| 79 T T Hugh de Lacy Providing security for people and property D Roberts Fencing provides residential and commercial fences for homes, businesses and schools throughout Southland. D Roberts Fencing CONTRACTING Lending a hand part-time to an ageing one-man fencing outfit led Daniel Roberts and wife Kirstin into a business that would shape both their lives and their community. The two have built D Roberts Fencing into a thriving business providing residential and commercial fences for homes, businesses and schools throughout Southland. Their journey began when Stewart Barlow offered Daniel and Kirstin the opportunity to take over his small, solo fencing business, after Daniel had helped him over the years on the odd day off, gaining valuable experience in the process. Grabbing the opportunity Stewart offered them, Kirstin and Daniel took the business over and re-branded it as D Roberts Fencing. At the time of the purchase, Daniel had spent 20 years working at the Tiwai aluminium smelter in Bluff, and Kirstin had gained wide experience in various office roles. “Together, we felt we had the skills and determination to take the business to new heights,” Kirstin says. Fast forward to today, and D Roberts Fencing employs six full-time staff alongside Daniel and Kirstin at a time when the Southland economy is leading the country in its recovery from a protracted period of lean times. The company has become a key player in the Southland fencing industry, specialising in heavy-duty security fencing for industrial and government clients. “Our work is essential for protecting valuable equipment, securing large properties and keeping children safe and within school grounds,” Kirstin says. With a base in Invercargill’s Liddel Street, the business offers tailored solution using timber, aluminium and steel, all designed to meet clients’ preferences, whether modern or traditional – and, no less importantly, to also meet their budgets. Despite the challenges faced by businesses in New Zealand over the past few years, D Roberts Fencing has experienced remarkable growth, particularly in recent years. “Unbelievably so,” Kirstin says. “Thanks to a booming economy in Southland, fuelled by high dairy and meat prices, business is brisk, and we’re often busy measuring up future jobs, with work booked well into next year. “We employed two more guys this year, and it’s not slowing us down at all,” she says, noting the local economy’s strength and the willingness of Southland residents to invest in quality services. Kirstin credits the success of the business to a simple but powerful formula: delivering a great job. “Invercargill is a small town, and if you do a great job, word gets around,” she says. For Daniel, a perfectionist at heart, the key to success lies in teamwork, and finding the best solution for the client within their budget. D Roberts Fencing has become a go-to service provider for a range of clients, including the Department of Education, which has relied on the company to build secure, child-proof fences for nearly a dozen schools in Southland. Fencing Experts in Invercargill & Southland Delivering Quality & Durability From Residential to Industrial Fencing Solutions. 027 303 5020 info@drobertsfencing.co.nz drobertsfencing.nz Fencing, gates, and screening made easy for local contractors New Zealand wide. ColourPanel installation by D Roberts Fencing boundaryline.co.nz | 0800 003 006 “Our work is essential for protecting valuable equipment, securing large properties and keeping children safe and within school grounds.” One particularly notable project is the 600-metre fence the company is installing at Riverton Primary School to keep children safe and prevent them wandering off during school hours. Our team is our strength. Without them, we wouldn’t have our business. We are grateful to have our guys that put in the hard work and big hours.
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