50 | MASTER PLUMBERS Stevens Plumbing and Gas www.yhpj.co.nz (09) 470 0400 Welcoming new clients - contact info@yhpj.co.nz for a complimentary initial meeting Business Advisors & Chartered Accountants Serving Whangarei & Dargaville Proudly supporting Stevens Plumbing and Gas nurturing great business Stepping up in Whangarei Regal Plumbing Solutions services both residential and commercial clients across the region. T T Sue Russell Diversity in Dargaville driving resilience T T Anne Boswell Regal Plumbing Solutions HEAT PUMPS RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL SOLAR Electrical, Solar, Heat Pumps - and everything in between The Integrated Electrical & Solar Whangarei based team is led by Master Electricians Wayne Jecentho and Will Renall. With a crew of qualified electricians behind them, Wayne and Will have a mission to create a friendly, local, solutions-based electrical & solar company. admin@integratedes.co.nz 09 430 0280 6D Woods Road, Whangarei • PAPERHANGING • WATERBLASTING • SPRAY TEXTURE • ANTI GRAFFITI • SPECIALIST FINISHES • WATERPROOFING • FIREPROOF COATINGS • ZOLATONE APPLICATION • TRADESMAN QUALITY • REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE PAINT APPLICATION SPECIALISTS WITH COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL & DOMESTIC PROJECTS DECORATING LTD 09 438 5337 admin@mcnabbdecorating.co.nz 2024/25 GOLD Four years ago, Matt Burnett decided it was time to step out on his own, take control of his future, and establish his own plumbing business in Whangārei. Today, Regal Plumbing Solutions services both residential and commercial clients across the region, specialising in maintenance, emergency plumbing, and renovation work. Matt says the idea of running his own business had been forming for a while. “Towards the end of my apprenticeship I started thinking that eventually I’d want to do my own thing and see where that could take me. When my second son was born, it felt like the right time to take the leap.” Like many new business owners, the early days came with their share of challenges. “Starting out is never easy. There’s a lot to figure out and a lot of responsibility, but it’s also incredibly rewarding when you start to see the business gain momentum.” That momentum arrived in a big way in 2025, which Matt describes as a breakout year for the company. Last year saw around a 200 percent increase in the amount of work coming through — a huge step forward for the business. Rapid growth can bring its own pressures, but Matt says having someone to talk things through with helped him navigate that period. A diverse offering has proven critical to the resilience of Stevens Plumbing and Gas, helping the Dargaville-based business navigate economic ups and downs while continuing to deliver for its community. Director Josh Stevens says offering a broad range of services — from plumbing and gas fitting to drainage, fireplace installation and roofing — has been key to keeping work flowing in, particularly during tougher periods. “The more diverse you are, the more likely you are to survive a downturn,” he says. Josh’s pathway into the trade began outside the plumbing sector. He spent around eight years in Auckland working in waterproofing and roofing before returning home to Dargaville in 2012 with his young family. It was then that he made the shift into plumbing, joining a local company where he spent the next eight years building his skills and reputation. In 2020 Josh made the decision to strike out on his own. The move was driven by a combination of factors: strong local demand, a solid reputation as a reliable tradesman, and a desire to have greater control over the work he took on. It was also about giving back. “I’m Dargaville born and bred, and I wanted to provide a service for the community,” he says. Initially the business focused on plumbing, with Josh stepping back from roofing due to a number of knee surgeries. However, as the business grew and Josh’s capacity improved, roofing was reintroduced, contributing to the wide-ranging service offering the company provides today. Josh’s client base in the strong rural community is broad, ranging from residential customers in town to farmers and agricultural clients across the region. Stevens Plumbing and Gas undertakes servicing for managed properties through local property management companies. “You have to be able to do a bit of everything in a place like Dargaville,” Josh says. However, the company’s reach extends well beyond the town boundary, with work taking the team from Pouto Point to Ōpononi and Maungatūroto. It has also undertaken “My older brother has always been a great sounding board. Being able to ask someone who’s already been through similar challenges what they would do differently has been really valuable.” Rather than chasing growth at any cost, Matt has focused on building the business carefully and sustainably. He says one of the best decisions he made early on was investing in professional online marketing and a new website. That really changed the visibility of the business and opened up new opportunities. At the same time, Matt has been careful not to expand too quickly.“We’ve taken a steady approach. At the moment there are three of us on the tools, including myself, and my partner helps out in the office as much as she can.” Before starting Regal Plumbing Solutions, Matt worked for several larger commercial plumbing companies around New Zealand, gaining valuable experience across a wide range of projects. The company’s core work centres around maintenance, emergency plumbing, and renovations. While the business does take on some new builds, Matt says it’s not the primary focus. “Maintenance work tends to be more consistent and recession-resilient. There’s always going to be a need for plumbing repairs and servicing.” an increasing amount of commercial work in nearby Whangārei. Today, the business employs eight staff on the tools, supported by a strong administrative and management team. Josh and his wife Kristy serve as directors, alongside an office manager, operations manager and a recently appointed estimator to help maintain workflow and ensure quotes are delivered promptly. Underpinning the operation are three core values: quality, integrity and teamwork. Josh says these principles guide everything the business does, from workmanship to relationships with clients and other trades. “We want to be known to deliver the highest quality workmanship in the area, doing things once and doing them right,” he says. “Integrity is huge for us, and teamwork is about never closing a door and working well alongside other tradespeople.” As economic pressures continue to challenge the construction and trades sector, Stevens Plumbing and Gas is focused on staying true to those values while maintaining its diverse offering — a strategy that is proving its worth. Josh and Kristy Stevens - making a difference in Dargaville.
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