Graeme Carter (better known as Toejoe), owner of Opononi based company G.N Carter Builders Limited was born and bred in the region. After completing his apprenticeship in New Zealand Toejoe worked in the United Kingdom for 10 years running his own small carpentry company before returning to New Zealand in 2010 to start G.N Carter Builders. 

Because his father John also owned a building company in Northland there is nearly always a personal connection of some sort or other between the Carter family and its customers. Toejoe combines a very personal approach with a professional business, which offers clients significant international expertise within its team. Other members of the G.N Carter Builders team include builders, brother Garry and uncle Graham.

"We pool all our building experience - and our team offers in excess of 120 years experience combined - to get the job done for the customer. We can often do things a little bit differently to make the job special from how it might normally be done because of our extensive international experience," says Toejoe.

Although work in Opononi typically keeps the company busy G.N Carter Builders also often travels further afield in Northland taking on new home builds, renovations, alterations and maintenance plus smaller job such as new decks and roofs. The company also offers expertise in historic work and can replace items such as sash windows etc. on older homes.