| 49 RURAL SERVICES » FCANZ Positive learning on leadership The conference and AGM at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort in the Bay of Islands was held in early August. Kim Newth Having postponed their 2020 conference due to Covid, Fencing Contractors NZ (FCNZ) was relieved that their 2021 event went off without a hitch. The conference and AGM at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort in the Bay of Islands was held in early August, just days before the country went into a nationwide lockdown. “With the uncertainties arising from the Covid environment, we made our plans last year without really knowing if we’d be able to go ahead or not – thankfully, we managed to pull it off,” says FCNZ President Phil Cornelius. “We had good attendance and good involvement, with around 130 attendees at the conference and 250 to 300 people including local contractors and farmers for our fencing eld day at the Waimate North Showgrounds.” The theme of this year’s conference was Leadership in Fencing and included tailored workshop sessions. Keynote speakers were Sue Pickering, Founder of Develop Ltd, who led a Leadership 101 workshop; and former fencing contractor and business development mentor Pete Gregory and experienced business coach Graeme Bratty, who gave a workshop on Nailing Your Quotes to Optimise Your Pro t. Phil and wife Donna, who own Northland-based CPC Fencing, are acutely aware of how rising supply costs are putting pressure on their industry. “This is something contractors need to be very mindful of going forward so it was great to have that workshop as a reminder to check that quotes are realistic.” Contractors attending the Leadership 101 session also came away inspired with ideas on how to strengthen working relationships and build a motivated team. The conference’s charity auction dinner raised $18,790 for Northland Rescue Helicopters’ Northland Emergency Services Trust. “We had great participation from sponsors donating items for the charity auction. We even had a South Island contractor offer his services for a week as part of the auction!” The fencing eld day, held on the Friday of the conference, was the largest ever for FCNZ and a chance for industry partners to come along and experience all that the fencing industry had to offer from trade stalls showcasing latest product through to demonstrations and competitions, such as wire tying races. “The feedback from our partners was very positive.” Bringing contractors and industry partners together had also provided great networking opportunities, enabling people to share best practice and learn from what others were doing. One of the positives from the Covid experience for the fencing industry has been free access to primary industry training, introduced by the government in 2020, including the Level 3 Certi cate in Fencing. Funding for free training is available through to the end of 2022 so long as you are enrolled. A Level 4 Certi cate in Fencing is also being developed in time for roll out in late 2022. FCNZ is working with current provider NorthTec to deliver courses to a growing list of students. “There has been a lot of interest in the training and the whole fencing industry is behind it. COVID has de nitely slowed the implementation, but we are still forging ahead.” Membership of FCNZ is steadily growing and the industry is ourishing. “Even with today’s uncertainties, fencing contractors around the country are looking for staff and are extremely busy. “Even with today’s uncertainties, fencing contractors around the country are looking for staff and are extremely busy.” ∙ Post, Wire & Batten Fences ∙ Post & Rail Fences ∙ Retaining Walls ∙ Sheep & Cattle Yards ∙ Deer Fencing ∙ Equine Fencing ∙ Electric Fencing Phone Dale on 0800 735 513 E: dale@barakatcontractors.co.nz W: www.barakatcontractors.co.nz Specialist Manufacturers of high quality fencing tools & equipment Visit www.strainrite.co.nz for more information Farmers are spending money on fences as is the lifestyle sector. Work has picked up and business is carrying on.”
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