CELEBRATING 30 YEARS Paul McFadzien

Paul McFadzien

SSAA Board Member from 1999 – 2003

Setting the standard for management and self storage development in New Zealand for over 20 years.

Paul McFadzien’s career started in banking at the BNZ. Which is where he first came across the self storage industry as he funded one of Auckland’s earliest, large scale self storage facilities. He was also directly involved in financing the early National Mini Storage facilities in Penrose and Albany.

In 1995 Paul left the bank and was appointed as Managing Director of National Mini Storage. He stepped down as MD in early 2020 but remains as a Director with a particular interest in identifying and advising on new projects.

Early in his involvement in the industry, Paul saw the benefits of having consistent management practices. Along with his colleague Mark Bateman, they were directly involved in fostering the close relationship between the New Zealand Self Storage industry and the Australian industry. While each worked for competing brands, both were instrumental in establishing the SSAA as a transTasman organisation. Together they helped the SSAA membership in New Zealand grow, as operators became aware of the Association and adopted SSAA recommended procedures.

Paul became a Board Member of the SSAA in 1999 until 2003 and was one of the lead organisers of the 1999 SSAA Auckland Convention.

As Managing Director of National Mini Storage, Paul’s first job was the development of an ambitious, multi-level, 500 plus unit facility in Cook Street in Auckland’s CBD. “Paul sees a bright future for the industry and a need for continuous innovation. He sees a need for higher levels of automation in new developments and implementation of new technologies.

The property offered excellent commercial exposure and Paul worked hard to convince Auckland City Council to approve prominent building signage. The concept of multi-level storage was still new, but Paul was able to establish services that provided a high level of customer amenity. His foresight was applauded when the facility filled in 18 months.

Under Paul’s guidance, National Mini Storage continued to grow and now operates ten institutional investment-grade assets in Auckland. Paul’s guidance continues as National Mini Storages’ new facility at Papakura, Auckland, nears completion and he will also be involved with a further new facility where resource consent has been granted in recent months.

Paul has always strived to improve the functionality and design standards of National Mini Storage facilities. The ability to produce leading-edge, innovative facilities is evidenced in their Newmarket facility, which was completed in late 2016. This facility offers high standard functionality and provides over 1000 units over six levels. It has also been acknowledged as having outstanding architectural design merit in a location that demanded a sensitive architectural approach. The facility was awarded the SSAA Facility of the Year in 2018. Paul implemented strong financial management practices within National Mini Storage and a robust collegiate working environment, which remains one of the great strengths of National Mini Storage to this day.

Paul sees a bright future for the industry and a need for continuous innovation. He sees a need for higher levels of automation in new developments and implementation of new technologies in booking systems, client amenity, security, and environmental controls as part of that future. l