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Struggling with stubborn farm gates while managing livestock, tools, or equipment is a familiar and frustrating challenge for New Zealand farmers.

Edgesmith Ltd, a renowned innovator in gate hardware and automation, is proud to unveil Cowstile – an advanced, rugged, and energy-efficient gate opener specifically designed to withstand the realities of rural life.

Experience the Cowstile difference at Fieldays 2025

Cowstile isn’t just another farm gate solution – it’s a quantum leap forward. Farmers, contractors, and rural landowners can witness Cowstile firsthand at the Fieldays Innovation Tent, Mystery Creek, from June 11–14, 2025. Edgesmith invites attendees to experience live demonstrations showcasing Cowstile’s groundbreaking capabilities.

Advanced engineering meets rural durability

Cowstile’s advanced cycloidal drive simultaneously engages approximately one-third (30%) of its gear lobes, significantly outperforming traditional planetary or worm gear systems typically found in gate automation products, which engage around 12% of the gear profile at any given time. As a result, Cowstile distributes operational forces across 157% more gear surface area, dramatically improving durability, shock resistance, and longevity.

Compact and efficient design

Cowstile’s advanced mechanical design incorporates a frameless, brushless motor, significantly improving energy efficiency and reliability. Eliminating friction-causing brushes allows Cowstile to operate with remarkable precision and power efficiency, perfectly suited for solar-powered setups, reducing energy consumption by up to five times compared to traditional brushed motors.

Safe, smart, and livestock-friendly

Addressing a common rural headache – curious animals damaging gate automation -Cowstile’s innovative mounting solution positions the mechanism safely atop the gate post. This design keeps critical components out of harm’s way, drastically minimizing damage from livestock. Plus, its flexible installation allows gates to swing in either direction and open to any angle, providing unmatched versatility.

Remote control across the whole farm

Powered by cutting-edge LoRa technology, Cowstile provides exceptional long-range connectivity, delivering control capabilities hundreds of metres beyond conventional systems. Farmers can manage gate operations conveniently from anywhere on their property – be it paddock-to-house or across expansive farmland. Additionally, Cowstile supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS, easily integrating into comprehensive smart farm management systems.

Designed by Kiwis, for Kiwis

The development of Cowstile is a testament to Edgesmith’s deep-rooted expertise in fencing, automation, and security solutions. Created through the collaborative efforts of a highly skilled local engineering team, Cowstile addresses key pain points faced by farmers: high costs, reliability concerns, and inadequate functionality of existing gate automation options.

Affordable automation

Setting a new standard in affordability and functionality, Cowstile is expected to retail significantly below the typical cost range of traditional European-made gate automation systems. This competitive pricing, combined with its superior performance, positions Cowstile as the ideal solution for widespread adoption across New Zealand farms.

Come See Cowstile in action

Don’t miss the opportunity to experience Cowstile firsthand at Fieldays 2025. Visit Edgesmith at the Innovation Tent from June 11-14 for live demonstrations, expert advice, and insights into how Cowstile can revolutionise your farming operations.

Edgesmith welcomes all FCANZ members, rural contractors, and enthusiasts to explore Cowstile – New Zealand’s next step toward smarter, more efficient, and hassle-free farming.

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Published in WIRED issue 77/June 2025 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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Waratah® Fencing has officially launched Longlife Blue® 25kg fence wire coils. These new coils are designed to make fencing projects easier, faster, and more efficient, giving you the perfect solution for your next fencing job.

Contractors and farmers alike know that Longlife Blue wire is the best choice for their farming needs as it is resistant to corrosion, durable, reliable and easy to work with, especially in more mountainous terrain. New Zealand has had 25kg coils in the fencing landscape for a while now and Waratah has been working hard to meet this demand with its own 25kg Longlife Blue coils.

We recently spoke to Dan Douglass from Dan Douglass Fencing, about his thoughts on the new coils. “We will use a bunch of the Longlife Blue coils, and they will be a good seller. The 25kg rolls are a good point for New Zealand, as a lot of hill fences get wire carried in by hand. So, if you can carry a 25kg roll in hand, it’s perfect for contractors who are set up for 25kg rolls. Waratah Longlife Blue wire is a consistent product for me, and it stays a consistent price.”

 

Dan Douglass continued to share his thoughts on why Waratah is his go-to fencing product:

“Our main product is Waratah now. I like the quality and consistency of it. It is always the same, we don’t have any issues with individual wires breaking. And it contours well on the steeper, undulating terrain. Waratah is easier to work with, doesn’t break, and we use quite a few of the JiOs. It’s good being able to get the whole fence as an actual system with the clips and the whole lot. It is easy and fast to build. It is an easy system to use, that’s quick and easy to put up. It is quick to strain up and clip on, and not a lot of tools are really needed for the job.”

Waratah’s Longlife Blue wire coils are now available for purchase, providing contractors and farmers with a reliable and easy-to-use solution for their fencing needs. The 25kg coils make handling easier, especially in rugged terrain, and with the consistency of Waratah’s products, you can rest assured that you’re getting a high-quality, long-lasting wire.

For more information and to place an order, visit www.waratahfencing.co.nz or contact Brendon on 021 393 010
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Published in WIRED issue 77/June 2025 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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They say the customer is always right, but when it comes to digging safely, it’s wise to double-check what’s beneath the surface, regardless of what you’re told.

Here’s a practical example from a CERTLOC certified utility locator showing why it’s always best to follow safe digging practices – even if someone suggests otherwise.

A fencing contractor was engaged by a customer to install fencing and had been assured by a property owner that there were no underground utility services in the area. The owner, confident after 50 years on the property, was certain that nothing lay beneath the surface. What he didn’t realise was that a power cable installed long ago still ran through the site – serving the neighbour’s property.

The contractor reused an existing fence post hole, but this time dug slightly deeper, and hit the cable. The consequence? Power was lost, and the repair required a new cable to be installed from the power pole all the way down the neighbour’s driveway. The cost? An eye-watering estimate of $75,000 due to the long distance involved.

Let this be a reminder:

1. Don’t rely on a property owner’s memory. Things change. Infrastructure gets added, rerouted or forgotten.
2. Just because something was there before (like a fence post) doesn’t mean it’s safe to assume there are no services underneath.

At beforeUdig, we see these kinds of preventable incidents too often. Always lodge a beforeUdig request and get a
certified locator involved to detect if there are any underground utility cables or pipes in your area of work before you break ground. It’s not just about avoiding damage – it’s about protecting people, property and essential infrastructure.

For utility network maps and to find details of certified locators available in your area of work, lodge your FREE beforeUdig enquiry or look one up on our website here www.beforeudig.co.nz/locator/certified-locators/ map-of-certified-locating-companies

Thanks to Chris Chassiotis, CERTLOC certified locator of SA Cable & Pipe Locating, for supplying the photo and details of this incident.

www.beforeUdig.co.nz
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Published in WIRED issue 77/June 2025 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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Cracking weather made for three excellent Best Practice Days in April. Spread around the eastern side of the North Island, the days provided attendees with an opportunity to see fencing best practice techniques in action – and watch some fencing industry legends at work.

Tikokino 8 April 2025

Well-known competition fencers Shane and Tony Bouskill put on a great event at their Tikokino property in the Hawke’s Bay. The Bouskill team talked a captivated audience through best practice for various aspects of rural fencing and answered any questions that curious onlookers had. They can’t have given too much info away, as they still took out the win at the NZ Fencing Competitions’ Cambridge event.

A huge thanks to Joelene for the spectacular food. It’s going to be hard to beat at any future events!

Whakatane 10 April 2025

This Best Practice Day was held in possibly one of the coolest converted shearing sheds we’ve ever seen – complete with a bar and super comfy couches! Outstanding views of Whakaari (White Island) and Whale Island, our thanks to Shaun Davies from Davies Fencing in Te Puke for organising this location. Accredited Fencing Contractor Neil Robertson from Fensin in the mighty Waikato, demonstrated rail installation in the shade of the orchard. The discussions around overlapping 45-degree cuts at the ends of rails versus straight ends were certainly interesting and showed the differences in techniques, with none of them being inherently ‘wrong’. The afternoon saw the team move to the nearby hillside, with spectacular views across the coast, to hear about best practice wire fence installation. Big thanks to Ben Fisher for arranging the venison for the BBQ.

 

Cambridge 11 April 2025

Normally, we only hold two Best Practice Days in a week. However, an NZFC competition in Cambridge provided us with the chance to run a combined BPD/competition day. It’s an interesting concept with lots to see, but it can also be quite noisy – especially at the start of the competitions with 8 borers running!

Our programme started a little later than planned because of this, but it still provided all the goods expected of a Best Practice Day. Long-time fencer and fount of all fencing knowledge, Wayne Newdick, talked through the intricacies
of augers, different setups, and how crucial it is to have the correct setup to make the job easier. Good bugger Greg Burton demonstrated recessing timber into posts and various timber joins. Bryan Henry demonstrated horse rail. It was great to see students and teachers from local schools there to learn more about the world of fencing – and fencing as a career. Thanks to Thomsons ITM for supplying the excellent BBQ for attendees and competitors alike. The sausages from Wholey Cow were excellent! (IYKYK).

As always, the feedback from these events is invaluable and provides us with areas in which to improve. Thank you to everyone who took the time to come and provide feedback.

Written by Jaime Bigwood & Phil Cornelius

Published in WIRED issue 77/June 2025 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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The South Island FCANZ promo trailer was on-site for the full three days of the biennial South Island Agricultural Field Days at Kirwee in Canterbury this March.

Board Member Nick Terry and FCANZ Executive Director Jaime Bigwood were on-site and available to talk about everything fencing related, from the benefits of membership to the Certificates in Fencing and how to find a fencing contractor.

The numbers attending this event seemed to be much better than at some of the other regional events so far this year. The trailer was placed between the Cowboy Challenge and the fencing competitions, and near Association Partners Waratah, Strainrite and Beattie, making for an excellent, unofficial “hub”.

There was a lot to talk about over the three days, including the Join & Win triple-entry promotion that was being run on-site and the very old fencing that was brought along by Doug Taylor and parked up near us. Many conversations were held about what the benefits are of FCANZ membership, with the realisation that it costs less than a pie per week being something that caught the ear of many.

Attending these large events is an important part of our strategy of raising the profile of the Association and, in turn, making people aware that fencing is a skilled trade. While we might not talk to everyone, more often than not, those who we do speak to (who aren’t fencers) are looking for someone to do their fencing for them. Quite a few FCANZ branded builders pencils were given away, mainly to those people looking for contractors’ as it was the easiest way to ensure they had the FCANZ web address. They were all referred to the “Find a Fencing Contractor” directory and hopefully have been in touch.

The media opportunities that can come with these events are also key, and we were able to leverage two of these to highlight that fencing is a skilled trade.

On the Wednesday, PGG ran a termination knot “fencing challenge” for the Rural Roundup lads Andy & Lashes. A very quick coaching session from Nick and Rathgen Fencing’s Tom Rathgen, and the competition was on. “It ain’t for the faint hearted or the people with office hands that’s for sure”, said Lashes. This session resulted in a great live on-air interview with Nick and a very funny (cringeworthy) video, both of which appeared on the Rural Roundup’s Facebook page. Pop on over if you want to see them in action (spoiler alert: the office-based Aucklander won by a long way!) Big thanks to Tom Rathgen for helping out with the Fencing Challenge and putting up a cracker post & rail fence around the PGG site.

Thursday gave us a slightly different opportunity when Labour Leader Chris Hipkins and his team stopped by. While I chatted with the team about fencing and the need for it to be recognised as a trade, Chris had a lesson in tying termination knots from Nick, who was quite impressed with the Minister’s abilities.

“For what I understand was a first attempt, he did well. He might need to wear gloves next time though,” Nick said. Mr Hipkins and his team also spent time leaning on the gate talking about the Lean on a Gate programme and rural mental health, which provided valuable exposure for the work Wiggy & his team do. It was great to see that team photo show up on the Minister’s Facebook page.

It was great to see several new members sign up over the course of the event, and we look forward to seeing them at events and hearing their thoughts on how the Association can help their business. Come along and say hi to the team at Mystery Creek in June, and then Southern Field Days in Waimumu next February.

Written by Jaime Bigwood

Published in WIRED issue 77/June 2025 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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Three fencing contractors from around New Zealand have recently become the country’s new Accredited Fencing Contractors. These contractors have proven that they not only know how to build a great fence but they also run a safe and ethical business.

“Fencing is still relatively unregulated, and this means that there aren’t any simple ways for a potential customer to easily identify a quality fencing contractor. These endorsements go a long way towards addressing that,” says FCANZ President Phil Cornelius.

There are also important benefits to your business of becoming an endorsed fencing business. Accredited Fencing Contractors are listed at the top of their relevant “Find a Fencing Contractor” web directory page. And, when they become an Accredited Fencing Contractor, their business gets a shoutout across our social channels and e-news.

Certified Fencers also enjoy some perks from achieving an endorsement, with the Certified Fencer logo on their “Find a Fencing Contractor” web directory listing.

The business details for members who hold either endorsement are listed in a specially created section within WIRED magazine, which is widely distributed – and particularly popular at the events we attend. They are also sent a bumper sticker and cap relevant to the endorsement level achieved. We encourage those who achieve either endorsement to shout about it through their own channels, using the logo whenever and wherever they can.

But the endorsements aren’t just about the benefit to the individual contractor. Not only do the Accredited Fencing Contractor and Certified Fencer endorsements raise the profile of an individual business, they also go a long way to continue to prove that fencing is a skilled trade.

In the coming months, FCANZ will be launching a campaign whereby we reach out to each territorial authority to ensure they know that Accredited Fencing Contractors are the fencers they should be looking to engage with for any fencing project.

Additionally, a series of technical drawings that are currently being finalised will be made available so that it is simple for any party to understand what industry minimum standards are. This will assist with fairly judging both tender submissions and the quality of any work that has been completed.

“We’re working to educate the large organisations who contract out the fencing component of their work or project, as well as the wider public, about what the industry minimums should be. We want them to be thinking about not only the cost, but whether they will actually get a fence that is built to last. It’s time for quality fencers to really shine, and for the cowboys to be concerned,” says Phil.

In addition, FCANZ is also able to offer a fencing inspection service to territorial authorities. A suitably qualified FCANZ member will visit any areas of concern, and will use a pre-formatted inspection template, their knowledge of industry best practice and the technical drawings that are soon to be released, to provide guidance on the quality of the work. This service is not for the purpose of finger-pointing but rather to reinforce the Association’s goal of ensuring fencing is recognised as a trade, and to raise the profile of quality fencers.

Emile de Greeuw of Omata Fencing in Pahiatua posted this on their business page: “We are the FIRST Lower North Island Fencing Contractor to be Accredited by FCANZ – Fencing Contractors New Zealand, under their new strict requirements. A credit to the team at FCANZ for raising the professionalism of our industry – it was a pretty rigorous process and took us a few runs at it. This has been a goal for the business for a long time, so it feels pretty good to finally tick it off!”

Meanwhile, Scott Graham from Specialist Rural Services in Rotorua said, “I’ve been fencing for nearly 20 years and just became Accredited. We know we run a good business, but now everyone else does too. It’s great to have a way for the industry to recognise best practice.

Phil wrapped up with, “Let’s face it – in this market any advantage is one worth taking.”

Find out more about FCANZ endorsements at fcanz.org.nz/training/

Written by Jaime Bigwood

The Association would like to formally congratulate all businesses who have achieved the Certified Fencer or Accredited Fencing Contractor endorsement, and acknowledge those who are currently going through the process.

Published in WIRED issue 77/June 2025 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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As I sit and write this, Ashburton is lining up for over 100mm of rain in the next 3 days. I think, “Geez, we have had enough rain this summer,” and then I gave myself a face-palm slap, realising that places like the Waikato and Taranaki, even summer-safe Raetihi (my old home town), have been desperate for rain!

It reminds me that cycles in life come and go, and how we ride through the storm and then enjoy the warmth of the sun reminds us not much in life is in our control, but how we make the most of each situation is paramount to our success and wellbeing.

My life has had many changes, from the ole hometown days of driving a tractor in the market gardens, working in the woolsheds, and trying to impress a very busy father who didn’t need to be impressed, as the work ethic he had instilled in me was his legacy. Kindness, compassion and community spirit were also imprinted into me in those early years, along with frustrations and temper at the challenges I face.

I do my best to feed the good and not empower the bad, but we all have failings, and not being too tough on oneself is the best thing we can practice as we try our best to succeed and be resourceful for those who rely on us!

We have sold up and downsized to allow the Lean on a Gate campaign, the Rural Health and Wellness work to be the places I direct my workload, and to ensure this fast growing-up family of mine becomes more of a focus than it has been.

I feel an amazing amount of privilege to be in all of these spaces. Some days I wake up to messages of thanks from people we have helped. The people we meet that really have no idea their health is in need of further medical analysis. The cowboy coming out in me on track. The already-better family engagement since selling means life is in a good space.

For those of you who are struggling with one or more parts of your life or workload, please look for advice, develop an understanding of the cycle you may be in and what you can control. There are people out there who love and rely on you. You also rely on yourself to be the best you can be, to allow success, and to enjoy the sun when it shines, or the rain when it’s needed!

Changing tack here, I’ve watched with interest the online debate the American Fencing Association (AFA) is going through at the moment, as they question the relevance of how their organisation is run and what it does for the industry. We here in New Zealand face the same grumblings occasionally, but here is where we are lucky…

We are a small country where reputation is King. Social media has recently showcased some really poor work, and FCANZ members have righted some wrongs. We don’t have 52 states with 52 governance bodies controlling what’s used and where. Up until recently we all had more than enough work, so we recommended others to customers when we were too busy.

We have ONE ORGANISATION looking after the industry, run by volunteers as Kaitiaki, wanting only the best for those who make a living out of the occupation and those who engage in their services.

What can we as members do to support this organisation? The members of the AFA feel frustrated that no customers ask if they are members of the AFA, and in fact have no idea that there is a governing body. I hear you all say, “It’s a bit like that here!” That’s possibly our fault!

I challenged members at last year’s conference to share on social media the work they do, the beautiful places they work, and the passion they have for the occupation they chose. But also share the information FCANZ put out to raise awareness of what’s happening, where it’s happening, and why. But today, I scrolled through the FCANZ pages to see one post with 62 likes and only 3 shares, and that was to do with an industry day.

If I get 100 plus shares on a post, I normally get over 100k of views and engagement; less than 10 shares, it goes nowhere and is deemed a fail. Rather than just liking something good about the industry, share the shit out of it! The sponsors love the increased traffic, FCANZ gets in front of more people, and it also encourages more involvement from peers and customers.

How do we ensure success and wellbeing? Control what we can.

Let’s take control of our good reputation and share it with those who may not know just how good an FCANZ fencer can be!

Published in WIRED issue 77/June 2025 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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“Shall we hike the Queen Charlotte track during our summer break this year?” I kind of pleaded with Shaun.

It had been a hard year in business with the recession. I’d watched him work so hard, and stress so much and I knew he needed a damn good break.

Now, Shaun and I have very different ideas of what ‘taking a break’ looks like. He prefers the ‘Stay At Home’ model, where he still gets up at 5.30am and does his usual routine of cigarette, cup of tea, porridge, poo, and then has the freedom to do whatever spontaneously calls him that day.

I, on the other hand, class a good break as something fun; often with friends, making memories, usually away from the farm – our dear farm with relentless farm jobs, where there is always something to do, and from which Davies Fencing is run.

In our 28-year relationship, I have usually won when it comes to choosing what to do for our summer break. Except for last year when Shaun won, and we stayed home. It was incredibly boring (for me) because he ended up spending most of it spraying gorse – alone, which to be honest, he does enjoy.

This year, I chose the right moment to ask, put my best nightie on, and initiated a moment of passion. Not my finest moment of integrity I’ll admit. I thought I’d grown out of manipulation styles but there you go. He replied that it would probably be boring to walk in the bush and not see any deer or have a rifle but that yes, he’d come with me and our good friends.

I began training immediately.

The Queen Charlotte track consists of 17 km on day one, 10 km on day two and 27 km of mostly uphill on day three. Shaun’s training was zero.

“I’m fit as, I walk fence lines all day, I hunt, I’ll be fine.”

I’ll admit, I was worried about his lack of training, but this wasn’t your usual DOC-like tramp with huts, bunkbeds, packets of dehydrated food, long drops and strangers snoring next to you. This was the créme de la créme of hiking. Staying in lodges, white linen, restaurants, and backpacks water-taxied for you to your next destination. This was a Shaun-Break of course; I wanted it to be as relaxing and enjoyable as possible for his first hike.

We hopped on the ferry, met our friends and began our hike.

It didn’t disappoint. The tracks were phenomenal; stunning vista views around every corner, bluebird days, luxurious accommodation, beautiful food, soul filling laughs and banter with our mates. It was working! Shaun seemed at ease, happy, relaxed – in a ‘my body is sore, but I’m enjoying it, hiking’ kind of way. The break away was doing him good.

Towards the end of the third day, about 20kms in, we had reached the top of a mammoth hill, my friend and I pant-chatting, I looked up and saw Shaun and his mate give us the ‘shhh’ sign. Initially, I thought Shaun had finally had enough of people talking and needed his quiet alone time, but then he then pointed to the bush. There, about 5 metres away, was a young red deer, casually chewing leaves. I was astounded. In 15 years of hiking, I had never ever seen a deer on any track. But there it was. And there was Shaun, with the hugest smile. His tank was full.

On the ferry on the way home, he put his arm around me and whispered, “Thank you so much for organising this,” and kissed me on the cheek.

It’s easy to fall into thinking that a ‘good break’ has to be a certain way, but I think a break just needs to fill the gap in whatever you’re missing at the time. If you’re missing alone time, do that. If you’re missing rest, do that. If you’re missing fun, do that. If you’re missing exercise, do that. If you’re missing connection, go hang with people.

And if you’re not sure, go ask your wife.
She’ll know.

Written by Angelena Davies

Angelena Davies is a wife and mum who happens to have a Masters degree in Social Sciences. Alongside running Davies Fencing she is also a coach, facilitator and author helping children and adults to access “flow” so their lives are easier and more fun.

Published in WIRED issue 76/March 2025 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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The FCANZ Board plays a critical role in the governance of the Association with a focus on the ‘bigger picture’ areas of organisational purpose and strategic direction.

Three of our seven Board members reach the end of their two-year term at the AGM in August this year. Two of these Board members have confirmed that they will not be standing for re-election, therefore we are seeking nominations to fill their positions.

Being on the Board offers an attractive opportunity to grow personally and professionally. You’ll develop skills and gain irreplaceable experience while having the chance to drive and influence the decisions and direction of the Association. As part of the team, you’ll be happy to commit for two years to make improvements for the industry and our members.

You’ll not only be aware of the ins and outs of the industry, you’ll be passionate about making it better for professional fencers. Being reasonably tech-savvy is a plus, as much of the Board’s work is carried out online. Board members contribute to regular meetings, attend events as FCANZ representatives, and always demonstrate organisational and industry best practice.

The application process

Nominations for the FCANZ Board need to be completed online (www.fcanz.org.nz/board-nomination) and submitted by 5pm Monday 30th June 2025. Nominees will be sent information about being on the Board and be asked to complete a short form providing some information about themselves. Both the Nominee and the Nominator must be paid-up members of FCANZ.

The election process

The FCANZ Board has a maximum of seven elected officers and, in the event that the Association receives more nominations than there are positions available, a Board Officer Election will be held at the AGM (Thursday 7th August 2025) at which time the members in attendance will vote for the nominees they wish to represent them on the Board.

Head to www.fcanz.org.nz/board-nomination to read about what is involved in being on the Board and to submit a nomination. If you have any questions regarding the nomination process, or the role of a Board member, please get in touch with Jeanette Miller (027 432 2033) or FCANZ President Phil Cornelius (027 274 4188).

All Rural Fencing Ltd started back in 2002 when we moved to Snells Beach after selling our 700-head dairy farm.

However, before going dairying, I realised I needed money to buy a herd, so, at the age of 18 years I went fencing in the Maungaturoto area. I built my first post driver during that time.

Both in dairy farming and fencing, I have always looked for ways to improve and make the way we do things easy. So many others just do what they have been taught and don’t improve.

So often, it’s the simple things that make a difference. I mounted a box on each side of the tractor bonnet to hold tools and things we need in our daily work. It saves having to either go back and forth to the Ute or drag a trailer over rough ground.

Wire spinners are mounted on pipes attached to a front-end loader bucket. The wires spin off these, go through guides down the side of the tractor to the post driver and run out behind the tractor. When setting up to fence, we drive the strainer post in, then attach one wire and drive down the fence line, putting in corners to the strainer at the other end.

We strain this tight, and it becomes the single guide wire. Next, we walk along the line, spacing out the post positions with the plumb bob string touching the wire. We allow the plumb bob to touch the ground and carefully spray a line which will indicate where the wire side of the post will go in. This allows us to take tension off the guide wire and drive along the line post driving without the guide wire getting in our way. This method is quick and efficient.

Once all the posts and stays are in, we attach three wires to the end strainer, drive down the line to the other end, cut and tie them, then turn around and go back. All seven wires are ready to be put on.

Next, using a wire threading tool that I designed and made, we walk along the line, stapling all the wires in the correct position. Then, we strain in the middle of the line using a tension gauge and permanent wire strainers, which completes it ready for battening.

Over the years, my fencing has included deer and construction site netting, using my designed netting unroller/tensioner attached to the post driver.

We also pull out a lot of fences, some of them very rubbishy, using my designed V-lifter for lifting posts, and a hydraulically driven old fence winder, which winds up old fence with wires and battens still attached.

Using my specially designed drill bit, we put in and pull out vineyards, enabling the planting of new vines.

When pulling out vineyards, we use our wireless remote controlled tractor mover and a special lifter for lifting out vine plants and posts. As the tractor moves down the line, and when hanging gates, we use my counter sinking drill bit.

Our business has diversified in many ways and continues to do so. Over the years, we have fenced and/or developed a children’s playground, rose arbour (80m x 4m), wedding arbour with grape vines over top, retaining walls, cattle yards, the list goes on.

Written by Malcolm Webster

Published in WIRED issue 76/March 2025 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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