A Scotsman’s Kiwi fencing adventure

Name: Jones Agri Fencing
Address: Tokoroa

admin51097
May 25
3 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Adam Miller (third from the right) with the Jones Agri Fencing crew.

As a 19-year-old, I have always found myself prone to the odd silly decision, but when I landed in New Zealand, I thought I might have made my biggest mistake yet. I could not have picked a further place in the world to go.

However, just a few months into my stay, I realised that this decision had proven to be the best one I had ever made. Back in Scotland, my weeks tended to follow a predictable routine: a few hundred metres of sheep fencing, and the rest of the time was usually spent with mates. While there was nothing wrong with that, I was looking for a change – something exciting and new.

The idea to move abroad began from casual conversations with friends and other people I knew. They would share their experiences working abroad and how great it was to explore new cultures while earning a living. These stories prompted me to start thinking about my own life and ultimately sparked my interest in an adventure. After doing a bit of research, I quickly realised it was not that difficult to get over to New Zealand, especially if you are willing to work. With the skills I had learned from my old crew in Scotland, I figured it wouldn’t be too hard to find a job.

After a few months of applications, phone calls, and a couple of texts back and forth, I finally ended up in Tokoroa, working for Cory and Chloe Jones at Jones Agri Fencing. As soon as I got straight into work, I realised that the terrain wasn’t much different from what I was used to in Scotland. There is a nice amount of flat ground mixed with a bit of steep stuff here and there. However, the fencing itself was completely different. The variety I’ve experienced in fencing since arriving has been brilliant. I have had the opportunity to delve deeper into electric fencing and expand on a few styles I did back home, but mostly, I’ve been able to avoid barbed wire, which I must admit has been quite nice. Not only that, but I also got to change things up. Instead of only working with timber, I have been able to spend some time experimenting with plastic materials. This is something I had never imagined I’d be doing on a daily basis.

Outside of work, my life has undergone significant changes as well. I’ve gone from spending most evenings in a workshop with my mates, tinkering with cars and bikes or just chatting away about random rubbish, to embracing a whole load of new experiences. Making friends here wasn’t hard, especially thanks to the South Waikato Young Farmers group. Interacting with people I’ve met through this community has been a fantastic opportunity for socialising and learning. One of my favourite memories is going to Taupo, where we spent a few days hanging onto a biscuit being towed by a boat, learning how to water ski for the first time, and of course, enjoying a few cold beers around the town.

Cory has also invited me to participate in his hobbies, like hunting and fishing, which has opened up a whole new world of outdoor adventure for me. I’ve spent a few days in Te Kaha trying to catch some snapper, and those experiences have been unforgettable. We’ve also taken a few trips away hunting, which, despite the milk bottles attached to my face, has been successful some of the time.

The jump I made from Scotland to New Zealand was no small move. Packing my life into a bag and moving to the other side of the world was daunting, but I have no regrets. This place, with its stunning scenery, friendly people, and varied experiences, has been life changing. New Zealand is definitely somewhere I will return to; it’s not a bad wee place, I must admit. I’ve embraced the challenges and adventures that come with living in a new country. Ultimately, these experiences have shaped me in ways I never anticipated, and I look forward to where they may take me in the future.

Written by: Adam Miller