| 25 Tararua: Morris and Bailey REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Richard Loader Reputation for quality The new Vet Services building completed by Morris and Bailey. Proud to supply the aluminium joinery for Morris and Bailey Ltd First by name, First by choice • FIRST WINDOWS & DOORS • REPLACEMENT JOINERY • METRO SERIES • THERMAL HEART • KLIMA PVC SERIES • ARCHITECTURAL SERIES BERNIE WALSH ALUMINIUM, 11 MILLER ST, DANNEVIRKE. PH: 0800 347 789 For more information please visit www.martinbeveridge.co.nz Phone. Email. Raymond Cell. (06) 3746290 m.beveridge@xtra.co.nz 027 249 8634 112 Miller Street, Dannevirke Proud to support Morris and Bailey Ltd Peffers Hi-ab Transport Trading as PW & AL Peffers Ltd 027 2733 963 / 06 374 7144 91 Guy Street, Dannevirke philpeffers@gmail.com Proudly supporting Morris & Bailey Originally founded in Woodville, Morris and Bailey has made the small rural community of Dannevirke its home base since 1969, providing a diverse range of construction services. “We’ve been part of the Southern Hawke’s Bay region for 53 years, and quite well known in Dannevirke, Tararua, Palmerston North, Manawatu and Central Hawke’s Bay,” says General Manager Gavin Hewitt. “Everyone knows Morris and Bailey, and it has a good name in the industry. That’s why we’ve never rebranded. We pride ourselves on having a long-standing record of completing projects that meet our customers’ needs.” At peak, the company employed a team of 30 staff, undertaking major projects such as the big gymnasium and swimming pool complex at Waiouru Military Camp, and alterations to the officers and soldiers mess at Linton Military Camp. Gavin says that in recent times there has been an increase in the number of construction companies competing for the same kinds of projects as Morris and Bailey. He says there has also been a downturn in construction projects in the region. Downturn aside, Morris and Bailey has built an enviable reputation for quality workmanship and reliability throughout the Lower North Island, serving customers from the east coast to the west coast, with projects ranging from residential and commercial builds, bridges and other civil construction, rural and education projects. “We have contracts with a number of Councils including the Manawatu District Council and Tararua District Council and we have built those big concrete foundations for about four wind farms now. “We also do work for Tier One construction companies, Transpower, the Ministry of Education, the farming community and urban customers too. We build a lot of pole sheds for farmers and for rural lifestylers. We do a lot of woolshed alterations, reroofing farm buildings, and farm access bridges. There’s a lot of logging going on around here at the moment too, requiring farmers to construct bridges, set to the logging codes. We’re also putting in a lot of concrete vehicle crossings for new subdivisions — some are private and other are for developers.” Making the best use of its experienced workforce, Morris and Bailey’s staff have been split into four teams, each with its own niche. While some specialise in civil construction, others focus on housing carpentry. Gavin places much importance on his pool of four apprentices and reflects back to a time when Government policy resulted in a serious huge shortage of qualified tradesmen throughout the country and across all trades. “We like to try and keep our apprenticeships rolling over, so that we can maintain the trade skill level. “Once the apprentices become qualified, they tend to stay with us. The schools normally have a recruitment evening and there’s usually someone who comes here on work experience to see if they like the industry.” Coming from a background in the building industry, Gavin has been part of the business for the last 20 years and is now the major shareholder. He says the company’s longevity comes down to consistently providing quality workmanship, prudent company management, and — most importantly — the team. “If you do a good and honest job you’re going to remain in business, and that’s what we aim to achieve. Many of the rural and residential customers are generational. “We might have started working with the grandfather then the son and now the grandson. And though the makeup on the Councils has changed and amalgamated, many of the same people remain and we have stayed with them. “They know we do a good job — we know the industry, we know what we are doing and we just get on and get the work done.”
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