56 | Tuffnell Drainage CONTRACTING Kelly Deeks Seeing success in civil and commercial projects Happy in their work - the Tuffnell Drainage team. Christchurch Depot Phone: 03 332 3545 | Mobile: John: 027 499 0711 Address: 48 Curries Road, Hillsborough, Christchurch 8022 pumphire.co.nz Pump Hire Ltd is a New Zealand-owned pump rental company that specialises in the hiring of diesel, electric, air and petrol-driven pumps. Our pumps are suited to a wide variety of applications throughout New Zealand. ANY PUMP, ANY TIME, ANY WHERE Call 0800 266 000 to discuss your pumping requirements P I P E L I N E S H V A C M E C H A N I C A L Selwyn’s Tuffnell Drainage is continuing to grow after 20 years in business, adding services and training up new personnel to provide an efficient service and quality results for residential, commercial, and civil drainage and excavation projects. Warwick Tuffnell set up Tuffnell Drainage in Southbridge after completing his drainlaying apprenticeship in Christchurch. By 2004, Tuffnell Drainage was firmly established as the local residential drainage expert, and was on its way towards future success in civil and infrastructure projects. As the company became engaged on more and more projects outside of Ellesmere, and in the interests of finding and retaining staff, Tuffnell Drainage relocated to the more central Izone in Rolleston in 2014. Today, Tuffnell Drainage works in and around Selwyn, from Rolleston to Arthur’s Pass down to Rakaia, and also in Christchurch. “This is a large area geographically, and there is a lot going on including dairy farms, small businesses, a lot of residential homes, and a lot of council work as well,” Warwick says. “We do quite a lot for Selwyn District Council, looking after toilet blocks, community centres, and camping grounds, as well as the sewer and stormwater network.” 12 months ago, Tuffnell Drainage added a water blasting and drain clearing division, Tuff Blast to its services, purpose building its own jetting truck complete with CCTV, and a water blasting trailer set up for smaller jobs. Tuff Blast has come on in leaps and bounds and is growing steadily alongside Tuffnell Drainage. “There aren’t many days that go by without two or three blocked drains coming through the door throughout the region.” Another staff member has been employed to run the blaster truck and CCTV, the CCTV unit has been upgraded, and Tuffnell Drainage is now fitting out a new unit to run the cameras from. With its upcoming workload, Tuffnell Drainage is still on the lookout for a couple more registered drainlayers, still Warwick says the best way of getting good staff is training them yourself. “We operate to the highest standards of quality and safety, and drainlayers don’t necessarily come off the shelf with all those standards and the necessary skills instilled in them. When we train our own staff, we can train them how we want them to be.” With his 20 years of experience, Warwick plays a critical role in Tuffnell Drainage’s in-house training programme, and he is also supported in this by knowledgeable and experienced foreman and other qualified drainlayers. Warwick says the drainlayer’s career path can take several different directions, whether it is residential drainage, commercial drainage dealing with traffic management and members of the public, or civil drainage with deeper holes and larger pipes. “Whichever way you go, the principles remain the same. A drainlayer needs to care about their workmanship and the workmanship of other people. High standards are so important when everything is below ground and it all gets covered up. They also need to work hard, and be able to deal well with people.” The staff at Tuffnell Drainage are well looked after and proud of the work they do, from those on the front line to the three administrators in the office. “Our overall team is extremely valuable, and they make a massive difference to how everything runs.” “A drainlayer needs to care about their workmanship and the workmanship of other people.”
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