Our Values in Action

Helensville Primary AIMS Rippa Rugby Team 2025

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

We are all aware of the two strategic partners in the MEST, Babcock and the Defence Logistics Command (Maritime). But fixing and maintaining the millions of components it takes to keep the RNZN operational takes many, many hands and a whole lot of expertise and specialist skills.

Welcome to the MEST village – a network of hundreds of small, specialist, businesses that spreads across the dockyard and beyond to support MEST to not only get the job done, but to achieve the excellence we strive for. They are an integral part of our operations and we’re taking time out to meet a few of them.

GSM Engineering

A family business set up in Avondale in 1987, GSM Engineering is dedicated to engineering excellence and current Managing Director Mike Gilbert is the son of founders Darryl and Diana. “It was initially a pretty small business focused on general jobbing, but over the years we’ve grown and specialised” says Mike. “I started straight from school and worked my way up from the bottom, through an apprenticeship, tradesman, production manager, General Manager and finally Managing Director.

We’re now a company with around 60 employees and it is great to watch our team develop, gaining confidence and expertise. We service a whole host of industries but are especially proud of being specialists in electrical cabinetry, retail and architectural installations as well as marine and industrial engineering. The work we do supporting the Navy is also a great source of pride for us. Every job is unique, innovation is always key and the satisfaction we feel when a job is complete makes it all worth it. Watching a ship leave the wharf and knowing we contributed to that is a pretty special feeling.”