Our track record of high calibre workmanship, thinking on our feet and willingness to do whatever is needed to complete projects within set timeframes and budgets has made us a trusted partner of councils and local bodies, as well as large industrial and commercial interests.
If you have a drainage or water project you would like to discuss, please contact Mark Currie on 021 220 1382, or email: mark@drainways.co.nz
Mark Currie / Drainways Director
Owen established Drainways in 1976 after buying the company he had worked for since 1970. He soon established a reputation as an honest, friendly, and professional drain layer and machinery operator. Owen enjoys helping out wherever he can and his vast experience makes him the go-to source of wisdom and advice for everyone in the company.
Mark took over the company in 2005, and has grown it from a one man team with one truck and digger to now a 30+ strong team with a full fleet of machines including trucks, hydrovacs, excavators and more. With over 20 years of experience with the industry, clients and local contractors, Mark has grown the company to take on a wide range of projects, in both the drainage and civil sectors.
Overseeing the Sales and Marketing areas of the business, he ensures the alignment between building client/customer relations and brand promotion while driving revenue growth and market expansion.
Like all the brothers, Brendan grew up on the tools and progressed to the digger cab and later on moved to the office. Rejoining the team in 2019 after successfully building and selling his own business, Brendan brings a passion for accurate reporting and streamlining processes. Now, he oversees all finance-related matters, including budgeting, investments, payroll, and financial reporting.
Growing up on the tools and in the trench, Carlton loves getting his hands dirty and solving technical problems in the field. Operating in the contracting and drainage industry for over 18 years, he brings invaluable experience and knowledge to the Drainways team. Progressing over the years from Drainlayer to Site Manager, Project Manager and now Operations and Resources Manager for the whole company, Carlton ensures every team and job site is fully equipped.
Matthew Donk is a pretty relaxed kind of guy. He’s been with Drainways for just over 2 years, having spent many years working as a project delivery manager for one of the big guys of civil contracting. Matthew wanted the best of both worlds – the opportunity to grow his career – but without the hectic hours he had been working so he could spend more time with his wife and four children.
“I worked crazy hours and probably didn’t get the opportunities I wanted to grow my career.
He joined Drainways as an estimator but has since been promoted to contracts manager – a role that is quite broad and puts many of his skills and experience to good use.
With a bit more time on his hands, Matthew has been able to spend his weekends working on his own projects – such as renovating the family home and also undertaking his own ‘Amazing Spaces’ inspired project of refitting an old 1970s caravan.
The bright yellow caravan, inspired by his wife Mel’s love of yellow, heads up to Lake Waikaremoana once a year for the family to enjoy some off-grid adventure.
Back at Drainways Matthew has been focussing on introducing more structure and processes to the business and project delivery.
“At Drainways I feel really valued. Management listen and if you come up with an idea they back it and let you run with it. You’re not a number, you’re a member of the team and are well supported.
Burly Gerome isn’t one to be crossed in his role as a resource manager, making sure no important equipment is lost on job sites. Despite his best efforts, he says the most common misplaced item are digger buckets and although there’s GPS on some equipment, he has had to come up with other tactics to keep track of items. People are also a vital resource, so Gerome keeps a close on eye on projects making sure the right team is on the job.
Gerome isn’t one to shirk the heavy lifting and having previously worked as a drainlayer, he enjoys the opportunity to get back on the tools.
It also gives him a greater perspective of complex projects and problem solving.
“It doesn’t take too much for me to jump on the tools and back into the trenches.”
He enjoys getting physical – having played premier rugby for Napier Pirates, regularly going to the gym and he’s now coaching his son’s junior rugby team. He also enjoys supporting his daughter who plays rippa rugby.
When time allows, he likes to get out on one of his two Harley motorbikes, “I got one pretty cheap” he says pretty quickly just in case his wife read the bio, while he cooks a pretty mean brisket on the coal BBQ.
Deepak Viswanatha has had a bit of luck on his side over the last couple of years.
He arrived in New Zealand from India to complete his Masters in Civil Engineering from Canterbury University just prior to the country being locked down and then he scored a great role with Drainways as a site manager/project manager.
Deepak is from Kerala in south India with a population in excess of 30 million people. That’s pretty hard to fathom for many of his workmates who’ve lived in Hawke’s Bay, and its population of less than 200,000!
Although he worked on some large big construction projects such as bridges and large scale housing developments in India, he says that working on Drainways projects in Hawke’s Bay has been an upgrade in professionalism.
He arrived at the right time, with Drainways involved in the construction of water treatment and storage facilities and new networking for Hastings District Council.
He learnt the ropes of working in a New Zealand setting on the new Frimley storage facility before moving on to the world-leading Waiaroha Water and education facility next to the council’s main office complex.
“They’ve been great projects to be involved in and knowing that I played a role in their construction.
“It’s great to be involved with projects that are vital to the wellbeing of the community and safe drinking water is so important.”
As an avid photographer it’s likely he’ll proudly send some photos back to friends and family in India.
Deepak is collating an impressive portfolio of photos and Vlogs and has seen more of New Zealand than many kiwis.
“I’ve seen about 80 percent of the North Island and about 60 percent of the South Island.
He’s also enjoying the Hawke’s Bay lifestyle, with good weather and great scenery (to photograph) and spending time with friends that have moved to the region before him.
Toby is the talker in the office. In fact he’s pretty hard to keep quiet, saying he’s genuinely happy and interested in what makes people tick. “Some might say I’m socially awkward,” he quips. “But … I want to have a positive impact on people’s lives.” Although young, Toby has already had one major career change. As a youngster he used to brew Mead with his father, which led to a university scholarship and a double degree in wine making and viticulture at Waikato University.
However the romance of wine making quickly wore off, realising that it might not be as much a rewarding career as he hoped.
Word got around that Toby was back in the Bay and looking for a new job. At the time he was back studying – towards a degree in environmental science, but jumped at the job offer. He has since completed his study extramurally.
With support from colleague Matthew Donk he has quickly learned the ropes of estimating and loves the mix of the role – working with suppliers to cost up projects, looking over plans and getting out onto site.
When it comes to working at Drainway’s there’s no “maybe’s” for our administrator Celine Mabey. So committed to her job and being part of the Drainways team sees Celine starting work at 4am, in an attempt to tackle a new phenomena in Hawke’s Bay – traffic queues (a fall out of the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle). For someone that rises early, surprisingly Celine is a HUGE fan of sleeping, so much so she says it’s a hobby, along with spending time cuddling up to her chihuahua called Moose and playing hockey.
Obviously with Maybe as your last name, Celine bears the brunt of a few one liners – ‘maybe Celine’s here – not sure…” and “maybe she will do it…”
As the only female in the office, that’s about as much flack as she’ll get as they all know she’s super organised.
“I’m the mum of the office and will boss the guys around. I’m not too scared to speak my mind,” she says with a laugh.
“I love my role at Drainways, providing administration support, dealing internally with my team mates as well as meeting our many local clients and suppliers.