In the rolling country of the South Waikato, where the land stretches green and steady between Tokoroa and Putaruru, a family business has quietly grown into one of the region’s most reliable contracting outfits.
Putt Contracting, founded and run by Chris Putt, began in the most modest of ways nearly two decades ago with nothing more than a single truck and a willingness to take on whatever jobs came his way. Today, it has become a trusted operation built on hard work, steady investment and the strength of family ties.
Chris remembers when those early days with a touch of understatement. ” It started almost thirty years ago with just a truck”, he says. “Then I brought a tractor and a spreader for chicken manure back in those days. I figured if I had a tractor i might as well use it for more than just spreading. So I brought a loader wagon, and it just grew from there. One wagon turned into another, then I needed someone to help me, and it just blossomed.
The mowing side of the business is no less impressive. Putt Contracting run a lineup of Pottinger gear designed to get through large areas efficiently and deliver clean, even cuts. The flagship is a Novacat V1000 Crossflow triple mower, which allows grass to be merged into swaths straight behind the mower, cutting down on extra passes. Two Novacat A9 triple mowers, one fitted with conditioners, add further flexibility depending on crop and conditions. At the front end, three Alpha Motion 301 front-mounted mowers give Chris and his team the ability to set up powerful combinations that cover wide working widths while maintaining a smooth, ground-hugging cut. For clients, that translates to faster mowing, less wheel traffic and tidy swaths ready for the chopper or wagons.
On the forage side, Chris has built up a fleet that gives him options across job sizes and conditions. Loader Wagons, including the Torro and Jumbo wagons, play a crucial role in the silage operation. Known for their capacity and robust build, these wagons ensure grass is shifted from paddock to pit quickly and efficiently. In a district where the weather can change rapidly, the ability to move bulk forage without delay is a crucial part of keeping customers happy.
The real backbone of Putt Contracting lies not just in machines but in the people who keep them moving. Chris is joined by his three sons: Corey, Keegan and Jakob, each of whom has carved out a place in the business. Corey has been with the business for twelve years. Keegan came across after an apprenticeship in engineering 10 years ago. Four years ago, Jakob; quickly established himself as a capable operator and engineer in his own right. ” It makes life a lot easier,” Chris says, ” they know what they’ve got to do. They just get on and do it”.
alongside the family, is a team of long-serving employees, bolstered each season by extra hands to cope with the season. The mix of family and loyal staff has created a steady culture where everyone knows their role and the work gets done with a minimum of fuss. Engineering skills within the team mean much of the day-to-day maintenance, and fabrication is done in-house.
For Chris, the formula is simple and enduring – keep it local. Keep it reliable and keep it in the family. And in the south waikato thats been more than enough to turn one man’s truck into a thriving contracting business that shows no sign of slowing down.
