What CDS NZ Ltd does

CDS NZ Ltd is a family-owned Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) contractor headquartered in Silverdale, Auckland, New Zealand. Founded by the Clough family in 1985 and operating HDD rigs since 1992, the company delivers trenchless underground pipe installation services for stormwater, wastewater, and water pipelines to local government clients (Watercare Services, Auckland Council, Hamilton City Council) and private civil construction contractors (CB Civil & Drainage, Pipeline & Civil, Connell Contractors). Project work spans Auckland, Northland, Waikato, Christchurch, Tauranga, and Hastings regions.

The company's technical platform centres on a capital-intensive directional drilling fleet that includes the Goodeng GD 3500L Maxi Rig (805,000 lbs pullback, capable of 2km+ single installations and pipework exceeding 2m in diameter) and a DitchWitch series spanning the JT30 (133 kN), JT4020 (178 kN), AT40 (178 kN), JT8020 (357 kN), and JT100 (445 kN). Supporting systems include MONGOOSE and TRIFLO mud recycling units, hydro excavation, and a six-excavator civil support fleet. Service lines extend across general HDD, hard rock drilling via down-hole mud motors, curved alignments, pipe bursting/slip lining, sensitive-environment installations, low-grade trenchless work (down to 0.13%), civil installations, and hydro excavation.

CDS generates revenue through project-based contracts with bespoke pricing determined by pipe diameter, installation length, ground conditions, and technical complexity. The company collaborates with clients from design stage through completion, engages in enterprise field sales directly with government and contractor buyers, and pursues no external funding or public listing. All four directors — Graham, Lyn, Daniel, Anthony, and Richard Clough — are family members and shareholders, with operating management supplemented by chartered engineers and a head mechanic. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

CDS NZ Ltd

Legal name

CDS New Zealand Ltd

Website

https://cdsnz.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Family-owned Horizontal Directional Drilling contractor based in Silverdale, Auckland, New Zealand, delivering trenchless pipe installation for stormwater, wastewater, and water pipelines to government utilities and civil contractors across multiple NZ regions since 1992.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trenchless Pipeline Installation Services

NAICS

Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (23711), Site Preparation Contractors (23891)

SIC

Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Cable Installation & Construction Services (trenching, duct banks, HDD, pulling, cable laying) (EUADADAI)

Keywords

• Horizontal directional drilling
• Trenchless pipe installation
• Underground drilling services
• HDD contracting
• Civil drilling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Silverdale, Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. HDD Project Contracting: CDS operates as a horizontal directional drilling contracting company undertaking projects for Local Government and private clients. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts for installation of stormwater, wastewater and water pipelines, with pricing based on project scope, pipe diameter, length, ground conditions and technical requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

CDS NZ Ltd is a horizontal directional drilling (HDD) contractor that installs underground pipelines, ducts, and conduits using trenchless methods. The company serves New Zealand utility and civil infrastructure projects, drilling beneath roads, rivers, and built environments to lay water, wastewater, gas, power, and telecommunications infrastructure without open-cut excavation.

Product overview

CDS NZ Ltd operates as a specialized Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) contractor offering a unified suite of trenchless 'No Dig' technology solutions for underground pipework and ducting installations. The company's core offering is its fleet of directional drilling equipment—spanning compact rigs like the DitchWitch JT30 to the massive Goodeng GD 3500L Maxi Rig capable of installations exceeding 2km and 2m diameter—supported by complementary drilling rigs (DitchWitch JT4020, AT40, JT8020, and JT 100), mud recycling systems (MONGOOSE and TRIFLO), hydro excavation units, civil construction crews, and transport fleet. Services include General HDD, Hard Rock Drilling, Curved Alignments, Pipe Bursting/Slip Lining, Sensitive Environments installations, Low Grade Installations, Civil Installations, and Hydro Excavation. The portfolio is architected as a comprehensive solution where the drilling equipment fleet forms the core capability, supported by ancillary systems and civil crews to deliver complete pipeline installation projects from design through to completion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) Contracting Trenchless underground installation of pipelines, ducts, and conduits using HDD rigs for water, wastewater, gas, power, and telecommunications infrastructure clients across New Zealand.
• Trenchless Pipe and Conduit Installation Specialist trenchless installation of underground pipes and conduits beneath roads, rivers, and built environments, avoiding open-cut excavation.
• HDD Plant and Crew Hire Provision of horizontal directional drilling rigs, equipment, and experienced operators to civil construction clients on a contract or hire basis.

Quantifiable outcome

• Manukau North project completed $1m under contract value
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Highside Drilling ServicescoreTechnology or IntegrationAustralian-based specialist HDD steering company providing Paratrack guidance technology for accurate grade-critical installations. Used for projects requiring tight grade tolerance including low grade installations down to 0.13% and deep drilling under sensitive environments.
• Vector (Electricity and Gas Corporation)minorOthersVector provides utility infrastructure coordination for HDD projects. CDS engaged with Vector to ensure permits were in place before undertaking excavation work near 11KVA overhead cables on the William Souter Stormwater project.
• DitchWitch (Equipment Manufacturer)coreTechnology or IntegrationCDS operates a fleet of DitchWitch directional drilling rigs including JT30, JT4020, AT40, JT8020, and JT100 models ranging from 120KN to 445KN pullback capability. Long-term equipment partnership providing specialized drilling machinery.
• Goodeng (Equipment Manufacturer)coreTechnology or IntegrationCDS owns and operates a Goodeng GD 3500L Maxi Rig, one of the most powerful drilling rigs in New Zealand with 805,000 lbs pullback capability. This is a key piece of equipment enabling large-scale HDD installations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CDS NZ Ltd