34 | Re-named division sees busy year ahead Recent years have seen Tarros undertaking major design-and-build projects, such as water and wastewater treatment plants. ENGINEERING Max Tarr Group/Tarros T T Hugh de Lacy The re-branding of the Max Tarr Group’s infrastructure engineering division – now called Tarros – is to move it out of the shadow of the Palmerston North parent company’s long-established reputation in electrical services, according to Tarros manager Reece Lloyd. “This division of the Max Tarr Group has been operating for 20-odd years, the past three as Max Tarr Infrastructure Engineers, but Max’s legacy in the electrical sector is such that our profile in the infrastructure and mechanical engineering sector tended to get overshadowed,” Reece says. “The group now comprises three trading entities, one each for the commercial and industrial electrical divisions, and Tarros for infrastructure and mechanical engineering. “We’re proud of our legacy under Max who, though now semi-retired, still works in Max Tarr Industrial part-time. He started out on his own as an electrician working from home in 1978, and grew the business to where it is today, employing around 70 people on an 8000sqm site on Mihaere Drive. “Although he expanded into infrastructure engineering, his focus remained on electrical services, and he built a huge reputation around it.” The group moved to Mihaere Drive from its previous premises in Tremaine Avenue in May of 2025, and is now housed in a 1500sqm building split roughly in half, with Tarros occupying one side and the electrical divisions and administration offices the other. The group is managed by Max’s daughter Jodie Tarr who’s a director of all three companies, and in charge of administration and Health & Safety. The shareholdings are widely spread across the companies with a number of senior staff owning significant portions. “This has been a key driver in the success of the group by ensuring good people are retained and rewarded.” Reece says the re-branded Tarros is busy, and getting more so. “A year ago, things were pretty slow and we were just scraping by, but early in the year they picked up and lately it’s been all go, and looks like being that way well into 2026,” he says. “A lot of projects that were sitting round waiting for the green light have suddenly got going. “There’s a lot of competition in our particular sector of the infrastructure industry, but that’s all to the good with the increasing number of projects getting underway. “We’re currently involved in a $3million fire-fighting deluge job at the Ohakea Air Force Base, a $2 million Palmerston North City Council biogas upgrade, and a $5 million Manawatu District Council wastewater centralisation project where we’ve built one pump station and are now working on the main one in Rongotea,” says Reece. “We’ve got other jobs on the go in South Wairarapa, the Kapiti Coast and Wellington, and our team is flat out with tenders.” Recent years have seen Tarros undertaking major design-and-build projects, such as water and wastewater treatment plants and processes for clients not just from the Manawatu but from all round the country. “Essentially, our name change reflects that, while still part of the Max Tarr Group, we’re forging our own identity.” 213 Stoney Creek Rd, Palmerston North 06-356-5557 www.blackley.co.nz For all your Farm & Civil Construction Needs
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