17 April 2024:

Nature plays a few tricks on the wild, windswept south coast of the North Island. Fortunately, Fulton Hogan Operator/Foreman Jaden Field has a few tricks of his own.

Jaden (right) has been working with Ecoreef® inventor and developer, Agmar Tool’s Fred Waiker (left), to pioneer the use of hexagonal (honeycomb shaped) concrete Ecoreef® pods. Filled with boulders, aggregate or river-run, they have laid more than a thousand pods to protect the South Coast road from the sea. The pair are pictured with Lego-sized versions of the pods, used in the design process for projects.

Since then, they have used a similar number more Ecoreef® pods on eight non-coastal projects for the Masterton District Council, from drop-outs to bridge abutment repairs.

“The pods provide a solid foundation and allow us to build as we go; their point facing makes them as good for a retaining wall as they are for a sea defense,” Jaden says.

“They’re versatile – they keep the sea at bay, support road pavements and act as a drainage system.  Manufactured locally, they also save bringing rock long distances.”

Jaden says collaborating with Fred has been the highlight of his 10 years with Fulton Hogan.

“We have a good relationship – Fred visualises the design, I visualise the excavations and we’re both learning from each other. I trust his team, he trusts mine, and we both take a lot of pride in a job well done.”