Build & Renovate Issue #36

We believe a beautiful kitchen creates a place for family and friends to gather with love.

Adrian Kay has owned and operated Dream Doors Christchurch since 2012.

Dream Doors Christchurch has won the Dream Doors New Zealand Franchisee of the year, every year from 2013. Dream Doors Christchurch also won the prestigious Westpac Franchise Association of New Zealand “Franchisee of the year – Home Services” in 2017, and now have just won the “Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards 2021” for Excellence in Customer Engagement.

Dream Doors specialises in renovating and replacing kitchens as well as designing for new builds. We understand the importance of creating a fabulous and functional space in the heart of your home for you and your family. Spending time together is one of the greatest investments you can make. Something amazing happens when you prepare and share food.

Whether you require our facelifting approach to modernise your kitchen, with new benchtops, doors and drawer’s fronts, or you require new cabinetry and layout, we will work with you to achieve your needs within your budget. We will present you with a wide range of NZ made beautiful, quality product choices, and guide you through the decision making process.

The Dream Doors team prioritise keeping disruption to a minimum for you and your family, with facelifting services often completed within one or two days. With an experienced and dedicated team, we are the trusted choice for your kitchen requirements.

Adrian and his team of skilled tradesman take great pride in their work and are ready to help you make your New Kitchen or Kitchen Renovation dreams come true. So, what are you waiting for? Get in contact with us today to supply all your kitchen renovating needs.

SALES MANAGER

- 03 961 5083

EDITOR

- 03 961 5098

Welcome

issue of Build & Renovate

the season, kicking off with the warmer tones making their way into homes, and some good

for outdoor living areas.

look at ways to make guest bedrooms pop and offer some style ideas for the master suite as well.

information on creating luxury bathrooms on a budget, renovation improvements that pay their way, and how bohemian styled décor delivers tranquil interiors.

step inside an elegant modernist home in a semi-rural setting, find out how to begin a home aquarium journey, and check out how to select the right plants for your property, plus much more.

Shakespeare - 03 961 5088

ADMINISTRATION

Keates - 03 961 5050

2463-381X

By Timmi Aplin-Barrett

Lifestyles

Roomba j7

The j7 Roomba is iRobot’s latest smart vacuum. With 10 times more suction than a previous model and unique intelligence to avoid cords and pet waste, this robot vacuum takes all the hassle out of keeping your home clean. It will learn to anticipate your needs such as when you’re home or at work, pet moulting season and when your area has a high pollen count.

RRP: $1,399.90 www.shopirobot.co.nz

Collezióne Tibetan Lamb Throw

This luxurious lamb throw will bring the elegant beauty of the wild into your home. The carefully sourced Tibetan fur is warm, soft and durable. This natural piece will add a sumptuous feel and timeless style to your living space.

RRP: $1,995 www.luxurylinen.co.nz

Melt Stand Chandelier Gold

Combining art and technology, this floor lamp brings lighting to a whole new level. Designer Tom Dixon has experimented with the technologically advanced field of vacuum metallisation to create an eye-catching piece. The melt is also available as pendants, table, floor and surface lights and has seven gold shades available.

RRP: From $15,155 www.ecc.co.nz

DISCLAIMER: Please note prices listed here are recommended retail pricing. Prices are subject to change at the discretion of the seller. The information on this page is for information purposes only. AMark Publishing NZ Ltd assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

Formation Wedge Speaker

From Bowers and Wilkins comes an immersive home wireless sound system with room-filling audio from one stylishly shaped and finished speaker. A graceful shape angles the array of two teeters, two midrange drivers plus a subwoofer to form a perfect stereo image. This sleek speaker is compatible with pretty much anything and comes in black and white.

RRP: $2,499 www.soundlab.co.nz

Goccia Coffee Table

This New Zealand made coffee table is a modern twist on an old classic. It features a tempered glass top and the bases are available in rimu, ash with a white washed stain finish and oak with a natural stain finish. The glass top and broad legs make this artistic coffee table child-safe.

RRP: $1,439 www.danskemobler.co.nz

Halswell haven

Built by Wayne Murray Builders, the property won the Carters New Home $1 million - $1.5 million category, and a Gold Award, at the Registered Master Builders’ 2022 House of the Year competition. The judges were impressed by the builders’ attention to detail and skilled craftmanship.

An impressive element are the blinds which recess both into the ceiling and behind the wall storage spaces.

While just one example, they serve to accentuate this home’s crisp, clean lines.

The forethought of the builders of this impressive house have

ensured it has been future proofed with ready access to maintain and adjust elements of the building when and if needed.

The Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition recognises the very best homes, builders, and craftsmen across New Zealand. This year the regional competition had over 295 entries across eight regions.

The awards are made possible through the support of Altus Window Systems, Bunnings Trade, CARTERS, GIB, Master Build 10-Year Guarantee, Pink Batts, Plumbing World, Resene and APL Window Solutions.

This substantial and elegant modernist home is situated in a semi-rural setting in Halswell, Christchurch.

factor bohemian The

By Michaela Pointon

Transcend your home into a bohemian inspired space with these DIY projects.

Elements of ‘boho’ decor will take you to a place of calmness, sanity and peacefulness inside your home.

Bohemian style originated in France in the 19th Century. It’s closely associated with artists, painters, writers and performers. These creatives were perceived as living ‘alternative’ lives to those with more traditional occupations during this time.

Most elements of the decor style are handmade, with original creators opting to use elements, which were cheap or found in nature for their crafts.

Once the boho style became popularised, people began to notice the natural warmth ambience these earthy creations bring to the home.

Natural textures and colours are at the heart of bohemianism. Browns, greens and rusty pinks create the boho colour palette. Using these tones are a great way to elevate this style. Textures such as seagrass, wicker, bamboo, rattan or macrame are also part of the boho aesthetic.

You can easily DIY boho decor with a little bit of creativity and resourcefulness. Here are two ideas to get you started.

Inkah

Indah

DIY macrame wall hanging

Macrame wall hangings could be considered the most familiar association to boho decor style. There are many options to explore with endless different macrame patterns available online.

You’ll need:

• Macrame twine

• Dowel or driftwood.

Once you have found a pattern online of the desired macrame you would like to make, ensure you spend the time watching free tutorials on different knot types required for your design.

There is no such thing as a mistake when it comes to macrame. Any imperfections elevate the handmade feeling of this craft. There’s no right or wrong way to create these stunning pieces.

Shop boho decor here: If you don’t have time to DIY your own handcrafted boho decor, but still want to join in on the cosy feeling, you can shop for boho decor from local New Zealand store, Inkah.

Inkah is a New Zealand owned and operated rattan homewares company based out of Papamoa. Director and designer, Hayley Crossman, created her business when she realised there was a lack of natural and rattan home decor available in the country.

Make your boho dreams come true here: inkah.co.nz.

Natural textures and colours are at the heart of bohemianism.

DIY Raffia Sunburst Mirror

To create your own version of this raffia mirror (see image one), you’ll need to stop by your local craft or homeware shop.

You’ll need:

• Raffia rope

• Circle mirror

• Craft ring (with a similar diameter as your mirror)

• Super glue

• Scissors

• Hook to attach to the wall. Start by cutting your raffia into multiple pieces at equal length. Make sure when you fold one of these pieces in half, it’s the desired length you want the raffia to appear around the perimeter of your mirror.

Fold a strand of raffia in half and tie this using a knot onto the craft ring. Repeat this multiple times until the entire craft ring has been covered and layered with raffia.

One you’ve created a raffia ring, attach the circle mirror onto the top of the craft ring using super glue.

Attach a hook to the back of your creation and your mirror should look something like the image below.

Browns, greens and rusty pinks create the boho colour palette.

Colourful connections

Warmer earthy tones making their way into homes

After a chaotic couple of years, many of us feel an overwhelming desire to live more simply and authentically.

There has been a conscious stripping away of the unnecessary and superfluous, both in terms of what we surround ourselves with and how we spend our time, to create space for more meaningful connections.

In response, the Dulux Colour Forecast 2023 reflects our desire to bond with the environment, or communities and the people we love, with warming, earth-drawn

neutrals, natural textures, and an array of uplifting brighter hues.

The forecast is led by Dulux Colour Specialists Davina Harper and Andrea Lucena-Orr in conjunction with Dulux Colour Forecaster and Stylist Bree Leech.

“The palettes we can expect to see in our homes in 2023 are predominantly warm and nurturing, with nature continuing to be a key driver of trends. Brighter hues continue however, they are deeper than last year,” Davina says.

Sustainability will be another important focus in the year ahead.

“We’re reframing our relationship with material things – it’s no longer enough that a piece is beautiful, it needs to earn its place in our homes,” Bree Leech says.

“We have all reacted to the upheavals of the last couple of years in different ways – some people crave lightness and whimsy, whilst others seek order and reassurance.

“The three palettes in the Dulux Colour Forecast 2023 reflect these differing needs, allowing you to create beautiful living spaces that reflect where you are in your life’s journey,” she says.

COLOUR STYLIST: BREE LEECH | PHOTOGRAPHER: LISA COHEN

Balance

Dulux Balance is a refined palette of serene marine blues, gentle greens and accents of deep garnet that evokes the beauty and fluidity of the ocean and shoreline.

Luxe textures, such as velvet and silk, furniture with exaggerated, curved silhouettes, abstract art, and décor pieces with organic shapes and delicate pleating complete the look.

Connect

With its warm, earthy tones of moss, wasabi, sandstone, muddied yellowgreen and burnt charcoal, the Dulux Connect palette is all about fostering our relationship with the great outdoors.

Simple, rustic furniture in timber, leather and rattan sits alongside stone flooring and bespoke, modern lighting made from recycled materials for a look that simultaneously speaks of the past, present and the future.

Colour integration tips by Davina Harper

To introduce colour, try painting the skirting boards or architraves in your living room, the edge of a door, the back of a bookshelf, a bedhead in your child’s room, or breathe new life into an old lamp base, chair or front door with a coat of paint.

You’ll find that colour really makes a house a home – once you get started with paint colours, you’ll never look back.

Before you start painting, it’s crucial when selecting colours for walls or soft furnishings that you consider other fixtures and fittings in your space that you can’t change easily; it might be carpet, tiles, laminate or stone, and/or curtains and blinds that you will need to ensure work with the new colour(s) chosen.

Revive

Filled with playful, uplifting brighter colours, such as rose pink, breezy blue, sunshine yellow, emerald, violet and burnt orange, the Dulux Revive palette is an instant mood-lifter – just what many of us need after the gruelling last couple of years.

With unexpected colour combinations, graphic floral patterns and furniture in cloudlike forms, the message is clear: interiors shouldn’t be taking themselves too seriously in 2023.

Integrating the colours into your home

So how should you go about incorporating Dulux’s 2023 trend colours into your home?

“There are no rules – just pick up a paint brush and get creative,” Bree says.

“If you’re new to colour, these inspirational images are a great place to get ideas and build your confidence - the curated palettes are designed to be used as schemes for paint, as well as soft furnishings, artwork and décor.”

CONNECT PALETTE DULUX WASH&WEAR IN DULUX GLINKS GULLY AND RIVERTON

Soaking

in style

How to create a luxury bathroom on a budget

By Michaela Pointon

Your bathroom is a space you use every day. It should be a place to enjoy and feel relaxed in. With these budget-friendly renovation ideas, your dream bathroom can become a reality.

Enjoying your bathroom through unique personalised elements, will mean it’s a place of privacy and sanctuary.

Establishing a style and consistently carrying this theme

throughout the bathroom will ensure your luxury bathroom on a budget stands out.

Interior designer from Cube Dentro Interiors, Alina Cuchiliuc says, “Different textures can give a bathroom that instant luxury feeling. Don’t be afraid to mix various textures like glass, metal, and soft neutral fabrics.

“Even adding plants, vases, candles or floating shelves, can take your bathroom to the next level.”

Considering aspects such as textures, finishings and colour pallets adds to the luxurious feeling.

If you are on a budget and are working with a small space, there are many ways you can elevate this room in your house.

Alina says the selection of tiles is important. “The smaller your bathroom is, the bigger tile you should be using”.

She says good quality bathroom fittings and fixtures are another way to go.

“Look for alternatives. There are plenty of products, which have the same quality for a better price.”

Splurging on some aspects of your bathroom and saving in other areas is a great way to make the most of your bathroom build.

For example, you may want to spend more on having a freestanding bathtub or unique handmade tiles, but decide to save money on areas such as tapware and fixtures.

There are budget friendly alternatives available on the market everywhere.

Learning how to create a luxurious space through using colours and lighting secrets will mean your bathroom stands out.

Alina says light is important in order to achieve a luxurious feeling. “Ideally you would have ‘layers’ of lights to create different moods,” she says.

Rethinking about how you use lighting in this space will alter the overall energy in this space.

You might have natural lighting, light fixtures on either side of the mirror, or the more traditional downlights.

Consider if you want warm or bright lighting as this will affect this space, and how you see yourself when getting ready!

“Avoid using only recessed ceiling led lights, by adding a pendant or a wall light you would be able to instantly change the mood in your bathroom.

“Neutral, soft tones along with some accents that is the look you are aiming for.”

She suggests painting your walls can also be a good way for saving money. You may be able to save costs on painters or tilers if you have the skills to do it yourself.

“If renovating, think about reusing some of the old items and try to keep your old plumbing position for cost effectiveness.

“Also, don’t forget about the mirror! You can make a centrepiece out of it.”

If you are in the process of designing your own bathroom, or even renovating, giving yourself more room if possible and making the bathroom a decent size is essential to the luxurious design style.

“Think carefully of the layout, it needs to suit your needs and be as functional as possible.

“If possible, choose quality over quantity, this motto will help you create a luxury looking bathroom,” she says.

If you want to find out more, or get in touch with Alina and the team at Cube Dentro, you can visit their website here: cubedentro.co.nz.

In the past year many international Kiwis have returned home and New Zealand Kiwis adjusted to life without travel. The result was a building boom in the domestic renovation and building market, with an emphasis on the most functional spaces: bathrooms. They are a place of relaxation and escape, a haven to pamper oneself and revitalise and are being paid increased attention during design phases.

Bathroomware market leader Oakleys Plumbing Supplies reports that current customers are not shy about achieving the best results they can, with the demand for top-quality bathroomware and plumbing systems higher than ever. People are not only building for function, there is an aspect of comfort and pride in their projects, too.

Oakleys’ commitment to both New Zealand manufacturers and the best of the European suppliers, ensures customers are never without choice of product. Popular amongst homeowners at the moment are tapware in living metals which patina with age, and concrete basins and baths with their raw beauty and anchoring effect. German designed thermostatically controlled shower systems are in demand so you never have to worry about consistency in water temperature again, as are intelligent toilets which incorporate bidet systems and therefore an environment of increased hygiene.

Oakleys has a talented team of consultants amongst its four stores, who not only have encyclopaedic knowledge of bathroomware products, but also offer design services, spatial planning advice, colour consultancies and

an architectural service for architects and designers.

As a result of increased demand in the bathroom industry, the Oakleys Group is in the midst of a showroom rejuvenation programme. Both Nelson and Cromwell stores have their state-ofthe-art showrooms open with Dunedin’s renovation currently in design and Christchurch’s to follow.

Designed by award-winning designer Davinia Sutton, the showrooms introduce a standard rarely seen in New Zealand showrooms before. Davinia has created a raft of concept bathrooms showcasing the company’s amazing product lines and teamed them with impressive lighting, and beautiful tile, wallpaper and paint choices to showcase exactly what is achievable in today’s bathroom design world.

The showrooms also feature kitchen and laundry products, extensive tapware collections, and working displays where you can test products before you buy.

Oakleys’ dedication to design, workmanship and service has been evident since the company was established in 1875. When Henry Oakley and John Morgan Taylor founded Taylor & Oakley Plumbers Iron and Tinplate Workers, Gasfitters and Bellhangers, Christchurch was a newly established city and their products were the preferred fittings by reputable plumbers.

Now 145 years later the company proudly maintains its locally owned and operated status with the owner of each branch found on the shop floor every day. This dedication to locals helping locals is at the forefront of the exceptional Oakleys’ service.

The global pandemic has changed the face of the home market, instigating great opportunities in design and construction. Delivery times and access to products may be affected but the desire for the comforts of home and the ability to innovate far outweigh the negatives.

and green

bathroom products

By Timmi Aplin-Barrett

Shampoo and conditioner bars

The effort to reduce plastic waste has brought a wave of people “ditching the bottle”. Instead of buying shampoo and conditioner in plastic bottles, you can switch to a bar which is essentially like a bar of soap but for your hair. Ethique offer some excellent hair care products and ship them to you in sustainable packaging. You can also purchase some in your local supermarket.

www.ethiqueworld.com

Reusable razor

Disposable razors are another big contributor to plastic waste. Eco friendly, reusable razors are becoming more common place and with many companies offering free postage to return used blades and purchase new ones, it’s an excellent way to reduce your overall plastic waste. The metal handle can last a lifetime and the blades are extremely cheap. Cali offer a great blade return service.

www.caliwoods.co.nz

Bamboo toothbrush

Plastic handled toothbrushes are a huge contributor to the global plastic issue. Bamboo handled toothbrushes are a great alternative and are around the same price as many plastic ones. Grin offer a great bamboo toothbrush with charcoal infused bristles. The handle is 100 percent biodegradable, so you can throw it in the organics bin and they also offer a recycling service for the bristles.

www.grin.co.nz

Cleaning products

Plastic packaging and bottles that contain cleaning products for your bathroom are a big issue when trying to reduce plastic waste. However, you can buy tablets that you drop into a reusable bottle and create a super effective, eco-friendly cleaning product. Nada produces both Lifetime Bottles and tablets for cleaning surfaces, putting in your dishwasher, doing your laundry and much more.

www.nada.nz

Organic cotton towels

Cotton is a common fabric used for making towels however, many feature inorganic cotton, which means the cotton ends up chemically treated. This was originally done to preserve the life of the towel but it’s now known that chemically treated cotton breaks down quicker in the wash. Organic cotton towels reduce this issue and are better for your skin. Città supply some inexpensive and luxurious organic cotton towels.

www.cittadesign.com

Bedroom style guide bliss Bedtime

By Natasha Parrant

Putting together your room is like deciding what you’ll wear for the day.

There can be lots of items to choose from and you want to express your taste, have comfort, stand out, and represent yourself authentically – especially since you’ll be spending time in your room almost every day.

When it comes to laying out your bedroom, it’s a challenge in itself.

You want to be creative and unique, but show your interests, favourite colours, photos of memories, and follow the latest trends, which are constantly changing, so it’s nice to change the layout of your bedroom whenever you like.

The bed

As referenced by your home and garden magazine, the first thing you have to know is, “Your bed should always be the focal point of the room design”.

Think about the materials of the bedhead and surrounding furniture, and find bed covers and duvets that will go well with the colour and texture of hard items like your lamp, artwork, drawers, bedside tables, desks, chairs, and so on.

Pick two or three co-ordinating colours or different shades of one colour to have a variety.

McKenzie and Willis’s interior advice on ‘Buying Guide: Duvet Covers, Bedspreads and Comforters’ stated that bedspreads or duvet covers can portray the tone of your bedroom design.

A duvet comes in many different colours and styles and is low-maintenance.

A bedspread is a “decorative layer for your bed”, which is lightweight, great for layering, fully covers a bed, and can be quilted.

Dulux porcelain paint in a bedroom would suit those who love the symbolic representation of love and romance.

Photo courtesy of Dulux New Zealand’s Colour Forecast 2023.

The style

Create emotion with different colours, materials, and patterns to create your vibe in your bedroom.

Soft colours bring peace, happiness, relaxation, and bright colours bring fierce, confidence, energy, love/passion.

White or sheer curtains are a nice touch to any room because they go with any colour in the room.

Black-out curtains are also good for those who like the colour and help you sleep well at night.

Get some décor and ornaments like art, tapestries, stickers, posters, photos, candles, plants, letters, and funky lights. Have a look at stores like Iko Iko, Tea Pea, The Warehouse, Shut The Front Door, and more for inspiration

Latest trends

Look at the Dulux New Zealand Colour Forecast 2023 for some ideas on this year’s trends such as

bedroom colour ideas like their balance palette, which shows light pastels; soft greens, sky blue, moody teals, and accents of red and black.

Their paint colours; Dulux Manorburn Quarter, Dulux porcelain, and Dulux Dunedin would go well on the wall of any bedroom.

Once you choose your wall colour, mix and match the wall with the bed, bed head, ornaments, and furniture around the room so the colours pair well with each other.

Bedroom accessories

The Warehouse creative director Jade Turner shared bedroom trend tips with your home and garden and says “the right colour in the bedroom can really make a difference and bedlinen is an inexpensive way to make a big change”.

He also says sage and white can create peacefulness while mixing

and matching with bright prints and patterns can “make your bedroom pop,” which makes it feel fun and lively.

“These [prints and patterns] can easily be swapped out depending on new colours and trends.”

To make the most of your space, Jade also recommends choosing

furniture and décor that will make your bedroom feel spacious.

Bedside tables and lamps on either side of the bed would display good balance. A large floor mirror against the wall will bounce the light around, alternatively, hide the mirror under the bed or wardrobe if there’s not enough space.

Dulux Colour Forecast 2023 - Balance palette. Artwork: Swimmers Ritual by Marko Hrubyj Piper, Studio Gallery.

Photograph: Lisa Cohen. Stylist: Bree Leech.

Visiting delights

How to make guest bedrooms pop

By Michaela Pointon

Whether you want to experiment with a pop of colour or a decorative feature wall, the guest bedroom is where you can create the room of your imagination.

A guest bedroom can be a common storage room, or feel unused at times. Taking risks in the guest bedroom and using the space to your advantage, is something every homeowner should take into consideration.

Interior designer, Debbie Abercrombie, owns her selftitled design company Debbie Abercrombie Interiors.

She says simply changing out the cushions for fun colours in a space is one way to elevate a guest bedroom.

“There are many beautiful cushions available in all different colours and patterns. Plus, they are easy to change out if needed.”

Debbie says the focus in a room is the bed, especially in the guest bedroom. “Cushions can help to anchor the bed and draw eyes to the centre of the room.”

Placing furniture in the eyeline before entering the room creates curiosity and is ‘magnet’ like, Debbie says.

“Depending on where the bed is situated, you can sometimes visually see a chair, or piece of furniture before you walk into the room. This creates an inviting lead to walk into the space.”

She says in her own bedroom, she has a chair which she’s named her ‘lippy chair’. “It’s a comfortable place to put my shoes on before walking out the door.”

This chair sits at one end of the bed to balance the room. Between cushions and colour from the

chair, it helps create a story inside the room.

You want your guest to feel luxurious and comfortable in your guest room without being surrounded by clutter.

Utilising space with a set of drawers means you can store away extra things from around the house.

Depending on the length of time your guest is staying, they probably won’t need much room to unpack their belongings. A drawer inside a chest of drawers, or one side to the wardrobe for hanging space is perfectly fine.

“Inside the guest room it’s also nice to have a footstool, or a surface, where you can put a bag on. I’ve often had some form of shelf dedicated for a suitcase or travel bag,” she says.

When considering what type of decor or theme you should create in the guestroom, Debbie says wallpapers, bed heads and beautiful high-quality linen can create a relaxing space for your guests.

“Normally, when we do our guest rooms, we are drawn to non-generic, less emotion and personality in this space.”

Creating an exciting guest room however, allows you to experiment. “You probably will be drawn to colours and textures you enjoy because it is your home.

“If you don’t want to use strong patterns and colours in the guest room, different textures through the room such as multiple layered fabrics can create a journey for the guest for them to walk into.”

You can find out more about Debbie Abercrombie Interiors here: debbieabercrombie.co.nz.

Kitchen kit

Tools to suit any chef

By Natasha Parrant

Here are tools for the modern kitchen that will elevate people’s chef skills, simply, yet efficiently.

The top New Zealand culinary masters have revealed their kitchen tools and which tools are the best to use when cooking at home in a new cookbook - Lodge Cast Iron New Zealand’s favourite recipes book. Tools include a Lodge cast iron.

According to Lodge Cast Iron New Zealand, Lodge Cast Iron has been making prime cookware and accessories since it was established in Tennessee, the US, in 1896, which has also been very popular in New Zealand.

The cookbook was written by Kiwis for Kiwis. It features the country’s most notable chefs and home cooks to show all the awesome recipes people can cook easily in their homes using the product.

A featured New Zealand chef, Sam Mannering, thinks people need only a few tools and the more adaptable it is, the better, so

people can get a lot of use out of the product when they’re cooking.

Another featured New Zealand chef and Cazador and Cazador delicatessen co-restaurateur, Dariush Lolaiy, also believes people only need a few kitchen tools to master their chef skills and create a wonderful dish.

“I don’t think a whole lot of cooking tools are necessary. If you’ve got good quality basics - a cast iron pan, a quality chef’s knife, and the digital probe thermometer, that’s pretty much all you need to master a good meal. Sometimes less is more if you’re using things properly.”

A modern kitchen tool Dariush recommends people use at home is a digital probe thermometer because it helps people cook meat to their liking, so they can “nail it every time”.

He says, “While actually a classic kitchen tool, a cast iron 30cm skillet is a must for any modern kitchen. It’s versatile for every heat source and can be used for intense cooking at high temperatures, or for low gentle

cookery - in either context, the heat is always even.

“I use my grandmother’s cast iron that was passed down to my mother who then passed it on to me and it’s still good as new, so that’s a sign of durability and reliability.”

confident in the kitchen because it’s simple to use and makes cooking feel like it can’t go wrong.

A cast iron works for hot and fast cooking and can work well with cooking slow dishes that people can leave in the oven for a while, “so it’s hard to really stuff it up!”

A tip Dariush recommends people do to make a great dish simple yet efficient is to cook a slowcooked dish.

“Something that you can prep in the morning like a braised lamb shank dish. Brown everything off and put all your ingredients in the cast iron and leave it in a low oven while you concentrate on other things. It’s a fail-proof and delicious dish.”

Digital probe thermometers can be bought at most decent homeware stores, he says. “Look for an instant-read variety with a fine tip.”

He also believes these kitchen tools help people feel more

The Lodge Favourite Recipes cookbook is available for free with Lodge Cast Iron that can be bought pre-seasoned at www. lodgecastiron.co.nz, and at participating stores during September and October this year. Why not give these tools in the kitchen a go? And remember less is better if it’s done right.

Lodge Cast Iron Skillet 30cm, RRP$129.99. Photo supplied by Lodge Cast Iron.

I use my grandmother’s cast iron that was passed down to my mother who then passed it on to me and it’s still good as new, so that’s a sign of durability and reliability.

form of advertising you can measure, then increase or decrease, so you can manage your workflow accordingly!

You’ve probably heard people talk about digital marketing, Google AdWords, online traffic, SEO and social media. Then on top of all that, you need to have a lead generating web presence with good traffic etc.

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Let’s start with the basics

Right now there are people looking for a business just like yours. However, if you don’t have AdWords, there’s a very good chance they’ve just clicked one of your competitors’ websites.

Most businesses would benefit from Google AdWords. It’s simple to set up, it’s fast, you set the monthly budget, and you can see the results immediately.

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Call 0800 FATWEB, or email enquiries@fatweb.co.nz to book a FREE consultation.

0800 FATWEB | www.fatweb.co.nz

Brent’s

goes back 35 years. First

a

With

Tanking it

Starting your home aquarium journey

By Timmi Aplin-Barrett

An aquarium is an eye-catching and fascinating addition to any living space. You can go as simple or as complicated, as big or as small as you like and bring colour, life and interest to your home.

Smaller aquariums or starter aquariums don’t require as much maintenance as large-scale projects and are less expensive than one might think.

Initial set up costs can seem a lot but once you’ve made those purchases, your wallet will still love you.

Here are some cute fish ideas for inspiration. These can be purchased from your local Animates: www.animates.co.nz/fish/live-fish.

They’re all smaller fish so good for those not wanting a massive tank.

Corydoras: Grow to 2.5 -10cm depending on the type. Lifespan of 5+ years. Bottom dwellers, good with other fish

Yellow Cichlid: Grow to 10cm. Lifespan of 6-10 years. Aggressive to fish of the same colour but not territorial.

Neon Tetra: Grow to 4cm. Lifespan of 2-3 years. Stunning schooling fish. You’ll want many of these in one tank

Tank basics

There’s a few things to consider when buying your first tank. A small tank can only house small or very few fish.

A good rule of thumb from aquarium enthusiasts is “4L of water per 2.5cm of fish”. The bigger the fish or the more fish you have, the bigger the tank needs to be. Try to buy a tank that will be able to house your fish when it’s fully grown.

Most pet shops will be able to tell you how big the fish will get. Otherwise, you can “size up” your tank as your fish grows but this can be expensive and annoying for beginners.

Below are some prices on tanks from Animates. These tanks come with their filtration system already built in so you don’t need to worry about installing anything.

• 21L - $130

• 38L - $145

• 46L - $230

• 57L - $260

• 70L - $280

• 90L - $350

Maintenance basics

Maintaining an aquarium can seem like a daunting task but, it’s actually fairly simple once you get the hang of it.

Most aquariums need to be “cleaned” once a week, depending on how much waste your fish are producing.

Scrubbing the walls – get a magnetic scrubber and use it to remove any algae that grows on the glass. You can do this as often as you like

Water changes – you need to syphon out around 25 percent to 50 percent of the tanks water (depending on how often you clean it) and replace it with fresh water. Make sure you’re stirring up the stones or pebbles on the bottom to loosen any sediment

Filtration changes – within your tank are “filter cartridges”. These need to be changed every two to four water changes, depending on how mucky they look Chemicals – you’ll need some kind of “tap conditioner” to add into new water to remove chemicals such as chlorine and ammonia build up.

Basic care

Like any animal, a sign your fish is unwell is a lack of desire to eat. Other signs your fish could be under the weather:

• Spending lots of time at the bottom of the tank on the pebbles

• Swimming crookedly

• Hiding when your fish may not normally do so

• Protruding scales.

Most of the time, this can be solved by a water change or treating the water with an antifungus. However, google is your friend.

For more information regarding fish health, have a look at this Animates article: www. animates.co.nz/articles/fishhealth-101.

For more information, tips and prices of tanks and live fish, you can visit www.animates.co.nz or www.petcentral.co.nz

Animates have a great guide to getting your tank started: www. animates.co.nz/articles/settingup-your-new-aquarium.

Siamese Fighter Fish: (Betta fish). Grow to 8cm. Lifespan of 2-5 years. Best kept on their own as they’re highly aggressive to other fish

Dwarf Gourami: Grow to 8.8cm. Lifespan of 4-6 years. Works well with other fish. Keep them away from nipping fish

Sowing the seeds

Selecting the right plants for your property

Trees and shrubs can add a lot of aesthetic value to a property as well as providing refuge for birds and other wildlife. They can be great fun for kids to play around and they make an excellent admiration feature.

However, selecting the right plants for your property can be a bit of a pain, especially when it comes to size.

If you’ve only got a small section in town, you don’t want anything that’s going to overtake the yard in a few years. And, if you’ve got something a bit bigger like a quarter-acre area, you might want to choose something that’ll become a statement piece.

Here are some top trees and shrubs for your property

Cabbage Tree (Cordyline australis)

A New Zealand native, the Cabbage Tree makes an excellent addition to a back yard. They thrive in wet, open areas but can grow all over the country. They don’t take up too much ground space as their trunks are reasonably thin.

This tree flowers in early summer and attract many birds to their berries that come not longer afterwards. You’d also be helping out DOC by planting a few of these as the Cabbage Tree population is declining due to a parasitic organism called a phytoplasma.

Buy from www.southernwoods.co.nz starting from $5.50.

These lovely plants may start out small but they quickly become massive, some plants reaching to over four meters tall. This means they’d be more suited to someone with plenty of space to allow the bus to grow.

With their stunning colours and lovely scents, they make an eye-catching addition. However, the Rhododendron is poisonous and can cause skin irritation. More importantly, cattle can die after eating this plant so keep it away from grazing animals.

Buy from www.rhododirect.co.nz starting from $30.

Rhododendron (Rhododendron)

Groundcover Hebe (Hebe diosmifolia)

This lovely little hebe is another native to New Zealand and makes an excellent ground cover plant. With unique leaves and delightful flowers, it’s a great plant to edge a fence with. It’s a hardy plant and likes full sun to partial shade. Another evergreen, it won’t get the “dead stick” look in the winter like perennials. It also attracts beneficial insects to your yard and garden.

Buy from www.wairere.nz starting from $20.

Japanese Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulate)

A vase shaped tree originating in Japan offers stunning soft pink flowers in spring. Once the lovely flowers have done their dash (this is a 2–3-week period), they’re followed by fresh foliage throughout the rest of spring.

Autumn brings on a lovely golden colour. A deciduous plant, they lose their foliage in the winter. They grow to around 6 meters tall and around 4 meters across so can be adapted for a small garden.

Buy from www.southernwoods.co.nz starting from $80.

Dwarf Camellia (Camellia sasanqua)

With beautiful flowers and small leaves, this plant is a wonderful addition to a smaller section. It gets to around 1.2m high and a similar width. Because it’s an evergreen, it’ll stay lovely and lush all year round whilst flowering with its peony like flowers in autumn.

It’s a very hardy bush and likes partial shade. A reliable and low maintenance shrub, the dwarf camellia brings a pop of fresh colour to your yard.

Buy from www.southernwoods.co.nz starting from $20.

STEPPING OUT

By Timmi Aplin-Barrett

New Zealand weather can be really harsh on outdoor furniture, no matter what it’s made of so getting ahead of game is a good idea. The time of barbeques, drinks outside and dinner on the back deck is coming.

It’s time to think about what that outdoor space is going to look like.

Mitre 10 Mega’s Outdoor Merchandise manager, Tony Deller, says that bringing the indoors outside is a trend we’re seeing this year.

“We’re also looking at natural colours this year,” he says. “It’s not just the colours either; it’s natural materials like wicker and wood.”

Wicker furniture pieces were trendy a few years ago and have made a comeback with customers.

Tony says that mixed materials like wood and alloy are set to sell big this year too.

“This mixed materials look is something customers love. You know, New Zealander’s love wood so we’ve got some lovely wood and metal ranges in stock.”

Mustard and pastels are the colours of the season this year with orange having been the colour for last year.

Tony says this can be conveyed through accessories and says he can’t emphasize the importance of accessorising a space.

“You can really make your outdoor space pop by adding things like cushions, pillows and umbrellas in the seasonal colours,” he says.

“Rather than buying a coloured outdoor seating set which can

be quite pricey, you can buy a plainer colour set or something with those mixed materials and add the colour yourself.”

Another top trend for this season is low dining. “This trend has been around for a bit but is really coming in this year.

“The furniture is really low to the ground so you’re almost sitting on the ground but not quite.

“People are also getting into things like drinks trolleys and loungers more than they were a few years ago.”

All of this really illustrates the overarching trend of bringing the indoors outside this season.

From the naturalistic materials like wicker and wood to the low dining options and colour palettes such as mustard to drinks trolleys, we can expect a lot of casual and relaxed outdoor spaces to crop up this year.

The flow from an indoor living space to an outdoor living space really creates that summer atmosphere we’re all craving right now.

Mitre 10 Mega are stocking some excellent outdoor furniture at the moment if you’re looking to replace your loungers or seating sets.

The Nouveau Montego outdoor lounge setting three-piece features sustainably sourced teak with black powder coated aluminium to fit with the season trends.

It also comes with a foldable, moveable drinks tray. This

piece will add warmth, comfort and convenience to your outdoor space for $3,199.

They also have some great wicker options in stock. The Nouveau Malay outdoor lounge setting three-piece features two comfortable chairs and a small table.

Excellent for smaller spaces, it offers comfort and style for $1,299.

As mustard is the colour of the season, there are plenty of ways to bring it into your space.

From planter pots starting at $5 each to outdoor dining chairs from $89.99 each, you can certainly incorporate the seasonal colours.

There’s also some lovely Nouveau outdoor cushions in a honey colour starting at $24.99 each to had comfort and colour to your space.

Cast your eye over that outdoor space and get inspired – it’s time for the sun! For more outdoor inspiration, tips and tricks and products, go to: www.mitre10.co.nz .

Starting from scratch

Part 1: Demolition and foundations

Nathan Applegarth, a Secure Scaffold manager, is the owner of his newly built house that he helped build in Parklands, Christchurch.

The demolition and foundation process weren’t too bad because being in the trades sector made the process a bit easier, Nathan says.

He has a lot of contacts, which helped. The demolition of his old house started in January this year.

Firstly, the engineering part took place before it was built. After that, there were only a few minor issues like time delays because of the company’s workload.

The company Nathan hired to put in the internal doors was Independent Doors. The company had about a six or seven-week delay which turned over in eight weeks.

The internal doors were only meant to take five weeks, and then the company ended up turning it around four weeks earlier due to receiving pressure from the builder, Nathan says.

The only unexpected surprise he had was the cost of things as he underbudgeted and miscalculated.

However, he says, “Everything I got was pretty good value for money”.

What went well that Nathan was most proud of with the first stages of the build was saving money by using his friend’s companies for different tasks required.

He had a friend help with the foundation, which saved him $20,000. But when it came to the demolition, he over-budgeted.

During the process, between five to 10 people worked on the

Value adding tips

Improvements that pay their way

Big manicured back garden, swimming pool, four bedrooms – what do you think home buyers are looking for?

There are some things you can’t change about your property, but you can take measures to change the smaller, practical things which will endeavour to enhance your home and give it a better chance of selling.

I talk to business owner and manager Lynnette McFadden of Harcourts Gold in Christchurch about the selling power of a home.

In order of importance which features contribute the most as whether a house will sell or not?

The importance of various features regularly changes, however the current standouts include:

• Kitchens that are crisp and attractive, connecting easily to a dining area (not room) and living spaces. As well as smart bathrooms (with a bath!)

• Orientation to the sun and light

• An easy connection between the house and the outdoor or garden area. The old adage of indoor/outdoor flow definitely matters to today’s purchaser

• Living rooms or areas which are congruent with the number of bedrooms. Lots of bedrooms with only one living area falls short for a lot of people

• Method of construction, buyers are wary of particular cladding systems.

What are the simple and inexpensive features homeowners can ‘fix’ to improve the selling power of their home?

Start from the outside and work inwards:

• Well maintained grounds and gardens, trees trimmed, paths swept

• Odours, unless they are lovely, are a no no. Smoking, dogs, cats, mould! Get these sorted

• Nothing creaking or leaking

• Fix all light bulbs and electrical appliances. These are the little things that create an impression of care. Painting, clearing and/or upgrading come after these.

Which features generally add little or no value?

The invisibles, the specialist items that you love but no one else cares for or values and if they do, don’t want to pay for them.

• High-end electronic items, speakers or sound systems

• Some specialist lighting and the wiring that supports it

• Swimming pools (for some people) and spa pools that feels “plonked” into the landscaping

• An item that is well beyond the price point of a home i.e. expensive tap ware that you can’t use easily

• Conservatories have been superseded by the outdoor room, fireplace and kitchen.

Avoiding DIY disasters

Five tips for avoiding do-it-yourself disasters:

1. Safety first

Protect your ears and eyes when using power tools, and wear a mask to prevent breathing in fumes, or dust particles. Use tools properly to avoid any accidents and make sure kids and pets are at a safe distance.

2. Be prepared in case something goes wrong

Do you know where the power box is if you need to shut off the electricity? How about the fire extinguisher? Or clean up gear for paint spills? And is your mobile phone handy, and charged, if you need help?

3. Read the instructions This goes for both tools and products because getting it right first time saves you time and money.

4. Know when to get the professionals in If you’re not qualified to do a job, such as electrical work or adding an extension, it pays to hire a professional. They can advise on legal restrictions and building consents. Remember to make sure the professional you hire, and their contractors, are also insured.

5. Do it once, do it right Remember, faulty workmanship that contributes to the damage of your home may affect any resulting claim, whether you have done the work yourself or it was the home’s previous owner – so get it checked out!

Green Builders

Green Builders are your new best building friends who specialise in building architecturally designed homes, complicated renovations, and gorgeous landscape treatments.

Green Builders are a friendly team that is experienced, knowledgeable, and supportive and they can help you with anything you need. No project is ever too big or too small! They have over 50 years of experience so you can feel rest assured you’re in good hands.

They provide you with excellent experience and expertise whether it’s a new build, renovations, or additions.

New build:

The team looks after everything. They even work with local credible architects who they’ve worked with for years now and have established close relationships with.

Renovations:

Renovating your home can be a big, big task. The team makes sure you have a stress-free time because they know where you need to start.

Additions:

They take care of the additions you would like to add to your build. Additions can include adding a new garage or a second storey, the team takes care of your project in various aspects of the addition process.

Green Builders also has a reputation for providing interior and exterior excellence. Whether you’re wanting to build or renovate your home, the team knows it can be a stressful yet rewarding time. They aim to get you feeling excited about your building journey to ensure you have a good and memorable experience.

The team provides a personalised experience to suit your needs, your budget, and your lifestyle.

Why Green Builders?

1. Quality Assurance

You can feel rest assured knowing Green Builders will

complete your project to the best of their ability.

2. Licensed Building Practitioner

Green Builders’ site managers have licensed building practitioners and their builders are trade qualified. They build and renovate homes to New Zealand standards. They are experts who have proved to be hard working and skilled in building residential structures, etc.

3. Renovation Specialists

The team love working on renovations and new builds as it’s what they do best. With this experience, they can confidently take on any challenge.

4. Full Project Management Green Builders provide full building and project management services. They will offer professional advice and recommendation from the beginning of your designs and plans through to the end of the entire process.

5. Guarantee

The team’s ‘Build With Confidence’ guarantee has a 257-point control checklist for your home so nothing is missed (with a 100% satisfaction guarantee).

6. Communication

The team also has professional systems in place, so they can maintain transparency and momentum, and will keep you updated with what’s happening. Communication is crucial to giving you a simple experience throughout the process.

On the website you can find more about the company, why choose Green Builders, information about new builds, renovations, a ‘build with confidence’ guarantee, success stories, photos, testimonials, a blog, contact information, and more!

Head to the website or get in touch with the team today.

027 557 0999

reuben@greenbuilders.co.nz www.greenbuilders.co.nz

NEW BUILD

We take care of everything with your new home build. We collaborate with local trusted architects with whom we have worked for many years and have established very good relationships with.

RENOVATIONS

your home can be a daunting task. Many homeowners don’t know where to start. We do! Renovations are our speciality.

it is

a

second

project in all aspects of the

we look after you and

process.

Building energy efficient homes

By Michaela Pointon

The New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC), are a not-for-profit membership organisation, working alongside the construction and property sectors in Aotearoa.

They have a vision for all homes and buildings in Aotearoa to be green and sustainable, making healthier, happier New Zealanders.

NZGBC chief executive Andrew Eagles says, “We have over 700 members from throughout the country, from construction companies, developers, architecture firms, to councils, universities, real estate agents and bankers.

“These are all people who want to see property and construction do its bit in reducing our environmental impacts.”

NZGBC advocates for regulatory and industry-wide change, as well as improving building standards.

Part of this work includes providing independent and trusted certification for building projects. For new homes NZGBC runs Homestar, a certification assessing the health, efficiency and sustainability of homes built across Aotearoa.

Andrew says a typical New Zealand home build produces five times the amount of pollution to stay within our climate targets. He says there’s a huge opportunity to reduce emissions with every new home built.

“There has been a massive rush of people wanting lower carbon and energy efficient homes.

“Just over a year ago there were 8,000 homes being built to Homestar, compared to around 500 five years ago.”

Homes built to the Homestar standard need to meet certain standards. These include “Reducing waste going to landfill, are healthier, warmer, have better air quality, and are more resilient to the effects of climate change”.

He says some of the benefits of building a house to better standards like Homestar include

“lower energy bills, and it’s also a great selling point if you want to sell your home in the future.

“We’re also seeing an increase in green lending, with major banks now offering better lending rates and incentives for those building to sustainable standards like Homestar.”

If you are in the process of building a new home, sometimes it can be tricky to understand the steps your builder has taken to ensure you have the least environmental impact possible.

“Often, it’s hard to know if they have put in energy efficient insulation, especially if there is any information imbalance.

“That’s where it’s useful to have a third-party opinion on the health and sustainability of the home.

“We have trained Homestar professionals throughout the industry who are happy to check the design and construction of a property. They ensure aspects such as energy and water efficiency, as well as air tightness are considered and up to spec.”

NZGBC is currently working on encouraging the New Zealand government into retro-fitting and improving existing homes across

the country. “Currently, 30 percent of existing homes are damp or mouldy. Our goal is to get the government to improve this.”

The NZGBC is pushing for the government to establish a deep retrofit programme like many OECD countries. Andrews says he is hopeful and positive the government will eventually fund and support these changes for healthier homes.

Changes in the New Zealand Building Code are also on their way. “Builders and contractors should prepare for the coming changes in the building code, particularly with the likely changes in 2025 from the ‘Building for Climate Change Programme’.”

Creating healthier homes for the future of New Zealand is at the heart of NZGBC. They have information to guide and support you in making the best choices for your home and the environment.

If you’re looking at purchasing or building a new home, make sure to visit NZGBC to find out more about Homestar standards.

The New Zealand Green Building Council  Level 2, Tower 1  205 Queen Street  Auckland 1010 (09) 379-3996 info@nzgbc.org.nz nzgbc.org.nz

Just over a year ago there were 8,000 homes being built to Homestar, compared to around 500 five years ago.

NZGBC chief executive Andrew Eagles.

Fairfield Construction: Building warmer and healthier homes in Marlborough

Fairfield Construction is a family owned and operated building company based in sunny Blenheim, Marlborough specialising in energy-efficient and passive homes.

Our aim is to build beautiful homes, that are warmer and healthier, and which people will still love in a hundred years. By using high-performance and environmentally friendly building products, and minimising our waste on-site, we can create homes that are better for our clients and the environment.

Building for the future

These homes are designed, built, and operate in ways that reduce or remove any negative impact on the environment and the people using it. Green buildings make more efficient use of resources such as energy and water and provide healthier environments for people to live

and work in. It can also reduce construction and operation costs.

For example, incorporating advanced building technology into our houses - such as Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), mechanical ventilation systems, PV panels and Rainwater retention systems just to name a few.

A building's lifetime energy consumption is largely accounted for by heating hot water and keeping the house warm. A Passive House achieves optimum performance and balances cost and benefit.

Passive House design focuses on making the best use of sunshine, shading, and ventilation- rather

than active heating and cooling systems such as air conditioning and centralised heating. Combined with high levels of insulation, airtightness and thermally efficient windows, this makes it possible for a passive home to use approximately 90% less energy than a typical home.

No waste. No regrets. More than just recycling what waste we produce, we also work hard to find ways to better reduce what waste is created in the first place. And wherever possible we use high quality recycled or upcycled materials or products that use less resources to create.

This can save money, help the environment and add character and instant heritage to modern homes. Along with our stretch target of Zero Waste, we think of it as ‘Next Generation Building’.

Raising the standard

Working together with the New Zealand Green Building Council and the Passive House Institute NZ, we are pushing for improvements to our Building Code, raising the minimum standards for new buildings to be more climate-friendly.

After completing the build of our own office which is certified to Passive House Standards, we are excited to be currently working with several clients to help achieve their own Passive House in Marlborough.

Building warmer, healthier homes

Marlborough's leading company in building energy efficient and passive houses

Committed to sustainable, environmentally friendly products and building methods

Talk to us today about your next project.

87 Middle Renwick Road, Blenheim 03 5775161 www

fairfieldconstruction co nz

EFFICIENT INNOVATION

Energy Efficient Eco Friendly

Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are a highperformance building system for residential and light commercial construction. The panels consist of an insulating foam core sandwiched between two structural facings, typically oriented strand board (OSB). SIPs are manufactured under factory controlled conditions and can be fabricated to fit nearly any building design. The result is a building system that is extremely strong energyefficient and cost-effective.

Once installed, SIP panels deliver unrivalled insulation and airtightness, which reduces

energy costs over the building’s lifetime. SIPs are known to be about 50% more energyefficient than traditional timber framing. A SIP building envelope has minimal thermal bridging and delivers excellent airtightness, which lends itself ideally to LEED who are a globally recognised third party green building certification program and net-zeroready building standards.

Structural insulated panels are one of the most environmentally responsible building systems available. A SIP building envelope provides continuous insulation, is extremely airtight, allows for better control over indoor air quality, reduces construction waste, and helps save natural resources. Life cycle analysis has shown that SIP homes have a tremendous positive environmental impact by reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions throughout the home’s life cycle. SIP designs can save 45% more CO2 with a 5.1 year energy payback and a 3.8 year greenhouse gas payback compared to stick framing examples.

HIGHPERFORMANCE HOUSING SUPPLIERS IN NEW ZEALAND

SIPS SPECIALISTS

Experience the benefits of building with structurally insulated panels (SIPS)

• Meet and exceed the most stringent building codes Including NZ and AUS.

• Reduce energy costs, consistently over the life of the building.

• Superior R Values - R values measure the thermal value rating in different types of insulations, the higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness!

• Reduce HVAC requirements with a tighter envelope.

• Improve indoor air quality, in conjunction with a properly configured HVAC system

• Structural strength

• Build sustainability

• Commercial capabilities

• Eliminate condensation and moisture

• Reduced build time with Insulspan’s ready-to-assemble system.

• Produce less jobsite waste.

Live more comfortably

Most of us living in traditional homes have learned to deal with rooms getting too hot, and then too cold– as well as spaces that feel colder in one spot than they do in another. If you hate drafts and get tired of taking your sweater off and on, then get ready to smile.

The tightness of an Insulspan SIP home helps keep cold air from entering your warm spaces and causing drafts.

Many homeowners who have chosen to build an energyefficient SIP home can advocate for how amazingly comfortable their new home feels when compared to their past homes, as well as their new found savings in energy costs!

The future of Dunedin housing

By Michaela Pointon

According to the Dunedin City Council, during the previous five years Dunedin has seen a significant population increase of around 1,500 per year.

Compared to previous years, this population growth has meant housing development in Dunedin has reached capacity.

As a result, the city’s district council are putting plans and measures in place to ensure Dunedin is well-equipped for possible future increases.

Dunedin District Council says their main goal of the Dunedin District Plan is to sustainably manage the natural resources of the region, to ensure they meet needs of current and future generations.

This includes supporting projects such as: Warm Dunedin, Eco Design, Healthy Homes, Cosy

Homes, and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.

Overall, the city must ensure housing and infrastructure provides advancements in all aspects of the community

including social, economic and cultural wellbeing.

The council says they are focusing on building and improving housing stock for warmer and healthier homes in Dunedin.

They suggest demographic factors create a need for specific housing types to be built for the community.

For example, there is a concentrated demand for unit style housing, alongside terraced housing and apartment style complexes.

With the need for one and twoperson households, as well as empty nesters or retired couples, the council recognises smaller and more energy efficient homes are needing to be built.

Demand for new homes as well as building consents, to keep up with this fast-paced growing city, is noted by Dunedin City Council.

Overall, the population growth for Dunedin is positive and will continue to bring more revenue and culture to the city.

NT Mason & Co Ltd

Since March 2020, most businesses, whether they be companies or sole traders, have struggled financially, mentally and structurally.

Many businesses closed or had to lay staff off and most struggling businesses accepted support from government through wage subsidies, government loans, resurgence payments and recently, the Covid support payments to survive the pandemic.

Survival during the last two years has incorporated managing finances through cashflow management, restructuring and managing project/job timelines due to product unavailability.

People have said once we open borders and get back to normality, that we will come out on top and be better than before. In a way will be, as we have managed our

businesses through the worst of situations and come out on top.

Businesses will be in a situation where they’re facing the unknown. We need to expect the unexpected and plan for it. No one knows what awaits us around the corner, but we have been through a critical time where management of staff, services and time have been structured to manage outbreaks.

Managing cashflow is the most important thing to look at right now. Consider all items/processes in your business and decide if they are necessary.

Do you need to look at managing your tax, or consider tax pooling, are there grants or funding available in your region that can assist in getting your business back to where it was pre-Covid?

We can assist you to push your business forward to be the best that it can.

Why tiles tick so many boxes

A New Zealand-owned and operated company Tile Space is the country’s most popular seller of porcelain and ceramic tiles, and mosaic and decorative wall tiles .

With 30 years of experience, the team knows everything about custom tiles and wallpapers, why it’s important to use, and why they’re beneficial for residential and commercial builds.

According to Tile Space New Zealand, there’s a Tile 101 booklet that discusses the benefits of tiles and why people should use tiles when building.

FIRSTLY, TILES ARE:

Easy to maintain

• Tiles are stain-resistant, strong, and easy to clean

• Just use soapy water to do a quick clean, but tiles can also deal with harsh cleaners if need be.

Water-resistant

• New tiles don’t soak up water so they’re great for bathrooms and inside showers.

Holds up in high-traffic areas

• Porcelain floor tiles are great in busy and chaotic homes and look better/more modern and have better longevity than other surfaces.

Indoor and outdoor-friendly

• Suits both indoor and outdoor installation as tiles are great for making a cohesive surrounding inside or outside.

Can be installed with underfloor heating

• Tiles are great heat conductors and can be used with underfloor heating

• Tile Space sells ‘Hotwire’ which is an affordable and easy to install under tile heating system.

Fire resistant

• Tiles get can get fired at more than 1200 degrees and it won’t matter

• Tiles are non-inflammable and won’t produce toxic chemicals in a fire.

Other benefits include it’s environmentally friendly, affordable, will always look brand new, ideal for people with allergies, and all tiles come with a 10-year guarantee but Tile Space comes with a 15-year warranty.

For more information on the different types of tiles, the importance of lighting in a tile installation, size, and more.

What are you waiting for? Install tiles in your house to utilise all these benefits and check out https://tiles.co.nz, to see more inspiration, advice, and a range of tiles which includes: marble, concrete, stone, decorative, and subway looking tiles – there’s lots to choose from!

Wanaka’s natural lifestyle connections

By Michaela Pointon

ISite Wānaka says many people who live in this breath-taking area have a strong relationship to environmental connection and

This is understandable as anyone who has visited Wānaka is completely in awe of its sheer beauty and majesty.

Wānaka iSite say they think it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world, but the city goes above and beyond its appearance.

If you’re looking at moving to Wānaka by either buying a property, renting or renovating in the area, there is a great sense of community.

“There is an underlying energy that comes from our natural environment and this is transmitted to people through being in the outdoors,” says Wānaka iSite.

Living in Wānaka means having a sense of balance and connection to the natural environment. “Our mountains, water and air create space to breathe.”

Breathing easy means you can relax, rest, connect with yourself and with others. The natural world

of this environment will bring all your senses to life.

Queenstown Lakes District (Wānaka is under this council), provides many support services for new residents of the town.

If you are staying in Wānaka for a short while or long-term period,

there are community services available to help you settle in and thoroughly enjoy your time.

Queenstown Lakes District says, “Moving to a new area can be tough, but it can be a great adventure too”.

Community Networks Wānaka provide free and confidential advice for everyone. Whether you need help with aspects such as tenancy, employment, neighbour disputes, personal or family issues, they can give you advice or point you in the right direction.

If you are taking on the challenge of moving to Wānaka, or are already living there, make sure you check out the support services available.

Or, if you are just visiting Wānaka, make sure you enjoy the naturally stunning environment whilst you have it under your fingertips!

EARTHMOVING

Robert Laing Contracting offer a range of excavation and earth moving services throughout Dunedin and surrounding regions. They have the skill, the experience and the machinery to tackle your project with ease. Contact Robert Laing Contracting and the friendly team today!

Affordable homes underway in Arrowtown

The Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust (QLCHT) has broken ground on its 68-lot Tewa Banks development in Arrowtown.

Earthworks commenced in late September for the new development, which comprises 68 new high-quality and energyefficient affordable homes.

Construction is expected to be completed in 2025.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) Mayor, Jim Boult, and QLCHT Deputy Chair Joanne Conroy, turned the first sods of soil on this significant community housing project, following a blessing by local kaumātua Darren Rewi.

Mayor Boult says this muchneeded development has been many years in the making.

We are a small family business based in Cromwell.

The roofing services we provide range from maintenance, repairs and replacements to the building and installation of brand-new roofs. Our hardworking team completes all jobs to a high standard and within the timeframe given, no matter how big or small the job. While also working on site with the team, Courtney, the director, keeps very detailed records of each job and always knows where things are at. With quotes issued before commencement of the work, progress invoicing throughout the jobs and a high level of communication, our clients are constantly in the loop and do not get any unpleasant surprises.

himself lives in Cromwell with his two boys and is well established in the roofing industry.

“Access to affordable housing has a direct link to community wellbeing,

“I am extremely proud of the work by councillors, council staff and the Trust in the massive undertaking to increase the district’s community housing stock, and ultimately the number of locals who now have a roof over their heads thanks to this ongoing collective effort.

“In my last two terms as mayor, I believe we have come a long way in providing pathways to affordable homes.

“In my view, this council is doing far more for affordable housing than any other in Aotearoa New Zealand and our work on Inclusionary Zoning is a fine example of that leadership.

“The amount of national interest we see in what is being delivered in this district is testament to that.”

QLDC recently resolved to introduce new Inclusionary Zoning rules into the District Plan, to ensure all new developments

provide a contribution to affordable housing.

The Tewa Banks land was transferred to QLCHT for $1 earlier this year after councillors first approved the proposal in April 2019.

QLCHT executive officer, Julie Scott, says it’s exciting for the organisation to finally be breaking ground.

“We’ve received resounding feedback from the community of the need for more affordable housing in Arrowtown, and accordingly we’re truly excited to start building 68 new homes for local singles, couples and families.”

The allocation process for the mixture of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes is anticipated to start mid-2023, and will include several homes specifically allocated for senior housing.

About 45 homes are expected to be sold into the Trust’s awardwinning Secure Home programme.

BLACKDOWELL TUBE & CLIP SCAFFOLDING

Hiring new employees is not an easy process.

got to wade through a mountain of applications, weed out the few you’re interested in and then interview all the candidates – all while still running

But if you want your company to grow, you need to hire the right people.

You need people that are not only right for the now but can also help you move the business towards bigger and better things in the future.

This is especially so for smaller businesses and startups because they have fewer employees and a limited income with which to work.

For these companies every single dollar they spend on finding and hiring an employee can affect their longer term success, meaning it’s vital that they avoid making major mistakes while hiring.

But the trouble is that running a small business is hard work and there often simply isn’t the time to commit to a thorough hiring process; and as result, corners get cut.

The good news is that your competitors are probably making these mistakes whilst hiring as well. This means there’s an opportunity for you to seize; to waste less time and money by hiring right so you can get back to running your company.

Mistake 1 - NOT HAVING AN INTERVIEW PLAN

The single biggest hiring mistake small business owners make is winging it or not having an interview plan. At best they’ll have a few questions written down on a piece of paper, but little else.

You need to treat an interview like a deductive science. You’ve sorted through all the resumes and selected the best individuals to be interviewed – but now you need a better way of evaluat ing their suitability for the role than just having a chat and going with your gut.

You achieve this by having an interview plan.

First – decide what questions are the most important, and ask them to each candidate.

Second – know what answers you’re looking for. Then you can assess each answer objectively and place candidates in pecking order.

This doesn’t have to be an iron-clad, exactly repeatable process – but it does need to have some consistency to it so you can accurately assess candidates’ answers in relation to each other.

If you just wing each interview, the direction, tone and outcome of each conversation can vary wildly, making it more difficult to compare candidates to each other. The outcome of this can be that, despite spending all that time interviewing people, to a certain extent, you’re still none the wiser.

Then, the chances are, when it comes to deciding who to hire, you’re going to go with your gut, as you won’t reliably be able to compare one answer to another because you didn’t ask each candidate a few standard questions you can compare them by.

So, a little planning can go a long way towards helping you make an informed and considered choice of who to hire, as opposed to just sitting down with each individuals, having a completely random chat, and then hoping you get it right.

Mistake 2 - OVERVALUING EXPERIENCE

It is risky to bet too heavily on how much experience a person has, when there are so many factors that determine whether someone will be successful in the role and a good fit for your organisation.

An applicant’s skills, knowledge, aptitude and personality all factor into the equation.

Because experience is a tangible and measurable component, it is very easy to overvalue it above less easily measurable factors such as intelligence, drive, and other components of raw talent.

Experience accumulates with time in the role and skills can be learned and acquired.

Your next great employee might be someone with limited experience, but who has fantastic aptitude and flexibility.

Placing too much stock on a heavy list of qualifications in your job description, or only consider ing applicants with x amount of experience and not considering other factors, means you might be turning a blindeye to someone better suited to the role and your company’s culture.

However, this is a double-edged sword and there is a flip side.

If you’re looking to hire someone without any experience in the hope of finding someone cheaper – you might be buying into a false economy.

Ignoring a candidate with what you consider to be necessary experience in the hope of saving a few thousand dollars a year by hiring an unproven person, might not actually save you anything, due to the amount of on-the-job training and potentially decreased productivity the less experi enced employee will deliver.

So, as with all aspects of running your business, you need to find a balance.

But it definitely pays to consider more than just the experience a candidate comes with. You want someone with the potential to grow into the perfect for your company.

Mistake 3 - ASSUMING THE HIRING PROCESS ENDS ONCE THEY’RE HIRED

This is a common mistake many small business owners make.

An employee’s productivity is comprised of 50 percent ability [the reasons you hired them], and 50 percent of what happens once they’re in the workplace.

So conducting a good interview, offering that promising person the job and them saying ‘yes’ is only half the task.

Employees need to be properly induced and introduced to your company, well trained and supported.

It doesn’t matter how impressed you are with someone’s potential – poor training, insufficient access to resources, and little feedback will add up to poor job satisfaction and this will impact their performance.

So recruitment doesn’t stop at the ‘welcome aboard’ handshake – you need to make sure they are introduced, trained and supported every step of the way.

Tim Garden Construction Ltd

Tim Garden Construction Ltd is a landscaping and concrete company, which was established in Alexandra in 2017.

We are a small locally owned business in the beautiful Central Otago region with six staff members that specialise in small to medium excavation and landscaping work around the Central Otago region. Our team is well-recognised in the area for our hard-working efforts, so come and check us out.

We have different size diggers to cater for different workloads.

From a 1.7 tonne through to a 3.5 tonne, 5.5 tonne and even up to a 6 tonne wheel digger, with also a range of different size tip trucks from a 3 tonne through to 8 tonne cartages and bobcats. We can also offer onsite top soil screening.

Our work ranges from excavation for house pads to concrete work, drive ways, and patios.

We can offer a range of landscaping gravel supplies and we also supply and prepare

the top soil for new lawns, or lawn revamps along with (rock) retaining walls.

When we do a new lawn or a lawn revamp, we use HydroSeed, which is spray on

and a great way to have grass grown within a three-to-fourweek period with irrigation.

If you would like to see work we have recently completed, we have a Tim Garden Construction Facebook page with photos and also a video of different concrete work and landscaping. Also, feel free to look at our reviews on the Facebook page too: www.facebook.com/ timgardenconstruction/ Interested in getting in touch with us today?

Please contact Tim via phone on 0278666105 or via email at tim.garden-construction@ outlook.com

We look forward to your inquiry and if you need help with your landscape construction, we’ve got you covered!

Wanaka Landscapes

Wanaka Landscapes is a locally owned and operated business which has been operating for more than 30 years in Wanaka and the wider Central Otago region.

The current owners Andrew and Maree Burns purchased the business in 2015 and have continued to provide a quality service to new and existing clients. Our focus is on using local suppliers, local staff and local subcontractors to provide a high quality service which compliments our special local environment. We pride ourselves on being local and supporting local.

Wanka Landscapes are an ecoconscious business with a goal to create and outdoor environment and space that uniquely reflects your personal sense of home. They also take into consideration

climate changes, and the natural beauty surrounding your home in Wanaka.

We have found focusing on our clients needs with long term employees who have our same focus on providing quality work means we have ongoing support from our clients.

We offer all landscaping services to both residential and commercial clients. This involves hard and soft landscaping from rock walls, retaining, paving, decks,

planting, turf areas, irrigation and everything in between.

We have completed everything from subdivision streetscapes through to revamping front gardens and the ongoing maintenance of these areas.

No matter the scale of your project, crafting a landscape individual to you is what Wanaka Landscapes prioritises. They offer services from start-tofinish where they can guide you throughout the entire process.

From the planning and design concepts, to construction and maintenance of your land, Wanaka Landscapers are here to support you. No job is too big or too small for the team.

To get a fresh approach to landscaping, visit their website landscapingwanaka.nz. To get a free quote for your new garden, contact the team on 03 443 1560 or email at andrew@landscapingwanaka.nz.

$200 million retirement village for Wanaka

If you’re looking for a space to retire look no further; as retirement village giant Metlifecare has confirmed the resort town’s third retirement village is in the slow cooker.

The company, which operates 32 North Island retirement villages, has purchased 5.42ha at the Three Parks development where it plans to invest $200M to create a new, top-of-the-line village.

The village will include 120 villas, seven apartments and a residential care facility, and the first stage of construction is hoped to start next year and open for the first residents in 2025.

“We’re really pleased to welcome Metlifecare to Wānaka,” Three Parks developer Allan Dippie said, adding that it would be the first

residential project to begin within the development.

Metlifecare head of development Matt Wickham said the retirement village project could create up to 140 construction jobs in the Wānaka community during the building phase and another 50 once operational.

“With large-scale development projects comes multiple opportunities for local businesses and workers,” he says.

Metlifecare would also be looking to fill a range of positions from village managers and nurses to kitchen staff and gardeners, Matt said.

While substantial in size, the retirement village will fill just a fraction of the 160ha Three Parks site, which fills a triangle between the Wānaka-Luggate highway,

Riverbank Road and Ballantyne Road, and already features a range of commercial, retail and recreational buildings, with many more in the works.

“Metlifecare wants to get started on the project as soon as possible, so from our end we are swinging straight into action with the earthworks to prepare the site together with roading and the extensive underground

infrastructure to service such a large development,” Allan says.

“It’s a very exciting project for Wānaka and this announcement will be followed by more significant projects within Three Parks.”

Wānaka currently has two retirement villages, as well as one aged care facility, which operates across two sites.

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BLACKDOWELL TUBE & CLIP SCAFFOLDING

Mortage Lab Nicky Cornish

Whether you are looking to buy your first home, already have a mortgage, or are looking to invest, qualified mortgage advisor Nicky Cornish is here to help. Nicky is based in Alexandra and ready to help you through the sometimes daunting process of getting a new mortgage and seeking financial advice.

Mother of five, Nicky understands the demands of modern life all too well. She operates from home, allowing for flexibility for herself, her family and her clients. You don’t need to be worried about being locked into a 9-5 business day, Nicky is available to suit your schedule.

Nicky took up a career as a mortgage advisor after five years working as a project manager.

After evaluating what was important to her, she returned to one of her core values and purpose – helping people.

“What better way than helping people and to enable them, it's a pretty big life event buying property and getting a mortgage,” she says. “To be able to be part of that journey with someone is really rewarding.”

Nicky is able to do the hard lifting when it comes to apply for your mortgage - helping you with your application, and finding the options that best suit your situation. “The days are gone where you actually have a relationship with your bank manager, that's where your

mortgage advisor is becoming more and more important - they do the leg work,” says Nicky.

There no cookie cutter advice, she is working closely with clients to meet their needs - and the best part is; her service is usually free.

Nicky can help with all your home buying needs, including:

• Investment Property Finance

• Construction Loans

• Non-Bank Lenders

• Debt Consolidation

• And more...

TOP TIPS for

recycling building materials

By Timmi Aplin-Barrett

When renovating any part of a home, it can be tricky to know what to do with the materials you remove.

Recycling these materials is a great option, but where do you start?

We speak with Anthony Richards from The Salvage Company in Christchurch to get the best advice for recycling building materials.

What can be recycled?

Anything can be recycled, it’s just if there’s a demand for it. You might not get much for something

if it’s cheap to buy new. Recycling whatever you can is good though because it keeps your dumping costs and carbon footprint down.

What should people who are building or renovating look out for?

If someone is renovating, you’ve got to make sure you’re not dealing with asbestos. We cannot demolish a house if it doesn’t have an asbestos clearance certificate. Yes, it’s expensive, but the material is very dangerous. You can’t just dump asbestos – it has to be specially handled, wrapped and dumped. You need to get it taken out by the professionals.

What are recyclable building materials worth?

Depends on the people’s expectations. Sometimes they might be replacing windows and they’re taking out single glazing aluminium and putting in double glazing. No one wants single glazed anymore and they’re not worth a lot. Basically, you ring up various salvage firms and tell them what you have. It depends on what you’ve got. They’ll ask for a photo of the stuff and they’ll give you a quote.

What are some dos and don’ts of recycling building materials?

Generally when you’re taking materials out, you want to take it

out as carefully as possible. Don’t just rip it out and toss it in a pile. If you want any money for it or you want someone to take it, you need to be careful. You might be renovating the kitchen and don’t think about it and suddenly you’ve got an expensive dumping bill. Dumping is expensive! So, take stuff out carefully and make sure it’s reusable.

The golden rule of recycling is that you need to have an end usage for it. People want to on sell it without spending too much time or money on it.

Not everything is recyclable. Some things are just too old. Ask yourself why you’re doing the renovations. Is it because you don’t like it or it’s too old?

The best thing to do when you take stuff out and you’re reasonably competent is to get touch with a salvage company like mine and just say look I’ve got this and that, send some photos, put the effort in and you might be surprised what you can get for it.

Collision

Shepherd & Kime Ltd has been doing collision repairs in Christchurch since 1966, constantly staying abreast of the latest technologies to provide the high-quality services customers have grown accustomed to.

When asked how the shop has withstood the test of time, Shepherd & Kime Ltd co-owner Gerard Kime says, “I think it comes down to our good service. We try to keep the customer experience as a whole as high quality as we can give.

“We like to give good, fast turnarounds because we don’t like people being off the road for too long. We just like to do a quality repair, really. We’ve got a pretty good crew on deck.”

In order to get customers back on the road, Gerard says that the team does its best to keep up to

date with all of the latest gear, spray ovens, and chassis electronic measuring systems.

In addition to adopting new technologies, the team is always looking to perfect its process so that repairs are done in an efficient manner.

You can trust the team at Shepherd & Kime to sort out the parts needed to fix your vehicle so the quote you get at the start is what you pay when the job’s done.

Customers can bring their vehicles to the Shepherd & Kime shop on Sheffield Crescent or its new location on Selwyn Street. The Selwyn Street shop was purposefully fitted out for the business’ panel and paint services and equipment.

Whichever shop you take your vehicle, you can trust Shepherd & Kime to get the job done right the first time.

Small footprints

Tiny homes are becoming more of a common sight as people look for new housing options.

With the housing market sky rocketing and the view of what a home should look like shifting, it’s no wonder these tiny homes are trending.

They’re often transportable and they’re smaller which means they’re easy to clean, cheaper to heat and encourage a more minimalist lifestyle.

Popular with people heading down a more environmental route, they’re a great option for those looking to try something new. However, with a smaller home comes certain logistical difficulties.

For example; toilets! Tiny homes aren’t very well equipped for a full plumbing system so a bogstandard flushing loo just isn’t practical. This is where WCTNZ or Waterless Composting Toilets New Zealand comes in. \WCTNZ founder and managing director, Dylan Timney, says there are several benefits of a waterless composting toilet.

“They really help with the reduction of consumption of water,” he says. “Tiny homes have a small catchment for potable water so flushing it away seems pointless.”

Using a waterless composting toilet can save approximately 60,000 liters of fresh, drinkable water per household annually. Another benefit is that using waterless composting toilets means you create less biohazardous waste water.

“Grey water, like what you get from washing your dishes is less soiled than flushed toilet water,” explains Dylan.

This means users are reducing their overall waste discharge which is better for the environment.

The environment, of course, is a massive part of why Dylan began the company in the first place. He stumbled across the concept of waterless composting toilets back in 2007 when looking for a loo for his house bus.

Not only did the idea seem like a good solution for small homes but he saw a lot of environmental potential. “We need to take responsibility for the waste we generate,” he says.

“Plus, it’s not just waste – we can use it to nurture the soil.”

Dylan says that when we view human excreta as simply waste, an extremely important part of the nutrient cycle of the earth is broken. “This leads to needing lots of chemical fertilizers and creates lower quality food with less nutrients,” he says.

Instead, when our waste is composted properly and returned to the soil, it creates a valuable and safe product and helps keep the cycle going for future generations. “We need to invest in nature,” Dylan says.

“The company slogan is ‘in nature, we trust’ and in order to do that, we need to invest.”

“In an age where humanity’s relationship with the earth is in desperate need of reform, we are proud to be working with a range of products which are solutionbased and undoubtedly have a positive impact on both the planet and the people who use them,” Dylan says.

However, it’s not an easy industry to be in. The world view around waterless compostable toilets isn’t all niceties. Dylan spends a lot of time in education mode; making sure people understand how the technology works and dispelling myths.

“A common question is whether the toilets smell,” he says. “I think people liken these toilets to old long drops but, in reality, would a company actually sell a product that smells?”

The composting toilets that WCTNZ works with are hygienic,

odourless, cost effective and are easily maintained. They also look comfortable in the bathroom.

He says this is why they’re putting a lot of effort into running support lines and offering educational information. “We need to support people as much as we can.”

Overall though, Dylan says the customer base appears to be concerned citizens. They’re interested in taking care of themselves and the environment. He says the company is focused on pioneering on a level of expert knowledge and innovation with regards to the technology.

Musgrove’s

To fully appreciate and experience Musgrove’s huge range of recycled and new building materials that they have available for sale, a visit is highly recommended. You’ll be amazed at the variety of sheds to explore and fossick through.

This iconic Canterbury company has been recycling building materials for the last 50 years and they’re really good at it. Not only do they have an incredible range of products that are amazingly well organised, but they have also built themselves a reputation for providing exceptional service.

Their General Manager, Sue Brown, confirms that Musgroves has thousands of repeat customers who come from all round the South Island (and beyond) to find treasures for their latest project. “The reasons why our customers visit us vary, depending on their current project. It may be that they need to replace the roofing iron on their chicken coop for example, or they may want to find some doors and/or windows for the

playhouse they’re building their kids”. Sue recalls that a gratifying customer project was undertaken by David of Decant Vintners & Epicures (Christchurch).

Embarking on a new business venture, David wanted to make a grand statement with his shop frontage. He found a fabulous recycled french door with an arched top at Musgroves which has transformed their shop frontage. David’s door was fittingly rescued from an old pub located not far from Cathedral Square in Christchurch, which had been held in storage for many years before being recovered. This is not uncommon for Musgroves to hear of these types of stories about treasures being rescued after some years, before being passed on for some else to restore them.

It would appear that there are many more similar and delightful stories and photographs being shared by Musgroves’ customers. You only need to take a look at their ‘customer projects’ page on their website, where many of their talented “Wall of Fame” customers demonstrate a clear sense of pride from their use of recycled materials for their build and/or renovation projects.

Musgroves also has a long-held belief in giving people a second chance and just as it gives a second life to building materials, Musgroves supports a number of community organisations through its charitable giving. A good example of this is Musgroves’ recent partnership with Pathway Group as a Gold Level Corporate Impact Investor of the Navigate Initiative prison reintegration unit. Pathways also strive to give the people they work with a fresh start.

Reusing, upcycling and recycling is clearly alive and well at Musgroves in Wigram and once you’ve talked to any member of the Musgroves team you soon get a sense that sustainability is not just a current fad here, but rather it is in their DNA.

Musgroves has thousands of repeat customers who come from all round the South Island (and beyond) to find treasures for their latest project.