Business Rural North Autumn 2021

| 51 RURAL SERVICES » Barakat Contractors Fencing a focus for family business Kelly Deeks T hird generation family fencing business Barakat Contractors has progressed over 40 years in business from small beginnings in agricultural fencing to now one of the nation’s lead- ing fencing companies, regularly taking its expertise to fencing projects around New Zealand. Father and son team Henry and Dale Barakat were shearers in Te Kauwhata between Hamilton and Auckland, and fencing was initially a side-line for the pair when the shearing season ended. But with more and more demand for their fencing skills, they gave up their shearing runs and went fencing full time for local farmers. Eventually they picked up some big vineyard contracts on Waiheke Island, then were asked to do their first commercial pipe and chain link fence, then they got a prison contract, and the fully fledged fencing contractor started to grow from that point. The third generation Carl, Dale’s son, came on board as the commercial side of the fencing started to take off around 16 years ago. With its beginnings in rural fencing, Barakat Con- tractors specialises in completing a broad range of fencing systems in the agricultural sector, likewise security fencing has now become a major part of the work Barakat Construction completes. The com- pany completes most of the perimeter pulse fencing for New Zealand’s correctional facilities, which takes the team around the country from Invercargill to Kerikeri, and security fencing for Transpower and Mercury sites from the Bay of Plenty to Northland. “We have earned our positive reputation because we always go out of our way to provide truly excellent service to each of our customers,” says Barakat Contractors director Dale Barakat. “With our well-established workshop, modern plant, and Carl, Henry and Dale Barakat in front of the Barakat Contractors’ fleet. highly skilled tradesmen, we provide quality work- manship and high levels of customer satisfaction on all of our jobs.” Barakat Contractors installs more than 120km of agricultural fencing each year on all types of terrain, from dairy flats to high country farms. The company is well recognised as a quality installer of post, wire and batten fences, post and rail fences, deer and equine fencing, electric fenc- ing, and stock yards. In the security sector, mesh fencing is one of Barakat Contracting’s most versatile security fencing systems. “Mesh is an aesthetically pleas- ing security method that can be used on more public-facing and commercial projects,” Dale says. “With a wide selection of mesh types, each with their own look and benefits, mesh is the perfect solution when looking for a reliable security fencing system.” Barakat Contractors is also a leading installer of Gallagher’s alarm monitored electric security fenc- ing systems, supplies and installs both steel and aluminium panel fences, with many different styles to suit a wide range of requirements. As a proud member of Fencing Contractors New Zealand (FCNZ), Barakat Contractors’ clients are assured of being in good hands. Dale, Carl, and his wife Emma make sure to attend an FCNZ confer- ence every couple of years, which they find hugely beneficial to update themselves on what’s going on in the industry. Dale is grateful for FCNZ’s recent efforts to resolve the industry’s labour shortage, saying the struggle to get labour for fencing is one thing everyone in the industry can agree on. PHOTOS: Post and rail fencing with capping (top); security power mesh fence; stock yard; retaining wall. For ALL your fencing supplies including poles, posts, strainers & fencing hardware. Also residential fencing including posts, palings, rails and landscaping timber 0800 POKAKA (765252) sales@mtpokaka.co.nz www.mtpokaka.co.nz