| 81 T T Hugh de Lacy Company’s workload expanding Andrews Fencing has expanded into all forms of rural and urban security and residential fencing, with a range of products that includes timber and glass, Andrews Fencing CONTRACTING Two farm fencers named Andrew started up a company 11 years ago, which they initially called Andrews of Canterbury, but with just one of them left, who is Ngai Tahu, the name has evolved into plain Andrews Fencing with a focus on his Maori origins. Starting with farm fencing in North Canterbury and Australia, Andrews Fencing has expanded into all forms of rural and urban security and residential fencing, with a range of products that includes timber and glass, working throughout South Island with a staff of 20. Timber and composite decking is another specialty, and the company has developed a reputation for quality with a comprehensive range of services. The Ngai Tahu Andrew, Andrew Osgood, left school at 14 to go fencing for owner Steve Norman on Glen Colwyn farm in North Canterbury, and then on to another farm neighbouring that of World War Two hero Sir Charles Upham, on the Conway Flats, where he worked as a farm labourer doing fencing and driving a tractor. With this experience behind him, Andrew shifted to Australia for 20 years from the late 1980s, again fencing and labouring on farms, and forming his own rural and urban fencing company there before returning to New Zealand in 2004. Ten years later he teamed up with Andrew Prattley, another widely experienced farm and urban fencer, to form Andrews of Canterbury, working from a yard near Ngai Tahu’s Tuahiwi marae, and receiving support from Te Puni Kokiri, the Maori Development Fund, with a grant to buy a tipper trailer that eliminated the need for manual loading of fencing gear. Andrew Prattley retired five years ago, leaving Andrew Osgood as owner and sole director of Andrews Fencing. The company’s machinery now includes a tractor and post-driver, while its urban work includes building school fences for the Ministry of Education and Kainga Ora sites, and has extended to installing bird protection for advertising screens outside Christchurch’s Riccarton Mall. Much of the urban residential work involves installing wooden paling fences, but another widely used material is the New Zealand-made product Save Board, which are panels made from re-cycled plastic that have replaced much of the plywood formerly used. Andrews Fencing installed Save Board panels as hoardings round Rydge’s Hotel in central Christchurch, and these will in turn be recycled and re-used in other projects. “We’re committed to using environmentally friendly products wherever we can, showcasing our dedication to sustainability,” Andrew says. “Among our current projects is the fencing for a sub-division on Weedons Road, Christchurch, and we’ve just finished a superlot of 30 or 40 buildings for Fletcher Living. “We’re also involved with the new Pak ‘n’ Save supermarket in Rolleston, and we’re just finishing up fencing an equipment storage park on Pages Road, Aranui, for the Christchurch City Council.” Andrew Osgood and most of his staff are Ngai Tahu, and Andrew says the Maori identity is a core part of the company’s collaborative management where “everyone’s input is valued and continuous improvement is the shared goal. “And the market’s strong and getting stronger,” he adds. HIGH-QUALITY GATE HARDWARE www.walkerindustries.co.nz PROUDLY MANUFACTURED IN NEWZEALAND WALKER INDUSTRIES (2019) LTD Manufacturers, Distributors and Engineers to the Farming and Hardware Industry www.walkerindustries.co.nz • Security Fencing Hardware • Stockists of Elgate components • Robotic and Manual Welding • Press Work • Thread Rolling and Cutting • Hitch Feeding • Pipe Bending and Threading • Custom Made Product • Scratch Manufacturing M +64 (27) 956 0026 E dan@hang-it.co.nz Dan Schwarz GENERAL MANAGER T +64 (3) 366 9966 F +64 (3) 366 9901 6 Hanworth Ave, Hornby, Chch 8042
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