Dannevirke products head to Chatham Islands

The team at Dannevirke Glass and Aluminium Joinery, Carl Withey (left), Jay Erskine, Janine Withey, Kere Mihaere and Joe Jordan with the container of joinery heading to the Chatham Islands. Photo / Sue Emeny

A shipping container packed with aluminium windows and doors manufactured in Dannevirke left town today bound for the Chatham Islands.

It isn't the first shipment of windows and doors that Dannevirke Glass and Aluminium Joinery has supplied to the Chathams, but it's the first time they have had their own container loaded on-site.

This is the sixth time the company's products have headed to the islands.

Aluminium manager Carl Withey said the container was loaded with seven sliding doors and nine windows, bound for five different jobs.

"Usually we load up our truck and take the windows and doors out to Turtons where they are loaded into one of their containers. It's much easier loading them here. It means there's no double handling."

Dannevirke Glass and Aluminium Joinery's role in providing the aluminium products came about through Turton Farm Supplies, a company that has been shipping building and farm supplies to the Chathams for around 30 years.

"Ross Turton was asked if he was able to supply the products so he contacted us."

Withey said early in November aluminium joiner Joe Jordan travelled to the Chathams to carry out maintenance work on previously installed joinery.

"We let them know Joe would be on-site and while there he measured this latest shipment of products, so it was well worth the trip.

"This is a good contract to have."

The container was due to be shipped out of Wellington on Saturday on a journey that takes 30 hours.

Withey said meeting shipping deadlines meant the team sometimes had to work nights to get an order completed.

"We've just had confirmation for another order but we didn't receive it in time so we'll have that ready to meet the next boat."

The Chatham Island orders add to what is an already busy time for Dannevirke Glass and Aluminium Joinery.

"We have eight houses in Wellington and five in Hastings as well as EIT to supply joinery for."

Withey said it wasn't just Covid that had led to an increase in business as homeowners spend their money on renovations rather than on overseas travel.

"It's also that New Zealand desperately needs houses so there is a lot of building work going on."