Can I borrow your digger?

Like most ideas of ours, our digger hire business started pretty simply — with us needing a machine for our own jobs, realising how handy it was, and then noticing that everyone else around town seemed to need one too. Wanaka has this way of bringing people, builders, renovators, and small contractors together, and we just kept getting asked, “Hey, any chance I could borrow that digger for the weekend?”

One thing led to another, and before we knew it, we had a machine, a trailer, a bit of branding, and the beginnings of a proper little side business. Dropping off the digger to people in town, having a yarn, hearing about their projects — retaining walls, landscaping, prepping pads for sheds, clearing sections — we realised quickly that this wasn’t just a rental service; it was a way to meet people in our community and help them tackle their own jobs with confidence.

A big turning point for us was Wheels at Wanaka. We took the machine along and met so many locals, tradespeople, and families who were curious, asked questions, told us about their projects, and shared their own stories. It was relaxed, and felt like Wanaka at its best — people helping people, everyone keen to support a local business that’s just giving something a go.

Since then, the digger hire side has grown in a way that still feels cruisy. We keep things simple, we’re easy to deal with, and we genuinely love dropping the machine off, chatting to customers, and seeing what they’re building next. It’s turned into one of those unexpected businesses that fits right into who we are.

If you ever need a reliable digger for a weekend job or a bigger project, we’re here, we’re local, and we’re always happy to help — even if it’s just for a bit of advice before you get started.