Matt Latham- A Simple Repair That Keeps Fences Working: Two Boys Fencing- Canterbury

For Matt Latham of Two Boys Fencing, knowing how to quickly repair a broken fence wire is one of the most valuable skills any fencer can learn.

Rather than replacing an entire wire, a secure join using a figure 8 knot and a crimp creates a strong, reliable repair that gets a fence back into service with minimal downtime.

It’s one of many practical techniques Matt has picked up throughout a lifetime in the industry. “I’ve done fencing on and off my whole life,” he says. “Whenever I needed to make money, I’d go fencing.”

Now the owner of Two Boys Fencing, Matt has spent the past six years building a business that tackles some of Canterbury’s most demanding terrain. Based around Banks Peninsula and the Port Hills, the team works across the region, from Little River to Port Levy and throughout Lyttelton Harbour.

While the company doesn’t exclusively specialise in hill-country fencing, the steep landscapes have become their trademark. “It’s more that no one else seems to want to do it,” Matt laughs. “And we’re happy to do it.”

The team regularly completes slip-repair fencing following storm damage, as well as new fencing projects for farms and lifestyle blocks. Their work includes high-tensile netting fences, batten fences, deer fencing and retaining walls, all built to withstand Canterbury’s challenging conditions.

Matt credits the team’s good fencing to a willingness to keep learning, combining techniques he was originally taught with ideas he has picked up from other experienced contractors over the years. “I like things being done right,” he says.

Just as important as the finished fence is the team behind it. Working in steep hill country is physically demanding, so maintaining a safe workplace and a positive culture is a priority

“It’s a hard job,” Matt says. “The most important thing is that the team enjoys it, stays safe, and we have good banter.”

From sharing practical repair techniques like the figure 8 wire join to constructing fences across some of the region’s toughest country, Two Boys Fencing continues to deliver durable, well built fencing solutions throughout Canterbury.