In 1992, mountain climbing enthusiasts Martin Wilson and DJ Matheson had the kernel of an idea to set up a rope access company that went that extra inaccessible inch. Martin’s engineering background and DJ’s rope safety expertise were the perfect combination to ensure Abseil Access’s success.

This year Abseil Access celebrates 25 years as an industry leader in safe and effective geotechnical work; bridge design, build and maintenance; asset integrity services, explosive and blasting services, and conservation projects.

We have been at the forefront of recovery work in both the Christchurch and Kaikoura earthquakes, and we have been influential in safety recovery plans in both these areas. We are also passionate conservationists and work hard to protect New Zealand’s indigenous animals and plant life.

Honesty and integrity underpin every aspect of our business. We provide a high quality service by carefully listening to our clients and fully understanding their needs, while at the same time ensuring the safety of our employees.  We are stable enough to concentrate on customer satisfaction and flexible enough to respond to the constantly changing needs of industry.

With offices in Wellington and Christchurch, we have skilled, effective, workers nationwide.

 

Download our Customer Credit Application form:

Read our Terms of Trade:

Please get in touch to find out more:

MARTIN WILSON
MANAGING DIRECTOR / WELLINGTON

“Actions speak louder than words”

A qualified engineer and active mountain climber, Abseil Access co-founder Martin is a director who likes to get his hands dirty. An early indication of Martin’s intent to ensure that safety is a core element of the company’s work ethic was Martin’s involvement in setting up the Industrial Rope Access Association of NZ 1997. Martin has project managed the re-painting of 23 New Zealand lighthouses as well as ensuring the asset integrity of civil aviation radar domes, cement storage silos and hydrostation penstocks. He is a fully certified shot firer and has 20 years of explosive expertise. His passion is designing and constructing suspension bridges.

FACTS: BEng Hons (Leeds) – Mining and Mineral engineering; 25 years of project management of geotechnical, coatings, inspection and construction projects NZ wide; 44 suspension bridge builds in NZ and overseas; 22 years of installations, inspection, repairs and coatings in the energy sector, lighthouses, radars and marine beacons; CBIP coatings inspector; Approved Handler Explosives Blasting (1.1B, 1.1D, 1.4S)

Phone: 027 449 5408
Email: mwilson@abseilaccess.co.nz

DONALD (DJ) MATHESON
MANAGING DIRECTOR / CHRISTCHURCH

“Safety first”

With over 25 years industry experience, Abseil Access co-founder DJ is our standards and safety guru and has been proactive with many national initiatives to improve the standards of our industry. In his role as treasurer and committee member of the national trade association for rope access contractors in New Zealand, IRAANZ he has helped the development of industrial rope access systems and best practice guidelines for rope access in New Zealand. He worked in the Civil Defence response to the Christchurch February 2011 earthquake, and continues to manage numerous rockfall protection and slope stabilisation projects in the Port Hills and Kaikoura.

FACTS: IRAANZ level 3; Founding & current committee member IRAANZ; Committee member for Standards New Zealand AS/NZS4488; AS/NZS1891, Advisor to Department of Labour for Best Practice Guidelines for Rope Access in NZ; Project Manager for Christchurch 2011 earthquake response work through Civil Defence, CERA and CCC; Project Manager for Kaikoura 2016 earthquake response work through Downer and NCTIR; DJ will complete his Diploma in Management in 2018

Phone: 027 444 9774
Email: djmatheson@abseilaccess.co.nz

ALEX WILMHURST
PROJECT MANAGER / NELSON-KAIKOURA

“Risks are part of it, but my job is to make sure no one else is at risk”

A former guide in the Southern Alps, Alex has wide spread experience in risk management and construction of some of the largest and most challenging rock fall protection structures in the world. His experience in the rope access industry involves inspection and testing in the oil and gas industry in NZ and Australia and includes supervising rock fall netting and fence construction in West Papua (the first two 8,000kJ fences to be installed worldwide). He also widely regarded as a leader in industry safety standards and helped NCTIR formulate their safety plan in the Kaikoura recovery.

FACTS: IRATA L3 trained; Confined Space Entry & Gas Testing; Ultrasonic Inspection PCN Level 2 (thickness testing); Eddy Current Inspection PCN Level 1 Welds; BOSIET Offshore Survival; Hard Ice Guide (NZ Mountain Guides Association); Vertical Ropes (NZ Search & Rescue); Foundation Ropes (NZ Search & Rescue); Chainsaw Operator Certificate; Hospital Emergency Care First Aid

Phone: 027 488 2849
Email: alex@abseilaccess.co.nz

LEONIE STEAD
RECRUITMENT COORDINATOR / CHRISTCHURCH

“Global reach, local presence”

Leonie is an experienced and supportive administrator well used to working alongside the civil construction, scaffolding and ropes industries in a busy office environment. She is organised and proactive in providing efficient and accurate administration and great customer service to clients, managers and work colleagues.

FACTS: Workplace Health & Safety Training; Licence Controller Qualification – CPIT; National Certificate in Business Administration Level 4 – CPIT; Certificate in NZ Sign Language – Mairehau High School; General Managers Certificate

Phone: 027 550 0667
Email: leonie@abseilaccess.co.nz

MURRAY THESSMAN
PROJECT ENGINEER / WELLINGTON

“Problem solving and planning means thinking outside the square”

With over 25 years working in engineering and project management, Murray is responsible for delivering a variety of difficult access projects involving roped access, confined space entry & building inspection. He is involved with the complete project from initial site investigation through to planning, pricing and supervising projects.

FACTS: Bachelor of Engineering (Civil), University of Canterbury; Traffic Management (Level 1); Site Safe Passport – Civil Construction; Fall Arrest Certificate

Phone: 027 262 4333
Email: murray@abseilaccess.co.nz

ERLE VAUGHAN
PROJECT MANAGER / CHRISTCHURCH

“A sense of urgency and attention to detail”

Working in the Rope Access Industry since 2000 Erle excels at Adapting quickly, is highly motivated and flexible with exceptional problem-solving skills; excels in a busy working environment pertaining to all Rope Access works. Diligent and focused, demonstrating excellent attention to detail along with the motivation and multi-tasking abilities required to meet demanding deadlines; enjoys being part of, and leading, a successful and productive team, he thrives in highly pressurised and challenging working environments. Passionate about family and having fun with fast engines or being surrounded by the ocean.

FACTS: IRATA no 3/9365, NDT Qualifications such as Radiography, Eddy Current, Ultrasonic, Penetrant testing and Visual Inspection. NSL Aerial Rigger. OPITO BOSIET Offshore Survival.

Phone: 027 550 0669
Email: erle@abseilaccess.co.nz

ANDREW LILLIG
PROJECT MANAGER / WELLINGTON

“Get it done”

Andrew ran his own successful engineering business in South Africa before moving to New Zealand. He has a background in project management, mechanical design, quality control, site supervision and inspection. He relishes diversity and challenges in all these areas.

FACTS: 20+ years Engineering experience in the structural, mechanical and civil fields both on site and factory based; Experience with the design of large structure movement systems; 3 Years Project management; 16 Years Factory management

Phone: 027 542 0536
Email: andrew@abseilaccess.co.nz

JONO CLARKE
ABSEIL ACCESS SUPERVISOR / WELLINGTON

“There’s not a problem I can’t fix, because I can do it in the mix”

Jono has worked for Abseil Access for over ten years including over 3000 hours abseiling and 250 hours in confined space work. The ‘go to’ guy in our team when the job needs to be done yesterday, Jono has an epic range of skills including general building, bridge maintenance, rock stability, safety supervising, anchoring and work with cranes and helicopter.

FACTS: NZQA National Cert – Industrial Rope Access Lev3; NZQA 15757, Fall Arrest standard; St John – Workplace First Aid; Energy Trainers – EAC / WAC / PHC 2008: FETS Certificate – Safe Working in a Confined Space; NZOIA – Rockclimbing Instructor; NZQA – Avalanche 1

CLINT MACCORMICK
ABSEIL ACCESS SUPERVISOR / WELLINGTON

“Don’t drop it”

A glazier by trade, Clint has combined his expertise in this area with his abseiling competence. Known for his punctuality and time management, which, combined with his speed and tenacity, makes him a valued member of the Abseil team. During his time at Abseil Access he has mastered a number of areas including geotechnical work, building maintenance and dairy plant inspection.

FACTS: Class 1 and Class 6 drivers license; Red Cross First Aid Certificate; Level 3 IRANZ

LEWIS GRANT
PROJECT MANAGER / CHRISTCHURCH

“I don’t do tag-lines, just work”

Before moving across to assist with the Kaikoura Recovery Project, Lewis’ career had been centred in the British and European sectors of the North Sea, providing in-service structural inspection services for cranes, drilling derricks, jack-up legs, life boat davits and hulls; though he picked up some of his most valuable inspection experience onshore testing precision engineered parts. His rigging experience is through widely varying projects, sometimes running parallel to inspection scopes; to support failed parts or structure, and often tasked with the closest tolerance, high value lifts due to his spatial awareness and mechanical comprehension.

FACTS: IRATA L3 trained; Confined Space Entry; OPITO Rigging and Lifting Stage 4; Eddy Current Inspection PCN Level 2 Welds; Magnetic Particle Inspection PCN Level 2; OPITO Further Offshore Emergency Training (FOET) with Compressed Air Emergency Breathing System (CA EBS); Emergency First Aid at Work.