Page 32 - HW April 2021

spouting & guttering
a significant number of people catching water off their roofs. “We’re a reasonably lucky country with a degree of high
rainfall but our regions are starting to present with more drought like conditions.”
Compared to the Australian market, says Murray, New Zealand’s track record of rainwater harvesting is pretty modest.
“Australia is completely mature in terms of the assets it employs – wi-fi control, sprinklers, irrigation, lighting, all of that kind of stuff.
“It’s really mature compared to New Zealand and that can only be born out of the fact that there’s less rainfall (but don’t tell anybody in New South Wales at the moment...).”
CATCH IT WHILE YOU CAN
With Marley the biggest name in New Zealand rainwater management, I turn to GM Marketing, Scott Townsend, with whom I talk about the last year’s uncertainties and Marley’s ensuing “ballistic” growth, post-lockdown.
Indeed, Scott is happy to relay “huge increases in demand”, particularly for Marley’s classic white spouting and downpipe systems, as well as its now four-year-old Curve and Twist debris and water diverter products.
Kiwis decided to spend their money on renovations rather than going travelling, while the growth in multi-unit dwellings has also had a positive effect on Marley, says Scott.
But the third aspect of growth has been in rainwater harvesting, he confirms, “Particularly and obviously in Auckland with the water shortage and people coming alive to the idea of collecting their own water.”
Because water doesn’t cost that much, “It’s certainty of supply that is the attractive feature, as opposed to the savings. As climate change continues to become a bigger and bigger topic, people’s mindsets are changing.”
“We’ve seen huge growth in the last 12 months with people just not being able to water the garden or wash the car or do all the sort of basic things that you take for granted,” says Scott Townsend.
“And realising that while it still rains, even if there is a water shortage, then they could be collecting that water with a tank and a good diverting system like our Twist.”
This change in mindset applies just as much outside of Auckland, in other metro areas and in rural and farming communities faced with environmental changes and restrictions on water use.
“Urban dwellers are looking for emergency back-up and gardening solutions, combined with farmers looking for alternative ways to get water out of the streams and rivers and lakes,” says Scott.
As a result of all this, many retention / detention tank manufacturers have been reporting significant back orders.
Another marker of growth is that there is a recent proliferation of players in this area addressing particularly the urban markets.
PLASTIC FANTASTIC
One of the earlier urban tank providers is Thin Tanks, with its small footprint, upright retention/detention tanks, which started back in 2013.
Like Marley, Thin Tanks offers its products in a wide range of colours because, like Marley, it knows that urban dwellers and a growing number of new home builders look for more options than just your typical khaki green.
Co-founder, Gaylene Emett, says that, with shortages, restrictions, not to mention a slight loosening of attitudes by Auckland Council, business “just went crazy” last year.
“It has slowed down now because restrictions have eased off,” she says.
“But everybody was panicking because they spent a lot of
One-stop shop for gutter care
Demand for gutter and spouting leaf protection shows no signs of slowing on the back of home maintenance and property preening.
First stage filters come in various incarnations from Gutterbrush with various foam and mesh products while the easily cleaned and NZ made Gutterwhiskers range of brushes has provided a reliable means of cleaning, maintenance and protection for generations of houseproud Kiwis.
The Gutterwhiskers family of products allows for a programmed approach to gutter leaf management, including a telescopic radial brush, water jet cleaning, scoop attachments, and combinations of both.
But the new kid on the block in terms of gutter guard is On Guard 24/7 powder coated alloy mesh which comes in 1m lengths and can be inserted and or shaped to fit variations of gutter space exposed by inconsistent roof overhang on gutters.
The alloy micro mesh has a somewhat architectural look and also works well in the valley of the roof where opposing gables meet and often sees a build-up of debris. On Guard 24/7 alloy mesh and the Gutterbrush brush guard also provide a measure of protection against birds.
www.gutterwhiskers.co.nz
30 NZHJ | APRIL 2021
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