Daniel Haigh - Project Manager

"It feels good to be treated like more than just a number."

Straight from school, and after spending his first two years in the lab, Higgins put Daniel through a Diploma in Engineering, before he became a trainee project manager in his hometown of Levin. These days, Daniel is studying for a degree in Highway Engineering – also paid for by Higgins. Daniel manages everything from pricing to contracts, planning and strategy, assembling the team and third parties/subcontractors, and managing resources and labour throughout the project.

Daniel recently managed work on SH1 just south of Levin which shows Higgins' commitment to environmental integrity. The job involved a busy 1.5km stretch of road: traveled by more than 20,000 vehicles a day; a bridge with services running underneath; and the realignment of a waterway. Continuity of services was maintained, along with a steady flow of traffic, and some extra attention to the adjacent waterway which began as an overgrown stream.

During the project and with liaison between local iwi, council, and DOC, Higgins helped turn an overgrown and neglected stream into a clean waterway with over 5,000 native plants, a healthy eel population, and some vibrant fish-life.

Daniel supports the notion that Higgins is one big family. "Everyone helps each other out – within each branch and inter-branch. If someone's team is running behind, it's not unusual for them to ask another manager within a branch or from another, for some gear or even personnel. At the end of that day it's all about getting the job done".