Crafting quality fences and community connections

FCANZ
6 days ago
5 min read

Ask Toby How what he likes most about fencing and the answer isn’t complicated — it’s the mix of physical work, problem-solving, machinery, teamwork and the visible result at the end of the day. A fence line doesn’t hide whether you’ve done a good job or not.

His business – Toby How Fencing - has never chased rapid expansion. Instead, it has grown steadily through reputation, local connection and dependable delivery. Being part of the local community helps — Toby is active in the outdoor pursuits, squash and rugby circles — but he’s quick to point out that community visibility only works if the workmanship stacks up behind it.

“In rural areas especially, word travels quickly, and farmers remember who turns up on time, communicates clearly, and stands behind their work,” says Toby.

Since starting in business back in 2014, the variety of work, and ‘the fact that you turn up and there is work to do all day’ has kept Toby motivated and striving to improve the service he offers to clients and as an employer.

From its base in Geraldine, the company now works across South and Mid Canterbury with a small, experienced crew of three to four full-time staff, delivering mostly rural fencing across sheep, beef, deer and dairy properties. Over time, the client base has become increasingly loyal, with many repeat customers and long-term relationships — something Toby puts down to consistency more than anything clever.

The day-to-day job mix is one of the features that keeps the team motivated. While rural fencing makes up the backbone of the workload, the variety within that category is wide. Recent weeks have included a boundary fence between dairy farm and large apple development, doing the fencing for a new dairy conversion, lifestyle block fencing, deer fencing upgrades on hard hill country, and specialist framework for commercial sized on-farm solar arrays, contracted by the solar installer Sunergy, based in Rangiora. That spread of work means different materials, layouts, terrain and challenges – and fewer weeks that feel repetitive.

The crew has just completed their third solar job; these have all been on dairy farms to offset the energy demands for irrigation and cowshed needs. The ground-based framing is wood (round wood posts); rear posts are 3.3s which are 2500mm out of the ground and the front posts are 1.8s 900mm out of the ground. Post spacings are 2m and front-to-back approximately 3.5m. The framing is 150x50mm, there is a rail that goes along the top of each row and then the rafters are a metre apart.

Toby says the wood is a point of difference for Sunergy due to its sustainability. “The first project we completed required 91 x 3.3s, 91 x 1.8s, 58 x 6m lengths and 175 x 4.8m lengths of 150x50mm timber – this array was all in one row along the side of an irrigation pond. It definitely stands out.“

“I’ve learnt some tricks and worked out some systems, but it’s also been a lesson in solar efficiency – the slope of the panels and orientation, and that some irrigation spray helps to clean panels as dust effects generation ability,” says Toby.

Due to the uptake and benefits with solar, it looks as though this work will carry on for the team for the foreseeable future.

The team culture behind the work is something Toby considers just as important as the equipment. Fencing can be demanding, and a young person’s game where long hours are pushed without flexibility.

Toby How Fencing takes a different approach, aiming to structure work in a way that supports a sustainable lifestyle for staff. The philosophy is simple: fencing should support a good life, not crowd it out. That means sensible hours where possible, flexibility around important personal commitments, and recognition that sport, family and community involvement make better workers, not weaker ones. The trade itself helps – unlike some industries, fencing work is typically site-based and daytime-focused, allowing a clearer separation between work hours and home life. Staff are encouraged to pursue their sporting and personal interests, and the variety of fencing work itself helps keep the job engaging rather than monotonous.

Beyond commercial work, Toby puts strong emphasis on contributing to the wider rural and youth community. The business supports local squash and rugby clubs both financially and through volunteer effort, and by employing players brought in, helping keep grassroots sport active in the district. There is also a close relationship with Geraldine High School’s Primary Industries Academy, where Toby takes students for work experience during school holidays, contributing time to them and the Young Farmers fencing skills days, where practical demonstrations and coaching help lift confidence and competence among younger participants.

Several of those placements have turned into ongoing employment, giving young people a direct pathway into the trade. These events are seen not just as community service, but as investment in the future workforce of the industry. Good fencing contractors don’t appear by accident – they are trained, mentored and given opportunities to learn on real tools and real terrain.

Industry involvement extends to membership in FCANZ, which Toby views as worthwhile when actively engaged with. Guidance on fencing standards, shared technical knowledge and industry communication all play a role in lifting overall professionalism. The Wired magazine is read by the team and often discussed, with practical tips and product insights sometimes influencing how jobs are approached or specified. Rather than seeing industry resources as background noise, Toby treats them as part of staying current and accountable in a changing sector. Training and industry days are approached as a shared investment rather than an individual extra. The crew attends where practical, using those opportunities to pick up product knowledge, safety refreshers and new techniques. Even experienced contractors find there’s always something useful to learn or refine, and shared training experiences help build team cohesion as well as technical skill.

Outside the business, Toby and his wife Sarah live just outside Woodbury with their three young children. Their lifestyle block keeps them busy with horses, projects and outdoor activity, and the family makes the most of local hunting, sport and recreation opportunities. Home life is not separate from the business values — it’s directly connected. The same priority placed on balance, community and practical effort shows up both on and off the fence line.

After more than a decade in operation, Toby still describes fencing as honest work – physically demanding, technically precise, and visibly measurable. There’s satisfaction in seeing a completed line run true across a boundary, knowing it will serve its purpose for years. In an industry where shortcuts are always visible in the long run, the commitment to doing the job properly remains the simplest and strongest business strategy.

“It’s straightforward,” he says. “Build it right, treat people well, stay involved – and the work keeps coming.”

Submitted by Toby How Fencing