Craig Abernethy

Owner/Operator

Craig always had a passion for gear. He started out as a car mechanic then moved to jet boats and loved all aspects of machinery. He then got the opportunity to work in a local excavation business and found his calling.

Craig has a desire for making sure that the client always comes first. His eye for detail and his understanding of people's vision and requirements makes his job very rewarding.

One of his key business sayings is, "always deliver more than expected".

Outside of the business, Craig is kept busy with his three children. He also enjoys jet-boating and watching V8 car racing. 

Justine ABernethy

Owner/Operator

Justine had a sales and marketing career until she recently joined the family business. She loves using her skills and knowledge to assist in promoting and developing the business.

Justine looks after the Health and Safety of the business and assists with coordinating the staff requirements.
​
Like Craig, the three children keep her busy with their school commitments and sport. She is also likes assisting in her community with the Life Education Trust (Otago/Southland), Gore Racing Club committee, Junior Secretary Pioneer Rugby Club and Hokonui Moonshine Trust.

Glenn Garside (Garfield)

Operator

Garfield has been a machine operator for over 30 years. He originated from South Otago and started out on the family farm, where he started his love of machinery. He then moved to Avenel Station, working in steep tussock country with dozers. Garfield also had a stint in Canada and the UK working on farms doing harvesting and seeding.

When back in New Zealand, he got back to his passion of diggers, with a couple of rural contracting companies, doing conversions and breaking in rough country through Lawrence and Millers Flat. Garfield had six years with Electrix doing project work doing maintenance for Transpower NZ.

Garfield has years of experience doing drainage, fencing, root raking and tracking. He is well known in the district for his eye for detail and has a loyal group of clients.
​
Outside of work, Garfield is a member of the Blue Mountain Motorcycle Club and loves riding dirt bikes and also adventure motorbiking with his fiancé Vanessa around the South Island.

Wayne McGregor (lofty)

Truck Driver

Starting in August 2018, Wayne is our newest employee. Previously he spent nearly 37 years working in the transport industry, with his latest role as a driver and dispatcher. Wayne has many years of experience with carting gravel, stock and fertiliser. His knowledge of the area and clients is so valuable.

Outside of work, Lofty enjoys fishing and spending time with his wife Gillian. You can often find him watching rugby at Pioneer, who he has a long association with after coaching and referring for them.

Cameron LEng (Cam)

Cam started out of the West Coast at Haast doing farm work and then moved to Wanaka where he got exposed to heavy machinery. He has a vast array of experience on diggers and spent sometime in Western Australia working on farms. Cam returned to the district and worked for a local contractor doing conversions before he came to Abernethy Contracting. Cam is the go to operator for all farm maintenance and also has knowledge of demolition work.
​
When Cam isn’t at work, he loves spending time with the family and taking them hunting and fishing in our district.

Dane Newton

Dane has been with Abernethy Contracting for five years. He is our expert in all small digger work and can turn his hand to anything. Prior to joining us, he was with Eastern Concrete in Gore where he learnt many skills that have transferred into our business.
​
Outside of work, Dane enjoys spending time with Natalie and their three children. He also likes to spend time up in Alexandra boating.

Shawn Morgan

Shawn is our go to operator for muckspreading, the two-tonne digger and tile cleaning. He had a background in fencing contracting in the family business before he joined the team.
​
Shawn’s got many skills that assists in the day-to-day running of our operation.

Natasha Fillbrook

Natasha is our routine maintenance employee for the Gore District Council. She is tasked with the urban area of Eastern Southland. Natasha, prior to coming to us, was with Downers in the same role.
​
In her spare time, Natasha likes to socialise and spend time with her family.

Matt Dickie

Matt is an all-round operator, from doing on farm maintenance to stacking silage, which we do in conjunction with Peter Corcoran Contracting. Matt is a skilled engineer who also assists in maintenance of all our gear, which is a priority for our business. When he gets some spare time, he enjoys motor biking and travelling.