In for the log-haul: High Country Carpentry
by Metropol | February 18, 2026 8:33 am
Who has time to celebrate 20 years in business when you’re busy completing an enormous and awe-inspiring log home?
Third and fifth-generation Mackenzie region residents Heather and Lain Hellmrich ticked over 20 years for their building and renovation business High Country Carpentry last December. But the husband-and-wife duo haven’t put their feet up to celebrate just yet. We caught up with Heather and Lain on business success, team that feels like family, and their love of beautiful timbers.
What’s your secret to success and longevity?
Surrounding ourselves with the right people. We’ve always had a tight knit team. Lain grew up watching his parents in business, where employees are more like family. We do the same. Building great relationships with our clients, suppliers, key sub contractors, industry peers, and our business support team (accountant and banking), has been key. Getting business coaching from time to time has been great, working on the business is a must-do when you can.
Describe the most memorable highs, and most challenging lows, during 20 years in business!
It’s a privilege to go to work looking out over the beautiful turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo, or staring up at Aoraki from a High Country Station. It’s also a treat to build in our hometown Fairlie from time to time. We’ve had success in the Registered Masterbuilders House of the Year competitions. That recognition for our clients’ vision, and our team bringing it all together, is a great feeling. Post Covid-19, we had challenges with price increases and supply shortages for materials. We were run off our feet – it was a very busy time for a while there.
High Country Carpentry produces a range of projects – what’s your approach for different builds?
The diversity of our work keeps it interesting, and we’re limited only by our clients’ imagination, and Lain’s creative input. Whether it’s a beautiful architectural new build, or a renovation a client has been dreaming of that will transform their everyday life, our team genuinely love what they do, especially if it involves working with beautiful timbers.
We have piles of timber that “one day I’ll use that somewhere….” To most people it just looks like rough old planks, but he’ll work his magic, announce which beautiful (usually native) tree it came from, and find just the place to use it.
Your team is known for beautiful log homes and timber work. How do these come to life?
It’s not all we do, but log homes are a favourite for the team, with all the carpentry work required. Our friends at Natural Log Homes in Geraldine source and prepare the logs, creating the log shell. We work together for the assembly onsite, and then it’s up to us to create a spectacular finished home. You can’t beat the warmth and natural beauty of a log home.
A trusted, longstanding local team and two-time Master Builders House of the Year Craftsmanship award winner for the Mid/South Canterbury region, call 0800 922 883 for your next home and renovation project.
Source URL: https://metropol.co.nz/in-for-the-log-haul-high-country-carpentry/