| 77 Old school fencer, helping old school farmers Wayne Hadfield is a one-man rural fencing crew. Kelly Deeks “I’ve had great support from my wife and two daughters who own and manage the Blue Hill Cafe in Owhango.” RURAL SERVICES » Ruapehu Fencing Wayne Hadfield may be a one-man rural fencing crew tackling the rugged and rolling hills of the King Country but he’s well supported in his business, with a loyal client base dating back 30 years, and some of the best fencing gear and machinery in the world, made right here in New Zealand. Wayne is fencing mostly on sheep and beef properties around his home base of Taumarunui. He says he’s an old school fencer working for old school farmers and their common values make great partnerships. “I think they appreciate the quality of my work and also the fact that I’ll never say no to a job,” he says. “It doesn’t matter how steep it is, how hard it is, or if the earthworks haven’t been done very well, I just get in and do it. I’m old school, and a lot of those farm managers and owners are the same way.” Sheep and beef farmers have had tough times during the past 10 to 15 years and the current economic climate isn’t helping. “Lamb and beef prices are up and down and costs are up, but these guys are really loyal customers, and even in tight times, they’ll get a bit of fencing done here and there. When it does go quiet, there’s plenty of fencing repair work to be done. Wayne has used all sorts of different fencing gear in his 30+ years in the industry, and thanks to advances in tools and machinery, the job is a now lot easier than it was when he started out. He rarely needs to use a hammer anymore, but will still use the post borer on a lot of his hill country work. “That kind of gear will always be here in the King Country. There is a lot of ground you can’t get on to with a digger or a bull dozer.” He thinks New Zealand made post rammers are the best in the world. “The guys that make them here in New Zealand are really fantastic at listening to the fencer and what they want. It was a New Zealander who invented the first post rammer, and we still make the best in the world.” Wayne gets a lot of his gear from Kyne Equipment, a family business located in Pahiatua which has been making farming and fencing equipment for more than two decades. “You can’t beat them,” he says. “I’ve used a lot of different post rammers, and their ones are really good.” Ruapehu Fencing has been a big crew in the past but over the past five years, Wayne says all rural industries in New Zealand have been suffering with a shortage of quality staff. “It’s been really hard in the rural sector to find good young people. A lot of them are packing up and moving to Australia where they can make three times the money, get their tax back and their health paid for. RUAPEHU FENCING • Conventional • Deer • Electric • Post & Rail • Sheep & Cattle Yard’s • Repair Work • Post Ramming • Residential • Lifestyle • Security & Gate’s | Extensive Steep Hill Country Experience | | Excavator and Bulldozer for all fence lines and tracks | | Tree felling and Removal, Chainsaw work | Fully Insured FOR ALL YOUR LIVESTOCK CONTAINMENT NEEDS PH: WAYNE 027 RUAPEHU 7827348 “I’ve had great support from my wife and two daughters who own and manage the Blue Hill Cafe in Owhango. They often come out and give me a hand - and point out what I’m doing wrong!”
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