Murray & Ruth Miers
CASE STUDY
Horticulture Water Storage
A smart transition to sustainable water management
In the heart of Aongatete, nestled along the Tauranga Harbour’s edge, Murray and Ruth Miers have cultivated their dream – a thriving agricultural and horticultural family business. With over 30 years of experience in the horticulture industry, they understand the importance of water storage for safeguarding their orchard against frost and ensuring vital irrigation during dry summers.
By 2021, Murray and Ruth’s irrigation pond, a vital water source for their orchard, was showing signs of age, and the couple knew it was time for a change. The open pond was a significant safety risk to people on and around their property. Murray was adamant that replacing the pond with a safer, more sustainable option was the way forward.
On Murray’s search to find the ideal water storage solution, it was an encounter at a local packhouse that first piqued his interest in KlipTank. The real turning point, however, was a visit to an Agricultural Show in Hastings. Here, Murray laid eyes on KlipTank’s unique water storage tanks, featuring a fully enclosed durable structure and a commitment to sustainability.
“When I went down to that show and found that tank, I couldn’t believe it. I thought to myself, ‘I’m not going to look at anything else now; this is so much easier, so much better in the long run’” Murray recalls.
With confidence in their choice, Murray and Ruth approached KlipTank. The team at KlipTank understood the need for a swift solution before the looming spring frost threatened the orchard’s wellbeing.
The challenge, however, lay in the location of the existing pond – the sole suitable spot for the new tank. Decommissioning the pond, removing it, and restoring the area required complex civil engineering due to the pond’s location below sea level. Once the foundation was prepared, the installation of the custom 800m³ Roofed Water Tank proceeded at an impressive pace.
“I was shocked at how quickly they built it once they got going” Murray said.
The entire project including purchase, fabrication, site preparation and installation was completed in three months between June and September 2021, the installation itself only taking one week, a testament to the collaborative efforts of Murray, the KlipTank team, and their shared commitment to a safer and more sustainable water management solution.
The tank’s innovative “rainwater harvesting roof” design was custom-developed by KlipTank to meet Murray’s specific needs. It serves a dual purpose by providing a blackout cover to prevent algae growth and keep out dust, leaf debris, birds, rats, and insects. Simultaneously, it efficiently harvests rainwater through a specialised filtration system, effectively removing any leaf debris. This unique feature aligned with Murray’s commitment to sustainability and resource efficiency in his orchard.
Two years have passed since the tank’s installation, and Murray couldn’t be happier with his choice. He also values the enduring relationship formed between himself and the KlipTank team, saying, “They would send someone up that very day if I needed anything.” Murray and Ruth Miers have not only secured the future of their kiwifruit orchard but have also made a safer, more sustainable approach to water management.
MURRAY AND RUTH MIERS
Te Puke
What other customers have to say about their KlipTank
Meet the team
Kim HendersonDirector
Kim co-founded KlipTank in 2009 and become owner in 2021, after returning to New Zealand from the United States.
For 26 years overseas, Kim worked in the oil and gas industry across the Middle East and US.
His forte is starting greenfield units, which he did for his own flexible hydraulic hose business in the Middle East, Turkey, Singapore, the United States, Oman and China. His grown-up children still reside in the United States.
Kim returned to New Zealand to be closer to extended family and is now involved in the day to day running of KlipTank, with big plans for the expansion of the business.
From KlipTank’s home in Tauranga, he is now looking forward to guiding the company’s growth in the area of water security and providing water storage solutions for fire safety, potable water, horticulture and waste-water.
A redesign of KlipTanks products and manufacturing processes since 2021 has also allowed for flat packing of the tanks into containers for export.
He is extremely proud of what the hardworking KlipTank team has achieved and is looking forward to recruiting more great people.
Outside of work he has a passion for motorcycles, boats, and muscle cars and is a firm believer that the correct number of toys you should own, is one more than you have.
Ruan MeyerGeneral Manager
Ruan and his family moved to New Zealand from South Africa 5 years ago, bringing with him extensive experience in mechanical engineering and a proven track record in completing projects on time and within budget.
He is currently the General Manager at KlipTank, recently promoted from being Operations Manager where he still manages the day-to-day operations of KlipTank and leads the team. He is focussed on seeing projects through to completion and working in unison to achieve KlipTank’s short and long-term goals.
Ruan started his career as a Fitter & Turner tradesperson at a power station in South Africa before studying for a national diploma in mechanical engineering.
He then moved to Malvern Engineering Works in Johannesburg as an estimator and project co-ordinator, and later worked as production manager, manufacturing mine process equipment. He then became project and maintenance manager for Mertech Marine in Cape Town, a company which manages ships that retrieve redundant telecommunications cables & equipment from the seabed and mechanically disassemble & recycle the materials.
Since moving to New Zealand, he’s worked for HCD flow conveying, Baytext as Aluminium WS Engineering Supervisor, PFS as PE doing ASME pressure vessel and piping projects and Fabworx engineering PM including leading the Structural project to install 80 tonnes of steel at the new Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa in Rotorua.
Ruan is a family man with two children and enjoys weekends on the beach, in the backyard and biking or walking local trails. He has found a great network of other ‘Saffas’ in the Bay, including close friends who have become like Kiwi family.
Ian JamiesonSales Manager
Ian Jamieson joined KlipTank 10 years ago, bringing with him an extensive sales and business background in the IT and mechanical engineering industries. He has owned his own businesses in both fields and has an extensive formal education in engineering, including a degree in process engineering.
Ian’s wide ranging, technical skill set lends itself well to KlipTank’s philosophy of solving problems for its customers and being solutions-focussed.
He particularly likes working with New Zealand’s vital dairy industry and has found farmers to be excellent businesspeople who display incredible resilience.
He enjoys building strong relationships with his customers and getting to know their businesses – including their storage requirements – which are often planned years in advance.
He also has a Farm Dairy Effluent Design & Management Certificate from Massey University, allowing him to assist farmers with dairy effluent system design and storage calculations for consent purposes.
Outside the office, Ian is a self-confessed motorsport nut – coming from a long line of engineers with petrol in their veins. He enjoys motorsport engineering, riding his vintage motorbike and motocross. He also plays music, loves to travel and enjoys a good wine - particularly French.