Fine Woodworking has been in business long enough to truly care about the end result they produce for their clients. Specialising in custom-made kitchens, they manufacture with care and attention to detail using quality materials and hardware. Nothing leaves the Te Kuiti workshop until it is perfect – because that is what their clients expect, and naturally what they do as well.
David and Alison Higgins have come a long way since David began the business in his grandfather’s woolshed in Te Kuiti over 20 years ago. Nowadays their workshop uses a CNC cutting machine and laser edge bander and employs a small team of staff, with David focusing more on the design and engineering aspects of the business.
Four years ago they made a kitchen for Waikato designer Paula Waterhouse and she was so rapt with their workmanship that it was the beginning of a wonderful business partnership. Their kitchen cabinets are made with moisture-resistant MDF with zero formaldehyde emissions, making it clean and green, They avoid using low quality products and materials.
Specialising in attention to detail, using quality materials and not compromising on workmanship is something this company is renowned for. Whether the job is big or small, it is treated the same. Every product they make is customised and personalised – they enjoy the interaction with their clients through every step of the process to ensure they get it just right.
Having completed his apprenticeship in cabinet making and working in the UK, David returned home to New Zealand in the late 1980s to start afresh, but there was also a downturn in the economy. With the help of his grandfather in the shearing capital of New Zealand, they converted the old woolshed into a workshop, and from there he began Fine WoodWorking.
His grandfather was also the person who inspired and began teaching David to make his own furniture when he was nine years of age. The rest is history. Alison joined David in the business 12 years ago, managing the office and dealing with clients. Their two young sons are currently the sweep up boys and enjoy making things in the workshop, and so the cycle continues.