Harker Underground Ltd was established in 1988 and is one of New Zealand’s most respected tunnelling and micro-tunnelling companies.  

Six years ago Hawkins purchased Harker from Graeme Harker who founded the company. Over the last six years under the Hawkins umbrella, Harker has grown and diversified.  The governance of the business has been strengthened, the management systems have been developed and are now acknowledged as industry leading and the equipment has had significant investment.  

Mike Harker, the son of Graeme Harker, and Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure have jointly purchase the equipment and business of Harker Underground Construction Ltd. Abergeldie will own around 80% of Abergeldie Harker Ltd. Abergeldie Harker commenced operation on 01 March 2017.

“I am delighted that the Harker family once again own a share of the business my father founded. My brother Phillip will also continue to be a key member of staff," Mike Harker said. “I have known Mick Boyle and Abergeldie for around seven years and I have no doubt we will work well together and Abergeldie Harker will be very good for our employees and our clients and continue our father’s legacy.” 

Abergeldie founder and executive chairman Mick Boyle said: “Abergeldie is excited to now own Abergeldie Harker with Mike Harker. Harker has a strong reputation built over 30 years, good equipment and very capable people.  Most importantly for me Harker has a culture similar to that of Abergeldie based on safety, innovation, hard-work, fairness and building better communities.

"The investment by Abergeldie in Harker will allow Abergeldie and Abergeldie Harker to share technical expertise, personnel and equipment. It will strengthen our tunnelling and shaft capabilities in both NZ and Australia and make us leaders in both countries”  

As well as shaft and tunnel construction Abergeldie Harker will bring to the New Zealand market some of the niche capabilities that Abergeldie has developed such as shaft sinking by blind boring, pipe relining, excavation by blasting as well as our capabilities in the water and rail sectors.

Matt Mules, Harker National Manager, has been appointed General Manager of Abergeldie Harker. 

Abergeldie Harker is poised to grow and has the people, experience, systems and financial resources in place to become a significant player delivering complex infrastructure to water, wastewater, stormwater and rail asset owners across NZ.

*Sponsored content