Tom Rathgen: Putting in a Tie-Back

Tom Rathgen has fencing in his blood. With plans to take over his father’s fencing business of nearly 40 years, Rathgen Fencing, he’s gearing up to put his decade of fencing experience and his upcoming Level 4 certification from NorthTec to good use.

Tom works with a solid team at Rathgen Fencing in the Canterbury region, covering areas from Methven to Oxford. Following in his father Dave’s footsteps, he has been in the fencing trade full-time since 2018, currently managing projects such as dairy conversions, cattle yard constructions, and all rural fencing. For Tom, fencing is more than a career. “I probably started fencing with Dad since I’ve been able to hold a hammer. I have memories of walking up and down the fence line, carrying Dad’s tool belt, and he’d say “hammer”, and I’d hand him a hammer. He’d say “pliers,” and I’d hand him pliers,” Tom joked.

Tom holds a Level 3 certificate and is currently completing a Level 4 New Zealand Fencing Certificate through NorthTec, with a focus on business management. His current work involves a range of projects, from all rural farm fencing and residential, to security and industrial. Tom is also well travelled, having spent time in the United States and Australia to “tick things off the bucket list,” he said.

He also organises local fencing competitions in the South Island, including fencing programmes in schools. “My brother Luke and I run local fencing competitions down here in the South Island. That involves me going into the schools and teaching young students, so that’s pretty cool,” Tom said. “I thought it’d be really good for the fencing industry. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch the kids grow and gain an understanding for the basic fencing skills I teach; it can also be frustrating, but it’s really cool to see them. When I was at school, no one came in to teach us this practical stuff – fencing, irrigation, how to drive a tractor. These kids often live in subdivisions. I grew up seeing my dad work, but they might not have that.”

He competed in the 2025 Fieldays Silver Spades Doubles Fencing Competition at Mystery Creek, representing the South Island.

Tom’s tip, putting in a tie-back, is a technique that is both efficient and cost-effective. Attaching the offcut to the middle of the wire also improves visibility for stock, preventing them from running into the wire.

For farmers looking for a reliable and skilled fencer, who is enthusiastic about helping the next generation succeed, Tom Rathgen represents the future: practical, passionate, and always ready to get the job done right.