners are a great option for lunches as most people’s dinners “tick the boxes”.
Protein is essential. Essential for the maintenance and repair of your muscles. It also helps keep you fuller for longer.
Fats are essential for the hormonal health of both Men and Women.
Make it at home or have what you need in your Coolie bag to make while you sit and have your well-deserved break.
In winter my husband, who is a builder, takes his gas cooker and fry-pan to heat up his leftovers at his lunch break.
However, if you are experiencing true stomach hunger and you know it’s not from not having eaten enough, then I would recommend choosing either protein or fruit as the foundation of your snack. Liquids during the day is important to keep your body and your brain hydrated. Adding some electrolyte sachets to your water will help replace the salt your body is losing through perspiration and gives it some flavour as well. You can still have a place for the enjoyment of delicious foods / liquids like chips, muffins, Coke etc, but I recommend saving these for AFTER you’ve fuelled your body with the nutritious food it NEEDS before having some of the delicious food you WANT. Stick with the basics and focus on the benefits of how it makes you feel and perform.
Michele Griffin Online Nutrition and Fitness Coach
MBody Personal Training @michelegriffinpt Guiding and Supporting people to implement Basic Habits with Nutrition and Movement to reach their goals.
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ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
Business, Health & Safety and Environment
So what are some options that you can put in your coolie bag when you are working out the back and beyond?
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5 incentive ideas – so your best staff never want to leave Business Coach Daniel Fitzpatrick looks at how to implement incentives that keep your staff self-driven and poacher-proof. Nothing stings more than losing one of your standout workers. You know who I’m talking about. The ones that always turn
up on time, have a great attitude and never let you down. They’ll go the extra mile, because they take pride in their work. Things tick along nicely. Until they ask for a ‘quick chat.’ They’ve had an offer they can’t refuse and they’re off. You ask what you can do to keep them, but that ship has sailed. Great staff are worth their weight in gold at the moment. So how do you make sure your best staff stick around? Think about your current team. Who can you not afford to lose?
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Now consider this…
1. Can your incentives pass the poacher test? Say your best employee got approached tomorrow with a job offer. What would stop them saying yes? Losing a valuable team member hurts. The best incentives help you build a culture that people won’t want to leave. Everyone wants to know where they’re heading. Help them get what they want in their lives. Invest in training them. Align their goals with your business goals. Show them how working with you gets them the career path they want. This creates loyalty and they are less likely to get poached.
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Ask them and find out what they really want. They’ll give you powerful incentive ideas for now and later on
Give great bonuses for hitting targets, like the team gets a certain dollar amount for completion of a job on time or early. Consider a $10K bonus if they are still with you at the end of each year. For the ultimate employee – consider offering a profit share or even an ownership share to keep them for good. Without stating the obvious, these incentives should only be considered for your MVP’s.
2. Do you know what your staff want next? Long-term incentives are crucial for retention. But you’ve also got to walk before you can run. Knowing what your team wants in the short-term matters, too. Have you spent time finding out what your team members value most? Don’t assume you know what they consider good perks. Ask them and find out what they really want. They’ll give you powerful incentive ideas for now and later on. WIRED MAGAZINE
You might do this already – keep them random. Shout your guys the odd coffee here and there. Give them a gift card to the local tool supplier when a curveball meant they really had to dig in to get a job done on time, and they knocked it out of the park
Show them how going the extra mile will help you help them achieve that goal. One business owner I work with goes out of his way to help out his staff. In their first few months, he finds a way to contribute to their personal lives. This could be setting them up with a mortgage advisor if they’re looking for a house, or they get to
leave an hour early to coach their kid’s sports team on Thursdays. The point is, it’s what matters to them.
3. Is your incentive program breeding entitlement? Entitlement. It’s the last thing you want in a staff member. So how do we stop it creeping in from incentives? You might do this already – keep them random. Shout your guys the odd coffee here and there. Give them a gift card to the local tool supplier when a curveball meant they really had to dig in to get a job done on time, and they knocked it out of the park. At the risk of stating the obvious – the key lies in the inconsistency. They’re informal gestures that say ‘we appreciate your effort.’ Keeping them unexpected is what keeps entitlement at bay. If staff don’t know they’re coming, then expectations don’t grow. That said... random incentives are a move, not a game plan. They’re valuable, particularly if you sense entitlement brewing. But they’re best placed as the cherry on the incentive cake – not as the cake itself.
4. How often do you ask your team members for their number? You’ve asked each staff member what they prefer as an incentive. Extend the buy-in. Ask them to come up with their own performance goals. WIRED MAGAZINE
For example, if your apprentice wants to work on turning up on time or improving their attitude, and you agree, hold them accountable to these performance goals by grading them out of 10 at the end of each week. Do this with each of your team so everyone has something they’re aiming for. This way they don’t get bored, as studies show being bored in their current role is the biggest reason people look for a new one.
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Keep your team challenged by giving everyone a number that they’re accountable to. The best sports teams are great at this. The players hold each other accountable, not the coach. When everyone has their number, your guys will help each other out too
Keep your team challenged by giving everyone a number that they’re accountable to. The best sports teams are great at this. The players hold each other accountable, not the coach. When everyone has their number, your guys will help each other out too.
5. How big are you on the little things? Incentives are great. But they’re not your only tool to building a team that loves working for you. Recognition is powerful (and definitely a lot easier). Research shows that 63% of staff who feel recognised are highly unlikely to look for a new job.
Tough conversations weren’t working. Turns out she finds it hard if she’s not encouraged. Once he said things like ‘thanks for your work on that project – I couldn’t have done it without you’ there was a huge change. She was diligent again and a lot easier to work with. So what drove this change? Not a lot, actually. Just her boss made her feel appreciated by acknowledging what was true – he couldn’t have done that task without her. Sometimes we can overlook the power of recognising the value of what our team does every day. This recognition doesn’t have to only come from you. Put praise from customers in your group chat. This will make your team feel great about the work they’ve done. Recognition of a job well done can be one of the best returns on investment in your business. How often do you say ‘thank you?’ So what’s the ultimate key to staff retention?
You’ve got to pay your staff well, but more money isn’t always the answer. Instead, find out what truly matters to them and reward them in that way. Even better, attach it to their long-term professional growth. Make it personal. Cookie cutter bonuses and incentives can be helpful, but they only go so far. Align staff incentives with your business goals. This gets everyone on the same page and your business ends up running with the fluency of a Formula 1 pit crew. Well, maybe not quite. But you get the idea. Need some help to get your team
performing at the highest level? Book a free strategy chat with me here: www.nextleveltradie.co.nz/nextstep
Daniel Fitzpatrick
On the flip side – a lack of recognition is why 44% of employees change jobs. One tradie I worked with had an admin person who was on a bit of a performance roller coaster. She wasn’t quite giving the boss what he needed. Productivity fell, especially when she was at home during the holidays. Deliverables weren’t meeting deadlines or required standards. ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
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Go through this process together. Agree on something, then catch up regularly to help them stay on track. This doesn’t have to be long (10mins weekly should do it) but consistency is key.
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Minimum Wage Increase effective 1 April 2022 It’d be fair to say that costs for business owners seem to be rising just as quickly as Omicron cases at the moment! This includes wage costs, following the Government’s announcement in February of an increase to the minimum wage from $20 per hour to $21.20 per hour, which will come into effect on 1 April 2022. Concurrently, the starting-out wage and training minimum wages will increase from $16.00 per hour to $16.96 per hour. Every year the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety fufills their obligation under the Minimum Wage Act 1983 to submit an annual review of the minimum wage by 31 December. When it comes into effect, Minimum Wage will have increased by about 5.9 percent, matching the 5.9 percent increase in the price of goods and services in New Zealand in the last three months of 2021 compared to 2020 – the biggest jump since a 7.6 percent annual increase in 1990.
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ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
The minimum rates apply to all employees. It doesn’t matter if they work full-time, part-time or casually. It also applies if they are paid an hourly rate, a salary, a commission basis, or some sort of piece rate. There is no legal minimum rate for employees aged 15 years or younger, but you need to pay the adult minimum wage to all employees aged 16 and over unless they are eligible for the ‘starting-out’ wage or the ‘training’ wage.
“
The minimum rates apply to all employees. It doesn’t matter if they work full-time, part-time or casually
What do I need to do?
employee should sign. A copy should be kept for your records and a copy given to your employee. It’s important to keep a record because you’ll need to show it to Labour Inspectors if you’re ever audited.
When there is a wage rate change, you should advise your employee of this, and record the change in writing through a ‘Variation’ Letter, which both you and your
If you have salaried employees, you need to make sure that their total remuneration meets minimum wage requirements for each individual pay period.
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A Wife’s Tale Last year we finally bought ourselves some grass. Its eighteen acres so not a farm but it’s more grass than we’ve ever had living at the beach for 20 years.
It was different for me. I was a true-blue townie. Yet I was ready for a change. I was open to moving rural (but not too rural) and living life more simply, more connected to nature – with grass. When we signed the dotted line, I envisioned The Good Life. Shaun, however, envisioned The Digger Life and The Tractor Life. Machinery became the solution to all and every bit of work that needed doing around home. Need something moved? The tractor can do it. Need to clear a path? The digger can do it. Even topsoil in my new raised veggie gardens required machinery instead of the ole spade and elbow work. One of our first big projects was to clear some land that had previously been used as a pig sty and a bit of a dumping ground. We’d heard sunflowers absorb contaminants in the soil so we decided to plant out the 900sqm. It would be fun! I could sell them at the market or on the side of the road. There would be woven baskets, plaid shirts and plaits – The Good Life fantasy. Shaun, unbeknown to me, was only fantasising of all the machinery work he would be doing.
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I want us to prepare and plough the soil by hand, without machinery, so we can really, you know, get down on our hands and knees and put our love and energy into the soil
However, when the day came to start, I dropped a bombshell. “Darling, I want to do this the traditional and wholesome way.” At first, he was confused and thought I was referring to something else, which also made him a little bit excited (out here? In the open field? What if the neighbours saw?) “I want us to prepare and plough the soil by hand, without machinery, so we can really, you know, get down on our hands and knees and put our love and energy
into the soil,” I’d been reading up on how satisfying this can be for the soul and enriching it can be for the plants. This was The Good Life way, wasn’t it? His face contorted into both disappointment and disbelief. (Without. Machinery?) Things quickly escalated into an argument, with tears (mine) and dirt kicking (him). Eventually, and I’m not sure why, (could possibly have been the revealing singlet I was wearing) he caved. “Ok, lets f*cking get this done then.” He grabbed the spade and started digging. We had marked out 42 rows, 25m long, with seeds planted every 50cm equalled roughly 2100 seeds to plant. By hand. The first three hours fulfilled my Good Life dream. I could hear the birds singing, and the wind rustling the trees. The sun
was shining on his sweaty and grimy bare chested body (Greek God like) as he dug away with the spade, turning over the dirt. I came along on hands and knees and dropped a seed in, blessing it and wishing it to grow, and covered it over with dirt. The next hour was more... strained. My knees started to ache and the dripping sweat was making the sunblock sting my eyes.
Angelena Davies is a wife and mum who happens to have a Masters degree in Social Sciences. Alongside running Davies Fencing she is also a coach, facilitator and author helping children and adults to access “flow” so their lives are easier and more fun.
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By the fifth hour I was not “loving” the dirt at all and simply poking the seeds in. My back was stiff and I was horrendously sunburnt. I stood up to see our progress. Six rows. Six bloody rows and 36 more to do. I looked over at My Love as he was relentlessly digging. “Shall we call it a day?” I gingerly asked. He looked up and down at not-somany-rows we had down and shot me a resigned look. I’ll always remember that look, because as much as he knew he was right about needing machinery he still chose to appease me, and I received that as love. As we sat in the spa that night, with aching bodies and a beer in hand, I said to him “Okay, you were right, let’s do the rest with machinery” and we both laughed and laughed at the ridiculousness of The Good Life Without Machinery.
We are good at doing that; laughing together at our mistakes. Sometimes in relationships it’s not about being right or being wrong but allowing each other to have a say, give it a go, being supportive and also being there for each other when things fail. Life is about making memories, so you can sit in your rocking chair when you’re 80 and say “Remember the time we….” and we will be telling our sunflower patch story with hilarious endearment for years to come.
Our People
Shaun had always wanted to live “in the hills.” Our fencing and construction business does residential and civil works but when he does farm fencing it always captures his heart. We had previously leased land to raise some beefies and sheep for our own freezer, and being around farmers on the daily meant Shaun was prepared to start working on our own bit of grass.
Angelena Davies
ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
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Shane on the Wire Chewing the fat When I started my column, calling it Shane on the Wire made sense from a fencing point of view. But a little-known fact, other than family and close friends is also to those highly relevant to the name.
When it comes to me, things are literally down to the wire. I call it fashionably late. Angelina hates me for it and my grown kids will tell me that dinner at their house is half an hour earlier than it actually is. The way I think about it, is why would you want to be the first at a party. Like, who are you going to talk to? The walls? Doesn’t it make more sense to be a little late and have everybody to talk to? You get the idea. And yes, I am once again, a couple of days late writing this. If our editor has cottoned on, she will make my deadline a few days earlier. I can hear what you are all saying. Why not just write it earlier? Trouble is if I do that I might write about the wrong thing. For example: This time I was going to yak about all the issues with trying to live with a broken ankle through summer, and yes, I broke it, but Angelina told me that no one wanted to know how much trouble it was peeing while standing on one leg, and how annoyed I am not getting in any fishing time. I’m sure someone would like to know, but anyway I changed the topic. So, what I have missed while I have been largely laid up though is having the time to chew the fat, thinking about stuff, a bit of selfchat, listening to my own voice, that sort of thing. Some of my best ideas come from my many hours of working time, sometimes with a little bit of quiet music in the earmuffs. Before we started the fencing business, we milked cows for 25 odd years and some of my best thinking time came from long hours in the cowshed. I did a quick work out and it transpired that some 60 thousand hours in fact. That I didn’t believe so I reworked it twice more on a calculator, bugger me, same answer. Can you imagine 60 thousand hours in a cowshed. No wonder I come up with lots of ideas. I have a good mate in the Waikato who calls my ideas progressive. Some of them were epic fails truth be told, but if I didn’t think about stuff during those long hours, I would have gone crazy. Because I’m so good at thinking about stuff, it’s only natural that I also come up with ideas while post driving. So, with the boys both now doing the post driving, I’m missing that time and can’t wait until I’m driving posts again. I actually really like listening to music. I’m stuck in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, but when Angelina and I are in a vehicle together and I have the music down, she knows that I’m thinking about stuff and always asks, “what are you thinking about now?” My default answer is always, ”nothing much dear”. Funny thing is, she has started coming up with ideas while zipping around on the ride on. She usually starts with, “I was mowing the lawns today and got to thinking”. And I go, “mmm”, and she retorts “fine, I’m not telling you then”, so I have to coerce it out of her. That’s fun… Straight posts and tight wires.
Shane Beets co-owns Call A Farmer and builds fences in ‘Northland’.
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ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
Shane
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Fencing Contractors NZ Certified Fencers Barakat Contractors Ltd (Te Kauwhata) Dale & Carl Barakat t. 07 826 4461 m. 027 473 5513 e. dale@barakatcontractors.co.nz w. barakatcontractors.co.nz
Fencing Solutions Waikato (Morrinsville) Todd Sherburd t. 07 887 5549 m. 0274 927 337 e. todd@fsw.co.nz w. fsw.co.nz
Ground Up Solutions (New Plymouth) Clayton & Sue Horton t. 06 758 2217 m. 021 710 712 e. info@groundupsolutions.co.nz w. groundupsolutions.co.nz
Ben Haugh Fencing (Geraldine) Ben Haugh t. 03 693 8088 m. 021 523 291 e. info@bhfencing.nz
Fencetec 2015 Ltd (Te Anau / Northern Southland) Steve Daley m. 027 2497852 e. stephendaley03@gmail.com
Higgins Fencing Contractors (Wakefield) Philip Higgins t. 03 541 9292 m. 021 222 5033 e. info@higginsfencing.co.nz w. higginsfencing.co.nz
Burton Fencing (Cambridge) Sam Burton burts@live.com t. 027 501 7180
Fensin Neil & Raymond Roberston (Taupō) Neil & Raymond Robertson t. 07 825 5747 m. 027 474 6335 e. robertson.nd@xtra.co.nz
Call A Farmer (Wellsford) Shane Beets t. 09 423 7585 m. 027 625 5383 e. info@callafarmer.co.nz w. callafarmer.kiwi
Glentui Fencing (Feilding) Mike Billinghurst t. 06 323 6466 m. 0272 695 662 e. glentuifencing@xtra.co.nz w. glentuifencing.co.nz
Central Fencing (Canterbury) Nigel Broadbridge t. 021 433 623 e. nigel@centralfencing.co.nz w. centralfencing.co.nz
Golden Bay Fencing (Takaka) David Jacobson m. 027 266 7335 e. fourjake1@gmail.com
CPC Fencing Ltd (Northland) Phil Cornelius t. 09 4332644 m. 027 274 4188 e. cpc.fencing@yahoo.co.nz Custom Fencing Ltd (Waikouaiti) Nick Terry t. 03 465 7212 m. 021 614 100 e. nickterryfencing@xtra.co.nz Ewing Fencing Contractors (Oamaru) Mark Ewing t. 03 431 3864 m. 027 498 4049 e. mark@ewingfencing.co.nz
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ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
Grant Macdonald Fencing Service (Tauranga) Grant Macdonald t. 07 543 3486 m. 027 494 2251 e. grantmacdonald@mclarenfalls.co.nz Grant Scott Fencing Ltd (Te Awamutu) Grant Scott t. 07 870 6541 e. g.scottfencing@gmail.com Greg Burton Fencing (Cambridge) Greg Burton t. 07 827 8765 m. 027 427 8765 e. mazgreg@xtra.co.nz Ground Up Services Ltd (Tauranga) Darryn Astill m. 027 586 9227 e. darryn@groundupservices.co.nz
High Country Fencing Ltd (Darfield) Geoff Rogers t. 03 317 8028 m. 021 640 748 e. info@highcountryfencing.co.nz w. highcountryfencing.co.nz Jeff Joines Fencing Contractor Ltd (Kāpiti) Jeff Joines t. 06 364 2510 m. 027 484 4481 w. jeffjoinesfencing@gmail.com John Baldock Fencing Ltd (Katikati) John Baldock t. 07 552 0763 m. 021 176 4719 e. john@johnbaldockfencing.co.nz w. johnbaldockfencing.co.nz Lake Contracting (Omakau) Ken Lake t. 03 447 4031 m. 027 224 0302 e. kenthomaslake@icloud.com Landwork Solutions (Ōtaki) Brad Joines m. 0274955693 e. office@landworksolutions.co.nz Meersbrooke Fencing (Palmerston North) Alan Rennie m. 027 450 6420 e. meersbrooke@hotmail.com
WIRED MAGAZINE
Noksee Fencing (Motueka) John Noakes t. 03 5286388 m. 027 446 4413 e. noakesjc@gmail.com
Steve Williamson Fencing (Timaru) Steve Williamson t. 03 686 4779 m. 027 455 3385 e. shwilliamson@actrix.co.nz
Phillips Contracting 2016 Ltd (Edgecumbe) Josh Phillips t. 07 304 8443 m. 027 587 3551 e. phillipscontracting@xtra.co.nz
Tight Wire Fencing Ltd (Taupō) Rex Graham t. 07 378 5572 m. 027 318 8665 e. tightwirefencing@xtra.co.nz
Renner Contracting Ltd (Seddon) Mike & Brad Renner t. 03 577 6615 m. 021 416 798 e. rennerfencing@hotmail.com w. rennerfencing.co.nz
West Otago Fencing Ltd (Tapanui) Grant & Wendy Harris t. 03 204 8285 m. 0272 866 576 e. harris29@xtra.co.nz
Samuel Fencing Ltd (Alexandra) Mike Samuel t. 03 448 6949 m. 0275 2454090 e. mikesamuel@xtra.co.nz Steve Locke Fencing Ltd (Blenheim) Steve Locke t. 03 578 1927 m. 021 37 1971 e. steve@stevelockefencing.co.nz w. stevelockefencing.co.nz
Affiliates, Trusts and Training Institutes
White Fencing Ltd (Papakura) Tony White t. 09 292 8064 m. 027 495 7868 e. admin@whitefencing.co.nz w. whitefencing.co.nz Wilson Fencing (Havelock North) Brendon Wilson t. 06 877 9844 m. 027 657 4588 e. b.m.wilson@xtra.co.nz
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES WIRED SUBSCRIPTION: General Member $195.65 +GST Employee Member $70.00 +GST WIRED Only $70.00 +GST If you are interested in joining you can either email Jeanette at admin@fencingcontractors.co.nz or visit our website fencingcontractors.co.nz 0508 4 FCNZ (0508 4 32269) | PO Box 3232, Greerton, 3142
WIRED MAGAZINE
ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
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Fencing Contractors NZ Board
PHIL CORNELIUS
DEBBIE WHITE
SHANE BEETS
m. 027 274 4188 e. phil@fencingcontractors.co.nz Waikato & King Country regions
m. 027 495 7033 e. debbie@fencingcontractors.co.nz Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Wellington & Wairarapa, East Coast & Hawke’s Bay regions
m. 027 625 5383 e. shane@fencingcontractors.co.nz Northland & Auckland regions
MIKE RENNER
DONNA UPTON
MAX WALTON
m. 021 416 798 e. mike@fencingcontractors.co.nz Malborough, Nelson & Canterbury regions
m. 021 761 022 e. donna@fencingcontractors.co.nz Manawatu, Horowhenua & Wanganui regions
m. 027 240 1100 e. max@fencingcontractors.co.nz West Coast, Otago & Southland regions
(PRESIDENT)
(VICE-PRESIDENT)
(TREASURER)
Fencing Contractors NZ Team
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JAIME BIGWOOD
JEANETTE MILLER
HEATHER KAWAN
Communications and Marketing Manager m. 022 317 7118 e: communications@fencingcontractors.co.nz
Administration Manager t. 0508 432 269 m. 027 432 2033 e: admin@fencingcontractors.co.nz
WIRED Editor m: 022 630 8533 e: wired@fencingcontractors.co.nz
ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
WIRED MAGAZINE
DON’T LET SUCCESS OR FAILURE COME DOWN TO THE WIRE.
Only fencing wire that carries the WIREMARK guarantee is 100% made and tested in New Zealand for this country’s harsh farming conditions. So make sure you ask for WIREMARK, the fencing wire that’s as tough and wiry as a local fencer. To find out more, visit wiremark.co.nz, call 0800 7227 8335 or email info@pacificsteel.co.nz
MADE TOUGH AND WIRY IN NEW ZEALAND
C T H Canterbury Timber & Hardware
