Meet the Trenchmate team: Rich Waratini

To celebrate his amazing 15 years at Trenchmate, we thought we’d run Rich Waratini through our Q&A. Rich is the go-to guy for the Central North Island, known for his down-to-earth approach, quick problem-solving, and knack for getting the right gear on site fast.

Q. What did you do before Trenchmate?
A. Drainlaying, hiring heavy machinery, and directional drilling.

Q. What’s your area of expertise or special interest?
A. I know trench shields and manhole boxes inside out – but I’m particularly interested in the Siltmate and GN products.
 
Q. What do you enjoy most about working here?
A. The fast pace, the variety, and building genuine relationships with my customers. I enjoy figuring out exactly what they need and finding ways to make it happen, especially utilising new products.

Q. Your customer service philosophy?
A. Listen carefully, understand the need, and get the right product to site asap! Always treat everyone with respect.

Q. One project you’re proud of?
A. All of them – big or small. Smaller jobs can take the most time and attention, and it’s rewarding helping customers see them through to the end.

Quickfire round:
☕ Drink of choice: Tea or hot chocolate.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family life: Married 27 years with a 12-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter.
🌄 Outside work: Camping and travelling.
🛠️ First job: Laying gas mains and thrusting.
🧠 Fun fact: I can operate excavators, loaders, and skidsteers – plus I learned the trade of gib stopping and solid plastering when I was younger.