Daryl Wheeler: Installing Rails Around a Corner

With nearly three decades of fencing experience, Daryl Wheeler of Wheeler Fencing has developed a strong reputation for quality workmanship and a client-first attitude across the Waipā District.

Based in Te Awamutu, Daryl and his team focus on doing things right the first time.

“I started fencing because my father was doing it,” Daryl said. He’s now often joined by his young son Acel, who helps scope out jobs and supervise Dad. “We make a pretty good team,” Daryl said.

Fencing, for Daryl, is about passion and improvement. “I just really enjoy it - especially learning new ways to do things better.”

That desire to refine and improve has never left. From integrating maths and measurement into his setups, to building his own custom markers for top rail alignment, Daryl has always approached fencing with precision and pride.

Wheeler Fencing works on a mix of farms, lifestyle block fencing, riparian planting zones, and post-and-rail projects. “We don’t advertise anymore,” he said. “All our work comes from our existing client base. If a client moves out of the district, I’ll still do their job. Loyalty is important.”

Daryl showed us several small, but effective, ways he’s streamlined his post-and-rail fencing process. First, he’s switched to an electric chainsaw, which he uses for cutting rails. Alongside that, he’s using an electric drill to pre-mark posts for rail placement. “It’s faster, quieter, and easier on the body,” he said. “We had about 15 joins on this job, and with a petrol saw, that’s 15 times starting the engine. It’s just more efficient. Less noise, less effort. And when you’re doing it all day, that adds up.”

One standout tool in his setup is a custom-made rail marker - a simple jig that ensures all top rails are aligned perfectly. “We made it so the tops of each rail sit parallel,” Daryl explained. “That way, any variation in the land doesn’t aff ect the final look of the fence. It keeps everything tidy.”

Wheeler Fencing is built on a simple principle: quality materials, good practice, and fences that last. “I believe in doing it properly the first time so that we’re not coming back in five or ten years for repairs,” said Daryl. “These days I’m starting to see fences I built decades ago come up for replacement - not because they failed, but because they’ve done their time. That’s the goal.”