Narrow Win in Inaugural Kiwi Fencing Project Award
Just 0.495 points separated first and third place in the inaugural FCANZ Project of the Year Award, announced at the 2026 Fencing Industry Awards during the FCANZ Conference in Nelson in August.
Now in their fourth year, the awards recognise the dedication, skill and contribution of people throughout the fencing sector.
Three entries were received in the Large Project category for work valued at $50,000 or more.
Custom Fencing’s Port Otago MacAndrew Road Boundary Project involved several types of fencing in a busy port environment, with railway access, public safety, multiple stakeholders and changing timeframes all needing to be managed.
GB Fencing’s Onetahua Restoration Project combined a high-profile public site and an important environmental purpose with the limited budget of a not-for-profit client.
Heasley Fencing’s Mount Cass Wind Farm Stage 1 involved constructing several fencing systems across steep, rocky and exposed terrain.
To make the judging as fair and consistent as possible, each entry was de-identified and independently scored against six weighted criteria, with project photographs, client feedback and client scores included in the assessment.
Scores from FCANZ Board members, FCANZ Patron Craig “Wiggy” Wiggins and representatives from PGG Wrightson and Farmlands were then combined to determine the final outcome.
Nick Terry’s Custom Fencing took out the inaugural 2026 FCANZ Large Project of the Year Award for its Port Otago MacAndrew Road Boundary Project.
The team received a prize package worth more than $9,000, including a trophy, a pallet of wire supplied by Farmlands and a four-page feature in the March 2027 issue of WIRED – the fencing industry’s quarterly magazine.
Runners-up GB Fencing and Heasley Fencing will each receive a two-page feature in the same issue.
Joelene Bouskill was named the recipient of the 2026 Women of Influence Award. Joelene co-runs her family’s fencing business and handles much of the administration, logistics and scheduling that keep it operating.
