| 65 T T Hugh de Lacy Two divisions – one highly skilled firm Griffiths Drilling has forged a formidable reputation for its geotechnical prowess and innovative approach to complex projects. Griffiths Drilling “We went on to construct hundreds of cell phone towers nationwide for Two Degrees from 2010 onwards, which made perfect sense because we were already handling the preliminary geotechnical drilling work.” CONTRACTING What began 54 years ago as Griffiths Drilling, a specialised drilling company, and then expanded into civil construction, recently led to a strategic rebranding, uniting its businesses under the single, cohesive identity of Griffiths, streamlining its operations and displaying the breadth of its capabilities to the market. The company goes back to 1971 when Gordon Griffiths laid the foundations of the original drilling enterprise, his vision and dedication setting the stage for what was to become a multi-faceted industry leader. In 1994, Gordon’s son Mel Griffiths, whose upbringing was steeped in the intricacies of the drilling industry, took the helm. Today, Mel serves as the company’s managing director, with his wife Becs Griffiths as chief financial officer. Together, they steer a dedicated team of around 50 staff, embodying a family business ethos prioritising expertise and strong relationships. Initially, Griffiths operated its drilling and civil construction divisions as separate entities, but Mel and Becs’ diversification recognised the potential in consolidating the operations. This led to a strategic unification aimed at streamlining internal processes and presenting a more cohesive and comprehensive front to their clients by leveraging the synergies between their services, while simplifying client engagement and maximising their combined strengths to offer a one-stop solution. From their two-acre base in Pauatahanui, just north of Wellington, Griffiths has played a pivotal role in some of New Zealands most significant construction endeavours. Its expertise has been engaged in projects spanning generations, from the historic Clyde Dam in Gordon’s era to modern infrastructure landmarks that include Roads of National Significance, Riverlink, West Windfarm and the Transmission Gully motorway. Griffiths Drilling forged a formidable reputation over the years for its geotechnical prowess and innovative approach to complex projects. A key relationship with telecommunications provider, Two Degrees, was a catalyst for its expansion into civil construction, and was a natural progression for the company. “That’s what led us to expand into civil construction, and in 2010 we decided to put our building resources under a separate entity as Griffiths Civil Build,” Mel says. “We went on to construct hundreds of cell phone towers nationwide for Two Degrees from 2010 onwards, which made perfect sense because we were already handling the preliminary geotechnical drilling work. “From there, we moved into things like large-scale retaining walls, and then into commercial and industrial building and maintenance.” This side of the business flourished to the point where today Griffiths boasts an equal distribution of staff across its drilling and civil construction divisions. Griffiths maintains depots in Greytown in the Wairarapa, and in both Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu, extending its reach across a significant portion of the North Island. The drilling services encompass everything from coring, SPT and CPT testing, to the installation of standard and vibrating wire piezometers, environmental sampling, test pits, ground anchors, soil nails, micro piling, and vacuum excavation. The fleet of more than a dozen drilling rigs spans various sizes and types, predominantly rotary, but also includes advanced dual-head sonic rotary rigs. KEEP YOUR PROJECTS FLOWING OUR VISION: To Enhance The Traffic Management Industry’s Reputation Through Positive & Professional Experiences & To Always provide The Client A Service beyond their Expectation. WWW.TRAFFICFLOWGROUP.CO.NZ STEVE.HURIWAKA@TRAFFICFLOW.CO.NZ 021 944 037 Where Quality Won’t Be Compromised LOCALS SERVING LOCALS
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