When Patrick Murray took over his family’s pine seedling nursery in New Zealand, he saw an opportunity to disrupt an entire niche industry. More accuracy, better engineering and smarter machinery would unlock more production per hectare.

Rural contractors will be able to play a role in the revamped agricultural plastic recycling scheme with new regulations due for Cabinet sign-off before this year’s election.

In many parts of rural New Zealand, contracting businesses evolve slowly, shaped as much by people and relationships as by machinery and balance sheets. BT Contracting, based in Mangaroa near Upper Hutt, is one such business. Its story is less about rapid expansion and more about continuity, service and adaptation.