About

The consultant
behind the work

Phoxtail IT is Caleb Boyd — a Kaiapoi-based IT consultant with over 14 years of hands-on experience who believes in direct engagement, honest advice, and delivery you can count on.

Caleb Boyd — Founder and Senior IT Consultant at Phoxtail IT, Kaiapoi
Caleb Boyd
Founder & Senior IT Consultant
Kaiapoi, Canterbury, NZ
Background

16+ years of getting things done

I started in hardware repair and worked my way through every layer of IT — from helpdesk and hosting infrastructure to MSP systems engineering and senior IT management for a multi-site NZ retail organisation. That breadth means I understand how decisions made at the strategy level actually play out in production.

2010 – 2013
Laptop Technician & Hardware Repair
The Laptop Company, Christchurch
Started with hardware diagnosis and repair, expanding into software support and customer training. Recognised early that most IT problems are as much about communication as technology.
2013 – 2016
Junior Linux Administrator
Umbellar / Hosting Infrastructure
Managed server infrastructure and mail clusters for a leading NZ hosting provider. Built foundational skills in Linux, networking, and high-availability systems under production pressure.
2017 – 2019
System Engineer
The IT Team (New Zealand)
Designed, implemented, and supported tailored IT solutions across a diverse client base. Covered server and workstation setup, network configuration, Microsoft 365 deployments, and system automation.
2018 – Present
Owner & Consultant
Phoxtail IT
Founded Phoxtail IT to provide consulting and engineering support to NZ businesses. Delivering system design, troubleshooting, and project-based deployments alongside full-time roles.
2019 – 2021
Senior System Engineer
Business IT Solutions
End-to-end support and infrastructure solutions across a wide client base. Spanned system troubleshooting, Microsoft 365 deployments, network and server infrastructure, and security hardening.
2021 – Present
IT Manager
McKenzie & Willis Ltd
Lead the IT function across all McKenzie & Willis sites — managing everything from frontline support to infrastructure upgrades and system security across a 140-user, 9-site NZ retail organisation.
How I work

What you can expect

These aren't values off a wall poster — they're just how I actually operate.

Direct and honest
If something is a bad idea, I'll say so. If I can't help, I'll tell you who can. No upselling, no watered-down assessments.
Hands-on delivery
You work directly with me from first conversation to final outcome — backed by trusted partners when onsite capacity demands it.
Security-first mindset
Security isn't a bolt-on. Every recommendation I make is considered through the lens of access control, data sovereignty, and risk.
Systems thinking
I look at how the parts connect, not just individual issues. Good IT solutions hold up under change, not just on deployment day.
NZ-grounded
Based in Kaiapoi. Available for onsite work across Canterbury. I understand the scale and constraints of NZ SMEs.
Commercially realistic
Technology decisions need to make business sense. I connect IT recommendations to cost, risk, and operational outcome — not just technical best practice.
Technical depth

Core technology stack

Platforms and tools I work with daily across client environments — not just on paper.

Microsoft ecosystem
Microsoft 365Entra ID IntuneSharePoint Business CentralPower Automate Copilot StudioTeams Defender
Security & infrastructure
FortiGateHuntress MDR Wazuh SIEMCloudflare Zero Trust Endpoint CentralFreshservice
Automation & development
n8nNode.js AL LanguageTypeScript ReactPython REST APIsPostgreSQL
Work together

Want to work with me?

Get in touch and we'll have a straightforward conversation about what you need and whether I'm the right fit.

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