The largest specialist ULTRA HIGH REACH DEMOLITION MACHINES in the southern hemisphere
The Liebherr R984C, affectionately known as “Twinkle Toes,” was manufactured in the United Kingdom in 2008 and acquired by Nikau in 2012. The machine was sea-freighted to New Zealand in eight major components and reassembled in Lyttelton, beginning a new chapter operating in the Southern Hemisphere.
Fully configured, Twinkle Toes weighs approximately 220 tonnes and is fitted with a 65-metre telescopic high-reach boom, capable of reaching the equivalent of 18 storeys. The telescopic configuration provides exceptional versatility, allowing the boom length to be adjusted to suit both large-scale demolition and smaller, constrained structures.
Following the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, Twinkle Toes played a key role in the demolition of more than eight major buildings, supporting the city’s recovery and rebuild. The machine was subsequently transported to New Plymouth, where it is currently deployed on the Port Taranaki Power Station decommissioning works.
In addition to its high-reach capability, Twinkle Toes is equipped with a standard short-arm configuration, enabling heavy lifting and bulk earthworks. Most recently, the machine was fitted with a 14-tonne Mantovanibenne rotational multi-system attachment, featuring a 2.5-metre jaw opening — the largest of its kind globally. Even in this configuration, the machine maintains an operating weight of approximately 180 tonnes, delivering unrivalled performance on complex heavy-industrial projects.
Click on links below to view PDF files:
Liebherr R984C Working Range
Liebherr R984C Transportation Weight and Dimesions
Click on links below to view newspaper reports on "Twinkle Toes":
Big Digger for Christchurch Demolition 07/09/11
Twinkle Toes Tackles AMI Building 16/11/11
The Building Destroyers 30/09/12
Jaws to Dismember Old Power Station 16/10/14
