By: Richard Stratford22nd Jan 2026 7:33PMSuch a sad time when 'Wilks and Dilks' folded. Never worked for them but had absolute respect for all they achieved. I was a long time Downer staffer and in the 60s and 70s both companies had a pool of very clever, talented people. Des Mataga and Ian Evans to name a couple. The first big 'kick in the guts' for W&D was probably the Mangere Bridge fiasco of the 1970s. Possibly the longest strike ever in NZ by intransigent unionists. Of course Downer & Co got shafted also .... but by Ron Brierley, the jailbird pervert. Different world today. Wouldn't have changed that construction life for all the tea in China ! RJS.