Plumber’s “stay in the Bay” move a good one
Shane Fleming: “Things are starting to move again.” Photo: Neil Wilson.
Shane Fleming is a born-and-bred Golden Bay man.
Earlier this year he had the chance to move to Darfield to become the transport manager at Fonterra’s new plant there, and says it was a watershed moment. In the end he decided to stay in the Bay and return to plumbing as a sole trader.
“I started my apprenticeship here back in the 80s and I’ve always kept my hand in, even while I was driving diggers or managing the transport at the Takaka Fonterra plant. What mattered most was the lifestyle in the Bay. I’m president of the flying club and an instructor there, my kids are heavily into their sport here and I like being able to support them in any way I can.”
Shane, who describes himself as “a bit of a lateral thinker and problem-solver”, started operating as Abel Tasman Plumbing and Gas from 1 April this year so that his licensing and certification complied with new regulations effective from that date. He says there are “good tradesmen out there” in the Golden Bay market and that they work in well with each other. He works Mondays and Tuesdays at Pipeworx and he says he finds the job invaluable for keeping up to date with new products.
“John Menary is great for the trades. He holds the stock so the tradesmen don’t have to. We can swing by on the way to a job and get all the gear we need.”
It was a big challenge moving out of the security of a big organisation like Fonterra and going into business in uncertain times, said Shane.
“Things are starting to move again. I’ve been grateful to have some loyal customers who have kept in touch right through and I’m getting more work all the time.”
Neil Wilson
