A family owned drilling company built from the ground up, delivering geotechnical, environmental and geothermal drilling across the central North Island since 2014.
Mat began his drilling career in Auckland in 2005 with Boart Longyear. He spent his first 10 months gaining foundational experience off siding on various projects across the North Island, learning industry best practices from top-tier drillers within the global company. By 2006, Mat was leading drilling operations on numerous geotechnical projects spanning Auckland, Northland, and the central North Island. Seeking to broaden his expertise, he relocated to Australia in 2010 to specialize in Reverse Circulation (RC) and air core drilling on exploration projects north of Melbourne.
Mat returned to New Zealand in 2012, contracting on nationwide geotechnical projects before co-founding Drillcore with his father, Anthony, in 2014. Launching the business from the ground up was a hard-fought transition over the first few years. Operating with limited initial capital, they started with an imported tractor-mounted rig, an old Mitsubishi transporter, and a 2004 Toyota Hilux, winning clients’ confidence one job at a time.
The company’s focus on quality paid off, and by 2016, Drillcore expanded its capabilities by purchasing a Swedish Georig 220, allowing them to offer both CPT and drilling services. Knowing that owning a machine is only half the battle, they focused on execution, which drove enough demand to justify purchasing a second Georig 220 in 2018.
Driven by a passion for innovation, Mat attended Groundwater Week in Las Vegas in 2019, where he connected with Dutch sonic rig manufacturer Royal Eijkelkamp. Recognizing that their SRS120 rig would be ideal for the challenging boulder and sand formations of the central North Island, Mat collaborated with their team to customize the machinery. He requested a rotary drill head be adapted to the mast, creating a dual-system rig that could seamlessly switch over when encountering consolidated rock. Following six months of intense collaboration, Drillcore commissioned the world’s first SRS120 Duo —a true game-changer for the New Zealand drilling industry.
By 2021, Drillcore expanded its fleet by purchasing an 8-tonne Cat excavator, Polaris side-by-side motor bike, and a John Deere support tractor for small-to-medium projects. This investment ensured the team could consistently meet client timeframes while seamlessly streamlining test pit operations alongside their core CPT and machine borehole services. Continuing their drive for innovation, Mat collaborated with a design engineer in 2025 to develop a custom, compact, track-mounted drill rig. Towed easily by a Land Cruiser support vehicle, this mobile rig was specifically engineered to access tight, challenging sites without sacrificing drilling capability.
Over the past 12 years, Drillcore has proudly contributed to a diverse range of critical infrastructure projects. Their portfolio spans roading, rail, solar and wind farms, geothermal developments, and major residential and commercial sectors. Drillcore extends a sincere thank you to all the clients they have partnered with over the years and remains incredibly grateful for the continued trust placed in their team to deliver complex projects safely, on time, within budget, and to the highest industry standards. Above all, the company would like to express its deepest gratitude to both past and present employees of the Drillcore team. Their dedication, hard work, and expertise have been the backbone of the company’s journey and a massive part of its ongoing success.
These are the guys out on site every day getting the work done. Our drilling crew comes from a mix of backgrounds, including farming, mechanical and hospitality, bringing different skills, experience and strengths to the team.
They’re a hardworking bunch with a great can-do attitude, who aren’t afraid to get stuck in and work together to get the job done. They’re continually developing their drilling skills by learning from each other and working alongside Matt, our Head Driller, who brings more than 20 years of industry experience to the team.
We’re big believers in learning on the job, sharing knowledge and giving our crew the opportunity to keep building their skills and experience. The result is a practical, capable team who work well together and take pride in the work they do.
Keeping everything running behind the scenes are Peggy and Sarah, who help take care of everything from before a job starts through to wrapping things up once the work is complete.
Peggy keeps the wheels turning when it comes to scheduling our rigs and crews, working closely with clients to understand their requirements and making sure we have the right people and equipment in the right place at the right time.
Sarah has a strong focus on Health & Safety, helping ensure our systems, processes and compliance requirements are covered both in the office and out on site. She works alongside the crews to make sure safety is a practical part of how we operate every day.
Together, they support the team on the ground and help make sure each project runs as smoothly as possible from start to finish.
By upholding high safety standards and delivering top-quality work, we have built a trusted brand that clients rely on and choose repeatedly.
