| 91 CONTRACTING Mooks Earthworks Staying small keeps the work interesting Danielle and “Mook” who says he got the machinery bug virtually as soon as he left school. T T Hugh de Lacy “I’ve been able to go from job to job with my five-tonne Hitachi digger, and I’ve developed a bit of a specialty in building swimming pools.’ I t’s a classic small business – just Michael Mook, a digger, a tracked skid-steer and a tip-truck – but Mooks Earthworks has carved out a niche for itself in the shadow of bigger companies in the Levin/Horowhenua market. “Mook”, as he’s known in the trade, got the machinery bug virtually as soon as he left school, starting out with a local harvesting and earthmoving company, Graeme Bagrie Contracts, where he spent 10 years operating various machines and getting experience on a wide range of earthmoving projects before setting up Mooks Earthworks in 2020. And the sole operator mode is just how he likes it, though with demand steady he might consider taking on staff if he found the right person, but right now he and his partner Danielle, who handles the bookwork and the health and safety requirements, are happy with the operation as they raise their two young children. “Staff were never really in the plan when I started the company: I’ve been able to go from job to job with my five-tonne Hitachi digger, and I’ve developed a bit of a specialty in building swimming pools,” Mook says. “I really like the detail involved in pool building, and watching the project develop through its various stages from earthworks to construction and then on to the final landscaping. It’s great to be able to see the vision, do the work, and watch the whole project unfold.” Aside from pool builders, Mook has a highly diversified clientele from local builders and developers through to landscape companies, finding his small digger is a useful complement to bigger companies’ heavier equipment. It was in this role that Mook took the risk of buying his own machinery and becoming an owner-operator. Mook says he was fortunate enough to have Carl Gibson, the owner of Levin company Gibson Earthmoving, help him out in the early days, something for which he’ll be forever grateful. Carl died suddenly last year. “It was a big blow to the local earthmoving community: it shocked a lot of people and we really feel his loss.” Carl’s company has continued in business since his death, currently being run by his father Alan Gibson. Typical of the work Mook takes on is a recent big job at the Levin East School where he’s preparing a new playground with earthworks to protect the sub-grade. A factor encouraging Mook to stay small is that most of his jobs take just a day or two – things like driveways and landscaping – and he’s able to operate from a workshop at his Levin home. “This keeps the job interesting, as every day is a new challenge,” he says. Another factor in his success as a sole operator is his ability to keep his costs down, with the digger in particular being notably cheap to run. businesscentral Each edition priority delivered to your door. . Stay informed; we work with business owners and decision-makers across all economic sectors, pro iling their success. i ; i i i i - ll i , ili i . www.waterfordpress.co.nz/subscriptions . . . i i 03 983 5525 03 983 5525 Your Business, Your Industry, Your News. Volume 6 | Issue 2 | April 2021 www.waterfordpress.co.nz ‘Excellence in Energy’ Taranaki’s Todd Energy will have a key role to play as New Zealand moves toward a low emissions economy. Page 8 Waikato farmers Dean & Ang Finnerty have expanded their dairy cow operation into a successful goat milking enterprise as well PAGE 10 Turning challenge into opportunity AUTUMN 2022 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Volume 6 | Issue 3 | July 2021 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Making waves Back on track New Zealand hydrofoil maker Armstrong is generating interest around the world with its high performance products. Work on the ambitious NZCIS facility in Upper Hutt is progressing well after Covid disruptions. PAGE 70 PAGE 10 Healthy delivery A new elective surgery facility in Hastings will provide a big boost to the region’s operating capacity. PAGE 52 Volume 6 | Issue 5 | December 2021 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Cheers Boys! YoungWellington irm3Māori Boys is creating a buzz with it’s ground-breakingWai Manuka natural beverage. PAGE 45 Passion and pride New Plymouth’s Energyworks has forged a strong reputation in 50 years of business. PAGE 64 Seaview upgrade CentrePort’s SeaviewWharf facility is set for a major upgrade to bring it up to international standards. PAGE 14 NR Xcavation Limited ABOUT US OUR SERVICES GET IN TOUCH We are a small Horowhenua based Excavation Company. We have two Hitachi Diggers. A 3 tonne digger and a 14 tonne digger to meet all your excavation needs. We have 20 years experience in the industry. • EARTHWORKS • LANDSCAPING • HOUSE SITES • FARM WORKS NATHAN RANKIN • SITE CLEARING • DRIVEWAYS • MULCHING • TRANSPORTING nrxcavation@gmail.com 021 0804 1997 nrxcavation • Bulk Cartage of all aggregates • Spoils Disposals • Logistics Contact Milton 027 368 5404 gladstonecartage@gmail.com Proudly supporting Mooks Earthworks
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