Men at Work 2022

Showcasing our remarkable men

“I’ve been everywhere man” was a phrase which kept popping into my head over the past three months, as I traversed the Wairarapa, meeting with, interviewing and photographing the diverse, talented, and downright impressive men which we feature in this magazine.

Through the actions of these men who run businesses and create employment opportunities for so many, we can showcase a wonderful Wairarapa, a region which never ceases to amaze. You get all prepared to meet up with someone to profile their business, often with a pre-conceived idea of who they are, why they are doing what they’re doing, and where they’re heading – only to be thrown a curve ball and you find you’re off in another direction with an even better story to tell. Take the former newspaper reporter/PR man who now creates amazing garden landscaping, or the teenage U-Tuber whose so passionate about cycling, he bought a bike shop and is getting everyone onto bicycles. Such is the fascinating complexity of man.

A few more examples would be one who was made redundant and had to look within himself to find his talent. Creative photography surfaced and now he has a successful business photographing properties for sale. There’s the passionate father and son

Inside

A1homes 27 B.W. O’Brien & Co. Ltd ............. 38 Back in Action 3 Bay Irrigation 36 Bayleys Wairarapa ..................... 7

Blue Bucket Cleaning Services 8 Brooks Refrigeration Services 3 BT Tiling

16 Cable Guy Wairarapa Ltd 17

Carterton District Council 11 Cheers Auto & Tyres 16

Clatworthy Chartered Accountants 39

fishermen, so impressed with some of the gear they were using, they bought the business and expanded. There’s the ex-navy officer who wanted to carve out a life in Wairarapa for himself and his family. The business he has purchased is benefiting hugely from his diligence and discipline gleaned from the services. There’s the hairdresser who knew from a young age that all he wanted to do was be a hairdresser and the business he’s set up is growing and growing just like the hair he cuts. There’s engineers –specialist refrigeration ones; plumbers; bricklayers; builders; estate agents; timber millers; financial advisors; lawyers and accountants, and medical people doing their best to keep us healthy. The list goes on.

I have loved every moment of tracking these men down and thank them for the time they’ve given to let me delve into their lives and photograph them. No-one likes their photo taken – and a couple were done of me, which shows how much fun I’ve had. Had to share.

Support these businesspeople in whichever way you can. They deserve it.

Marlene Ditchfield November 2022

Core Legal............................... 18

Cornerstone Bricklaying Ltd and Brickcleaning Solutions Ltd 22 Cotter and Stevens 35 Cycling Tom Bike Shop 33

Dingo Nick .............................. 27 Dish Café & Catering 39 Drake ..................................... 23 Element Plumbing & Gas 14

Gawith Burridge Lawyers 14 Gleniti Romneys

Comag Wairarapa

28 Commercial Fleet Services Wairarapa Ltd 4

6 Go2 Engineering 24 Haglund Consulting Accounting and Advisory 8

Harrisons Carpet & Flooring 18 J.B. Electrical Ltd ..................... 31

Jarden 37 Jim Laird Driver Training Ltd 12 Joe’s Tyres 24 KiwiSpan 34 Kooltintz & LS Streetwear 28 Ladymead Kennels & Cattery 17 Loan Market Wairarapa 26 Log Works Ltd 33 Madison Hair Studio 31 McKenzie’s Electrical 2000 9 Mobility Wairarapa 6 Mortgage Link 35 New World Carterton 5 Norfolk Road Nursery 19 NZR Real Estate 40 PlyGuy 13

Publication feature writer and photographer: Marlene Ditchfield

ads@age.co.nz

Premier Beehive NZ 30

Property Brokers Wairarapa 20 Property Tour 25

Reap Wairarapa ....................... 10

Schwanecke Bone & Joint Centre12

Shades Direct Wairarapa ........... 23

Straight Flush 38

Tararua Refrigeration 36

Tranzit 26

Vein & Skin Clinic 29

Wairarapa Mitsubishi 15

Wairarapa Mobile Media Blasting 22

Wairarapa Skin Clinic 10

Wairarapa Windscreens 5

Wild Blue Tackle 19 Wired Wairarapa 32

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Men@Work publication.

Temperature Controlled

With over 20 years’ experience in the refrigeration industry, Adam Brooks saw there was a gap in the market, and he hankered to be his own boss. It was a gamble and came with sleepless nights but for the Brooks family, it’s been a winner and five years down the track they have a winning business.

The administration for the busy refrigeration service is carried out by Felicity, Adam’s wife, and business partner. Shane Hunt is doing his refrigeration engineer’s apprenticeship after years in the wine industry. Naturally mechanically minded, he has seen first-hand the importance of refrigeration in all aspects of business.

Always looking to improve the service – Brooks Refrigeration point of difference is that it provides a mobile chiller trailer, which Adam built for customers who need an instant backup chilling facility.

Heat pumps and air-conditioning units, heat transfer kits, and automotive

air-con are a big part of their work, all needing regular maintenance and cleaning.

When it comes to installing air-con units, Adam likes to be aware of clients’ budget and home layout and to work alongside them to ensure the correct size is installed for upmost efficiency.

On the farm, the mobile trailer really comes into play, when refrigeration facilities break down or need servicing but there’s no room for no refrigeration storage while repairs are made. Cafes and restaurants’ fridge and freezer units need regular attention. There are also automotive air-conditioning systems to maintain. Cars, trucks, tractors, and all farm equipment often need re-gassing and leak testing.

The list goes on. Anything needing cooling, or given an even temperature control, is where Brooks Refrigeration can help.

Back in Action

Chiropractic healing coupled with a dose of wisdom

One of the first things you notice about Dr Simon Pumfrey is that he greets you in his socks.

“It’s about gaining a connection,” he explains, “It can be a connection with the ground, connection with loved ones, connection with health and well-being, and connection with other things in our lives”

Simon has been with Back in Action since 2014. He takes a holistic approach to chiropractic and general well-being; looking at each person as a whole and takes them on a journey towards their goals. He offers a type of physical counselling session.

One of his leading questions he’ll ask his clients is “What do you want in your last decade of life?”

Simon says nearly all wish for good health and fitness. After our forties we lose approximately 10% of our muscle mass and from then it’s 10% less per decade. Strength training is therefore something he promotes vigorously for healthy ageing, as does current medical evidence. He encourages people to do regular physical activities that are enjoyable, alongside mindful resting.

Simon completed a Bachelor of Science, majoring in sports science at the university of Wales in Bangor followed by a Master of Science in Chiropractic at the University of Surrey, Guildford. His career to date has seen him working with individuals from all occupations. From lecturing on degree courses and coaching to working as a strength and conditioning coach at the NZ Academy of Sport.

Born in Wales, Simon spent seven years in the Royal Air Force before turning to a degree in sport science. He ended up in New Zealand in 1997 when travelling and met wife, Melissa. Her family hails from Masterton, hence the move to work in Wairarapa.

Among Simon’s advice for a long and healthy life, beyond socks, he recommends listening to Dr Peter Attia, Prof Andrew Huberman, Paul Chek and others who produce podcasts on the science of longevity.

“The more we educate ourselves and others about how we can gain control of our health and well-being, the more likely we are to put knowledge into practice and improve our physical and mental resilience.”

DR SIMON PUMFREY.

SHANE HUNT AND ADAM BROOKS.

Adam Brooks

Heavy vehicle service and repairs by a skilled team

Repairing heavy trucks and trailers can be physically and mentally challenging, it is a 24/7 operation. Keeping our customers moving. Whether its in the workshop, on a foresty track, or broken down on the Remutaka Hill, as a heavy diesel mechanic your day is never the same, says Nick Smurthwaite. Thinking on the spot and ahead is a must. Overall, the satisfaction of helping people out on a day-to-day basis is what he enjoys most about the industry.

His business, Commercial Fleet Services Wairarapa, which he owns with wife, Samantha, runs out of two workshops – the main workshop is located in Solway behind the BP truck stop, their other workshop is located in Burling Transport’s yard where all their big jobs are carried out.

They repair and maintain all makes of heavy trucks and trailers from onhighway freight trucks to fuel tankers,

stock trucks, concrete trucks, logging trucks and the massive T909 Kenworth Transporters. For all these businesses time is precious, so when there is a breakdown, Commercial Fleet Services mechanics must be there asap, most times working under pressure, as a truck could be either blocking the road with police on hand, or blocking a forestry track holding up the only road in or out. His team have to be switched on at all times, diagnosing faults over the phone, making sure they have everything on hand, identifying hazards and thinking through the safest way to carry out the repair sometimes in terrible weather conditions.

And it’s not just immediate repairs which keeps the team of six up and running. They offer all types of truck and trailer repairs, servicing, COFS, and warranty repairs to Kenworth and DAF. They specialise and are the agent for

HEAVY VEHICLE WORKSHOP

TRUCK & TRAILER SERVICING, REPAIRS & PARTS WAIRARAPA WIDE.

Kenworth and DAF trucks. They have a large supply of Kenworth and DAF parts and merchandise on hand as well as a large selection of other truck and trailer parts. If they don’t have the part you require on hand, they can usually get it the same day if ordered before 10am. The busy workshops in Wairarapa are a long way from the London flat where Nick and Samantha met. Nick was from Auckland and Sam from Wellington. They returned together and now have four children, including 10-year-old twins.

Nick is a qualified petrol and diesel mechanic, he completed his diesel apprenticeship in Wellington while working for Goughs as the Kenworth and DAF dealer at the time. The move to Wairarapa was based on wanting the children to grow up in a more rural environment. They co-owned Commercial Fleet Services for a time

and then totally purchased in early 2020. They are very appreciative of the dedicated and talented team of mechanics who have joined them.

Damian is their foreman, previously the foreman at Trucks and Trailers Wellington with over 20 years experience. Brendon is their senior technician also from Wellington, previously he worked for Central Group, maintaining TR G roups fleet of trucks and trailers. Jamie is a newly qualified technician joining them from McCarthy Transport where he completed his qualification. Ben is their 3rd year apprentice and started with CFS after leaving school. Contractor Isaac also lends his skills and experience to the team two days a week. Isaac was previously the foreman at Emmett’s Truck Services in Palmerston North. Samantha keeps the team together in charge of administration and yummy food in the tearoom.

We are a locally owned and operated heavy vehicle workshop providing all your service repairs and parts requirements to keep your heavy transport eet up and running.

Unit 1/307 High Street (behind BP truckstop), Solway, Masterton.

accounts@cfs.net.nz 06 370 1649

Service dealer and parts supplier for

COMMERCIAL FLEET SERVICES TEAM FROM LEFT: NICK, BRENDON, ISAAC, DAMIAN, JAMIE, BEN.

Busy windscreen service within workshop and on road

Steen McGhie’s company, Wairarapa Windscreens, has established a solid reputation within the automotive glass repair industry for its rapid availability and attention to detail. As an independent operator, Steen proudly stands by his windscreen repairs and receives accolades for the quality of workmanship.

Steen owns Tararua Autos in Eketahuna and nine years ago, he and wife Rose-Marie took a leap of faith and set up the independent business doing windscreen repairs in Masterton.

Eventually Steen, and senior technician Euan Harris, moved to the busy commercial Papawai Place and they have seen an expanding clientele ever since. They enjoy being part of the busy commercial neighbourhood and have recently added a courtesy car to their service. Johnathan Denyer has also joined as an apprentice technician. “Customers can leave their vehicle and can go about their daily business knowing their vehicle is in good hands,” says Steen. The team repairs or replaces windscreens for all makes and models of cars, vans, and trucks. They also stock a comprehensive range of windscreens and if they don’t have the correct one, it can quickly be sourced, usually overnight, including glass for rare vehicles. They can work with any insurance company.

The major point of difference for

Wairarapa Windscreens is that it offers a multiple service. At the Papawai Place workshop, a windscreen can be repaired along with minor body work, like stone chips, but if a client’s car is getting a Warrant of Fitness at a garage, and ends up needing a new windscreen, Wairarapa Windscreens uses its mobile service and heads to the car. It’s a popular one-stop service which clients appreciate.

Thanks to Steen and Euan’s precise handiwork, responsive service, and the magic of ‘word-of-mouth’ referrals, Wairarapa Windscreens has steadily grown its customer base – now stretching from Martinborough to Pahiatua. The extra business comes with a demanding workload, including an increase in heavy vehicles but Steen welcomes and enjoys the challenge. “We’ve had more trucks needing attention. Trucks are a big job - but I always find the harder and more complex the job, the greater the satisfaction.”

Business is looking good now and with a staff of seven, who are all proving highly motivated and helpful, Steen feels he can spend some time on his other passion, that of motor racing. After many nights of burning the midnight oil, Steen’s smart twotone maroon and silver BMW has emerged from his garage in Eketahuna, complete with a grunty V8 Four Cam Toyota engine.

New owners take up the mantle of age-old Carterton supermarket

It would be fair to say Paul Fabian was like a opossum in the headlights when Men@Work talked to him about his new venture – owning and operating the New World Carterton. It was just his second week on the job in the busy supermarket which is firmly part of the fabric of Carterton reaching back to 1901. He’s no stranger to supermarket management however, having moved directly from New World in Pahiatua with his Wife Emma and daughter Alexandra.

New World Carterton is one of the town’s largest employers with around 90 full and part-time staff and Paul is excited about getting to know his employees and the community. He is a second-generation grocer having been raised in and around the New World and Pak n Save supermarkets. School and university holidays were all about working in the store and he’s had a hand in every department. A qualified Chartered Accountant, Paul headed to Otago University where he graduated with a BCom in accounting and economics before heading into the supermarket industry and working his way through the various departments before becoming a store owner of his own.

New World Carterton had a major re-fit in 2012 and extra land was purchased to create back entrance deliveries and a larger customer

carpark. It’s twice the size of the Pahiatua store and Paul is relishing the challenge. Admitting his favorite department is the fresh produce, he has ideas he would like to adapt but points out, no changes will be made until he feels at home in the new store. Paul enjoys the strict management criteria that Foodstuffs New Zealand operate under. Proudly 100% New Zealand owned, it has a stable of New World, Pak n Save, Four Square, Gilmours and Liquourland stores.

Each store operates independently and autonomously and so its owners can adapt to the flavor of the local community. When stores come up for sale, people can apply to purchase, and the Foodstuffs’ board considers the applicants. Those applicants have already gone through a rigorous training Programme. Paul says around 45 may apply for the training each year with only about four being accepted. “It is deliberately prescribed, so the best management practices are consistently achieved.” As well as Pahiatua, Paul has worked in Manawatu, Taumaranui and Auckland. Foodstuffs has been operating in New Zealand since 1922 – a similar timeline to the Carterton grocery story when in 1920 Harry Knutson moved his General Store to the present-day site.

Welcome Paul.

Have your windscreen replaced & tinted at the same time at Wairarapa Windscreens & Auto Groom working together to make it easy

AUTO GROOM

10 Papawai Place, Masterton

FROM LEFT EUAN HARRIS, JOHNATHAN DENYER AND STEEN M c GHIE.

PAUL FABIAN.

Six generations breeding prime sheep

Gleniti Romneys have always offered robust easy-care sheep. Their high fertility, high growth and survival rates, and good style medium wool has been a proud standard. Gleniti has 1700 stud ewes, docking between 150-165% at Pirinoa and it sells around 300 rams a year.

The Hume family go back to the 1850s in Pirinoa when David Hume’s greatgreat-grandfather Peter, bought the land on which Gleniti still farms. Story goes, he was a horse trader between Tasmania and Wellington, who secured a good sale and came to New Zealand buying the land in Wairarapa.

“How lucky are we that he chose this area,” says David, who loves life on the land. David learned his farming skills from his father Bill, who still likes to be involved at age 84. David is now sharing the workload and teaching his son, Jayden (19) – the sixth generation Hume.

Bill learned about sheep from the legendary Romney breeder and neighbour, the late Holmes Warren. Holmes, Bill, and nine other likeminded Wairarapa breeders formed the Wairarapa Romney Improvement

Group in 1969. Since then, the group has been instrumental in improving the production of the breed. They have made beneficial use of recording systems and have had advice from the best animal geneticists, including Prof Al Rae, Prof Dorian Garrick, and Dr Mark Young.

After 50 years of careful recording, there is high accuracy in the breeding values that has generated. Gleniti’s high stocking rate puts enough pressure on its sheep to identify those which do not thrive. David says mothering ability is particularly important. “Any ewe which doesn’t stand with her lambs as we tag them are culled. This practice has resulted in the sheep having a quieter temperament. “These breeding values are the basis of the index we have used for our selection that has identified the sheep with a balance of production traits, and which gives them the best return to those using our rams,” says David.

“In recent years, this balance of fertility, survival, growth rate and wool weight has brought the Gleniti flock close to optimum levels.” Good on you Hume family.

Marvellous mobility aids to ensure independence

There’s a certain irony that a motorbike sidecar racing champion owns and operates a mobility service, Mobility Wairarapa. There’s a yawning gap between the thrilling and hairraising breakneck speed of sidecar racing, to the mobility scooters which max out at 15 kmh.

Steve (Spike) Taylor looks quite at home though, among the mobility scooters, walking frames, walking sticks, shower stools and health aids in his showroom at his Masterton store in Renall Street.

There are also wheelchairs, crutches, reaches, toilet seat raisers, jar openers, cushions, lumbar rolls, commodes, and urinals. Everything to make life a little more comfortable. Steve is good at selling the mobility scooters too, being New Zealand’s top seller for the Goldfern range in 2021.

A fitter and turner by trade, his skills translate beautifully to repairing and maintaining the scooters, which help multitudes of residents, with mobility problems, get out into the community.

Steve’s sales and service centre has a busy backroom/workshop. He moved this year to larger premises on Renall Street (previously Sound & Vision and before that Ziggy’s Glass). There’s plenty of parking and rooms galore out back for Steve to indulge his passion of pulling things apart and re-building. He can turn his hand to most repairs. With mobility scooters – of which he has a

vast range on display - batteries failing is common, so are flat tyres and then there’s rear axles breaking or bearings needing replacing. He loves his work and likes that it is helping people. He enjoys seeing the scooters give people a sense of independence and freedom.

Steve is used to being in the news with his sidecar racing. The winner of four New Zealand Championships on his 1000cc Suzuki, he also gained attention some years back when he donated a scooter to a stroke-affected pensioner who had had his stolen from his front porch. This year’s international Suzuki series began in September and Steve’s son Issac is getting a taste being passenger to his racing mate Bert Wolland.

Born in Blenheim, Steve came to Wairarapa as a 12-year-old. He gained his trade at the Woburn railway workshops – “a great place to learn everything”. He then spent 12 years at Hansell’s in the engineering section and took time out to help raise children. Over a decade ago, when working in a motorcycle shop, he met the owner of the Mobility Centre business. She was wanting to sell, and Steve happily took over. When not found ‘out the back’ fixing things, and not on his motorbike, Steve can also be spied at Henley Lake where he races radio-controlled boats. His constant companion, Shay, a beautiful Swiss Shepherd, will also be nearby. She welcomes customers to the Mobility Centre.

FOR ALL YOUR MOBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO KEEP YOUR INDEPENDENCE

Call

STEVE TAYLOR IN HIS MASTERTON STORE.

FATHER AND SON, DAVID AND BILL HUME IN THE YARD AT GLENITI, SOUTH WAIRARAPA.

David

THE MEN OF BAYLEYS

Andrew Smith

& Lifestyle Sales Regional Manager

“I joined the Bayleys family in 2020 after nearly a decade in rural banking. Coming onboard with Bayleys I saw a brand that had core family values, a client and vendor first focus and a company that I could grow with. The reach beyond the district boundaries and the wider team stretching the length of the country and across industry, meant I saw a company with an unfair advantage over the competition. With a focus of continually evolving the level of service through constant innovation, hard work and energy I am excited about the future of this business, the growth of our team and the ability that we will have to support our community in the process. I am passionate about good people, about our rural sector and get a great amount of satisfaction from putting deals together and achieving great outcomes.”

I am excited about what the Bayleys team will achieve, next week, next month, next year and over the next decade. It is a pleasure to go to work, to work for our clients and to work with this wonderful team.”

Lindsay Watts

Rural, Lifestyle & Commercial Sales

in rural, lifestyle and commercial properties, I have always had strong associations with the stock and station industry

the local rural scene having farmed at Gladstone, and having been a resident in the Wairarapa and Southern Hawke’s Bay for most of my life.

have a wide knowledge of the area and the people and understand the diversity o ered within the region.”

246

“I completed a Bachelor of Commerce and at Lincoln University, after which I worked in Taranaki for five years as a rural banker before moving to the UK. I returned to the Wairarapa, and rural banking, in 2017. This experience helped me establish strong relationships within farm businesses across the region. This also allowed me to gain an in-depth understanding of a variety of rural businesses and the people that operate them.“

Residential Sales

“I recently joined Bayley’s after working as a carpentry apprentice locally. I have a passion for homes, and after building them I now want to succeed in selling them too. I believe trust is key and want to establish genuine, long-lasting relationships with my clients and work with them, whether they’re buying or selling, and whether it’s their first home or forever home.”

027 812

cameron.percy@bayleys.co.nz

Wairarapa’s most trusted cleaning company

Mark Johnston purchased the Wairarapa icon, Blue Bucket Cleaning Company, three years ago and set about using his extensive customer service and staff training background to gather around him a high-class team of cleaners. They now number 30 and run like a well-oiled machine buoyed on Mark’s initiatives and positive coaching. These range from paid incentives for high standard work down to the “Golden Toilet Brush” ceremony. This special brush is awarded each quarter to a staff member who has made the worst muck up. It’s received with great hilarity and serves as a good learning curve.

Mark is all about learning for his staff. Many are returning to work after a long absence from the workforce, others have raised children and are looking for part-time work, while others are retired but want some extra money in their pocket. Mark is especially proud of providing jobs for many who struggled to find work in the past.

As the business grew, Mark quickly realised he needed help. Rose Harris began with Blue Bucket seven years

ago and is now the Shift Supervisor, while General Supervisor Valeska Guzman Fuents dedicates her time to the Trinity Schools contract which covers several school sites.

Blue Bucket has a fleet of six vehicles and the team clean seven days a week. They used to include private homes, but the business totally cleans commercial premises these days.

It’s a complex and technical exercise to ensure there are cleaners in each location at the right time. Two per team, Mark has created sound job descriptions which comes with a ‘Toolbox’ of how to do their work, augmented with an incentive or reward system which pays a bonus when each of the criteria is achieved. The criteria include customer satisfaction, equipment care and team approach.

Mark thoroughly enjoys the business which is certainly an essential service for many in business.

Consider this. Mark’s team each day: Scrub 378 toilets, clean 40 businesses, and among them spend around 600 hours per week cleaning. A big thank you to all!

Way more to this accounting firm than ‘doing the books’

Provisional tax, GST, ACC levies, income tax – they all slip off the tongue and can cause anguish for the unskilled in financial affairs.

But Nathan Haglund and Daniel Childs of Haglund Consulting in Masterton take the pain away and well understand the importance of being financially literate, or to find someone who is.

“Finding a qualified person with financial management expertise is a must,” they point out.

“In these times of financial volatility, every business big or small, should have an accountant who not only ‘does the books’ but keeps you abreast of markets trends and expectations. We are here to guide you and provide business coaching. The most important message we give is don’t come too late for financial help – reach out early,” emphasises Nathan.

Money talk and keeping yourself on the financial straight and narrow may not be a laughing matter but when chatting about their accounting and coaching service, there’s more than a few jokes bandied about with Nathan and Dan. The congenial pair make talking finances fun.

“We have clients who are so at ease

coming into the office, they’ll head to the kitchen, make a coffee, and wait for a chat. I like that. No formality,” says Nathan. That’s not to say, offering an in-depth accounting service and allied financial coaching is not taken seriously, it’s just that Nathan and Dan want their service to be as convivial as possible.

“Accounting must be technical, but it also must be intuitive,” believes Dan, who thrives on getting to know his clients and their families. He grew up in Carterton, studied at Victoria University and when Nathan was establishing his business, he jumped at the chance of joining him.

Nathan was raised in Masterton. After studying at Massey University, he worked in banking before returning to his hometown.

After becoming a partner in two accounting firms he hankered to work in his own right. He took the leap of faith in September 2020 and set up Haglund Consulting.

Visiting the offices in the Enterprise Village on Queen Street, Masterton, it’s a colourful, warm experience. There’s much laughter coming from the team members and the cobalt blue walls and orange doors hint that this is no ordinary accounting firm.

MARK JOHNSTON WITH SUPERVISORS, ROSE HARRIS AND VALESKA GUZMAN FUENTS.

NATHAN HAGLUND (LEFT) AND DANIEL CHILDS.

McKenzie’s Electrical 2000 is in exceptionally capable hands – that of its coowner Russell Keys. He shares the directorship with wife Carrollyn, who runs the admin and marketing side of the business with Melissa Napier. From humble beginnings, starting with two registered electricians and an apprentice in 2000, today there are nine electricians on the road (including three apprentices), and a dedicated and experienced Security and Data technician, Keith Nielson. It’s all very e cient, high tech and thorough, just like you’d expect an electrical business to be. All are pro cient in everything from wiring hot points, to tting security cameras, installing solar panels, to operating modern technologies to help prevent electrical malfunctions. What sets them aside from regular businesses is the innovative way Russell and Carrollyn treat their team. They involve them in decision making which includes whom they employ. Current employees all get a say during the selection process, and it results in a hugely congenial work environment. Keen to foster a supportive and equitable workplace culture, Russell and Carrollyn o er exible hours and pay the Living Wage to apprentices. It’s clear this humanitarian ethos works.

The McKenzie’s Electrical team are a tight knit bunch, sharing lots of inside jokes,

hilarious nicknames, and a ectionate ribbing.

“It’s an absolute no-brainer not to treat people well in employment. They are our biggest asset and should be cared for,” says Russell.

“It’s a great team here. Loads of enjoyable banter,” according to quali ed electrician, Dillan Wyse. “We all look out for each other, whether it’s work-related, or not.” Thermal imaging has become an integral part of McKenzie’s services, and Dillan was encouraged and has quali ed as a registered thermographer. Ben Doyle came to McKenzie’s and has been instrumental in doing some large project work and assisting training apprentices McKenzie’s Electrical is in hot demand, providing electrical solutions for some of Wairarapa’s biggest commercial and industrial premises, as well as for small business and domestic homeowners.

The company is proud of its Site Safe Gold Status. Russell sits on the Electrical Works Registration Board – a national body which considers registration and re-licensing of electricians. It also acts as a disciplinary board. It has a strong governance component which sits happily with Russell who has been a Carterton District Councillor, deputy Mayor, and a White Ribbon Ambassador.

A proud Cartertonian who has lived all his life in the town, Russell loves his community role as much as his professional work. He’s enthusiastic about many things, not least the training of young people into the trades. When in 2016, it took him nine months to ll a vacancy, he decided to always have apprentices on board in his business – hence the three in training now.

Ben Doyle

Dillan Wyse

Keith Nielsen

Russell Keys

It’s an absolute no-brainer not to treat people well in employment. ey are our biggest asset and should be cared for.

“

”

McKenzie’s Electrical – a company with a whole lot of heart as well as skill and experience.

The men at REAP Wairarapa working together to grow a great community

REAP House on Queen Street in Masterton is a hive of activity. On any given day, you’ll find the team working on programmes, out supporting the community, and taking part in events.

REAP – Rural Education Activities Programme is part of a collective of 13 REAPs nationwide. Each has their own flavour that works to meet needs within the community - with a goal of ‘developing rural communities through quality lifelong education’. REAP Wairarapa works from ‘twinkle to wrinkle’ with Early Childhood, Schools, Adult Education and user pays courses.

Peter McNeur is the Director of REAP Wairarapa. With over 30 years experience he marvels at the things that REAP Wairarapa can achieve with its community. He’s a keen photographer and fisherman, who loves time on the beach surfcasting.

Ricky Dey is the Ngā Pūmanawa Tūpuna Team Leader. His team works with youth aged 16-24 in a Tikanga Māori based programme that works on the soft skills needed for employability and pathways for a sustainable future. In his spare time he’s an artisan creating amazing spoons and ladles by hand.

Dallas Te Rangi is a Kaiārahi with Ngā Pūmanawa Tūpuna. He works with youth aged 16-24 to help them create pathways, set goals and develop a sense of whanaungatanga. Dallas is a keen athlete and rugby player.

John Roberts is an Employment Facilitator with Youth 2 Work Wairarapa which is part of the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs with Carterton District Council. He works with young people to get them into sustainable long term employment. John does a lot of work in the rural sector where has a wealth of knowledge. When he’s not at work he’s hosting kids birthday parties with an array of animals!

Aaron Pinkham is the Communications and Marketing Officer. You’ll find him in the office supporting the teams with digital, print and radio, across all the programmes that REAP Wairarapa offer. In his spare time you’ll find him listening to punk rock and spending time with his family.

To contact the team call on 0800 WAIREAP browse online at www.reapwairarapa.nz pop into REAP House 340 Queen Street Masterton.

Skin care expert advises vigilance could save your life

Dr Umakant Nagar’s startling realisation of how prevalent melanoma skin cancer is in New Zealand has encouraged him to specialise in diseases of the skin. He joined the team of GPs at Masterton Medical in March 2021 and is now also working with Dr Cath Becker at her Skin Clinic in Lansdowne three days a week.

“In the entire nine years I was working as a family physician in Singapore I saw maybe two or three cases of skin cancer. In New Zealand I can see that many cases in a week.” Concerned by this high prevalence, Dr Uma (as he’s known by his colleagues and patients) is undertaking additional study under Skin Cancer Australasia which offers training programmes in New Zealand and fellowships which enable doctors to teach their patients the all-important skin care of the largest organ in the body – their skin! As well as his general medical training, Dr Uma has a Masters in general surgery and Diploma in Dermatology. He studied in Delhi, India, where he was born and raised, and for further experience moved to Singapore in early 2012 and joined a busy GPs

practice. He enjoyed the regular contact with patients but being a lover of the outdoors, New Zealand was calling.

It’s a well-known fact that New Zealand’s sun is extremely damaging; that New Zealanders are great outdoor people, and that many have fair skin which is susceptible to skin cancers. “It’s a perfect storm and we, as physicians, need to be vigilant and encourage people to do mole maps (scans of the skin) and just watch their skin for any changes. A recent campaign “Get Spotted” by Melanoma NZ aimed at raising the awareness of how early detection can be the difference between life and death. Melanoma makes up around 80% of skin cancers. More than 6000 people are diagnosed with melanoma each year in New Zealand and about 300 will die.

Dr Uma urges people to call in at the Skin Clinic and get any lumps or bumps on their body checked out. “Melanoma spotted early can be successfully treated by surgery and if a melanoma is discovered when it is less than 1mm thick, the outcome is excellent.”

Experts in skin cancer

No referral needed

spot checks skin checks surgery skin tag removal cryotherapy treatment

Dr Cath Becker MBChB. FRNZGP M.Med (Skin Cancer)

Dr Lynette Cherry MBChB. FRNZGP

Dr Umakant Nagar MBBS, GDFM Derm, SCCA ACD, SCCA CSCM

Janet Hodge - Dermoscopy nurse

Stockists of :

4 First Street, Masterton | 06 370 2171 of ce@wairarapaskinclinic.co.nz

Peter Ricky Dallas

John Aaron

Carterton District Council focuses on men’s mental health and well-being

A renewed focus on well-being has reaffirmed the commitment of Carterton District Council to our community’s resilience.

Our vision of Carterton is to be a welcoming and vibrant community where we all enjoy living.

Renewals of the Local Government Act means CDC and other local authorities, are responsible for improving the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of our communities.

We measure our progress not only by our core services, such as roading, water, and infrastructure but also lifting people’s quality of life.

As well as maintaining our material networks, we also consider our environment, and the quality of social connection, our services provide.

CDC is stepping up when it comes to mental health at our workplace and in our community too.

We support a range of initiatives, local, national, and international, which

support and encourage well-being in our district.

We have implemented our ‘Wellbeing Strategy’ and given firm support to initiatives such as the upcoming Gumboot Friday appeal.

Two of our leaders, Geoff Hamilton and Clinton Thompson, have backed the renewed focus on well-being.

Geoff, is CDC’s Chief Executive, and said the extraordinary pressures people faced in the past two years have made an impression.

“The uncertainty has been a challenge for us all and has often manifested itself over time. The impact of covid-19 has been significant. As the pandemic and public health response arrived, Council acknowledged that the financial and social impacts would be substantial. But changes in the way we operate, set by local government, meant we had to change the way we worked. Not everyone was happy about these changes. As a result, some of our frontline staff faced some unfair verbal

“ Normalising discussion on mental health, removing the stigma and helping our community and Council whanau know where to go for help. We are here to help members of our hapori who feel they are struggling.”

abuse. We’re immensely proud of our staff for putting their own health on the line to keep services running.” Geoff said CDC is driven to promote and protect the social well-being of our community.

“Normalising discussion on mental health, removing the stigma and helping our community and Council whanau know where to go for help. We are here to help members of our hapori who feel they are struggling.”

CDC’s renewed focus on well-being also includes supporting a strong and effective council providing trusted

book a boys night out

leadership, creating, and maintaining a caring community that is safe, healthy, and connected, and an empowered community that participates in Council and community-based decision-making. Those roles do not end at the council offices or chambers.

Our public facilities, spaces, and parks are crucial to our community’s social well-being.

As Parks and Reserves Manager, Clinton leads the team responsible for maintaining our green spaces. But he is also an important part of a Wairarapawide team promoting mental health awareness and supporting our whānau and hapori.

Clinton said his team are leaders in our community and highly visible. “As such, it’s not just a question of doing the right thing but living it. That is especially true when it comes to protecting our own mental health and that of our colleagues, and the community. Community well-being has to be front and centre of everything we do.”

GEOFF HAMILTON (LEFT) WITH CLINTON THOMPSON.

Wairarapa’s Medical Services Looking Forward

August was a special occasion for Konrad Schwanecke; he celebrated 20 years of service as an Orthopaedic Surgeon in Wairarapa.

“I appreciate the support of all my patients, colleagues and staff.”

Konrad works full time at Selina Sutherland Hospital, the private surgical facility attached to Wairarapa public hospital, where he and the team undertake all types of general orthopaedic surgery:

“Shoulder and wrist surgery, hip replacements, knee replacements, foot and ankle operations, and fractures. Spinal surgery is referred down to Wellington, but we do provide nonoperative management and advice for spinal injuries.

“I worked for 18 years at the Wairarapa District Health Board, but in 2020 I realised I was feeling burnt out, and made the decision to resign from the DHB. I now work in private only.

“Selina Sutherland Hospital has a small, friendly, and loyal team, able to offer a quality service with personal attention to our patients. We provide good value-for-money compared to our city competitors.”

Like many regions in New Zealand, Wairarapa is struggling to recruit nurses and doctors.

There’s also a desperate need for additional resources, from operating theatres, to endoscopy services, clinic space and MRI scanners.

In the last issue of Men-at-Work, Konrad promoted the idea of building a new, private, standalone hospital in Wairarapa to attract additional specialists and services into the area - to serve both public and private sectors - and help accommodate our growing population.

“With the recent changes in the health system I am looking forward to such a development - to help meet the needs of Wairarapa.”

Driver training from a seasoned professional

Jim Laird is Wairarapa’s most experienced course provider for driver licences, endorsements, and assessment services. He is also a Certified Spreadmark Tester, calibrating fertilising spreading equipment on the ground, and in the air, for maximum accuracy and effectiveness.

Jim has half a century experience in the transport industry, and 20 years as an accredited licence tester. His clients include individuals who wish to gain a particular licence, and businesses requiring staff to be trained, so they can use specific vehicles or equipment.

Along with courses for the popular Heavy Vehicle Class 2-5, Jim offers training for forklifts and heavy machinery, such as front-end loaders, excavators, road rollers, Elevated Work Platforms, telehandlers and HiAb cranes.

Elevated Work Platform training has become especially popular after more stringent safety requirements were introduced in April 2020. These include scissor lifts, cherry pickers, knuckle boom cranes and workshop gantries.

Jim teaches the skills to transport dangerous goods too, like acid, fuel,

and flammable products. He also trains for trailer licence and vehicle recovery.

The practical assessments are in vehicles provided by the applicant or hired when necessary.

The courses are completed to a schedule to suit clients and Jim often travels to many locations to deliver his training. Having built strong relationships with transport companies and businesses that use heavy machinery, Jim has gained a reputation for offering quality training that fully prepares drivers for the real world. And those trainees have included everyone from college students wanting their heavy truck licence, to equestrian enthusiasts wanting the qualification to drive a horse truck.

He tries to make the training as userfriendly as possible, and this is happily received by the trainees.

There is a shortage of heavy truck and trailer drivers in New Zealand. It can be an exciting and diverse career on the road. If you are interested in knowing more, please contact Jim.

He has many valuable contacts and details to share.

JIM LAIRD.

LEFT TO RIGHT: CHRIS MITCHELL - GENERAL MANAGER SELINA SUTHERLAND HOSPITAL, ALEX O’DONNELL, JO DAY, LORRAINE KENNEDY, KONRAD SCHWANECKE, GABRIELLE COULSTON, JOLEEN WAKELING, TINA MANSFIELD (BEHIND), SHELLEY ROBERTSON.

KONRAD WITH PATIENT, DAVID PITT.

Plywood

PlyGuy at Clareville, north of Carterton, has established a first-rate reputation for offering exceptional value timber products, supplying thousands of satisfied customers across the district and the country.

Two years on from when Matt McQuaid bought the business, PlyGuy, happily reports business has been busier than ever. PlyGuy is situated on the highprofile site on State Highway 2 at Clareville.

It’s a small tight team of himself, Hannah, the Yard Manager, Steve, Lyss, and Shayne, the Yard Hands.

Matt brings to the business a highly disciplined, efficient approach gleaned from years in the navy.

He grew up on the Kapiti Coast and joined the Royal New Zealand Navy as a Seamanship officer, spending almost 16 years serving on ships, and in a variety of shore-based roles.

He engaged in peace keeping work in Korea and deployed to the Middle East while serving in the helicopter assault carrier, HMS OCEAN.

PlyGuy’s best kept secret is now out says Matt. “We sell more the just plywood.”

PlyGuy offers a wide variety of timber products from New Zealand suppliers, with the grades ranging from fine furniture grades to seconds, and everything in between.

The current stock list is on Trade Me under the username ‘PlyGuy.’ Many thousands of satisfied customers have used this tool. Their website is also being updated to improve their customers online experience (Watch this space!).

Some of the current products include:



Tussock board – edge laminated LVL panels - dead flat, very stable panels suitable for benchtops and furniture.

 Plywood – sheets in a range of thicknesses and grades, treated or untreated.

 JUMBOPLY – PlyGuy is NZ’s exclusive supplier of JUMBOPLYs massive ply sheets.



Timber – assorted sizes and grades including posts, rails, decking and general-purpose timber.

 LVL (laminated veneer lumber) –This is plywood cut into timber dimensions. A strong, straight, and versatile alternative to normal timber.

 Triboard – A panel product made by JNL. Strong, hard wearing, and easy to install. A great Kiwi made product.

PlyGuy’s mission is to deliver value to the customer. Because it is an independent timber merchant it can stock the wide variety of highly versatile products which the big box timber merchants don’t. PlyGuy has customers wanting to build anything from a tiny home to a kid’s bike ramp or playhouse, decks, sheds, to a dog kennel or chicken coop.

Depending on the grade chosen (and there are many), the great value timber products can also be used for anything from wall lining and flooring to wind bracing, packaging and boxes, furniture, and fencing. Because of that versatility, PlyGuy’s customer base is diverse, from builder and construction companies to farmers and DIYers. Matt says right now is the perfect time to get ready for all those summer projects.

MATT M c QUAID.

Gawith

Diverse and skilled people at the heart of this legal firm

Gawith Burridge is a modern and dynamic firm of 35 staff and four partners. Our experienced team are here to help experienced clients with a comprehensive range of legal services for any entity (including individuals, companies, trusts). We can assist with anything from drafting your Wills to selling your vineyard. Also, because of our membership in the nationwide NZ Law Group, we can access specialist legal advice when required.

University, he has practised since 1997 and has previously worked in law firms in Wellington, Sydney, London, and Auckland. Describing himself as a ‘Jack of all Trades,’ Dean is a specialist in employment law and relationship property. He enjoys working alongside clients to achieve a fair outcome in a cost-effective manner. A keen cyclist, Dean also plays bass guitar.

Experienced plumbers Tom Johnston and Hemi Tupaea teamed up a year ago and established their business Element Plumbing + Gas. Having worked on buildings both in New Zealand and overseas, they felt the time was right for them to step out.

It had been a long-held dream to work for themselves, ever since they met at a block course in Wellington some years back. Tom says they both

TAYLOR HOUSTON, ADAM PARKER, DEAN O’LEARY, AND HAMISH EGLINTON.

YOU’LL REALLY BE IN YOUR ELEMENT WITH THESE GUYS

Tom Johnston (left) and Hemi Tupaea

Popular car brand loved by generations topping sales

Brent Cooper and his team at Wairarapa Mitsubishi are extremely proud to be offering New Zealand’s favourite 7-seat SUV – the Outlander. It’s the newest model from the Mitsubishi fleet of proven vehicles, which have appealed to New Zealanders for generations. Close behind in popularity is the Triton Ute.

“It’s simple really,” says Brent. “Mitsubishi has always prided itself on being a value-based product selling at the recommended sale price, making it affordable to many people. Safety features are extraordinary, while styling and attention to detail are impressive.”

He sells the Mitsubishi brand with a genuine passion. “Since the 1960s, Mitsubishi in New Zealand has offered solid, dependable vehicles, and from its base in Porirua, offers immediate support to its 60-odd dealerships

nationwide. At this year’s Mitsubishi Motors NZ annual Diamond Dealer awards, Brent and wife Tracey Cooper, were announced winners of the coveted Diamond Dealer award – for the second year in a row. Winning requires excellence in all areas of the dealership over a 12-month period, including achieving top sales. Brent and Tracey were lauded as “small-town heroes” topping sales charts despite being immersed in a major store renovation.

The fresh-look Wairarapa Mitsubishi entrance at the Queen Street premises has proved a big hit with staff and customers alike. There’s ample room for several vehicles to be showcased and the sleek lines of the new foyer is punctuated with a one-stop reception desk welcoming people in. Bonnie, who has been in the automotive

industry for eons, is the one-stop person. She can answer most questions and direct people to sales or service and everywhere in between. She is joined by Michelle who is learning the business with enthusiasm. Brent heads the sales team at Wairarapa Mitsubishi which also comprises Steve, Clive, Craig and Amy finance/business manager. The allimportant service department is ready for any task of all brands and are always keen to help.

Mitsubishi Motors NZ ended with an unprecedented 3566 sales in March 2022, led by a record-breaking 2266 Triton Utes – a 105% increase from March 2021.

Mitsubishi is also the leading Plug-in Hybrid SUV brand in the country. Brent recalls seven years ago; Mitsubishi was the #7 selling car brand in New Zealand and now in 2022 – it sold the most vehicles for the first six months of the calendar year in New Zealand. A phenomenal meteoric rise.

As a 16-year-old apprentice mechanic at Tranzit Coachlines in Masterton, Brent recalls admiring the Mitsubishi vehicles on sale across the road at the car yard, never daring to dream he would eventually own the place. It gives him huge satisfaction to be part of this winning team in 2022.

BRENT COOPER.

“ Mitsubishi has always prided itself on being a value-based product selling at the recommended sale price, making it affordable to many people.”

Tiles & stonework

adding that touch of class

Care and attention of your vehicle a top priority

Tiles add a touch of pizazz to a bathroom, kitchen, patio, entranceway, workplace - in fact, anywhere you’d like a bit of decoration or statement!

Tiles hark back to Roman times and today Bailey Thomas Allsworth is carrying on this ancient tradition with his own business, BT Tiling. A knee injury has kept him from getting down to the work he loves but meantime with qualified tiler, ‘Big Mitch’ (Mitchell Sveistrup) and apprentice Jamie Shepherd, they are keeping up with demand for their creative work.

Bailey got into tiling doing work experience while at college. “I just loved the look of tiles and how they can completely change a room – giving it a blast. They are an excellent product too, from a practical point of view and so easy to keep clean.”

Bailey was just 21 when he set up his business nearly three years ago and these days, he’s loving having the support of a talented team. “It’s great having that second pair of eyes to check

things and to discuss potential design.” He also enjoys the camaraderie of having work colleagues.

Bailey and Mitchell get called on for all manner of tiling jobs and enjoy that each one is unique.

They have noticed that people are getting increasingly daring and inventive. Tiling work in a Wellington barber shop recently had then hugely proud of the outcome.

“I love clients who put their faith in us and say, “just do something creative and eye catching.” That’s a real challenge.” A current trend is black grouting which makes tiles pop from the walls – visually.

He enjoys the creative outlet so much, and wonders if that comes from his family of barbers who enjoy cutting hair. His father has Tonz Barber Shop in Masterton, his uncle and grandfather have also cut hair at Kuripuni. Bailey has enjoyed breaking the mould though. Keep an eye out for his work.

Nearly five years ago mechanic Ben Hooper grabbed the chance, with partner Jordan, to purchase Cheer’s Auto and Tyres in Carterton. It’s been a rocky road manoeuvring their way through covid, but both give a cheery welcome when you enter their refurbished reception area of their workshop in Pembroke Street, Carterton (just over the railway line).

The corrugated iron characters on the roofline make customers smile upon arrival but what Ben wants is for his customers to smile even more when they find there’s not a lot of work needed to do on their vehicles. “It may sound counterproductive to a workshop, but we love to see vehicles well looked after, not needing major work, and clients not having to face hefty bills due to delayed maintenance,” says Ben.

He and his team are on an education drive to encourage vehicle owners to foster a maintenance mentality. “It’s not only cheaper in the long run but it helps the vehicle survive longer.” He says no one wants to have to face an expensive engine replacement when

all they needed six months previous was an oil and filter change. “We are really trying to provide good practical advice as we want the best for our customers.”

Apart from Ben in the workshop, there’s Jason Brixton (2IC qualified mechanic), Joel Charters (3rd year apprentice) and Leonora Snoodijk (1st year apprentice). Accounts are done by Bonnie Horton and Jordan is the office manager.

The workshop is equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and equipment and offers a complete range of mechanical services, including wheel alignments, batteries, radiator cooling system repairs, engine re-conditioning, suspension, exhaust, gearbox, and diff repairs, cambelts and more.

Whatever a vehicle needs to keep it safe and running on the road. Ben can source parts for all vehicles quickly and gets competitive prices. He will happily provide quotes and is WINZ approved. Cheer’s Auto & Tyres is also an approved repairer for most insurance policies.

FROM LEFT BEN HOOPER (OWNER), JOEL CHARTERS (APPRENTICE) AND JASON BRIXTON (MECHANIC).

Making television viewing a simple,

For those of a certain age, you may remember decades ago, roaming your yard or rooftop, clutching your TV aerial in the search of good reception, while family members yelled instructions from inside.

Over 60 years on, television and its reception has gone in leaps and bounds and today we are spoilt for choice on how we watch TV. There’s Freeview, TVNZ+, Netflix, Neon, Disney+, YouTube and within these, a bewildering array of channels with tantalising names like Eden, Rush, and Bravo.

It’s exciting, but it can also be overwhelming for many and that’s why brothers Sean and Alex Nyboer of Cable Guy Wairarapa Ltd, are in such hot demand. They set up televisions to access everything stress-free, whether you have a ‘smart’ TV, or by installing Chromecast or Apple TV devices to boost selection on regular televisions. Sean has earned a sound reputation of being the ‘go-to man’ in Wairarapa. He’s an aerial and satellite dish technician which makes what seems a minefield to most, an easy task and makes TV reception work smoothly. Sean enjoys troubleshooting too, sorting out any problems or issues with TV reception, and he likes to go

operation

that extra mile with mounting screens on walls and ensuring cables are tidied away. He brings 17 years of experience to each job, assisted in administration by his mother, Caroline Nyboer. His brother, Alex has recently moved with his young family from Taranaki and has joined the business.

A lot of the work isn’t just fixing problems either but installing communication systems in houses, including home theatre systems. It’s best to contact Cable Guy first when a house is being built to ensure the correct cabling is installed from the beginning.

Wairarapa’s geography is a challenge for television reception, especially where people are using Ultra High Frequency (UHF) antenna to pick up reception from the tower sited at Popoiti, east of Greytown. Everything from trees, hills, ride-on mowers to egg incubators, have affected reception! Generally, Sean and Alex have a good idea what’s causing the issue and it can be remedied. Older satellite dishes often need parts replaced or realigned too.

With the introduction of Starlink satellite internet, Sean and Alex have been busy mounting these securely on people’s homes and connecting them inside. Ask about this innovation.

A welcoming home-awayfrom-home for your pet

Keen to please, they sit and gaze pa�ently when he approaches. His own two dogs obediently come to him and sit hopefully. Molly and Cruz know they are special. They were dogs, which clients could not keep anymore. “It’s so temp�ng to collect dogs, I have to limit myself,” smiles Michael.

When he purchased Ladymead Kennels at Opaki, north of Masterton four years ago, he knew instantly he had found his niche. He loves the company of animals. Michael, wife Kate, and their children Ryley (5) and Samantha (2) enjoy the good life at Ladymead, where love abounds.

The family make a good team at the kennels, in a job which demands round the clock care and a�en�on. They have made major altera�ons to the exercise yards, and runs have been enlarged and re-designed. Ladymead sits just north of Masterton off S tate H ighway 2. It is also where Michael and Kate and their children live. They have re-modelled the car park, created colourful signage, and landscaped gardens making for an a�rac�ve entrance which Michael says customers o�en congratulate them on.

During holidays, Ladymead can house up to 90 dogs, regularly there’s around 60. Half of these will be ‘day-care dogs’ which people drop off each morning - a new phenomenon in kennels, according to Michael, and one which is proving increasingly popular. “It’s far healthier for your dog to be in the company of others. It’s so important for their sociability.”

A typical Ladymead day starts at 7am when the dogs are let out for exercise. Day-care dogs also start to arrive. The kennels are cleaned, and water

buckets filled and by 10am all boarding animals are se�led back into their kennels and fed. At 2pm, the process of exercising, cleaning, and feeding begins all over again. Ladymead also caters for cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds and has even had the odd pig stay. Michael and his team have adopted an open-all-hours policy, to enable pet owners flexibility. Best to call first though, just to check Michael hasn’t had the rare opportunity to get away.

He and Kate are ably assisted by Carla Smith, who has many years of experience working with all types of animals. There’s also Julia Harrild, who has been with them over a year, keen to learn the world of animal care. Sandra Macklin, Michael’s mother, is also on-hand helping since the beginning of Ladymead, and is a valuable addi�on, familiar with the running of the popular kennels.

SEAN AND ALEX NYBOER.

MICHAEL MACKLIN AND CHILDREN RYLEY AND SAMANTHA.

Michael Macklin’s quiet, caring manner is picked up by the animals around him.

HAPPY STAFFY LADYMEAD.

LADYMEAD

All your Core Legal needs right here

In these uncertain times, having your trusted legal professional on-hand and available to speak with you when needed is re-assuring, in fact, it’s vital, according to lawyer hristian orgensen. This ethos was at the forefront when Shannon and hristian became irectors, and the former roperty aw Service was rebranded as ore egal on st April . “We wanted to be a firm where if you have a problem, you can feel comfortable enough to call and have a chat says hristian. e are also competitive in our pricing and offer a total continuity of service with a dedicated team of legal professionals. e do not want our clients to get handed from person to person over the course of a transaction.”

hristian and Shannon are unashamedly proud of ore egal and the talented team they work with. “ e have a diverse and experienced team behind us, and we can offer all your core legal needs in a flash from ills to “what do I do now - we have the talent and drive and are here to help anyone who needs it” says Shannon.

Shannon and hristian complement each other perfectly with their legal expertise. hristian specialises in property law and subdivisions, including commercial leases, and refinancing.

Approachable and friendly, one of his key drivers is for his clients to feel comfortable and informed. ther than law, hristian is known for his home cooking, enjoyed by his wife athryn also a ore egal solicitor and their young children.

Shannon is an expert in relationship property including pre-nuptial agreements, separation agreements and disputes. He also advises in commercial law and property matters. He is a father of three and loves spending time camping or paua diving with them. He also enjoys martial arts and is a lack elt in kinawan oju yu.

ith their team alongside them, ore egal has a full complement of advisors to assist clients get the best results all in a friendly and constructive manner. Their supportive team of solicitors and egal xecutives assist clients in all aspects of general practice including estate work, conveyancing needs and more.

ore egal’s o ces are across the top floor of the iconic s asonic uilding on hapel Street. ome and see them and you will likely walk away with a branded gel pen always a hit with their clients and uno cially the best pens in town .

A unique and personalised flooring service

Shaun Stephens took over the Harrison Carpet & Flooring Wairarapa franchise in February 2022.

It has been a seamless transition from Kevin and Treacy Galbraith who had spent 17 years growing the business locally. Shaun says it’s a pleasure to continue the great personalised service.

Harrisons has been flooring New Zealanders for over 60 years. The point of difference with this service is that they bring the offerings of a flooring showroom directly into your home or business via the Harrisons’ in-home mobile service.

The eye-catching-brightly-coloured van packed with carpet samples can hardly be missed on Wairarapa roads. The service means you can get down and close to the flooring which attracts you and to see first-hand how it will look. The samples are large too, so your imagination doesn’t have to be stretched!

With a family of their own and having lived in Wairarapa for the past 15 years, Shaun and his wife, Ann identify with the client base. They know what products will look aesthetically pleasing in homes while also offering excellent functional performance to withstand the rigours of family life.

For Shaun it’s a personal obsession. “I’ve spent over 28 years, working across the entire flooring and carpet industry, in about every area from manufacturing and installation, through to retail. It’s not just a job

for me, it’s my absolute passion. A great floor covering can lift a room. It is tactile and sensory helping with acoustics.”

Shaun qualified as a vinyl and carpet layer in the 1990s and he’s keen for customers to benefit from his experience and is enthusiastic about the way Harrisons provide the at-home service.

“It’s a no-brainer really. I see so many people frustrated with carrying about small pieces of carpet, trying to get an idea of what they want. And, then there’s the wool versus synthetic debate, which needs to be considered and understood.”

“I come to you,” says Shaun, “and provide a full consultation in your own home. I carry over 400 samples and can talk about the colours and practicalities of products suited to each room. I’ll take measurements and can draw up a proposal. It’s an excellent service, at a level not being offered elsewhere.”

Shaun project manages each job and deals with clients directly, from initial consultation to completion. The installers are qualified trade professionals and Shaun likes to liaise with the client through the process providing reassurance and answering any queries.

“Seeing the final transformation of a home or business and have a happy customer,” makes this job fun says Shaun proudly.

LEGAL

AT YOUR SERVICE, SHAUN STEPHENS WITH HIS WIFE, ANN.

Supplier of native plants across rural Wairarapa

Just outside Masterton, nestled along Norfolk Road lies one of the Wairarapa’s most precious plant nurseries.

Norfolk Road Nursery specialises in propagating all manner of native trees from seeds and seedlings that are eco-sourced from sites across Wairarapa. Popular with locals, the nursey is a huge asset for anyone living rurally on a farm or lifestyle block. “That’s because we can help advise landowners on native regeneration, riparian planting or shelterbelt planting and provide them with native plants that we think will work for them based on our prior experience with similar sites,” smiles nursery co-owner Tracey Harlen.

Need plants? Tracey says to place orders in advance, in Spring or Summer to guarantee plant availability. “Planting natives is best in wet months like Autumn or Winter, but if customers are planning a large project, please place your order ahead of the season so our production can be scaled accordingly. We don’t want you to miss out!”.

Phone, email, or drop-in for plant advice, order collection or to take plants home with you. Delivery also available.

NZ made fishing tackle

The fishing mad father and son team of Peter and Chris Thomas aim to continue a 25-year tradition of providing top quality fishing gear throughout New Zealand. Wild Blue Tackle is synonymous with offering the best fishing rigs you can buy when you are heading out to fish. The meticulous attention to detail and hand tying sets it apart from cheap equivalents.

Wild Blue Tackle has always been family-based and is an impressive hands-on venture where Peter and Chris use a variety of enthusiastic fishermen, often retired, who will collect the raw products (line, hooks, swivels, crimps), carefully hand tie them, and pack them up in recyclable bags which are then provided to outlets. In Wairarapa – that’s King and Henry, Hunting and Fishing, and The Boat Shed.

Originally started by Neil Cook in 1995, in the early 2000s Daryl Moss took over and grew the business. Wanting more time for his own fishing and golfing, he happily handed over the business to Peter, wife Nic and son Chris. Daryl keeps a hand in product testing new equipment – sourced from the US, Korea, UK, and New Zealand.

Peter grew up in Masterton and moved away for work in Wellington and Auckland. He and Nic now live at Riversdale, by the sea where they love to be. With their enthusiasm for fishing, it was natural Chris would take on the sport. He was working on crayfishing boats on Cook Strait when he and his mates featured in a Country Calendar programme. He has also worked for boatbuilders in Palmerston North. Based at Otaki, where he lives with partner, Maddie and two young children, he owns three boats and will go game fishing anywhere he can.

Waihau Bay on the East Cape 50kms northeast of Gisborne is a favourite, so is Great Barrier Island in the outer Hauraki Gulf.

And when you ask about recent fishing exploits, their eyes light up talking about the Blue Fin tuna they caught this year off Waihau Bay.

But then, that’s just one of many fishing catches worth talking about!

688

CHRIS (LEFT) AND PETER THOMAS.

At Property Brokers,

also

Our business is

Bricklaying creating the Difference

Bricklayer Morgan Austin and his team are feeling thankful and lucky. Thankful for the faith of companies, which continue to support Cornerstone, and lucky that the tough covid times seem to be behind us and business is thriving again. When Men@Work caught up with Morgan, he and his guys were completing brickwork on the new social housing development created by Emerge Aotearoa in Iorns Street, Masterton. Morgan and his team were delighted to be working alongside Jennian on such an important project. They spent several weeks bricking two large units using a white brick with a natural grey mortar.

Bricklaying has its own language among the tradies. Morgan Austin should know, he’s been speaking it for the past 20 years. “We talk about the ‘feel’ of our work, how colours ‘leap’ at you and how the lustre of stone shines in the sun and rain, when sealed properly,” explains Morgan. “The term ‘brickie’ has been used disparagingly in the past, but we’ve come into our own in the building trade.” Cornerstone’s work is admired throughout Wairarapa in houses, commercial premises, and specialty places like vineyards.

Morgan leads a team of six always including a college student offering a taste for bricklaying. Currently, it’s Miles Garrett from Makoura College, who has shown great interest in the trade and the Cornerstone team. With

Morgan, there are brothers Uriah and Shechaniah Hing, Brodie McDowell and Travis Brown.

Morgan specialises in Blockwork which he was exposed to early in his apprenticeship in Auckland under Mandron Masonry.

Mandron only did Blockwork and the jobs were always enormous. He remembers turning up to site on certain jobs and thinking where do we even start. Now with many years of experience under the belt Morgan relishes in the challenge of large block jobs. There is so much more to the eye when looking at block work, the steel work alone inside the blocks is a major task on its own, understanding the plans and the importance that you must be bang on with your measurements. The physical aspect is demanding and relentless, but the job satisfaction after you have constructed a large scale build is an amazing sense of achievement.

With the evolution of the industry, cleaning has become an important part of the job. Each job needs to be treated differently as there are so many different bricks available. Existing brick houses can be rejuvenated and made to look fresh and vibrant again. A close second to brick and stone, Morgan is passionate about boxing. A great community person, he’s a coach with the Wairarapa Academy and loves the energetic sport and discipline it evokes.

Perfect surfaces guaranteed

Getting anything prepped for painting, or any other surface coating, is a lot easier with Evan Morgan’s help at Wairarapa Mobile Media Blasting.

With Evan’s experience and right equipment, WMMB is your local media blasting business for removing any material back to its original state. Ideal for the removal of rust, paint, powder coating, heavy industrial coatings, WMMB can blast either dry or wet (to reduce dust plumes).

“We also use a variety of different media to match the surface we are blasting,” says Evan.

Projects have included industrial steel, cars and associated parts, caravans, gates, brickwork, a rotary cowshed table, outdoor furniture, bridges, pools, trucks and trailers and concrete driveways. You name it, they can be restored to near original state.

Also available is a vapour blast cabinet to remove coatings on smaller items such as car and motorcycle parts, wheels, and indeed anything that requires a more delicate surface blasting process. WMMB travels

Wairarapa wide and can arrange to pick up and return smaller items, if necessary. Call Evan you won’t be disappointed and even surprised at what surface he can re-create for you.

TOP LEFT MORGAN AUSTIN AND TRAVIS BROWN. FRONT FROM LEFT: URIAH HING, BRODIE M c DOWELL AND SHECHANIAH HING.

EVAN MORGAN.

Creating Sheltered Outdoor Living Areas

Jake Minty is flat out with his business, Shades Direct, and is enthusiastic about the products he creates for those wishing for a bit of shelter from the Wairarapa climate. Be it, rain, sun, or wind – there’s a construction which protects and enhances every home.

With his wife, Casey, Jake purchased Shades Direct Wairarapa, Wellington and Manawatu divisions, two years ago. Shades Direct is a company that prides itself on having owneroperators in many parts of New Zealand. They have recently set up their operation base in new premises in Ngaumutawa Road, Masterton.

“They are such great products … they sell themselves … I’m so proud of the Kiwi owned company,” says Jake. “Because they are all manufactured within New Zealand, supplies were not a problem during covid, and now people are able to operate per normal, they are wanting to upgrade their surroundings.” Orders are flying in –especially now with summer coming and the hope of gaining shelter from the hot sun.

Jake and Casey decided they wanted to work together. They looked around for a business that suited their skill set and one they could genuinely get excited about. Shades Direct is a New Zealand company which ticked all the boxes for them. Jake has an architectural/ engineering background which means this business model was like second

nature to him. Jake is involved with the hands-on installation of the products, quoting and the drawings, while Casey has strong people and marketing skills. The awnings are customised to suit individual spaces, and Jake can build them based on engineering specifications signed by two independent companies and with the company guarantee. The New Zealand quality stands strong throughout this business.

Shades Direct offers residential and commercial aluminium awnings, screens for privacy or shelter, folding arm awnings, shade sails and in fact, anything you wish to cover or camouflage.

They are custom built to suit unique situations. “Do it once and do it right,” is the motto he stands by.

“New Zealanders are such outdoor people and love their homes, they want to enjoy outdoor living in any weather and conditions. Sun, rain or the gusty Wairarapa winds are great, but we need that element of protection,” says Jake, who loves the products made from construction grade aluminium.

They come powder-coated to any colour of your choice. The awnings are 99% UV protected, the corrugated polycarbonate roofing comes with a hail guarantee or with the 6mm thick Clear Span roofing which is 150x stronger than tempered glass. “What’s not to like?” he enthuses.

Helping Wairarapa

Drake has been the name synonymous with finding personnel for businesses around New Zealand for over 50 years. Over 70 years around the world.

Steve Humphrey has notched up more than 20 years in Recruitment, more than 12 of that with Drake and began working with the Wairarapa team in early 2021. In his extensive experience of finding people to fit with jobs, he admits the current low (3.1%) unemployment rates in New Zealand is making his job a whole lot harder.

“We have employers crying out for workers and are bending over backwards to create good job packages but there are more jobs than people at present,” says Steve. “We have dozens of jobs in Wairarapa we can fill. So, if you’re looking for a new direction give us a call.”

Steve lists many factors for the oversupply of jobs. Covid and closed borders has meant less travellers in New Zealand wanting temporary work; New Zealand has fallen out of favour with some travellers; overseas students have not returned in large numbers yet; many young people are going to Australia, and New Zealand’s inflated cost of living is a deterrent.

He lauds the efforts employers are going to in offering flexible hours to fit in with family commitments and acknowledges people are increasingly desiring a healthy work/life balance.

“This is reflected in how employers offer jobs and conditions like great superannuation schemes and free health support.”

Steve is frustrated that Drake comes across people whom it places in employment but then express a preference to remain on a benefit, rather than settle into employment. “There is so much advantage in having meaningful employment for an individual and purely money should not be the only motivator.”

Drake staff in Wairarapa are working hard against these odds to find people for jobs. Steve is joined by Ashleigh and Kayla. They all have experience in recruitment and Drake not only has people at its heart but also offers training packages for employers to find the right person for the job. Person profiling is a major and popular tool.

Drake’s Wairarapa office is at 409 Queen Street, Masterton. Call in and see what they’re doing to source talent and what jobs they have on offer. You may be pleasantly surprised.

OUTSIDERCLEARSPAN

OUTDOOR SCREENS FOLDING ARM AWNINGS

JAKE MINTY.

Steve Humphrey

Providing tyres to keep Wairarapa rolling

When midnight rolls around, most of Wairarapa is sleeping.

Not so for the diligent team at Joe’s Tyres. Midnight can be when their day is gearing up, helping stranded truckers, harvesters, and loggers get up on their wheels and back to work.

Joe’s Tyres is owned by Colin and Milli Richardson and has been based on Villa Street in Masterton since 2014. They offer a multi-level service. There’s the retail service from their fully equipped workshop for cars, trucks, and utes; Commercial for agricultural machinery, and truck servicing, either on the road or in the client’s yards. This large-scale servicing is often necessary over a weekend when fewer trucks are needed on the road, so that’s why Joe’s Tyres is proud to be a 24/7 service. It’s an immediate and full-on service when it comes to tyre servicing.

The Fleet manager is Johnny Ripine, and technicians Matt Vizor, Gabriel Brewster, Arapeta Hautapu and Antonio Chapman.

Colin loves the business. “No two days

are the same. You never know who is going to walk in the door or will phone needing help.”

Joe’s Tyres has contracts with many Wairarapa agricultural businesses. Around 85 per cent of the business is commercial ie: heavy trucks, agricultural vehicles, industrial loaders, forestry skidders, and farming vehicles. They cover the entire Wairarapa from Ngawi to Eketahuna and, when dealing with commercial callouts, the technicians can expect to find themselves anywhere and everywhere. “We’ve been at Cape Palliser, to the Remutaka summit, and even the Hutt expressway,” says Colin. “You could get a call from a farmer whose tractor tyres have blown in the middle of a field, in the middle of nowhere. We must be very adaptable. If one of our forestry clients has a puncture and can’t make their delivery, they can lose thousands of dollars in one day.”

And it’s not only emergency call-outs. Wise equipment operators get their machines maintained and Joe’s Tyres technicians do regular servicing of truck fleets, checking for punctures, foreign objects, and tread wear.

Specialist engineering repairs to your door

aul Meyer is a ualified engineer specialising in machinery diagnostics, hydraulics, and hose repairs.

or those aware, this is a vital skill and service for truck owners and drivers keen to keep their rigs on the road and for many business owners with machines which need to continually keep running.

aul has set up two vehicles to provide this on-call service one for smaller maintenance obs while the larger one carries all the heavy-duty material needed for on-site repairs, including a hose-fi ng machine. He uses German Manuli hydraulics which offers a complete range of hoses, fi ngs and assembly e uipment purpose designed to work seamlessly together. aul says this harmonised approach allows him to guarantee the uality and performance of the product which spans years of reliability.

stablishing his business in midhas been a long-held ambition for this engineer, who has experience in the

GENERAL ENGINEERING

trade both in outh Africa and in ew ealand since .

He and his wife, acky and four children left urban, outh Africa, for a new life and the family have not looked back.

They spent nine years in Ashburton and moved north to settle in arterton in . We en oy provincial ew ealand and Wairarapa seemed an attractive option, says aul.

He admits it was nerve wracking stepping out on his own in business, but he has attracted loyal clients. The printing giant, Webstar, has valued his expertise and availability as have arthcare and its fleet of trucks.

aul has always loved making things and learning how machines work. t came naturally as a child and when it was time to find a ob back in outh Africa, it was his mother who put his name down for an apprenticeship at the local smelting company. The rest is history ...

PAUL MEYER.

THE TEAM AT JOE’S TYRES: BACK JOHNNY, LEFT TO RIGHT: COLIN, GABRIEL, ARAPETA, MATT, ANTONIO.

Architectural photographer & videographer highlighting Wairarapa

Jason Ireland loves Wairarapa. So much so, he’s created a business, Property Tour NZ which showcases the region, ranging from real estate to the facilities available and the aweinspiring scenery. Think Waiohine Gorge, Castlepoint, Cape Palliser. He will photograph or video whatever is required and turn it into a winning production. Putting a house’s best foot forward is what he does well.

Wairarapa born and bred, Jason believes deeply in this region, lauding it as the best place for an entrepreneur. “You can test an idea here. This is the place to do it. It’s ripe for ingenuity and development.”

Walking the talk – that’s what it’s all about. “If you believe you can do it, you will!”

He sets personal goals aiming to constantly do better, striving to improve, and always growing.

Property Tour NZ is a perfect example of this thinking.

Jason managed the music venue King Street Live in Masterton and, when that closed six years ago, he found himself looking for work. He got creative, merged his abilities and interests –music, architecture, photography, and taught himself how to edit and use a drone. Property Tour NZ was born.

Now a Video and Photography Specialist, he is the go-to man when real estate agents and private sellers want to market their properties. A carefully crafted video, overlaid with music, taking you on a tour through the house, successfully inspires buyers. It’s especially ideal for overseas buyers who can get a good visual handle from afar on the property they are interested in.

Jason estimates he has helped sell millions of dollars’ worth of property in Wairarapa. He equally enjoys presenting the historic, the quirky, to the clean lines of contemporary homes.

“Each property, all sizes and age, emanate their own special type of ambience and that’s what I set out to reflect. Sometimes, it can be in a single clever photograph, but more often it’s a video which allows people to take that personal journey themselves through the property.

And, when it comes to drone photography, there’s nothing better than a bird’s eye view of a property. Puts it all into perspective.

Take one of Jason’s tours, Visit Jason’s website www.propertytournz.co.nz

Or check out the QR Code for a virtual experience right here!

TRANZIT - KEEPING THE WHEELS TURNING

Tranzithaslongheldthereputation of being pioneers and innovators andhasnointentionofstopping.

As New Zealand’s largest familyowned transport and tourism company, Tranzit employs over 2000 team members, operates over 2000 vehicles nationwide and has seven workshops located in the North Island.

Throughout Wairarapa, Tranzit employs 87 team members across its Health & Safety, Finance, Marketing, People & Culture, operations, drivers, mechanics, panel beaters, auto trimming and spray-painting teams. This team lives in Wairarapa and bring specialist skills to the region to help it thrive.

Tranzit’s National Fleet Manager Daryn Murphy says the company does everything from steel work fabrication and panel beating to spray painting and working on its growing fleet of electric buses.

“There are engines to rebuild, faults to diagnose and basic servicing, such as COFs to complete as well as the opportunity to work on our diverse vehicle fleet – from vans through to double deck electric buses. It’s an exciting career and full of variety.”

A total of 14 mechanics, panel beaters, auto electricians and EV electricians as well as one panel apprentice and two diesel apprentices keep Tranzit’s wheels turning in its Masterton workshop.

“Our team is made up of really great people who are hardworking, determined to learn and all enjoy a good laugh at the end of the day,” says Daryn.

The other exciting side to electrifying Tranzit’s bus fleet is upskilling its engineers and mechanics. To date four diesel mechanics have completed the MITO New Zealand Certificate in Electric Vehicle Automotive Engineering (Level 5) and three more have been awarded MITO Level 5 scholarships. This helps Tranzit o er a clear career path for the workshop team.

“You can begin with us as an apprentice mechanic and end up specialising in e-buses as well be

given the opportunity to be involved in special projects such as our Repower bus project,” says Daryn.

The team continues to be recognised as industry leaders in electric vehicles and charging infrastructure and because they’ve pioneered e-bus technology into NZ, they have had to learn as they go … and so are happy to share their learnings with others.

Repower Bus

In a Southern Hemisphere first, Tranzit’s Masterton workshop team successfully converted a double deck diesel bus to 100% electric.

The project began after the team was discussing alternative ways to decarbonise public transport. After much planning, the actual conversion took six months to complete in 2021 and proved to be an extremely complex project.

After rigorous testing, the certified bus began delivering public transport services in Wellington in January.

Then, in July 2022 Tranzit took the bus on a groundbreaking 675km road trip from Wellington to Auckland - groundbreaking because it was the first time ever a double deck e-bus had travelled this distance. It used 702kw/h of energy with six chargers and saved 337.7L of diesel and 1 ton of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.

Once in Auckland, this bus completed a series of trials on AT’s bus routes which showed it reliably achieved 230km in service - equating to 115 litres of diesel savings and 299kgs of carbon emission savings. When using the dual plug charger at 240wK (close to 400amps) it had a charge of around 45 minutes. It had 16% brake regeneration in Auckland compared with 30% in Wellington, due to its hilly topography.

join our team tranzit.co.nz | 0800 200 018

Loan Market Wairarapa

MATT SPICER.

Guiding people in a tough financial market

For 21 years registered financial adviser Matt Spicer has provided home loan advice to potential borrowers.

Before this, he spent a decade in banking. As a result of his knowledge, keen listening ear, and experience, there are many happy homeowners throughout Wairarapa, whom Matt has helped get a mortgage.

Matt describes the past 12 months as especially challenging in the financial sector after the Credit Contracts & Consumer Finance Act which was passed December 2021.

“Tough criteria, especially if a client has less than the 20% required deposit for a home purchase, has been hard on people keen to get on to the property ladder. Tight scrutiny over borrowers’ discretionary spending has also been tough.” It has had advisers, like himself, on their toes and in some cases, they have questioned the criteria, such as lenders considering savings as an outgoing cost. Matt argues this should be considered as a positive in the financial picture of a person’s ability to re-pay a loan. “This independent scrutiny has been important in helping our clients and we’ve been able to foster leniency resulting in loans being approved.”

Matt is joined by Mortgage Adviser, Kath Clendon, and along with PA Tania Finlayson, they help guide people through the maze of applying for finance. They sit and hear about people’s lives, learn their ambitions, and most importantly, their financial situation, to see if this translates

to being eligible to borrow money immediately. If not, they help put a plan in place towards reaching that goal. There’s much ‘behind the scenes’ work before the application is submitted.

Here’s what happy clients had to say: “We went to see Matt in the early stages of saving for our first home to get some advice and construct a savings plan. With Matt’s consistent support, we worked hard and stuck to our plan for a year, and we now own our first home. Matt made this very new process extremely seamless, and it was such a positive experience. Matt went above and beyond for us, and for that we are incredibly grateful!” Kayla & Logan.

“We’ve had years of experience in the finance industry and keeping up with the trends is vital to helping people get their end goal,” says Matt. The Loan Market team are proud that they keep up with the latest trends. “We save our clients time, cost and hassle and they glean from our wealth of knowledge and experience.” The clear message from Matt to people wanting to secure a mortgage is to “come and talk with us first”.

Out of office, Matt enjoys time with his family, from managing his kids’ sports teams to spending precious time with nine-month-old granddaughter, Saydie. He also helps wife Lauren when he can with their early childhood centre, He Pounamu, at Dalefield west Carterton.

Mechanic Tom Nikolaison working on an e -bus

Gareth Price with his MITO L5 certificate; and Daryn Murphy, Andrew Gray and Gareth Price with Tranzit’s repowered bus

Landscaping for your lifestyle

When Nick Dench bought a tiny skid steer loader to move rocks on his lifestyle retirement property, little did he imagine it would lead to a whole new career in landscaping and a thriving multi-faceted business.

“Things were pottering along and then my son Martyn, came back from working in Japan and joined me in the business,” explains Nick. “A few years later, there’s nine of us, and we offer everything from lawns and driveways, to decks, retaining walls, concrete, paving, irrigation – the whole package.”

Martyn brought his amenity horticultural skills from years of working at Wellington Botanic Gardens and the Otari Native Plant Museum. Combined with Nick’s advertising and business background, the company took off.

So, what has seen the company grow to become Wairarapa’s leading landscape contractor?

“Everyone in the team gets a real kick out of creating environments that customers enjoy.

For some clients it’s as simple as making their suburban section low maintenance. A lot of our work is

turning new building sites into a liveable place for the new owners from the day they move in.”

Some of the higher profile work the company has done recently includes the pedestrian bridge over the Waipoua River, the new Emerge development in Iorns Street, all three stages of the Kandahar Home expansion and all the Jennian Homes in their Westbush development.

Nick and Martyn have formal qualifications in horticulture, turf management and viticulture.

In addition, Dingo Nick has a qualified licensed building practitioner on staff and all new staff are signed up for landscape apprenticeships.

“I think that’s a big point of difference for us,” says Martyn. “Knowledge is the key tool for the job.”

In addition to the knowledge, Dingo Nick has three new excavators, a new 4-ton Bobcat, three tip trucks, soil screen, a hydroseeder, and a wide range of building and specialty landscaping tools.

To see how Dingo Nick can landscape for your lifestyle, check out their Facebook page or email Martyn marty@dingonick.co.nz

LANDSCAPING

• Lawns - hydroseeding, turf and artificial

Gravel driveways - new and

Paving • Edging

wooden and concrete

• Residential irrigation

• Garden beds and

Soak pits

Small concrete pads

There is a Māori proverb: He aha te mea nui o te ao, he tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata. It roughly translates: “What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.”

For Paul Southey and his team at A1homes in Wairarapa, this is an ethos they have all worked to. “I could not operate my business without my wonderful diverse team, and we collaborate with the people using our service. Simple really. It’s all about the people.”

Paul and his wife Jeanette established the Wairarapa branch of A1homes in 2004. Raised in South Wairarapa, they met as students at Kuranui College. Further education, marriage and children followed, and the pair began dabbling in buying kitset homes from the then Wellingtonbased A1homes. They quickly saw an exciting potential in Wairarapa and when offered the Wairarapa franchise they eagerly purchased it. They have never regretted their decision.

These days Paul is busy handing over the reins to his team, however he remains immersed in the construction industry, via Master Builders, development interests, and the passion to support local. Paul initially trained

as a teacher and so these skills come in handy in his new ventures.

Being of Ngāti Kahungunu descent on his mother’s side, Paul is keen to encourage Māori and Pasifika into the building trade and even into owning their own businesses. He regularly speaks to students, heralding the value of learning the trade. Paul also heads the Wairarapa Māori Business Network. “I’ve always been about lifelong learning, striving to better ourselves and support each other. If this type of network had been around when Jeanette and I were starting out it would have be immensely helpful.”

At A1 Tim Fenwick has a wealth of knowledge and years of experience in the industry. He works within all areas of the business to maintain the continued success of operations. Tim Fenwick is joined by Matthew Williams, he has moved to the Wairarapa and was attracted to A1homes because of the tight team and family orientated focus and the ability to grow his knowledge and skill set. Yes, it’s all about the people and the community so come and talk to the A1homes team they are here to help.

Main Street, Greytown

- Fri 9am – 4pm / Saturday 11am – 3pm

Introducing Paul Southey, Matt Williams

Tim Fenwick

Window tinting service and personalised clothing

Did you know that tinting your vehicle’s windows cuts out 99% UV rays and can cool the interior of up to 30%? It could be a good move for the summer.

Increasing numbers of motorists are looking to Shaun Pollard and his Kool tintz service to reduce the glare through their windows. Farmers are loving it on their tractors, as are long distance truck drivers for reducing that eye straining glare. Then there’s the privacy factor which many people like.

But it’s not only vehicles which Shaun’s tinting service is attracting. Business and homeowners are also asking for their windows to be tinted. It makes so much difference that squinting out into the harsh sunshine and again it provides privacy.

Shaun had been caring for vehicles for many years. He and wife Lisa owned Autogroom in Masterton and have since sold on. “A clean vehicle is not only nice to have but vital if it’s emblazoned with your business name and is a major tool of your trade.” Shaun still loves vehicles but wanted to try new business ventures.

The pair are now concentrating on the window tinting business and also a

new direction of emblazoning clothing with specialised insignia. LS Streetwear (Lisa and Shaun’s initials) was established early 2022 and demand for the service is growing.

“You think it, we’ll print it,” is Shaun’s famous motto. Sports clubs such as the Carterton Rugby Club and WairarapaBush have used Shaun’s clothing printing for their gear. So has Keenan Forestry for the workers’ shirts.

Wairarapa Wahine Toa – our women’s rugby team also tracked down Shaun at his Carterton workshop. He is well set up with a design programme on his computer, printer plus a clothing press. A range of clothing is also available.

“We can create anything really. Just think up a design and we’ll collaborate with you to add it to clothing,” says Shaun.

A Winning multi-talented team

Warrick Ross, the Director of Comag Wairarapa Ltd, has built a strong client base in the past ve years. With a ve-man team all at various stages of quali cation, it has become the go-to dependable company for all plumbing, drain laying and gas ng. Recently, it has gained work at two high-pro le Masterton projects - the Iorns Street social housing project and the Arvida Retirement comple .

Warrick and th year apprentice Mitch Hooper were joined by certifying plumber gas tter drainlayer, Jason de ries, in early 2020 and he has become Warrick’s valuable 2IC.

“Jason is reliable and capable and takes the heat off me a bit, allowing more time for quoting and family life.” In line with Comag’s commitment to supporting young people into trade training, Warrick also took on two more apprentices, Cory akly-Kurtz and Leon Kleinjan, both now in their second year of training. Warrick believes the best way to beat the shortage of quali ed tradespeople is to train your own. “All apprentices are e tremely enthusiastic and as they learn their trade, they become increasingly useful and valuable,” says Warrick. It takes ve years to qualify for the plumbing, gas ng, drain laying trade and a further two years before being certifying which enables you to sign off on jobs.

Warrick and his family moved from Matamata to Masterton in 20 .

Comag Wairarapa was established, and Warrick is one of eight directors of the Matamata-based company. He enjoys the autonomy of his work, allied with the valuable e perience of an established company, supporting him with admin services. Comag Wairarapa Ltd was created this year, con rming the commitment and success in the region.

Building up a strong culture of e cellent work ethic combined with managing a healthy work life balance is something Warrick strongly believes in. “We have an amazing team with good morale and an emphasis on working together as a unit. It’s a great dynamic.” Warrick is also an employer who encourages the team to take some of their annual leave through the year, rather than slogging it out to Christmas. “I’ve never seen the sense in that, and this keeps the guys fresh.”

With Wairarapa’s building industry so buoyant, Warrick says Comag is a huge asset in that it can offer all servicing from the e terior drainage services to the inside plumbing and heating services in the new high-tech homes. Comag has established a good rapport with local builders and rms. With both Warrick and Jason having young children they ensure Comag supports community wherever, such as the Marist Junior Rugby and Solway Dressage. “Comag is an established business in Wairarapa, and we consider ourselves very much local, and endeavour to support local.”

COMAG WAIRARAPA TEAM FROM LEFT LEON KLEINJAN, MITCH HOOPER, C RY AKLY K RT , WARRICK R SS A D JAS D RI S.

SHAUN POLLARD.

– Family First at

From Dr Henryk Poczwa to his son-in-law Dr Jarrod Newell, the men who work at the Vein and Skin Clinic are the glue which holds this family-run business together.

Wellington’s Vein and Skin Clinic has been in opera�on for the past 20 years, spearheaded by varicose vein specialist, Dr Poczwa and his wife Bernade�e Poczwa, the head cosme�c nurse.

It was Dr Poczwa who pioneered the modern approach of ‘Endovenous Laser Abla�on’ for the treatment of varicose veins, a degenerate disease which previously required surgical stripping.

This new, rela�vely pain-free treatment means pa�ents are back at work, with no down �me, literally walking in and

out of the procedure.

Fast forward the two decades, and this pioneering treatment is now the standard in the treatment of varicose veins around the world and Dr Poczwa has established a loyal customer base at his Wellington clinic – Vein and Skin Clinic – which is the clinic of choice for many Wairarapa people.

An inspira�on to his family, Dr Poczwa’s daughter, Dr Tamsyn Newell and her husband Dr Jarrod Newell, both trained under her father’s guidance in phlebology – the study of varicose veins. They ul�mately set up their own ‘sister’ clinic in their hometown, New Plymouth.

Dr Jarrod Newell is now slowly taking over from his father-in-law at the

Wellington prac�ce, which he travels to weekly. And so, the legacy con�nues through the next genera�on willing to pick up the baton.

With all the changes that New Zealand, and the rest of the world have experienced in the past couple of years, it’s good to know, that some things remain the same as the Vein and Skin Clinic where they understand the merits of family and stability and it’s those values which have seen them thrive for more than two decades.

Book in for a varicose vein consulta�on with Dr Jarrod Newell. They are Southern Cross affiliated and covered by most other health insurers.

DR JARROD NEWELL.

DR POCZWA.

Men ‘Bringing Home the Bacon’ (literally!)

Premier Beehive showcased their women earlier this year in the Women in Business publication. This is an opportunity to showcase the men on the team!

At their plant in Carterton, Premier Beehive produces bacon, ham and smallgoods for the New Zealand market. Owned by Brazilian company JBS, the world’s largest food business, Premier Beehive is still very much a local business employing local people, with the benefit of ongoing investment from the owners to support their growth.

With over 300 people on the team here in Wairarapa, the men on the team make up nearly half of the workforce. They work right across the business including Warehousing, Production, Site Services, and Industrial Cleaning.

HR Manager Vicki McLachlan has many success stories to share about the men at Premier Beehive. “We’ve got men who have not only been added to our 10- and 20-year service board, but who have also introduced their sons and daughters to the business to join the team, which is great. We’ve got men who started out as factory hands who are now in leadership roles, or who have transferred between departments to learn new skills. It’s great to see some of the career paths forged by so many of our people.”

“Premier Beehive doesn’t have jobs that are specifically for men or for women. We are all about putting the right person in the right job to suit their skills and abilities. Some jobs are more suited to the ‘big and strong’ people, and others to the ‘small and fast’ types. Moving 25 kg pieces of meat on to racks and wheeling loaded trolleys calls for some muscle, and working on a slicing and packing line is more about being nimble and working at a quick pace.”

“All of our roles are advertised internally to staff and we will always promote from within where we can. The most recent example of this is an experienced team leader moving from the ham fill and bacon prep team into a newly created Workplace Training Coordinator role. This creates an opportunity for someone else on the team to step up into the team leader role he held.”

“Our team have told us that they value being on a decent wage, opportunities for career progression, good training, consistent and clear communication, and recognition. We can always do better, and we are always working on all of these things. We have improved wage and shift allowances, created workplace trainer roles, and produced an engaging and informative staff newsletter. Our staff can earn up to $300 in vouchers for successfully referring people for roles with Premier Beehive.” Add to this free onsite doctor and physio, weekly meat packs (bringing home the bacon!), an employee assistance program, and full on-the-job training – and you’ve got a great place to work at one of the largest employers in the region!

Men and women have the same challenges around work/life balance and earning a decent income. The flexible work arrangements on offer at Premier Beehive include day, night, graveyard, and weekend shifts, as well as holiday and after school shifts for students, and parent-friendly hours around school and day care commitments. In some roles, there are transition to retirement options to give long serving staff the option to reduce their hours over a period of time.

Premier Beehive is always looking for good people to join their team in a variety of functions. You can stay up-to-date on what roles are available by following their Facebook page @Premier Beehive NZ - Carterton

If you would like to find out more about working with us, you can also email Susan Coleman on SusanC@premierbeehive.co.nz

Father and son duo

When John Butler left school in Lower Hutt, he was offered four apprenticeships – greenkeeping, building, plumbing or electrical. Naturally drawn to things-electrical, he chose that apprenticeship and has never regretted it, loving the variety of work he gets called out to do.

Decades on, John’s son Connor has also taken on the trade. In January 2021, Connor completed his apprenticeship, became fully qualified, and joined his father as a tradesman in the family business, J.B. Electrical Ltd.

John is thrilled to have his son on board and says it has made for an effective team. They are a congenial pair with a similar sense of humour, and instinctively know how to get into a project and get the job done well, and on time.

They even share the same birthday - Connor was born on 31 August on John’s 30th birthday. That birth date carries some magic in the family. Just this year 2022, Connor’s elder sister, Chelsea, delivered a healthy baby boy on 31st August. Three generations born on the same day - how special is that? The family dynamic is complete with John’s wife, Rachel as the business administrator – she’s the backbone of the business.

Over the years, John has concentrated on commercial and light industrial

electrical work. After moving to Wairarapa nearly 30 years ago, he worked for a local company, but after a decade, wanted to set up on his own and J.B. Electrical Ltd was established. J.B. being John’s nickname.

Connor initially considered engineering as a career. John suggested his son work alongside him to gain electrical experience and Connor has adapted his engineering practice from school into his electrical work. Connor was hooked on the electrical work from the start. He has an affinity with new technology and enjoys heavy industrial work including motors, machinery, VSDs and PLCs. He has also brought camera and home theatre sound systems into the business.

Both men operate from their own vehicles. John’s van is for urban work, while Connor’s is a 4WD heavy duty Isuzu - great for getting to the hard-toreach and far-flung parts of Wairarapa.

Both father and son have similar interests. They like fishing and diving (Tora and Ngawi are favourites) and the occasional hunting trips – at Spot X - John says he goes along for the walk.

Business is extremely busy, and their days can be long. “It’s hard to get time off,” they both agree. However, they’re both in work they enjoy.

A growing hairdressing business

A self-proclaimed “hair nerd”, with a love of streetwear, and a sneaker addiction, Masterton hairdresser

Jordon Watene has a passion for creative cutting of both precision styles and free-flowing hair. Focusing on the personal style of each client who sits in his chair. He loves all styles from super short to long lush, or classic bobs and the pixie look.

Low maintenance colours are all the go at present, copper being especially popular. “There’s a trend towards more warm colours even down to vibrant reds.”

Jordon is the stand-alone male in the salon who makes his own mark on both men’s and women’s hair. His team of senior stylists are Ashlee, Hannah, Lisa, Jo, and Victoria. With multiple years’ experience behind them, each has their specialist area of expertise. Take Lisa, the balayage queen; or Victoria who loves creating vibrant blondes; Ash’s technical knowledge of colouring is immense, Jo thrives on helping clients wishing a completely re-style and Hannah is a whiz when it comes to ball and wedding styling. This year, they have been joined by apprentice Alecia, who whips everyone into shape, making sure they are on time and that the salon is looking its best.

Jordon has been hairdressing for 17 years, starting his apprenticeship under the watchful eye of the

indomitable Christine Brewster at Maggie B’s salon in Masterton. His passion for hair styling is matched with a love of running his own business, and loves being able to offer work for some of the region’s top hair stylists. He recently celebrated five years since opening Madison Hair Studio in Upper Plain and these days, there are six senior stylists, an apprentice and Jordon’s wife, Steph who has opened her own nail business – the Lincoln Nail Lounge - within the premises.

The salon’s atmosphere has a real family vibe. Jordon and Steph have acknowledged the children’s names Madison (10) and Lincoln (8) in the business.

Madison uses the Spanish Lakmé brand well-known for its great colour range and its retail haircare brands are Evo, Angel en Provence and Ola Plex.

Jordon enjoys the position of his business in the Upper Plain shopping centre. “It’s a growing part of town and we cater for many locals who can often walk here.” That’s not to say, many other clients come from far and wide to enjoy the team’s expertise. He has a loyal client who comes from Napier and there’s several from Wellington, as well as around Wairarapa.

Jordon has a stock saying, “If no one is asking who does your hair, come and see us!”

Madisonhairstudio.co.nz

JORDON WATENE.

The electrical team everyone wants and needs

Brothers-in-law and work colleagues, AJ Keenan and Dylan Graham make up the great collaborative electrical team, Wired Wairarapa.

They pride themselves on offering electrical solutions for residential, commercial, dairy, and farming needs.

The company, established in June 2020, was born from AJ’s long-standing desire to run his own business.

Having been doing electrical work for more than two decades in Wairarapa, he had a distinct idea of how he’d like to present his skills and decided the time was right.

“I really like precision, things to be clean and tidy, and to be an all-rounder in the service we provide,” says AJ. “I love to problem-solve and thrive on a challenge.”

He finds the electrical maintenance work especially interesting and is thrilled with the work with Trinity Schools.

“Electrical components have come so far in recent times, and we all must keep up with what is safe and sustainable.”

AJ and his wife, Kasey both come from Wairarapa and have recently moved with

their two children to Eketahuna where they are thoroughly enjoying semi-rural living.

It’s a great central base from where AJ travels to the various jobs.

Dylan joined AJ earlier this year.

Originally training as a mechanic, he moved to an electrician’s apprenticeship and now qualified, he’s enjoying working with his brother-in-law. He lives with wife, Teegan and two young children in Masterton.

Both men are great all-round conscientious tradesmen who know the electrical business.

So, should you want electricians who know their stuff – you can’t go past the Wired Wairarapa guys. Between the two, there over 21 years’ experience to glean from.

Here’s what satisfied customers have had to say:

“ I have known AJ for around 15 years. I have worked with him as a colleague and as a customer. His energy and attention to detail is always 110%. He has a desire to use quality components that is best for both parties. David Bosch.”

“ AJ is a professional and reliable electrician with vast experience. He has shown up for us at short notice to fit in with other tradies and has always done what’s been required to a high standard, quickly and efficiently. He is the sort of electrician that everyone wants/needs in what can often be a testing time. He has re-wired our whole house, as well as loads of additional work. Rob Hard

AJ KEENAN (LEFT) AND DYLAN GRAHAM.

WIRED WAIRARAPA VEHICLES.

Sharing knowledge and cycling fervour

Tom McCallum is a talented cyclist, an elite NZ representative athlete, and a successful Youtuber.

At just 22, he has added business owner to his impressive credential list. The former Rathkeale College student opened Cycling Tom Bike Shop in August 2021, replacing Happy Valley Cycles.

“It was a scary time to go into business and I thank family for their unswerving support.”

The prime corner site in the heart of Masterton’s CBD is ideal to promote cycling in all its forms.

The store has undergone a re-vamp. There’s a welcoming coffee machine, a large screen displaying cycle race coverage, and Tom’s custom bikes and framed NZ jersey is on display. It’s a great cycling vibe. Tom is enjoying the availability of bicycles (including e-bikes) post covid and he enjoys being able to satisfy customers’ needs. E bikes are increasingly popular.

“They’re great for people who haven’t been that confident on a bike, or for older people who want to get back into cycling. If you’re struggling, you can just turn on the motor, and off you go.” Specialist road bikes are ones he likes to track down and custom-build for discerning customers.

Supporting this venture is experienced

bicycle mechanic Paul Clark, who can be found in the front-of-house workshop, alongside Josh van Woerkom, a fellow cyclist, who oversees goods and sales. They are a highly proficient team in all thingscycling.

Tom is a former member of the Cycling New Zealand junior development squad and has done many grueling road races. He and Mark Langland are Wairarapa cyclists in Couplands/ Booth’s Group Cycling Team. The store is named after Tom’s YouTube channel, CyclingTom, which started as a teenage hobby, and has become a cycling sensation, amassing around 20,000 subscribers and over four million views. Content includes product reviews, tutorials on building and maintaining different bicycles, and vlogs from cycling trips. “I’ve spent a lot of time building my personal brand as a Youtuber - and it’s very cool to bring that into retail,” says Tom.

“It’s so satisfying to see people discover how awesome cycling is. It’s such a great form of exercise, it’s low impact, you are outside exploring new places, and it’s fun.”

Tom is aiming to help others nurture their cycling passion by establishing a junior development team for 17-19-year-olds who race under the CyclingTom name and get exposed to the world of cycling.

Specialists in Forest Harvesting, Timber and Firewood

It’s the ideal team. Davy Garland is the ‘ideas man’ who, with his team, gets things done in the field and in the yard at Log Works Limited, while his partner, Sally Newcombe is the Chartered Accountant, who supports the operation from behind the scenes.

Davy is a second-generation sawmiller. Originally from Gisborne, Davy established Log Works 10 years ago after studying Forestry at university. He has worked extensively in forestry, sawmilling, earthworks, and firewood ever since.

Sally and Davy are based in Carterton. It is rewarding and efficient to run the entire process from standing tree to end product. Someone can buy decking timber from Log Works and know exactly where the trees were growing.

At the yard, logs are sawn into timber which is graded as Landscape (planter boxes/raised gardens/edging); Framing (construction, fencing, panelling, tongue & groove, decking, or as Clears (joinery and furniture).

It’s a real skill to saw a log into its best grade and a challenge that Davy thoroughly enjoys. Leftovers from sawmilling are split into firewood using modern equipment. Nothing goes to waste, not even the sawdust!

Macrocarpa and Radiata Pine are their usual timber of choice for sawmilling, but they are also interested in other species like Douglas Fir, Eucalyptus, and Redwood.

As well as harvesting trees to supply their own sawmill and firewood operation, Log Works also harvests, trucks, and exports logs through the Wellington Port.

Davy has mechanised his entire operation so that his small team can achieve large volumes, safely and easily. Manual chainsawing is a thing of the past for Log Works.

Trees are felled using a 50-tonne excavator with a fixed felling head. Firewood is cut ‘creating pieces of uniform length that customers love. Log Works employees come from a variety of backgrounds.

Mike Barber is Davy’s highly valued 2IC and joined the team looking for a new direction from dairy farming.

Chris Vaughn is a former teacher. Michelle Laurant is the delivery driver and former nurse, quarantine officer and comms person.

FOREST HARVESTING & TREE REMOVAL

Davy Garland and Sally Newcombe of Log Works Limited bring a professional approach to forestry, sawn timber and rewood.

They are looking for forests and woodlots to harvest, of any size and with any access. They also carry out tree removal work with their 48 ton tree felling machine.

Davy’s experience and skill, along with modern equipment and great people, provides pro table returns for landowners. As well as Pinus Radiata, they are also interested in alternative species like Macrocarpa and Redwood for their sawmill and rewood yard.

Contact Davy on 027 418 8582 or email logworksltd@gmail.com Forestry - Quality Firewood - Sawn Macrocarpa

DAVY GARLAND.

TOM M c CALLUM AT NZ CLUB NATIONALS, HOKITIKA, APRIL 2022.

That New Zealand building icon, KiwiSpan, is owned and operated in Wairarapa by Rowan Thornton and Tonya Harrison. Taking ownership of the local franchise in October 2020, it has been a whirlwind of hard work, challenges, and rewards.

Rowan, along with his top-notch team of builders and sub-contractors service a huge area from Norsewood in the north, down to Cape Palliser in the South, and all in between. Prior to taking ownership of the Wairarapa franchise and establishing his own construction company, Rowan worked alongside other steel construction businesses.

As a result, he’s gained an in-depth knowledge of steel construction and when the opportunity to join the impressive Kiwispan network, founded in 2003, he knew it was the product he wanted to be involved with.

“It was the pure strength and quality of the buildings, that the competitors lack, which impressed me! Manufactured in Whangarei, and built for the harsh

New Zealand environment, you walk into them, and the structures speak for themselves,” says Rowan. He likes too, that KiwiSpan does not just stick to the ‘plain Jane’ designs but has diversi ed into bespoke buildings, including the habitable ‘shed-house’ which are proving popular in Wairarapa.

“KiwiSpan is a great NZ owned company, and has responded to the ever-changing market, meaning we faced minimal supply issues over the recent months” Rowan says.

“We can build what our customers want – from as little as supplying a kitset to a full turn-key contract, we do it.”

Rowan is either working at their o ce in Lincoln Road, Masterton. (That’s the bright blue building next to Bryan’s Furniture) or spending time out with customers, learning about what they really want in their design “We will purpose-design and build to requirements, making sure your project doesn’t turn into a total disaster.”

KiwiSpan Wairarapa’s core value is its service and good workmanship. Rowan’s honesty and integrity have obviously shone through with Kiwispan Wairarapa taking out the 2022 ‘Licensee of the Year Award’ at the recent KiwiSpan annual conference.

“We were up against the big players around the country – there’s 24-odd licensees all up and growing, so we’re pretty stoked to say we are THE BEST, OF THE BEST!.”

TONYA HARRISON & ROWAN THORNTON WITH THEIR 2022 LICENSEE OF THE YEAR AWARD

Locally

Proudly

Pair beat going to the Bank

Thanks to the loyal support and confidence of customers, the father and son team Charles and Phillip Spilhaus at Mortgage Link are achieving consistent results for their clients, in good and bad times, working closely with a network of loan assessors across all banks.

“The lending environment may change but by understanding the fundamentals of the age-old relationship of debtor and creditor, we bring all the players together and achieve success time after time,” says Charles. He has been joined by Phillip and enjoys Phillip’s approach.

“Phillip brings vitality and new perspectives and helps us to see the wood for the trees at times.”

Since the market started cooling, they have been busy as ever. The conditions have opened opportunities for customers to get into the market, or trade-up.

They have been gratified to help numerous customers through the gate. “We tell customers that we can present a case optimally but thereafter it is in Higher Hands - many recent approvals have been more an answer to prayer than anything else,” adds Charles.

Phillip and Charles are normally available to meet customers at short notice. After-hours and weekends are reserved for the endless paperwork and catching up, but meetings are possible on any working day. Their specific areas of interest are:

First Home Buyers

We keep on top of low deposit lending channels, First Home Grants, Kiwisaver withdrawal and all the things that firsthome buyers must confront. We are the ideal starting point. We can advise on accessing the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ to make up shortfalls!

Self-employed/business owners –arranging lending for self-employed people and advising in this area is natural to Charles, after years as a business banking manager.

Reverse mortgages –agents of Heartland Bank, Charles and Phillip are available for discussion with retired people, and their children, about how a reverse mortgage may be appropriate.

Kiwisaver – agents of Generate Kiwisaver, Charles and Phillip will assist customers to get focus and direction with their savings. They also assist with the technical aspects, like making sure customers understand their investment and that they are in the right category of fund.

Homeowners with multiple properties or high equity who want to look at using their equity for investment in further properties or for other avenues of investment.

Where the bank cannot help –through their extensive contacts, Charles and Phillip have access to non-bank lenders and are also able to arrange refinance of non-bank lending with main banks.

One stop shop and go-to tradies for all things electrical, dairy & pumping

For 73 years Cotter & Stevens has been supporting wider Wairarapa from their Martinborough base. After 25 years at the helm, Jim Clark has taken a step back from growing and running this successful company, to now enjoying a hands-on role instead.

Matt Hawthorn, the new Managing Director, also believes very much on a ‘hands-on’ approach. You will see him equally on the tools, as well as behind his desk ensuring the company is running smoothly.

Matt was born and bred in Kahutara, he has a background in mechanics, farming, and vineyard work, and in 2007 joined Cotter & Stevens, a smaller team back then.

Luke Brandt-Shailes has returned to manage the team of electricians, covering all-things-electrical from residential to industrial, urban, and rural. Luke is a qualified electrician and gets out on the tools any time he can.

Steve Busch manages the dairy division. His team do everything dairy-related from new installations,

COTTER

MATT HAWTHORN, NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR.

machine testing and servicing, to herd management, and associated engineering. Steve has been working servicing dairy sheds for 25 years.

Jason Waugh manages the water systems division. Jason has been with Cotter & Stevens for 13 years. His team covers water pumping, filtration, and reticulation. Also providing dairy effluent system design, installation, and maintenance.

There are 13 skilled tradesmen at Cotter & Stevens who take the time to tailor projects to suit each individual customer needs, ensuring the best possible solution, every time.

Cotter & Stevens prides itself on quality service, products, and workmanship on all their jobs, big and small. They are in for the long haul, offering round the clock, seven day a week service. The showroom is stocked with a good range of quality products including water pumps; water filters; dairy chemicals; water blasters; air compressors, and associated fittings. When you call the friendly team at Cotter & Stevens, you will get the absolute best on offer, from microirrigation to large installations.

Whatever you require to keep your house, lifestyle block, business or farm running smoothly, the team of seventeen – including the friendly admin team are here to help and support - we’ll see you right!

PHILLIP (LEFT) AND CHARLES SPILHAUS.

THE COTTER & STEVENS TEAM READY FOR ACTION.

Intelligent Irrigation key to successful farming

Dave rawford is in his element. He’s working in the farming industry he’s always enjoyed and is constructing expansive irrigation systems for Wairarapa farmers wanting to manage their land to its optimum best.

Dave is the Sales and Projects Manager for the Hastings-based Bay Irrigation and in 2021 bought shares in the company becoming one of three Directors, cementing his confidence in the product he works with immatic pivots.

The mobile immatic variable rate irrigation pivot system is a highlylauded environmental system which sustainably sprays water and nutrients exactly where needed. “Gone are the days of wholesale spraying wherever,” says Dave.

The technology is now so advanced that each sprinkler on the pivots can be controlled individually, and wirelessly, ensuring water is only applied where it is needed, and most importantly, only in quantities needed. To make this innovation even more special, this system was invented in ew ealand by Manawatu men George Ricketts and Stuart Bradbury. The technology was purchased by the manufacturer of the immatic pivots in the SA. “It’s great iwi ingenuity that has now gone around the world,” enthuses Dave.

Bay Irrigation has its head o ce in Hastings, where it began in the 19 0s.

It has formed relationships with farmers throughout New Zealand and irrigation machinery suppliers in Italy, France, South Africa, and the United States. Through these international connections, it imports and distributes high-tech irrigation equipment with a focus on mobile irrigators, including immatic entre Pivots.

Pivot irrigators have taken o in Wairarapa. When Men Work caught up with Dave and Ian Mitch) Mitchelmore, they had just taken delivery of an irrigation system from South Africa. For a ahutara farm, it will stretch 600 metres out from the centre pivot covering some 1.2km in total farmland.

Mitch, a fitter/welder by trade, is thoroughly enjoying his new work out in the fresh air. He comes from a maintenance background with his last role being Breadcraft Wairarapa’s Maintenance Manager for 1 years. “It was time for a change,” he says, and is thoroughly enjoying learning about the irrigation systems.

Dave also loves his role working alongside the farmers to get the best outcome for their property.

“The absolute best day at work is when the water is turned on. arefully planned and managed irrigation can provide a 30 percent increase in output from a farm.”

The right temperature for all situations

Richard Fleming and his team of refrigeration engineers like their clients to be cosy and warm in winter and refreshingly cool come summer. The heat pumps they sell and service aim to do just that. They also like the refrigeration equipment they service to operate perfectly and not give up any nasty surprises. The same goes for keeping vehicle air-conditioning at peak performance.

Tararua Refrigeration is owned by Richard and wife Dana. They serve a vast region from Norsewood in Tararua district to Wairarapa’s south coast. There’s a team of nine (including two apprentices) and their expertise is in great demand. The base is in Masterton, they have a showroom in Pahiatua. And their fleet of vehicles with the colourful insignia are recognised all over.

“Think of all the businesses that are reliant on exact temperatures,” says Richard.

“Farmers, butchers, cafés - they all need chiller and freezer rooms to keep products at optimal temperature. Getting that temperature right and designing and providing solutions is what we are enthusiastic about.”

They supply Daikin and Mitsubishi heat pumps and encourage their customers to have annual service checks. “We call it the 15-point check and it’s vital to have heat pumps

maintained. Just like getting a warrant on your car, they will only run to peak performance if maintained properly.” Somewhere between 19-24 degrees is the recommended inside temperature. Richard points out that a unique environment needs a unique solution and Tararua Refrigeration will produce a design to purpose-fit the need. “Too often people purchase a heat pump or a freezer/chiller that isn’t fit for purpose. That’s where problems can start, and performance won’t be to the required standard.”

He says to call them first and enjoy the personalised service. Tararua Refrigeration is entering its fourth year of business, but Richard has been 20 years in the refrigeration engineering business. It’s this solid experience which has proved successful in attracting a loyal customer base. Dana in Masterton and Angela in Pahiatua do the administration and keep things ticking along. Because they are local and easily available, business is booming. “We give reliable service, we answer calls promptly, and our followup service is exemplary,” says Dana proudly.

She and Richard are also proud that they are a family-based company and know first-hand the importance of keeping homes warm and equipment running smoothly.

“We like things to be exactly right, and we ensure this for our customers too.”

DA RAWF RD A D IA MIT H MIT H M R .

RICHARD FLEMING.

Past year shows importance of an investment plan

It’s been more than a year since Jarden opened its office in Masterton, with wealth management advisers Bryan Shepherd and Simon Hogg supporting clients through a volatile period in share markets.

Rising interest rates, multi-decade high inflation, and the war in Ukraine have all contributed to the situation in financial markets.

Bryan and Simon draw on decades of experience in financial services to advise a variety of clients on how to protect and grow their wealth. Bryan notes that turbulent times can often spark a ‘fight or flight’ instinct among investors – or investors might avoid risk altogether. Both scenarios could potentially harm the likelihood of achieving long-term investment goals.

“In conservations with clients, we often highlight the importance of an investment plan to guide decisionmaking. A key part of this is the length of time an investor is looking to hold their investments – what’s known as the ‘time horizon’. This is important because the approach you take when investing for the long-term may differ from one taken over a shorter period.”

Bryan says while situations like these can understandably be emotional, making decisions in reaction to current events can carry a greater risk of not meeting your aims, and create further stress.

“We work with investors to clarify their unique risk tolerance, alongside their investment goals and needs – and this can guide decisions to ensure they are aligned with an investor’s long-term plans.”

Planning is also key to the continued work that Bryan and Simon have been

doing with clients in the agricultural sector this year, particularly in preparation for exiting a farm and/or business.

While retirement may be the primary focus for many in their exit planning, exiting a farm or business can also be due to unexpected circumstances or opportunities. Nevertheless, Bryan says that succession and exit planning should be a topic of discussion at every annual business review.

“Having a well-defined exit plan will allow you to work towards a strong retirement base.

“A succession/exit strategy may mean transitioning your enterprise to someone in the family, a staff member, or a business partner. Alternatively, you could be selling your business to generate a retirement income or working with a manager/lessee to enable you to step back from the day-to-day operation.”

Exiting a business or farm may take many years to get to the desired result, or to find the right successor. A sound plan enables you to manage any ‘what if’ scenarios and to reprioritise as the financial landscape changes.

“Those looking to retire may want options to replace their income and provide protection from inflation over

their lifetime,” says Bryan.

“We work with our clients to help them build a greater understanding of the options available to them throughout the exit process.”

With the increasing complexities of running any business, having a group of key advisers (such as accountants, lawyers and/or financial advisers) to work together can be valuable to assist with exit planning.

Bryan Shepherd and Simon Hogg are available to discuss investment planning and exit preparations at Jarden’s Masterton office - 186 Chapel Street, in the Bayleys Building.

Bryan has been working in financial services for more than 30 years and has a Bachelor of Business Studies as well as a Graduate Diploma in Business Studies and Financial Planning from Massey University. He is an NZX Adviser and a Certified Financial Planner.

Simon has two decades of experience in the financial markets, including five years in London working for Deutsche Bank and Macquarie Group. He is an authorised Financial Adviser, NZX Adviser and has a Bachelor of Business Studies from Massey University.

Jarden was founded in 1961 by rugby great Ron Jarden, who at just 26 had a

vision to create New Zealand’s leading independent investment firm.

Today, Jarden looks after more than 50,000 Kiwis including family trusts, charitable trusts, companies and other entities, entrepreneurs, iwi groups and farmers. Find out more at: www.jarden.co.nz

Bryan Shepherd and Simon Hogg are wealth management advisers at Jarden. The information and commentary in this article are provided for general information purposes only. It reflects views and research available at the time of publication, using external sources, systems and other data and information we believe to be accurate, complete and reliable at the time of preparation. We make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, correctness and completeness of that information, and will not be liable or responsible for any error or omission. It is not to be relied upon as a basis for making any investment decision. Please seek specific investment advice before making any investment decision or taking any action.

Jarden Securities Limited is an NZX Firm.

A financial advice provider disclosure statement is available free of charge at https://www.jarden.co.nz/our-services/ wealth-management/financial-adviceprovider-disclosure-statement

SIMON HOGG (LEFT) AND BRYAN SHEPHERD.

Keeping conditions exactly right in Wairarapa

The O’Brien family has been helping Wairarapa both cool down and stay warm for over four decades – and are showing no signs of slowing down.

In 1974, Bernie O’Brien began his refrigeration and air-conditioning business in Masterton and in 1980 his son Lyn purchased the business with wife Colleen. These days, both their son and daughter work within the business.

They have a great team, all with an important role to play. Ash O’Brien enthuses about the company’s greatest asset being their team who have a wealth of experience, explaining that they have been able to create a long and stable workforce mainly by training their own.

B.W. O’Brien is a specialised refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump business, which is able to find a solution for any area whether it be the home, the office, the farm or a café.

When asked, the O’Briens will say the refrigeration industry never sleepsyou can’t predict a break down and when one occurs a repair is required urgently. They have a specialised team ready and waiting to assist.

Refrigeration

B.W. O’Brien works with its clients to design, install, service and maintain all commercial and farm refrigeration.

This includes: glass door chillers; display chillers; walk-in chillers and freezers; cool rooms; blast freezers; ice machines; chilled water units, dairy farm refrigeration and glycol chillers.

“ Wonderful service all round from everyone at O’Brien’s so thank you. This is the third time we have used you guys and you haven’t disappointed! Keep doing what you are doing!”

Heat Pumps and Air-Conditioning

B.W. O’Brien is Wairarapa’s only accredited Daikin Dealer. Whether you need to heat or cool the home, office or a commercial building, B.W. O’Brien can help.

The specialist team view every opportunity and offer a solution which best fits with the client’s need to heat and cool the home, office or space. Their trained engineers are well versed with commercial and have vast experience in this area. No-obligation, free quotes and home assessments are offered.

Vehicle Air-Conditioning

Vehicle air-conditioning requires maintenance just like your home air-conditioning. B.W. O’Brien has specifically trained engineers available to service and repair vehicle airconditioning. They also visit the farms and forestry blocks to maintain heavy vehicle air-conditioning. As a local business, B.W. O’Brien is extremely proud to be able to serve the local community and believes in supporting schools, organisations and individuals.

Its proud name can be seen in many places.

REFRIGERATION,

CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMPS

Neighbourhood café extending into summer evening dining

Manny de Silva’s café on the Lansdowne shopping precinct is the go-to place in Masterton, when you want a good coffee, hearty meal, or a catch-up with friends or family. The easy parking and ‘out-of-busytown’ feel attracts many. Masterton’s population is heading northwards too, and Manny and his team are seeing new faces daily from around the neighbourhood.

Manny loves his regular customers too who come every day, sometimes more than once, and can feel comfortable within, as if Dish were their home away from home.

“Some call in as part of their daily routine, others sometimes have their daily meal, and others just come for a bit of company.” Art for sale on the café walls give local artists exposure too.

It’s the vibe and ambience Manny and wife Shanika, had hoped to continue when they purchased the café two years ago. The neighbourhood, friendly atmosphere of Dish had been fostered by past owners over 15 years. One of those owners, Margaret, keeps a hand in. She makes her famous Christmas cakes to sell in Dish and she also bakes her regular cakes and cookies, which loyal customers look out for.

Manny is a qualified baker, and

Shanika, is the chef, and they are rapidly gathering a loyal following.

You can’t go past their ‘Famous Toasted Sandwiches;’ their waffles; Cajun chicken burgers (with a secret recipe giving a hint of spice); steak sandwiches, and massive beef burger. There’s also many choices for the vegetarian palate too.

Coffee is by Mojo – the Wellingtonbased company – which Manny says is his customers’ choice.

“I thought of changing it at one stage for variation, but I was cried down by everyone,” he laughed. “And of course, the customer is always right, so Mojo stayed. People even drive from Greytown to enjoy it.”

Another good reason for Manny to smile, is that he has attracted a chef straight from the kitchens of Dubai restaurants in the Middle East. Keen to open in the summer evenings, Manny has been on the lookout for a chef and is aiming to offer evening dining on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Asian and Eastern food will be the mainstay “think some of those Cuba Street outlets in Wellington”, muses Manny.

So, watch this space and we’ll be offering spicy delights during those long summer evenings we’re now longing for after such a wet winter.

High Street, Solway accounting firm

The move to offices on High Street, Solway in Masterton has allowed Richard Clatworthy and the team to set up a modern accounting and advisory practice that provides a range of services targeted at the needs of his clients. Richard says it has given everyone a whole new outlook, both visually and professionally.

“The core focus being to provide accurate and timely advice to enable clients to make informed decisions.”

Richard is the Director and joining him are Mark Richardson and Clive Baxter, both senior accountants with a wealth of accounting experience, both having more than 25 years of agriculture and business accounting skills in Wairarapa. Michael Billington is the newest member of the team and is currently working part time while completing his accounting degree at Victoria University.

Richard is originally from Dannevirke and graduated from Massey University. In 1989 he moved to Wairarapa to work for a local accounting practice, where he met his wife, Sharon. In 1993 he moved to where he worked for Price Waterhouse, before travelling to Australia and UK, working for large international firms. Being from a rural

background, Richard has always had a special interest in farm and small business accounting, and he returned in 1999, where he became a partner and director of a local accounting firm for 20 years before setting up his current practice in 2020.

Clive Baxter is from Carterton and has worked in Chartered Accountancy firms in Wairarapa and Tararua Districts since 1990. During this time, Clive has gained a National Certificate in Business Studies and a Bachelor of Business degree. In 2008, he qualified as an Associate Chartered Accountant.

Mark Richardson was born in Carterton and raised in Wairarapa where his father was a local accountant and involved in Federated Farmers. Mark has worked in accounting practices in Wairarapa and Hutt Valley. He is a qualified Accounting Technician and he has experience in all areas of rural and small business accounting. He has an extensive knowledge of accounting software and IT. Mark provides training and advice to clients to improve their use of their accounting software allowing them to reduce the time they spend on admin and improve the information they produce.

MANNY DE SILVA.

FROM LEFT, RICHARD CLATWORTHY, MICHAEL BILLINGTON, MARK RICHARDSON, AND CLIVE BAXTER.

We’re NZR, we sell farms… and lifestyle!