Strength starts below the fence line

On this Auckland project, the focus wasn’t just on appearance, but on building the strength underneath to retain ground and ensure it lasts – because the foundation is what makes the finish.

Who

I’m Josh Niuhulu, director of 09 Building Company based in Auckland. We’ve built a strong crew around us and specialise in fencing, retaining, decking, and general construction works. Over the last few years, we’ve taken on a wide range of projects, from residential boundaries through to small civil works, which has helped us build a reputation for getting jobs done properly – especially in tight access and challenging ground conditions.

What

This job was a combination of a timber retaining wall with a boundary fence built over the top. The brief was simple – retain the higher ground and deliver a fence that was solid, long-lasting, and looked sharp from both sides.

As shown in the completed work, we installed a full retaining system using heavy timber posts and horizontals, then finished it with a vertical paling fence to give it a clean, consistent look.

Where

This project was on a residential boundary in Auckland, where the neighbouring property sat higher than the driveway below. Access was tight along an existing concrete drive, so everything had to be carefully planned and executed – once you start, there’s not much room to adjust.

Why and how

The main purpose of the job was to stabilise the boundary and prevent any movement from the retained ground. A standard fence wouldn’t have handled the load, so a proper retaining solution was needed first.

We approached it by installing the retaining wall with correctly spaced and embedded posts to handle the load over time. With retaining work, we don’t cut corners – getting the foundations right is what makes the difference between something that lasts and something that fails.

Once the retaining wall was in place, we built the fence over the top using a rail-over-paling system. It’s a method we use often because it holds up well and gives a clean result on both sides of the boundary.

One of the key challenges was keeping everything straight and consistent along the concrete edge. Jobs like this highlight the importance of good set-out – if you’re off even slightly, it shows all the way through. Taking the time early on is what allows the finish to come together properly.

Outcome and takeaways

The end result is a strong, tidy boundary that does exactly what it’s meant to do – holds the ground and looks the part.

For our team, it’s another example of the standard we aim to deliver across all our projects. Solid groundwork, attention to detail, and finishing things properly. That’s what’s helped us continue to grow and build trust with clients across Auckland.

Photos:

1. Before: The old retaining wall started to bulge, 2. Removal of the old retaining wall, 3. Digging new post holes

4&5. Making progress, 6. The finished product.

Written by Josh Niuhulu

Published in WIRED issue 81/June 2026 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ

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