| 69 Tangaroa Marine Fabrication MARINE Specialising in marine and industrial services www.marineelectric.co.nz | (09) 430 8061 • STEEL • STAINLESS • ENGINEERING STEELS • PLATE PROCESSING • COIL PROCESSING • ALUMINIUM - SHEET & EXTRUSION AVAILABLE VULCAN IS PROUD TO SUPPORT TANGAROA MARINE FABRICATION WWW.VULCAN.CO Aluminium Sales 09 4387380 Steel Sales 09 4388526 T T Karen Phelps “We can incorporate their ideas and really work with them to deliver what they want.” Marine fabricator a leading innovator Tangaroa Marine has operated largely under the radar for a decade but has quietly emerged as one of Northland’s most innovative marine fabricators, employing around 20 staff and serving clients nationwide. Established in 2015 by Kelly and Luke Seuren, it has built a reputation for designing and producing custom aluminium vessels and products from concept to delivery. What began as a marine fabrication business has evolved into a dual operation that now encompasses Land Pirates, a subsidiary specialising in custom aluminium utility vehicle trays and service bodies. “When a customer comes in, they deal with us. We do the whole job in-house and build each product for the customer and their specific needs,” says Kelly. “We can incorporate their ideas and really work with them to deliver what they want.” The marine division has produced an impressive portfolio of commercial and recreational vessels deployed throughout New Zealand. Its craft serve diverse purposes from passenger ferries and water taxis operating in the Bay of Islands to oyster barges, commercial fishing vessels and transport barges moving stock and tourists on the Whanganui River. High-speed delivery barges work the Hauraki Gulf, and the company’s vessels have been commissioned by operators including Fullers. The Land Pirates division emerged organically after the couple built a service box for a family member. Word spread quickly and what started as a favour has grown to comprise 50 per cent of the business’s operations. The company now supplies customers across New Zealand, with some products making their way overseas. The products are bespoke and vehicle-specific rather than generic, one-size-fits-all solutions. The company’s commitment to in-house production sets it apart. It cuts sheet metal on its CNC router, operates its own 100-tonne press brake and maintains diverse machinery enabling it to fabricate virtually any aluminium product. The workshop’s proximity to water facilitates efficient vessel delivery, with craft able to be launched within minutes of completion. Tangaroa Marine’s process emphasises client involvement from initial concept through delivery. Using 3D design technology, it produces detailed models allowing clients to visualise their vessels before construction begins, facilitating adjustments and ensuring satisfaction. Luke, a qualified sheet metal worker with extensive experience in boat building and aluminium fabrication, heads design and research and development. Kelly oversees sales, administration and operations. Before founding Tangaroa Marine, the couple managed a general engineering company employing 50 staff. They chose to follow their passion for the marine industry, bringing valuable project management experience to their new venture. “We are the owners of the company but also part of the team. No one is better than anybody else,” says Kelly. “I’ll make a cup of coffee for the team or clean the toilets. It’s all about working together and doing what needs to get done.” This egalitarian approach has fostered what Kelly describes as exceptional workplace culture. The team includes Dean Busher, who has collaborated with the Seurens for eight years and brings over 25 years of international boatbuilding experience, and Hone Kingi, who began as an apprentice under Luke and Dean in 2012 and is now a qualified boat builder. “Because we are locally owned and operated we have an amazing team of staff. We’re all friends and work well together and have good camaraderie.” Operating from two purpose-built facilities on Hewlett Street in Whangarei — one dedicated to each side of the business — Tangaroa Marine has plans for expansion, particularly of its Land Pirates products into the Australian market. “For a business that has operated largely outside the public eye, Tangaroa Marine demonstrates that locally owned, relationshipdriven businesses can thrive by combining traditional craftsmanship with modern technology putting Northland firmly on the map for quality and innovation.” The marine division has produced an impressive portfolio of commercial and recreational vessels deployed throughout New Zealand.
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