We specialise in the supply and installation of high quality wooden floors.

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Crafting impeccable floors

We proudly have 22 skilled permanent staff.

Our company has two business streams. The ‘Factory’ business includes all timber purchases, remanufacturing and warehousing activities and sells timber and flooring to either our installation business or directly to homeowners, other installers, builders and commercial customers. Our ‘Installation’ business covers all design, supply, installation, sanding and coating work for our customers.

Our business is unique because it effectively bridges the gap between rough and ready demolition contractors and architects and interior designers and their clients. The recycled timber look is very popular, but had never found much favour with building contractors because of inconsistent supply, variable quality, moisture problems and the ever present risk of nails in the timber. We have put processes in place which have effectively eliminated these downsides and can supply a full range of sizes in various species and deliver consistently uniform, dry, de-nailed and metal detected product which builders can then use with confidence.

We are unique in that we can offer a one-party contract for the supply, installation and finishing of your timber floor, making the process streamlined and focused on the end result: your beautiful timber floor.

Sustainability is one of our core values

Sustainability is one of our core values and the business was set up to avoid large volumes of beautiful centuries old timber being cut up for firewood or being crushed and dumped to landfill.

We source recycled timbers from both New Zealand and other countries, as well as sustainability harvested timber from New Zealand other countries.  This can include sourcing from dead-standing trees and recovered logs, as well as from properly approved sustainable harvesting plans.  We avoid timber from countries that have questionable back stories.

We have won awards for our sustainable practices.

Award winning work

Our business achieved first-place wins in the 2018 Wellington Region Business Excellence Awards, in both the Trade Services and Suppliers category and the Sustainability category.  This followed on from three first place awards in the 2014 Awards – the Sustainability, Innovation and Best Emerging Business categories, and a first-place award in 2016 in the Trade Services and Suppliers category.

In 2016, 2017 and 2018 we achieved first place category wins at the Australasian Timber Flooring Association’s annual awards, including for our work at Te Papa, Wellington.  In 2017 we also won the overall Supreme Award for our work at St Mary of the Angels in Boulcott Street, Wellington.

Neither the Wellington Region Business Awards nor the Australasian Timber Flooring Association’s awards were held in 2020 or 2021.

Chris Northmore – Owner and manager

I established the James Henry business in 2006.  James Henry was my grandfather, a shipwright who enjoyed working with timber.  I grew up around timber projects and have undertaken a number of comprehensive residential renovations, and built new family home in 2005/6 which is where my two daughters grew up.

Previously I worked for 10 years in the rural banking and finance sector, and prior to that I was commercial fishing Paua on both sides of the Cook Strait.

I am very fortunate to have a great team.  A number of our key staff started with us as apprentices and we have a very low level of staff turnover.  We have won a range of business and industry awards over the years.

James Henry Ltd is a member of the ATFA (Australasian Timber Flooring Association) which has over 850 members throughout NZ and Australia.  I have been a member of the ATFA Australasian Board since 2015.  I am also an accredited flooring inspector, undertaking impartial ATFA inspections of timber floors.

In my garage there is a range of well-used mountain-biking, skiing, tramping, sailing, fishing, diving and other sporting equipment.

Stephen de Jong – Commercial Manager

Stephen is office-based and looks after much of the behind the scenes functions.  He thoroughly enjoys being in touch with our customers and is always keen to discuss customer projects and provide advice and recommendations as to the best flooring for your project.

Stephen has worked with us for over eight years and has a very useful working knowledge of timber flooring and installation practices.  Stephen and Chris worked together at Rabobank in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Outside of work Stephen spends time on his forestry block in the Wairarapa where he grows a range of forestry species.  He enjoys woodworking and has a strong interest in all things rural.  In 2009 he undertook a 7,200 km and 10-week bicycle ride from Paris to Dakar.

Adrian Russell –
Contracts Manager

Adrian is a qualified carpenter.  His career includes experience with a large construction company, concrete products, manufacturing and a period running his own building company specialising in high residential renovations and new builds.  He is well experienced across a wide range of building industry disciplines and knows construction very well.

Adrian ably leads the installation and floor sanding crews.  He manages our schedules and day-to-day works.  He won ATFA Employee of the Year in 2018.

Adrian enjoys most outdoor sports including fishing, skiing and mountain biking, having completed the Karapoti Classic a number of times.  He also enjoys weekend trips away in his restored Mustang.

Allanah Beytagh – Specifications Manager

Allanah has a Bachelor of Design from Massey University.

Joshua Matheson – Workshop Manager

Melissa Bethwaite – Office Manager

Melissa is our Office Manager.  In her role she wears many hats and is the main contact for our sister business, Rubio Monocoat NZ.  With Melissa’s marketing background and keen interest in e-commerce she built the Rubio Monocoat website.  Prior to working at James Henry, Melissa worked in marketing/ events roles as well as Legal secretary roles.

Outside of work Melissa has two school aged children and enjoys gardening, walking, and spending time with her family.

Installation Crew

Our floor installation crews are enthusiastic, committed and hardworking individuals who are collectively highly skilled in wooden floor laying and finishing.  Their essentials skills are patience, an eye for detail and highly developed craftsmanship.  Our crews include Ben, William, Balazs and Kurt.  The team has a great mix of age and experience with supporting trade qualifications in carpentry and floor installation.

Ben
Balaz
Finley

Sanding and Coating Crew

Our floor sanding and coating crew are also experienced and hardworking individuals who are committed to their work.  They are comfortable using the full range of Rubio Monocoat Oils and polyurethanes.

Andris
Russ
Izzy (Israel)
Jason

Workshop Crew

Morgan
Jason
Tom
Alex

Apprenticeships

We are fully committed to developing our staff with formal trade apprenticeships through two BCITOs. Currently we have two apprentices on staff. One of our apprentices was awarded the Villars Trophy, for outstanding commitment and dedication. A previous apprentice was flooring apprentice of the year in 2013. All of our current apprentices started work in our factory and recognising their potential we encouraged them into formal apprenticeship programs.