Constructing the West Coast
A look back at construction company Contract Cultivation
Contract Cultivation was a West Coast construction company founded in the late 1920s by Jock and Clare Smith, originally from Timaru.
Through their company the Smith family established many Coast connections which exist to this day. The Karamea Airfield and the Haast Road are just two of the construction projects they completed.
Son of Jock and Clare, Tim Smith, joined the company in 1957 as an 18-year-old Timaru Boys High School leaver and worked on the Haast Road.
“It was certainly the last of the pioneering work in the country,” Tim recalls. “Probably some of the more interesting work that I’ve done. I’d worked on several projects but that one stood out … There were no cabs, no heaters; we worked seven days a week in rain, snow or hail. On a really bad day, you probably knocked off a bit early but most days it was 10 hours a day. There was little else to do.”
Tim finally sold Contract Cultivation to Whitestone several years ago and is now semi-retired on a farm block near Lake Waihola in South Otago.
You can view archival footage of the 1958 Haast Road construction by following the links below. Tim recounts the experiences of the company and the initiative shown in those early days, overcoming the numerous challenges presented by an often-harsh environment.
Contract Cultivation: Haast Road construction 1958.
Contract Cultivation had many Coast connections which exist to this day.The Karamea Airfield and the Haast road are just two.This is THREE of 5 A thank you to the Smith family for the old footage.Mr Smith sold Contract Cultivation to Whitestone several years ago and is now semi-retired on a farm block near Lake Waihola. His parents, Jock and Clare, were originally from Timaru and founded the company in the 1920s. Mr Smith joined in 1957 as an 18-year-old Timaru Boys High School leaver and worked on the Haast road. "It was certainly the last of the pioneering work in the country. Probably the more interesting work that I've done. I've worked on several projects but that one stood out … There were no cabs, no heaters; we worked seven days a week in rain, snow or hail. On a really bad day, you probably knocked off a bit early but most days it was 10 hours a day. There was little else to do," he recalls. The men wore oilskins to protect them from the elements. Once they had got around Clarke Bluff, they were allowed to go hunting, fishing and whitebaiting in their spare time.
Posted by The Coasters Club on Monday, April 27, 2020
Contract Cultivation: Pioneer construction company
Contract Cultivation had many Coast connections which exist to this day.The Karamea Airfield and the Haast road are just two.This is two of 5 A thank you to the Smith family for the old footage.Mr Smith sold Contract Cultivation to Whitestone several years ago and is now semi-retired on a farm block near Lake Waihola. His parents, Jock and Clare, were originally from Timaru and founded the company in the 1920s. Mr Smith joined in 1957 as an 18-year-old Timaru Boys High School leaver and worked on the Haast road. "It was certainly the last of the pioneering work in the country. Probably the more interesting work that I've done. I've worked on several projects but that one stood out … There were no cabs, no heaters; we worked seven days a week in rain, snow or hail. On a really bad day, you probably knocked off a bit early but most days it was 10 hours a day. There was little else to do," he recalls. The men wore oilskins to protect them from the elements. Once they had got around Clarke Bluff, they were allowed to go hunting, fishing and whitebaiting in their spare time.
Posted by The Coasters Club on Monday, April 27, 2020
Contract Cultivation: The opening of the Haast Road in 1965 by the Prime Minister Sir Keith Holyoake where he promised he would be back to open the Haast to Hollyford highway.
Opening of the Haast road 1965
Opening of the Haast road 1965Sir Keiths wife cut the ribbon and it rained.
Posted by The Coasters Club on Tuesday, April 28, 2020
A big thank you to the Smith family for the old footage.
