Tēnā Koutou Katoa,

May 2025 bring you all the happiness, success, and love that you deserve. I hope you all had a well-deserved break and have transitioned into the new year recharged, ready to tackle another year ahead. Before getting into it, we would like to welcome the new RANZ CEO, Luke Boustridge – we are excited to see whats to come!

Speaking of recharging, I recently came across an article about the 8 + 8 + 8 rule for life and work balance. This concept resonated with me, and I’ve committed to giving it a try. Balancing work and life is always a challenge, especially when we constantly add more tasks to our lives.

I see many people dedicated to their work, pushing boundaries, working longer hours, and taking calls after clocking off. They go the extra mile, often completing others’ tasks to show success and meet everyone’s needs. But are these truly your boss’s expectations or your own? Often, we don’t realize it ourselves, and it becomes the norm, slowly impacting our daily lives, especially our family and personal time.

You might think this won’t affect anyone, but it does. Consider your partner or child waiting for your attention, your friends wanting to catch up, or visiting your parents. You end up apologizing, saying you’re busy. You need to decide whether your boss or company means more than your sanity, health, and relationships. You’re giving them the time meant for the most important people in your life—the ones who love you and have your back.

Take a step back and reflect on what really matters. Time can make a significant difference in someone’s life and happiness. Prioritize and make the time.

CLICK HERE TO READ  8-8-8 RULE

Debbie Wickliffe
Chair NZ Woman in Roofing

Celebrating Women in Roofing

In this edition of our Women in Roofing Newsletter, we head to the Northland, to speak with Rhianna from Roof Bay of Islands, a.k.a. Roof BOI.

“Kia Ora, my name is Rhianna, and I am from Kerikeri, Northland. I have been working in the roofing industry for the past three years at Roof Bay of Islands. During my time here, I have developed a strong skill set and a deep understanding of the trade.”

Rhianna has been making significant strides in the roofing industry at Roof Bay of Islands. Her journey has been both challenging and rewarding.

“As the Flashing Manufacturer and Administrator at Roof BOI, I oversee all aspects of flashings for our roofing teams,” Rhianna shares. “My role involves in-house manufacturing of flashings, ordering products, overseeing delivery, and managing invoicing for both Roof BOI flashing projects and external customers.”

Self-drive, teamwork, and communication are three crucial tools for working in the roofing industry, and Rhianna exemplifies these qualities. She takes great pride in ensuring that Flash BOI runs smoothly from start to finish. “Working closely with our teams, I ensure that all flashing materials meet the highest quality standards, contributing to the overall success of each roofing project,” she explains.


Rhianna’s commitment to providing excellent customer service can be seen clearly in her approach. “I am passionate about being able to assist customers with any inquiries they may have, delivering accurate information and effective solutions while maintaining a high level of professionalism.”

As a woman in the roofing industry, Rhianna takes immense pride in her role and the knowledge she has gained. “I believe any woman interested in the roofing industry would thrive in this role, particularly in the flashing sector, and I encourage more women to explore opportunities in this field,” she encourages.

Roof Bay of Islands is a well-established local business with over 30 years of roofing experience. They specialize in bespoke, high-end residential, industrial, and commercial roofing projects. As Northland’s foremost Eurotray® installers and recently appointed Northland Roofing Smiths, they pride themselves on delivering high-quality roofing solutions across the Bay of Islands and Northland region.

Pictured is Rhianna with her trusty Roof BOI sidekick, Tama

NZWiR Scolarship Winner, Dani Ohlsson

Above is a photo of one of the first roofs Dani has worked on so far in her roofing journey. 

Congratulations to Dani Ohlsson on being awarded a scholarship for a New Zealand Apprenticeship in Roofing! Dani already has some experience in roofing but was looking for support to advance to the next level and become a qualified roofing installer. Here’s what Dani has enjoyed about roofing so far:

“My favourite part about roofing is the satisfaction you get from restoring an old, rusty, or damaged roof into a new, clean, and modern-looking steel roof. I appreciate the ways in which roofing is an art form, by which I mean the ability to fold the metal around corners and curves and over pipes, and the aesthetic designs some roofs require. I love working outdoors and the physical aspect of the job. I find it fascinating that no one roof is the same, each comes with its own challenges and specific designs.”

The scholarship was made possible thanks to our partnership with Vertical Horizonz. It covers the fees for a New Zealand Apprenticeship in Roofing (Level 4) qualification in one strand, along with access to a financial assistance fund. We look forward to seeing you progress in your career, Dani and will catch up with you soon for an update on how things are coming along!

We would also like to thank all applicants to the scholarship for your time and effort – your passion for the industry did not go unnoticed. We encourage you to continue in your roofing journey and to apply for any relevant future opportunities that may arise.

 

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

From Law to Construction: An Interview with a GM of Steel & Tube

The opportunities that arise in the Steel Roofing Industry can present themselves in multiple forms at any stage of our lives. We recently reached out to Anna Morris, the People & Culture General Manager of Steel & Tube after meeting her during a tour of the new Steel & Tube Hamilton Roofing Site to discuss her career journey, experiences, and insights into the steel industry. Here’s what Anna had to share:

Can you tell us about your journey and how you ended up in your current role? 
I started work as an employment lawyer, working at Simpson Grierson here and then moved over to Australia while I was still practising law. I got the bug for construction when the chance came up to do some work on the Sydney and Melbourne desalination projects. I loved the teamwork, adrenaline, and pride in finishing these incredible projects. I’ve worked in construction ever since. Over time my role has changed, taking on responsibilities for safety, HR, and other things as the opportunities arose. I now look after Customer Experience and our People & Culture functions at Steel & Tube.

What unique experiences have you had in your career that have shaped your approach to work? 
I’ve worked on some incredibly tough infrastructure projects – pressure on money, budget, and stakeholder relationships, some made national headlines for the challenges they were facing. In times of real adversity, often the superstars were not the ones with the most impressive titles or the ones with straight A’s who’d got every promotion. The superstars were the people who had experienced challenges and knock-backs already in their lives and were able to problem solve with a calm head, stay cool and dig in to tackle hard work when others found it too tough and left. Business doesn’t always go to plan, and these experiences taught me the value of seeking out people for our teams and businesses whose life experiences equip them for unforeseen and difficult situations.

What advice would you give to young women considering a career in roofing or the steel industry?
There’s something rewarding about taking a path less trodden. We see so many awesome examples of females doing incredibly well in our sector – I know it’s a generalisation but often females have strong communication and relationship-building skills which adds real value to our teams and our customers. It’s a great time to be part of the industry as changes happen – emerging technology, new team dynamics, and new and safer ways of working. If you’re curious about our sector, you’re on track with the right mindset – I’d recommend reaching out and speaking to someone working in roofing or steel about their experience, and if you don’t know anyone we’d love to talk to you!!

Can you share a story of a mentor or colleague who had a significant impact on your career? 
I was lucky enough to have a boss in Australia who became one of my role models and mentors. He was brave, razor-sharp, and full of character. I loved his courage and even now I still find myself asking “What would he do if he were me right now?”. As a leader, he had a simple practice that made him awesome to work for. He would share praise in front of others (public kudos feel fantastic for those who deserve recognition) but kept any admonishments private and behind closed doors. It’s a simple practice but hard to do when you’re feeling cranky, or you’re rushing and forget to use the opportunity when people are together to recognise awesome work. I’ll always be grateful for his lessons, as well as the great culture I got to experience at an important time in my career.

What do you believe are the key factors to building strong relationships with clients and colleagues? 
There’s so much more for all of us to learn with this topic. I don’t think there’s anything better than making old-fashioned human connections – knowing people beyond what it takes just to get the work done. It strikes me that, like friendships, the best work relationships get built over time by sharing interests, enjoying a laugh, listening, and recognising where you both have some common values. I would say though we all need to show a bit of EQ and not encroach too much if we sense there’s hesitation with sharing! It’s an enduring ethos that Māori have, to understand first where someone is from and their whakapapa, as one way of helping create common ground. I’d also encourage anyone reading this to attend some of the Women In Roofing events. They’re great for building networks for business, but also for sharing ideas and nuggets of wisdom from people with years and sometimes decades of experience.

Can you share a memorable moment or achievement from your career? 
Finishing the Sydney Desalination project was one of the most satisfying jobs I’ve worked on. I can say that nothing beats being able to drive past a project like that and say to your kids “Mum helped build that”.

What excites you the most about your current job and the industry you’re in? 
Just over a year ago, I got the chance to take on the Customer Experience function in our business. I’m really excited about what we’re going to achieve in this area. We’re in the process of transforming this part of our company to create support for our customers and team that will be second to none. It’s an awesome opportunity and I’m grateful we’re getting to do it in the Steel sector. We know we can help make construction and manufacturing projects in NZ easier – our customers are operating to tight timeframes, with tight budgets, and this can create stress in one of our most critical industries. We’re determined to play a part in making life easier for them.

How do you balance work and personal life, and what hobbies or interests do you pursue outside of work? 
I’m sure everyone reading this who has a family knows the pressures of juggling work, family and life. Days can be chaotic. I have arrived at work with odd shoes. I have taken work calls while doing finger painting as parent help. My husband and I have panicked calls about which one is picking up which child. But someone very wise once told me “You’ll never have it balanced all the time – sometimes you’ll have things weighted far too much to work, and other times personal and family, because you can’t control what happens in either. The main thing is that when you take a step back you know they’re broadly getting a similar amount of your presence and attention“. This has really helped me to get some perspective – our family considers things on a month-by-month basis rather than day-by-day. I also try and keep surrounded by good people who teach me things every day. Outside work we’re active relaxers, we all enjoy time up on the mountain, either coming down on the snow or bikes, and I‘m trying to learn squash as a middle-aged woman which is resulting in far too many injuries!

NZWiR Members - it's time to shine!

We’re calling out to our NZWiR members to submit a photo and send through a bio so we can share & learn more about each other! Not only is this a great way to identify the connections & talent we have within our network but it’s also a great exposure for your professional portfolio. 

As an example, of what this could look like, below is one of our committee member’s submissions. 

Passionate about people, content, and communication, Jasmin Pakura leads the marketing efforts for ColorCote. She ensures brand consistency across digital, print, and event platforms, effectively connecting the brand with customers and industry partners to drive business growth. In her free time, Jasmin enjoys walking (being pulled along the footpath) with her dog Millie-Moo, a mastiff cross, and spending time with her family.

Jasmin’s diverse career spans various industries, including roles as an Account Manager at a boutique PR firm, Senior Copywriter for luxury lifestyle magazines, and Marketing Analyst for a New Zealand FMCG company. Her journey in the steel and roofing industry began at Fletcher Steel, where she served as a Senior Marketing Content Coordinator, supporting six business divisions.

Recognising the importance of fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and celebrated, Jasmin is proud to be a member of NZWiR.

My Mum’s a Roofer

Aimed at challenging the stereotypical ideas of the trades being for boys only, the book ‘My Mum’s a Roofer’ normalises and promotes that women can be roofers too. Written by Martin Finney and illustrated by Kata Bagyon-Parker, this book is now published and available for sale.

Get your copy at My Mum’s A Roofer | New Zealand Women in Roofing

Sponsors Corner

A big thank you to all of our sponsors who have signed back on for 2025.  This organisation couldn’t operate without you.

Gold

NZ Steel

ColorCote

Silver

CS Roofing Canterbury

Konnect

Steel & Tube

Kingspan Thermakraft

 

Bronze

Ampelite

Fribesco

Bremick

Stratco

Edwards & Hardy Roofing

Founding Partner

RANZ

Partner in Kind

Switched on Learning

Ngā mihi,
Debbie Wickliffe
NZWiR Chair.