Resilience, Recovery, and Smart Land Management: Our Takeaways from the Hikirangi Symposium

It's no secret that the last few years have thrown some curveballs at our region. With the weather events of 2023 and 2024, and the economic downturn, landowners and businesses have had to adapt quickly.

Last month we had the privilege of presenting at the very inspiring Hikirangi Symposium at Kahungunu Marae in Nuhaka, where we shared our journey, the impacts of climate challenges to our region, and — most importantly — how we are helping our clients to get the best from their land and build more resilience into their business.

Here are the key highlights from our presentation.

The Weather Story: Why Management Matters

Wairoa locals know all too well the extreme weather events we're living with on the East Coast

Looking at the data from 2024, the numbers tell a wet story. NIWA's reports show temperature and rainfall anomalies and a year of extremes. With significant rainfall events hitting our region, the ground has been tested like never before.

For farmers, orchardists, and lifestyle block owners, this excess water isn't just an inconvenience; it’s a threat to productivity and asset stability. That is an area we can support landowners — helping them manage the water so they can focus on their business.

"Drain to Gain": The Power of Subsoil Drainage

Our custom-built drain-laying attachment carefully lays pipe with aggregate below and above for a better drainage result

A major focus of our presentation was our Subsoil Drainage services. We don’t just dig trenches; we create a drainage design specific to your unique land area and challenges, using custom-built technology and GPS precision to survey land elevation changes.

Why invest in drainage? As we outlined in our presentation, the benefits are clear:

• Reliable land use year-round: Don't let the wet season stop your operations

• Increased productivity: Better soil conditions mean better yields (whether that's pasture, crops, or orchards)

• Asset Protection: Stop erosion and water damage before it starts

• Peace of Mind: Focus on investments rather than damage control
  

If you are struggling with boggy paddocks or waterlogged crops, it’s time to look at a solution that works with the land, not against it.

Beyond Drainage: Total Project Partners

While water management is crucial, our presentation also showcased the breadth of work we’ve been doing to aid landowners with their business success.

1. Water Reticulation Once you’ve drained the excess, you need to get water to where it is needed. We specialise in laying networks of pipes on sloped grades to manage water tables and transfer water to outfall points or storage.

Our bulldozer is capable of laying water pipe in very steep environments

2. Access and Civil Work The weather takes a toll on infrastructure, too. We have been busy constructing and repairing farm tracks, driveways, and access roads to ensure you can get around your property safely, regardless of the season.

3. Construction & Site Prep From retaining walls to concreting and house site preparation, we are fully equipped to handle the "hard yards" of your construction projects.

Built on History, Focused on the Future

Pryde Contracting was established in 1980. We have decades of experience in our team, hundreds of successful projects completed across a range of areas, and a deep understanding of the land in our region. After nearly 50 years of business, our core values of honesty, integrity and innovation remain the same. We are committed to supporting our community to thrive by providing high-quality and meaningful improvements to our land, waterways and infrastructure.

Let’s Get to Work

Whether you need to drain, reticulate, clear a section, build a dam, fix a driveway, or sort out your access, we are your project partners.

Ready to work together? Contact the team at Pryde Contracting today to discuss your project.