Quietly Getting It Done in the South Waikato
In the rolling country of the South Waikato, between Tokoroa and Putāruru, a family business has grown into one of the region’s most reliable contracting outfits. Putt Contracting began nearly three decades ago with nothing more than a single truck and founder Chris Putt’s willingness to take on any job. Today it’s a trusted operation built on steady investment, hard work and strong family ties.
Chris recalls those early days with understatement. “It started almost thirty years ago with just a truck,” he says. “Then I bought a tractor and a spreader to do a lot of chicken manure back in those days. I figured if I had a tractor, I might as well use it for more than just spreading. So I bought a loader wagon and it just grew from there.”
Growth came steadily but without fuss. There was room for another contractor in the district and Chris stepped into that space. The business settled into the rhythms of silage, maize, cartage and the variety of jobs that keep contractors busy year-round.
Today Putt Contracting runs a fleet of nine tractors dominated by Fendt—a brand Chris is loyal to. Among the line-up are three Fendt 930s and a 936, along with 800 and 700 Series machines covering every job across the business. “The nine series are my favourite,” Chris says. “They’re just a nice tractor to drive. They don’t seem to break that much, and they do the hours without giving trouble. A good tractor, no more problems than any other but a lot more comfort.”
The Fendt 936 Vario is the backbone, offering up to 360hp with a continuously variable Vario transmission for seamless power on road or in the field. For contractors working long hours in varied conditions, the 936 delivers both comfort and productivity.
While tractors form the core of the fleet, forage harvesting is the real money-maker. Putt Contracting runs a Claas Jaguar 970 self-propelled forage harvester, known for power, throughput and chop quality. With 790hp and the Claas Shredlage crop processor, it produces consistently high-quality silage and keeps work moving when weather windows are tight. “We’ve just bought a 970 Claas,” Chris says. “It’s about keeping the work moving, getting through faster and staying reliable.”
The mowing side is equally capable. A Pottinger Novacat V10000 Crossflow triple mower merges grass into swaths behind the mower, reducing extra passes. Two Novacat A9 triple mowers, one with conditioners, and three Alpha Motion 301 front-mounted mowers give flexible combinations for clean, fast cuts and tidy swaths ready for the chopper or wagons.
Forage wagons, including Torro and Jumbo models, move grass from paddock to pit quickly—a big advantage in unpredictable weather. Trucks, mostly Mercedes for their off-road ability, haul silage, palm kernel, metal and more. “Mercedes because they get off road real good,” Chris says. Owning trucks keeps logistics in-house and the work flowing smoothly.
The backbone of Putt Contracting isn’t just machines but people. Chris is joined by his three sons—Keegan, Corey and Jakob—each with a clear role. Keegan, the eldest, came after an engineering apprenticeship ten years ago. Corey, the second eldest, has been in the business twelve years. Jakob, the youngest, joined four years ago and quickly proved his mechanical skills. “It makes my life a lot easier,” Chris says. “They know what they’ve got to do. They just get on and do it.”
Alongside the family is a team of long-serving employees, supported by seasonal workers during peak demand. Engineering know-how within the team means most maintenance and fabrication is done in-house, from trailer decks to custom cages. For modern diagnostics and bigger jobs, Chris relies on trusted dealers. “For the tractors we always use Piako Tractors in Morrinsville, which we find pretty good. Contractors today, you can’t do everything yourself. Claas Harvest Centre do the chopper work and we just look after the easy stuff.”
At peak season nine to ten people work full tilt. Young recruits join straight from school, bringing fresh energy while learning the trade. Chris sees it as building the next generation as much as filling roster gaps.
Work follows the Waikato farming calendar: maize and grass silage, cartage and general contracting through spring and summer, with palm kernel cartage and other haulage in the shoulder seasons. Most jobs stay close to home. “Most of our work is Tokoroa and Putāruru, down Arapuni way. It’s quite close. I don’t see the point in travelling too far—that’s wasted time. If you’ve got enough work where you are, why would you?”
Farming clients know Putt Contracting as a steady presence. “I’ve worked for the same people for years and years,” Chris says. Loyalty runs both ways and underpins the business’s growth.
Chris is blunt about what he enjoys most. “Probably the smell of diesel to be fair,” he says with a laugh. “And as long as I’m outdoors doing something and contributing.” Fishing—especially chasing kingfish off the Waikato coast—is his chosen escape.
The business has weathered the ups and downs of contracting life. There was a big spend-up before Covid on new tractors and implements to improve reliability and speed. Another round of investment is underway now with the new Claas 970 Jaguar chopper and Pottinger mowers. The strategy is simple: keep the gear modern enough to stay efficient, but not so new it creates unnecessary overheads.
Looking ahead, Chris sees the seasons becoming harder to predict. “The seasons are all changing,” he says. “It seems like it’s reverting back to the old days, where it’s cold and frosty. You just don’t know until you’re there.” Contractors, like farmers, are at the mercy of the weather and success depends on moving fast when conditions allow.
Beyond machines and weather, Chris keeps sight of the bigger picture. “Farming is very important. They’re the only ones making money really for the country at the moment. Forestry is average, it’s up and down but dairy is always pretty steady.”
Putt Contracting shows the strength of New Zealand’s rural contracting sector—a family business that’s grown steadily, invested wisely and built lasting local relationships. Whether it’s a Fendt 936 pulling hard in the paddock, a Claas Jaguar 970 swallowing rows of maize, or a Pottinger mower laying down clean swaths, the machines are only part of the story. The rest comes from the people who keep them moving and the community they serve.
For Chris, the formula is simple and enduring: keep it local, keep it reliable and keep it in the family. In the South Waikato, that’s been enough to turn one man’s truck into a thriving contracting business that shows no sign of slowing down.