82 | CONTRACTING Harkin Roofing Ltd: The Sands T T Kelly Deeks Setting the industry benchmark… As one of the Bay of Plenty’s most established commercial and industrial roofing specialists, Harkin Roofing has built its reputation on the big jobs. Today, the Tauranga company continues to set the benchmark for large-scale, technically demanding projects, backed by a highly trained team and a 45-year legacy of industry leadership. Harkin Roofing director Deborah Harkin says the company’s long-standing focus on commercial and industrial work remains its defining strength. From multi-year construction programmes to expansive warehouse and manufacturing facilities, Harkin Roofing’s systems, equipment, and crews are geared for size, scale, and efficiency. “We love the really large commercial jobs, 20,000, 30,000 and even 50,000 square metres are our favourites,” Deborah says. “That’s the work we’ve always specialised in, and it’s where we deliver the most value.” While the business has taken on more re-roofing projects in this past very quiet 12 months, Deborah says these have simply complemented its core commercial expertise, rather than shifting the company’s direction. Large-scale construction remains the foundation of Harkin Roofing’s identity, an approach established by her parents Rex and Sue Harkin when they formed the company in 1979. At the time, roofing was still bundled into the plumbing trade, and specialising solely in industrial and commercial roofing was unusual. It soon became the company’s competitive edge. Today, Deborah and her brother Brad continue to uphold that focus, supported by a loyal and long-serving workforce and modern headquarters in Tauriko. Central to the company’s ongoing success is its strong investment in people, which earned Harkin Roofing the Training Company of the Year award at the Roofing Association of New Zealand (RANZ) Conference in 2024. KONNECTFASTENINGSYSTEMS.CO.NZ 0508 KONNECT (566 632) YOUR TRUSTED PARTNERS FOR EVERYTHING ROOFING, CLADDING AND MORE! 16 BRANCHES NATIONWIDE “That award reflects what we put our energy into every day,” Deborah says. “We’re committed to growing great roofers and giving our team the confidence and support they need to succeed.” Structured development is built into the company’s operations. Monthly training modules pair apprentices with project managers for one-on-one learning, while site visits, workshops, and guest speakers help keep the team aligned with industry advancements. A strong wellbeing focus complements the technical training, with nutrition support, mental-health initiatives, and practical measures to ensure staff are looked after on and off the roof. “We treat our team like family,” Deborah says. “A lot of our guys come from tough backgrounds, and watching them grow – not just in their skills but in their lives – means everything to us.” Retention is one of the company’s quiet achievements. While labourers have come and gone over the years, there have only been a couple of departures of skilled staff in more than a decade. Harkin Roofing has built a stable, experienced workforce, something Deborah credits to treating people well, offering meaningful development, and making the workplace enjoyable as well as productive. “We take the work seriously, but we also make it fun and rewarding,” she says. “I love my job and I want our team to feel the same way.” With commercial activity in the Bay of Plenty beginning to lift again, Harkin Roofing is preparing for an active year ahead. Deborah says the company is wellpositioned and supported by the capability it demonstrated on two of the most significant industrial projects in recent years: the 50,000sqm GIB Factory in Tauriko – which won the RANZ Commercial Roof of the Year – and the expansive APL manufacturing facility featuring the largest Kingspan roof in Australasia.
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