40 | Tatana Contracting T T Kelly Deeks Staying ahead of regional growth Tatana Contracting has played a key role in developments across the lower North Island “We can store plant there and service jobs through Kapiti and Wellington while we wait for things at home to build momentum again.” CONTRACTING Growth around Levin is reshaping where and how civil contractors work, and Tatana Contracting is positioning itself to meet demand both inside and beyond the district. From its long-established base in Horowhenua, Tatana Contracting has watched the business landscape shift as major infrastructure, new transport links, and expanding industrial activity redraw the map of opportunity across the lower North Island. Project Manager Chevy Tatana says the past few years have been challenging, with uncertainty pushing civil work into pause mode. “There is growth in the district, but at the same time local government contracts just aren’t there,” Chevy says. “Nationally we went into a recession, and it is now election year. We’ve seen civil businesses and others close across a range of industries, and everyone is feeling the pinch.” While activity slowed locally, Tatana Contracting leaned on its long standing presence in Kapiti and Wellington. The company has owned a yard in Plimmerton for over a decade and is now getting back to work with Wellington Water. “If the work is not in Horowhenua, our Plimmerton yard is a real bonus,” Chevy says. “We can store plant there and service jobs through Kapiti and Wellington while we wait for things at home to build momentum again.” Momentum is coming. The completion of the new expressway connection is expected to further strengthen Levin’s role as the northern gateway to Wellington, and commercial operators are already moving. Behind Tatana Contracting’s Enterprise Drive base, industrial and trade developments continue to expand. A large parcel of land stretching towards State Highway 57 has been purchased for what is expected to become a major business precinct of up to 200 sites. Freight and construction firms are also establishing a presence. Mainfreight has opened in Levin, while LT McGuinness has created a significant yard to store cranes and equipment used across the country. Tatana Contracting is undertaking civil works on that site. Residential growth is matching the commercial push. New subdivisions off Tararua oad are complete, and further large-scale projects planned on Queen Street East could ultimately create several thousand homes, effectively forming a new suburb. Chevy says that level of expansion will require strong local capability. “Our town centre will need investment, and council has signalled upgrades and beautification once the expressway diverts traffic away from Oxford Street,” he says. “All of that brings opportunity for contractors who are ready.” In preparation, Tatana Contracting has spent recent years strengthening systems, particularly in health and safety, to ensure it can align with tier one operators. “We had to lift our procedures to match the bigger companies,” Chevy says. “Bringing in someone full time in health and safety has created a big shift in our culture and we are seeing the benefits.” The business, which draws on more than half a century of experience, continues to focus on technically demanding work such as deep drainage, pump stations, and trench dewatering. By specialising, Chevy says the company offer skills and equipment that are not widely available. “We look for opportunities that make us different,” he says. “We have engineers in-house who can design projects for council, and we can build them in-house as well.” As Horowhenua grows into its new role within the wider Wellington region, Tatana Contracting intends to grow with it, keeping investment, employment, and expertise rooted in the district that built the company. PROUD TO SUPPORT TATANA CONTRACTING KAPITI | HOROWHENUA | MANAWATU PlaceMakers Okatēa 0800 748 327 0800 site 2 site OKATĒA
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