Business North March 2015

March 2015

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Hotel makeover

Page 6

Construction sector under pressure Chris Hutching Construction cost growth is forecast to peak by the end of 2015, by 5.6% for Auckland, 6% for Christchurch and 3% for Wellington.

By the end of 2016 Rider Levett Bucknall is predicting growth in construction costs of 4.8% for Auckland, 6% for Christchurch and 3% for Wellington.

Quantity surveyor and advisory group Rider Levett Bucknall released it 1st quarter 2015 report this month.

Director of RLB Auckland, Richard Anderson, notes the current business confidence and optimism in hiring, plus increasing margins and profits.

But he highlighted capacity problems in nonresidential construction with long lead times for off-

site prefabricated products and labour shortages in structural trades.

Mr Anderson is concerned that while construction activity has increased, the current volume of work is not yet significant in Auckland.

The city awaits the promise of a number of large scale construction projects and says the number of projects awaiting building consents has grown strongly. When this work comes on stream, combined with other significant construction projects in Christchurch, the capacity problem is likely to increase and require significant industry investment, he says.

Big Auckland projects in the offing include the proposed new International Convention Centre, the Downtown redevelopment, and City Rail Loop.

If construction activity continues to grow as expected it will result in a volatile market and tender prices.

Construction cost escalation will be a key risk, Mr Anderson says.

The post-earthquake Canterbury rebuild momentum continues as evident by the number of cranes. This is reflected in the latest figures for construction spending in Canterbury for 2014 nearing $4 billion, an increase of 38% from 2013.

Residential construction is slower but still strong. Unemployment in Canterbury is the lowest in New Zealand at 3.8% and the number of people employed in Christchurch has grown by nearly 6% since 2013.

Most of the cost increases in Canterbury are from labour cost inflation although some subcontract and supplier margins are also increasing and affecting tender prices on major and complex projects.

The $200 million Burwood Hospital redevelopment is well under way, while the $400

million central Christchurch Hospital redevelopment is at the earthworks and enabling stage.

Several big commercial office and retail projects are also underway in the city centre including a bus interchange. Canterbury and Lincoln Universities also have extensive building programmes.

Wellington’s local construction industry remains weak in terms of new developments in the commercial and residential markets, boosted by civil infrastructure projects north of Wellington.

Strengthening existing buildings remains high on the priority list without adding value to the cityscape or local economy, RLB says.

There are a few larger projects under way including the Gateway project and Rutherford House extensions for Victoria University, and Transmission Gully, while there is potential from a Hilton Hotel and Convention Centre in the city centre.

Taupo Park offer rejected Chris Hutchings Taupo Motorsport Park shareholders have rejected a buyout offer from motor sports aficionado and VIP Pets owner Tony Quinn.

The indebted park will now be sold in an international tender, according to director Chris Abbot. The race circuit and drag strip is considered one of New Zealand’s top motorsport venue.

It has 133 shareholders including members of the Taupo Car Club which has rights to use the circuit on 14 days a year and receives some income. The club members are wary about any deal with reduces their rights.

The shareholders recently rejected a $3.6 million offer from Mr Quinn. He and his wife Christina are also involved in the 88ha Highlands Motorsport Park property development at Cromwell where races are also hosted. It is also a venue for family entertainment and boasts one of the best sports car museums.

Mr Quinn has won the New Zealand Targa road race series five times. But his offer was well below the approximate $5 million debt owed by Taupo Motorsport Park to banks and Taupo District Council.

The last publicly available accounts for 2012 show a book value of the track and associated assets of $7.4 million.

Borrowings were $4.4 million in 2012.

INSIDE

New skifield complex taking shape....

Visitors to Queenstown this winter will be relaxing in style if they head up to the Remarkables Ski Area. Construction is well underway on the new $20 million base building at the southern skifield which will feature a striking 10-metre glass frontage, and 1300sqm of outdoor decking which wraps around the building.

Meat industry needs to change - PAGE 2

Milmeq wins top award - PAGE 2

Extensive restaurant, cafe and bar facilities on the first floor can accommodate up to 700 people inside and 500 outside. NZSki chief executive Paul Anderson says the building will be finished and ready for the 2015 season, which kicks off on Saturday June 20, the same weekend as the Queenstown Winter Festival.

Exploring virtual private networks - PAGE 3

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Business North

Meat industry report sees need for new approach Hugh de Lacy Red meat farmers will have to learn to think and act collectively, as dairy farmers do, if they are ever to realise the full potential of their industry, according to Lincoln University Senior Lecturer in Agribusiness, Nic Lees.

Lees was commenting on the release this week of the lobby group Meat Industry Excellence’s (MIE’s) Pathways to Long-term Sustainability report, the latest in a long line of studies aimed at bringing cohesion to the fragmented red meat industry.

“Generally speaking, sheep and beef farmers have little motivation to work collectively, and the product characteristics are a strong contributory part of that,” Lees said.

“Dairy farmers have to co-operate because their product is so perishable and it’s helped by the fact that they all produce the same product, milk.

“Meat farmers tend to think and act more individually, because they enjoy a variety of options foir the disposal of their livestock, including being able to hang onto them until they feel the market is most receptive.

“Accordingly, meat farmers tend to view a multiplicity of potential buyers at the farm gate as the best way to ensure they get the best price for their product.

“Meat farmers tend to think and act more individually, because they enjoy a variety of options foir the disposal of their livestock....”

“There isn’t the motive there, as there is for dairy farmers, to act collectively, even though doing so would offer them better returns in the long term,” says Lees.

“The incentives in the meat industry are for the short term, and they act as a disincentive to cooperate,” Lees said.

That said, the MIE report was “a very useful document which will certainly advance and inform the debate around restructuring the meat industry, but the essence of the challenge is for farmers to get their heads around the need for collective action.”

The $8 billion a year export industry is served by two large co-operative companies which between them control about 60% of output, plus around two dozen private companies.

The merger of the two co-operatives is widely touted as a key step towards restructuring the industry into a more expansive dairy-type mode, but Lees said such reformation is “a very complex issue.

“It’s not unsolvable but it needs strong leadership, and that’s something that the industry lacks: it needs somebody who can paint a vision and get other people to go along with it.”

The other major issue was capital to bring about the physical restructuring, including a reduction in processing capacity at a cost running into tens, if not hundreds of millions.

The report by MIE, the latest in a long line of farm lobby groups that have pursued the holy grail of meat industry restructuring, endorses consolidation of the industry around the cooperatives.

It also highlights the need for a procurement model that creates trust between farmer and processor-marketer, and the need to reduce overcapacity in the processing sector.

Farm-gate returns need to be lifted because over the past seven years they have been producing a return on capital of only 0.7 percent, and stock numbers were continuing to decline across the industry as a result.

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Milmeq winner of inaugural award Innovative manufacturing firm Milmeq Ltd won the top award at the inaugural Westpac Auckland Business Awards ‘Best of the Best’ awards ceremony this month.

Milmeq won the Supreme Business Excellence award, after earlier being awarded the Excellence in Exporting award.

Milmeq chief executive Mike Lightfoot says winning the award was a thrill.

“We are so proud to be an Auckland company pioneering New Zealand innovation to world markets,” says Lightfoot.

“We are just blown away by the innovation happening in Auckland – that’s what is so great about these Awards; they shine a light

on all the great stuff that’s out there.”

“This award - says to us that New Zealand’s fundamental industries, our dairy, meat and forestry industries - are still innovating and achieving great things for our country on a world stage.”

Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett said the finalists in the awards were “an outstanding demonstration of the diversity, innovation and opportunity Auckland has within its business community”.

“Some have begun from a dream and a home office; some are local and community heroes, others are international and fighting

a global challenge they will succeed with. But all have entered these awards and used them as an opportunity to measure and benchmark, to compare and compete.

“They are all part of the vibrant economy we know as Auckland and they have and will provide employment, for some hope, and inspiration for others as they continue to succeed.

Auckland Chamber presented four regional competitions in the Westpac Auckland Business Awards last year.

The ‘Best of the Best’ finalists were the 28 category winners from the North, South, West and Central awards.

Business North

NEWS »

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Exploring Virtual Private Networks Karen Phelps Many businesses are still probably not familiar with the term Virtual Private Network (VPN). Yet it’s a service that could protect the information security of a business as well as enable greater freedom for employees to work anywhere, any time.

According to Colin James, Vodafone’s head of security, the use of VPNs is a growing market in New Zealand as the technology become more affordable for any size business.

“VPNs have always been one of those things that are a little mystical to understand,” says James. “But as we get a more mobile workforce we are seeing more uptake of VPNs.” So what is a VPN? A VPN is just a virtual version of a secure, physical network—a web of computers linked together to share files and other resources.

VPNs allow businesses to connect remote users over the internet in a secure manner as data passing through the tunnel is encrypted so that information cannot easily be intercepted and read. To use a VPN users log into the VPN on their computer using a special password.

There are several main reasons for a business to consider using a VPN. Primarily a VPN can be used so that employees can securely access files, applications, printers, and other resources on the office network even when they are not in the office. This is becoming particularly important, says James, as more employees work from home or on the road.

James says a key benefit in this scenario is that if an employee is connecting to the office via a free wifi connection, at a hotel or coffee shop for example, by logging into the company VPN this enables the secure transfer of data.

“If an employee takes a laptop and connects it to a home, hotel or public wifi connection the business has no way of knowing if that connection is secure or not,” explains James.

“This could expose the computer to malware, for example, and when that employee goes back to the office and connects to the company system they may expose the rest of the office to that malware.

Secure: to use a VPN users log into the VPN on their computer using a special password.

“When an employee is working in the office their data is protected by the office firewalls, local file sharing service etc.

“A VPN allows this sort of protection beyond the physical office structure meaning working remotely is now basically the same as if you were working in the office.”

It also allows businesses to set up a satellite office and connect it to the main company office/ network without the need for expensive physical cables as with a VPN a virtual tunnel is created instead. According to James this can result in significant cost savings.

Another advantage is if workers often travel internationally. By using a VPN businesses can circumvent regional restrictions known as geoblocking where certain websites are blocked in certain countries.

Another practical example is that if a business is using a New Zealand based VPN but an employee is travelling in Australia and using Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) to make a phone

“If an employee takes a laptop and connects it to a home, hotel or public wifi connection the business has no way of knowing if that connection is secure or not.”

Negotiating the payroll minefield Implementing a new payroll system can cost a business valuable time and money. So what is the best way to implement a new payroll system?

According to Patrick Hegarty, sales and marketing manager for IMS Payroll, there are some key questions to consider.

When is the best time? Hegarty says that the best time to implement any new systems is simply when the business has got time keeping in mind that normal tasks will still have to be carried out alongside the implementation. He advises businesses go live with the new system at the beginning of a new month.

“This makes it cleaner for IRD filing, however the traditional idea of having to start from April 1, the new financial year, is definitely not essential as payroll companies have methods to easily load the year to date data,” he says.

Does the new payroll provider convert data and how much data is converted? Data conversion from the previous payroll system can save a huge amount of time when implementing a new system.

For example IMS Payroll offers data conversion from the most commonly used systems at no cost for the client’s first company.

“We send our new clients a conversion information document which details the process for

conversion and the data which will be converted.”

Will I need additional resources? Hegarty says that with all data conversions not all information can be transferred and there will some manual work to do. The amount of manual work will depend on the number of employees, number of companies and which system the business is coming from.

The employer or manager can decide at this point whether additional resources will be required to assist with the project.

What is the procedure? The standard procedure for implementing a new payroll is called Parallel Running. “In most cases the last payroll in the month is run in both the new and old system, results compared and differences ironed out.

“At that point the system should working well and the decision can be made to go live with the new system.”

How am I going to train staff? Generally payroll providers supply the training support needed.

“At IMS Payroll we work with new clients and configure an implementation program that suits them. New clients are allocated an IMS Payroll Implementation Manager. This gives the client one point of contact who can coordinate the support, training and data conversion services which may be required.”

call because the internet traffic routes through the New Zealand VPN, it looks as if the employee is calling from New Zealand and the company would then only be charged for a local instead of an international call.

But James stresses that a VPN is only as good as the company setting it up and the level of security around access to it, namely the password.

He recommends using a company that offers two forms of authentication, for example a password you can set yourself as well as a security token or certificate for users to enter the VPN. “It can be complex to set up a VPN and it’s vital that it’s done correctly. Look for a company that is well established in the marketplace, as there are plenty of dodgy VPN providers out there as VPNs are also sometimes used for piracy purposes and to illegally download copyrighted material. Use a VPN provider you can trust.”

James says businesses need to consider how they operate to determine the requirements of their VPN. For example, does the VPN solution need to cater for multiple operating environments ie. laptops, phones (android and apple), computers, windows applications etc? Can the bandwidth of the company system cater to multiple remote users if, for example, all the company’s staff decided to log on remotely at the same time?

“What is your workforce and what are your needs are two prime questions businesses need to ask. Who needs access to the VPN and how much access do they need?”

James says there is growth in two key markets in New Zealand: Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) – where employees can work remotely from their own devices – and Choose Your Own Device (CYOD) – where businesses supply devices to employees for them to work remotely.

“Due to changes such as these in the workforce we are seeing more people needing to connect to the office system remotely.

“It’s a reflection of changes in the way people are working and I think we’ll see continued growth of VPNs in New Zealand.”

VPN in a nutshell The internet is a public network that connects most of the world’s computers.

A VPN is a private network (group of computers or discrete networks) that utilizes the public internet because it is already very widespread.

Almost anyone can connect to the internet while only authorized people can connect to a VPN. Most of the internet does not have strict security while a VPN requires a high level of security making it more secure.

You connect to a VPN by usually launching a VPN client on your computer (or perhaps by clicking a link on a special website) and logging in with your password and other authentication details.

Your computer then exchanges trusted keys with a server. Once both computers have verified each other as authentic all of your internet communication is encrypted and secure.

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Business North

DEVELOPMENT » Main Beach Takapuna

Serving up the style in Takapuna Karen Phelps A vision to put Takapuna on the map as a first class destination has resulted in the development of Main Beach Takapuna.

Designed as a restaurant pavilion by Auckland based architects the Ignite Group, Main Beach Takapuna was inspired by architectural elements iconic to Takapuna including the black stained beach houses and boat houses.

Barworks has taken two of the tenancies with its bistro Franc’s and restaurant Regatta.

Tokyo Club’s Mark Smith has brought new Japanese cuisine with Tokyo Bay in the centre of Main Beach Takapuna.

Franc’s opened for business in December while the remainder of the restaurants opened their doors in February.

All of the restaurants have a focus on the sea both in cuisine and decor and provide a variety of dining options.

Franc’s is a casual dining restaurant,sited right on the beach and includes a bar, walk-up booth to order takeaway fish chips and burgers and a raised open kitchen serving casual and bistrostyle food as well as dining areas oriented to the ocean view.

Tokyo Bay delivers modern Japanese cuisine from Chikara Sato, one of New Zealand’s top sushi chefs.

Regatta’s interior takes inspiration from the ocean with floors decorated with tiles reminiscent of fish-scales and the seaside colours of navy, teal-blue and white used throughout.

Above the kitchen are a series of wooden signs advertising the fish and seafood.

The boards are swapped during the day, as one fish sells out and the kitchen takes delivery of another. A wood fired grill is used for cooking fish, steaks and seafood.

Main Beach Takapuna has been built on a

Designed by Auckland based architects the Ignite Group, Main Beach Takapuna was inspired by architectural elements iconic to Takapuna including the black stained beach houses and boat houses.

one hectare parcel of land on Takapuna Beach bordered by the Strand, Hurstmere Road and the Copson Group Business Centre, which was purchased by the Copson Group in 2009.

North Shore born and educated John Copson, principal of the Copson Group, says his investment company considered its future options framed by its long term investment philosophy of not selling land once purchased.

The decision to develop the Takapuna property was a new strategy as the company does not generally involve itself in development.

“This is a unique location with what we believe is the best metropolitan beach in New Zealand,” explains Copson.

“We investigated several options but went back to the drawing board to capture the essence of Takapuna and create Main Beach Takapuna as a destination venue for Aucklanders.”

Copson Group also owns Crown Asia Pacific Group whose operations include finance, property, business consulting, insurance and investment.

The Group businesses operate within three

areas of focus - financial services, investment and property. The financial services operations include Crown Finance, Crown Money, Crown Partners, Crown MPG Profit Building Systems, Directloan and Wholesale Finance Direct. Crown Property represents the Group’s property investment activities and its portfolio includes office buildings, retail and industrial buildings.

Crown Capital represents the Group’s other investment activities.

Takapuna Business Association general manager Peter White agrees that Main Beach Takapuna has certainly helped put Takapuna on the map and revitalised the beachfront.

Since opening feedback from the community has been excellent, says Copson Group CEO Chris Arbuckle who managed the project from its inception: “Locals have congratulated us and said what an asset Main Beach Takapuna is, and how it has brought new life to the area.”

“We investigated several options but went back to the drawing board to capture the essence of Takapuna and create Main Beach Takapuna as a destination venue for Aucklanders.”

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DEVELOPMENT » Main Beach Takapuna

John Copson, principal of the Copson Group: “This is a unique location with what we believe is the best metropolitan beach in New Zealand.”

restaurant development at Takapuna Beach

Award winning design for the Hospitality Industry Urban Architecture | Commercial Design | Master Planning | www.ignitearchitects.com

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Business North

HOSPITALITY » Intercontinental Wellington

Hotel’s multi-million dollar makeover Karen Phelps The final phase of a multi-million dollar refurbishment of InterContinental Wellington has just been completed which has involved upgrading virtually every aspect of the hotel.

The refurbishment not only aims to ensure the brand continues its five star standard but also to connect guests with the local environment, says InterContinental Wellington general manager Scott Hamilton. “One of the special features of Wellington is the harbour and its interaction with the landscape and people,” says Hamilton.

“Our refurbished Club InterContinental Lounge, offering personalised service to guests staying in our exclusive Club InterContinental Guest Rooms, now spans the total width of the hotel overlooking the whole harbour and provides truly stunning views day and night,” he says Hamilton.

The works, with Watts and Hughes Wellington as lead contractor, have taken nearly 18 months to complete and include refurbishment of the hotel’s Deluxe guest room category and the creation of brand new Club InterContinental guest rooms.

InterContinental Wellington director of sales and marketing Geoff Naumann says the rooms were stripped back then completely refurbished to provide a contemporary comfortable environment.

Luxurious features include large rain head showerheads in the walk in showers, an audio hub including blue-tooth, wi-fi and USB on a flatscreen TV. In the refurbished Club InterContinental guest rooms luxurious detailing is taken a step further with electric curtains guests can open from their bed at the push of a button.

These 64 rooms also gives guests access to the Club InterContinental Lounge, which Naumann says is providing a perfect environment for quiet informal meetings as well as offering a dedicated boardroom.

Other parts of the hotel, which have been remodelled, include The Lobby Lounge, Chameleon Restaurant and the hotel’s nine meeting and event rooms, which can cater for meetings, functions, conferences and trade fairs from four to 350 people. Along with enhanced design the meeting rooms now feature new stateof-the-art technology.

“Each meeting room has been fitted with a wall mounted touch-screen control panel allowing room lighting, sound and visuals to be easily controlled.”

Naumann says the focus has been on creating contemporary, seamless design combined with interactivity: “Presenters are able to wirelessly connect to the room displays allowing iOS and Android devices to present,” he says.

“Each meeting room has been fitted with a wall mounted touch-screen control panel allowing room lighting, sound and visuals to be easily controlled.”

InterContinental Wellington offers a total of 232 guest rooms including 7 suites. It also provides spa facilities and a health and fitness centre with gym, spa, sauna, and heated swimming pool.

The hotel also offers a range of business services including copying, a courier service, e-mail and internet, executive floors, facsimile and a PC available if required.

Other facilities for executive guests include a printer, private limousine and secretarial services.

InterContinental Wellington is part of the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts brand.

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of nine hotel brands, including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo Hotels, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express Hotels, Staybridge Suites Hotels, Candlewood Suites Hotels, EVEN Hotels and HUALUXE Hotels & Resorts.

Naumann says InterContinental Wellington guests can also benefit from the IHG Rewards Club, the world’s first and largest hotel loyalty programme with over 74 million members worldwide.

Nwe look: the Intercontinental Wellington refurbishments have been all encompassing and include left, The Lobby Lounge, and right the hotel’s Deluxe guest rooms.

Business North

HOSPITALITY » Intercontinental Wellington

Other parts of the hotel, which have been remodelled include the Chameleon Restaurant, the Lobby Lounge, and the hotel’s nine meeting and event rooms.

The programme was relaunched in July 2013 and offers a range of benefits for members including free internet for Elites across all hotels, globally.

Naumann says that sustainability is an important focus for IHG and it has developed IHG Green Engage to help the company to design, build and run greener hotels.

“IHG Green Engage is an online system that gives our hotels the means to measure their dayto-day environmental impact.

“Hotels signed up to the system can track how much energy, carbon and water they’re using and how well they’re managing waste.

“At the same time they can choose from over 200 activities designed to help them use fewer resources, improve their carbon footprint and reduce their water use.”

Naumann says the IHG brand is growing globally.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns over 4600 hotels and 678,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories.

With more than 1000 hotels in its development pipeline, the company also expects to recruit around 90,000 people into additional roles across its entire estate over the next few years.

Naumann says that InterContinental Wellington, which is currently the capital’s only international five star hotel, offers guests one environment from which they can do everything in the capital.

“We offer seamless connectivity to Wellington with a concierge, wifi throughout the hotel and three food and beverage outlets on site,” says Naumann.

“Once people arrive they have everything here they need to make their stay in Wellington easy and enjoyable.”

Watts & Hughes would like to thank all of our loyal and valued subcontractors and suppliers who have worked on the Intercontinental Wellington project, for yet another successful project

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MILLWATER » Horncastle Homes

Business North

Parkway Terraces setting the trend Karen Phelps Medium-density development Parkway Terraces

by Horncastle Homes will be showcased by the Auckland Council as an exemplar case study in the council’s Auckland Design Manual, a new resource for those involved in design, building and development.

Horncastle Homes architect Tim Devine says Parkway Terraces, which is located in Millwater, was not only designed to look smart but also to be as maintenance-free as possible, which came from using quality materials.

“It’s a sort of Cape Cod-style home; Americantype seaside architecture.

“We wanted to do something with a different look/feel to the surrounding homes, which are mostly dark brick with a hip gable roof.”

Parkway Terraces is the first medium-density development in Millwater and offers three to four bedroom terraced homes ranging in size from 142-180 square metres. The homes come with two bathrooms and double garaging.

Horncastle Homes Auckland operations manager Murray Stiven says that by focusing on creating a product with a better life span the result was reduced maintenance costs.

Every stage of Parkway Terraces sold out before completion with key markets being older couples looking to downsize and younger couples wanting to take the next step on the real estate ladder.

Horncastle Homes is a privately owned Christchurch-based residential building company that has been active in the Auckland market for the past four years with a show home in Orewa employing 16 staff. Horncastle Homes employs over 70 staff and more than 300 contractors nationwide. The company has a large in-house design team including a registered architect, costing team, project management team and a sales and administration team.

Horncastle Homes says its Parkway Terraces project at Millwater is designed to look smart and be as maintenance-free as possible.

Stiven says that the company is focused on utilising local resources where possible.

For example the majority of the Auckland offices’ contractors are sourced locally from the North Shore and Pokeno where the company is currently working on developments.

Since Millwater started around 1100 sections have been sold with 350 more due to be released to

the market this year. Horncastle Homes is presently working on The Gateway in Millwater, a group of 35 apartments due to be released to the market in May, and two apartment developments - Blake Greens and Botanical.

With more than 20 years experience, Horncastle Homes has the capacity to construct over 300 new properties per year and Stiven says the company

is firmly focused on growth, particularly in the Auckland market.

In the next 12 months Horncastle Homes will have over 100 homes/apartments under construction in the North Shore and Pokeno and approximately 60 in the planning phase including a significant development, which sits alongside the Millwater Metropolitan area of 44 apartments.

Millwater set for further growth Karen Phelps Preparations are underway for the next stage of the Millwater development. But Aucklanders desperate to find land on which to build a house should not get too excited just yet.

Millwater marketing manager Warren Frogley says that sections at Arran Point will not be offered to the market until late 2016.

“It will take most of this year to complete the ground work before the roading and services will commence,” he says.

The company is also developing land in Bonair located at the Silverdale entrance to Millwater.

Athough some sections have already been sold the majority of this stage of Millwater has yet to be developed.

“Bonair has some of the biggest section sizes on offer in the development and is just a short walk to the many local shops, schools and the Silverdale Retail Centre. We are expecting them to sell fast,” says Frogley.

The Millwater project between Silverdale and Orewa will eventually include over 3000 properties to be built over 10 years.

The development will include a mixture of low, medium and high-density homes with around 10,000 residents.

Between 700 and 800 people are already living in the suburb with the Wainui Rd/State Highway 1 interchange due to be completed in late April.

Around 1100 sections in the greater Millwater development have already been sold with a further 350 to go online this year.

Frogley says demand has been high.

“It’s much the same as any development in Auckland at the moment - there’s a greater demand than there is supply and we can’t release the land fast enough.

“Typically sections sell before they’ve even officially been released, as there are a lot of

builders we work directly with, from single spec to production building companies.

“A smaller percentage of sections are sold directly to the public,” he says.

Millwater is located in a park like setting with cycle ways and extensive sea views.

Frogley cites the fact that the development has easy motorway access to Auckland City and is close to Orewa Beach and the surrounding coastline as well as being near to a large range of facilities as major factors driving demand.

Near to Millwater are Southern Cross Hospital, Northern Arena swimming centre and gymnasium, Snow Planet artificial ski field, Action Raceway indoor go-karts, two kindergartens, three primary and three secondary schools and Silverdale Retail Centre including The Warehouse and Countdown.

Millwater Developments has also been working closely with the developers of the Millwater Central shopping centre, which will be the only convenience retail centre servicing the development, which is due to open this month.

Sited on the corner of Millwater Parkway and Bankside Road by Broadway Developments, the retail centre will have 12 retail shops, 11 commercial premises and 119 carparks.

Included within the complex is the Millwater residential showroom.

“Millwater is right in the middle of an existing community rather than something that has been put in the middle of nowhere,” says Frogley.

“All the amenities are right there. Millwater has also attracted businesses and facilities to the area.”

Millwater includes extensive opportunities for residents to get close to nature with a walkway/ cycleway from Millwater to Orewa, sportsgrounds incorporating sports fields, hard courts, athletic track, skate park, 12 beaches, three golf courses and numerous parks, walks, reserves and children’s playgrounds scattered throughout the development.

The Millwater development, between Silverdale and Orewa, will eventually include over 3000 properties to be built over 10 years.

Frogley says the recreational opportunities were an important consideration as people on the Hibiscus Coast love to take advantage of the outdoors.

Millwater development involves a number of companies with Millwater Developments responsible for administration, sales and site management, backed by WFH Properties, a joint venture between William Francis and Fulton Hogan.

Millwater was established in 2005 after WFH had purchased land from farmers over several years. Four years were spent planning, surveying, rezoning and carrying out an historical study of the area.

Millwater will consist of five communities, named after the original farms – Bonair, Ridgedale, Arran Hills, Arran Point and Seaview.

House and land packages are available in Bonair and Ridgedale. House and land packages and spec homes are available in Seaview.

Approved companies to build in the development are Highmark Homes, Mike Greer Homes, Sensation Developments, Maddren, Horncastle Homes, G.J Gardner Homes, Stonewood Homes, Platinum Homes, Millwater Homes, The House Company, Universal Homes, Generation Developments, Sicato Residential, Sentinel Homes and Millstone Residential.

Business North

MILLWATER Âť Horncastle Homes

Parkway Terraces is the first medium-density development in Millwater and offers three- to four-bedroom terraced homes ranging in size from 142-180 square metres.

|9

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MILLWATER » Maddren Homes

Business North

Aiming to be ‘the best in the West’ Karen Phelps Maddren Homes is establishing what it hopes will become a residential building ‘hub’ for the West Auckland market.

The company has constructed custom-built premises on a site which will eventually house three show homes demonstrating different products, styles and specs.

“Typically customers have to drive all over the place to see different show homes,” says Maddren Homes general manager Rodger Scott.

“This means they can just come to one site, see everything they need to within close proximity to various subdivisions.”

Maddren Homes’ new offices will open in mid-March and the design will demonstrate the company’s focus on contemporary looks using traditional building techniques and the craftsmanship the company is renown for.

The first show home is under construction and is due to open in July. Two more show homes will be completed on the site by 2016.

Scott says the building hub is a sign of the company’s dedication to an area it is predicting significant growth in on the back of the new Westgate Town Centre development.

“Maddren Homes has been working in the area for 100 years and this signifies our commitment to the area and the fact we’re here to stay. We aim to be the best in the west,” he says.

Maddren Homes is owned by Tony and Terena Anderson who purchased the company in 2007.

As a family owned and operated business, Tony says he is acutely aware that integrity is tantamount to success.

“If I say I will do it I will do it. Both of my sons are builders here and I’ve drilled into them my standards. There should be no difference in quality between a small traditional family home and a glass-and-concrete modern design.”

Terena works in the Maddren office and both the Andersons and their staff have input into the business. “Not being part of a franchise has given us the freedom to create a culture where innovation is encouraged but values can’t be compromised.

It’s about maintaining tradition but not being traditional,” says Terena.

Maddren Homes focuses on design and build construction and the company is one of the approved builders in the Millwater Development.

“We know what works and what doesn’t,” says Tony. “It’s knowing what products will stand the test of time. We won’t use products that are not proven.

We offer a 10-year WeatherTight Warranty so we need to be sure the products we are using are proven to work.”

Offering eco friendly building options is a more recent focus signifying the changing times. For example the company’s new premises incorporate clerestory windows, double-glazing and concrete panels providing thermal mass.

Maddren Homes focuses on design and build construction and the company is one of the approved builders in the Millwater Development.

It has a new show home in Millwater at 43 Ridgedale Road.

The 199sqm home offers four bedrooms, two bathrooms and two-car garaging.

Features include pine weatherboard and Firth manor stone exterior cladding, exposed rafters with tongue and groove cathedral ceilings and a solar ready power and water package for both power saving and sustainable living benefits.

The Maddren Homes show home and another house, which Maddren Homes has built in Millwater, will be entered by the company in the next Registered Masterbuilders House of the Year Awards as Rodger Scott says they clearly demonstrate Maddren Homes excellence in both design and craftsmanship.

Scott says the company is currently offering house and land packages in the popular Millwater development and Scott says there is a waiting list of customers wanting to build with Maddren Homes in Millwater.

“Maddren Homes has been working in the area for 100 years and this signifies our commitment to the area and the fact we’re here to stay.”

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Business North

MILLWATER » Sicato Residential

| 11

Buyers snapping up Sicato quality Karen Phelps Sicato Residential only builds a select number of homes each year because the company wants to maintain a focus on high quality, says company director Simon Bird.

“We also focus on building in specific areas as it’s difficult to keep a handle on quality when you are dashing to sites all over Auckland,” says Bird.

It’s a recipe that has proved successful.

The company is working predominantly in Millwater at present and Bird says that he has only had to hold one open home in the last 12 months as the company’s house and land packages are getting snapped up off the plans.

Sicato Residential was founded in 2001 by Bird, a qualified builder and Registered Master Builder with over 29 years experience building homes in the Auckland area. Bird manages all of the homes the company builds and it is this attention to detail as well as the company’s reputable team of contractors and suppliers that has seen Sicato win four gold awards at the Registered Master Builders House of the Year awards.

“This is no easy task,” he says.

“You have to be right at the top in terms of quality and design to win these awards.”

Sicato Residential won awards in the Auckland region for the builders’ own home category in 2006 and in various new homes categories in 2007, 2009 and 2014.

Bird, who manages all the company builds, says and the attention to detail as well as the company’s reputable team of contractors and suppliers is the reason Sicato wins awards.

He says the company takes a flexible approach and is happy to work with clients to build a home that works in with their lifestyle.

• to page 12

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12 |

MILLWATER » Sicato Residential

Business North

Sicato stays focused on top quality • from page 11 All homes built by Sicato Residential are custom designed and no two homes are the same.

Every new home comes with a 10-year Master Build Guarantee.

Sicato Residential goes from grass to grass – vacant sites to a fully landscaped turnkey offering.

Bird has chosen to focus on building in Millwater at present due to a previous relationship with one of the developers, Fulton Hogan and WFH Properties Ltd, when he worked on the Dannemora development.

This led to Bird being invited to become one of the small select group of Millwater builders.

“If I drive into an area and like it I think other people will too,” he says.

“That’s how I felt when I drove into Millwater. It’s the location, the infrastructure, the new shops and schooling and its proximity to the motorway as well as beaches. It’s a well planned subdivision.”

Millwater is situated in the northern gateway between Silverdale and Orewa and faces out to sea.

Millwater is made up of five communities with north facing slopes and is just 10 minutes drive to Albany and 20 minutes to Auckland central.

Sicato Residential has now built around 25 homes in Millwater since 2009.

The company presently has a home at 10 Gumdiggers Rise for sale; a mono-pitch house clad in weatherboard and brick with a honed block feature panel to make it stand out.

Attention to detail as well as Sicato Residential’s reputable team of contractors and suppliers has seen the company win numerous awards.

The 217sqm, four-bedroom home sits on a 665sqm site and comes with two bathrooms and designer kitchen with butler’s pantry, a popular feature with customers today.

Sicato Residential also has homes for sale at 92 and 94 Ridgedale Road. Both homes are 198sqm and comprise four bedrooms and two bathrooms on a 540sq section.

Number 92 Ridgedale Road is described by Bird as a Mt Eden villa style home with timber weatherboards, wide facings around outside windows and timber architraves inside around windows and doors.

The home also has feature tongue and groove panelling and glass French doors opening between the living area.

Bird says 94 Ridgedale Road is more of a “classic style” weatherboard and brick home.

“Both homes have lush landscaping and everything inside and out is finished to a high standard. Our high level of landscaping is just one of the things that sets us apart and shows our attention to detail and focus on quality right the way through the building process to the very end.”

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MILLWATER » Sicato Residential

Business North

Sicato Residential has built around 25 homes in the Millwater development since 2009.

Timber coloured to suit The exact colour of wooden flooring you desire is now a reality with the new SuperSolid range from Just Hardwood Floors.

The company also provides design advice and offers solutions to flooring problems, for example timber over underfloor heating or for air-conditioned buildings.

Typically wooden flooring comes in set colours but with the new SuperSolid range Just Hardwood Floors imports unfinished engineered timber flooring and a range of oils and polyurethanes from Italy to colour the timber to suit the client’s décor.

“We have in depth saw milling and timber sourcing expertise and our timber is tailored to meet the needs of our customer’s environment and installed with the strongest fixing systems,” explains Steve.

“Using a 6mm thick top layer of solid European Oak and a 15mm plywood backing system giving 21mm thick (total) makes SuperSolid incredibly stable,” says Nicole Heald, one of the owners of Just Hardwood Floors.

“Because we can colour the timber to suit clients can get quick access to a much larger range of colours than has traditionally been available.”

SuperSolid can be installed over concrete/ timber/joists and underfloor heating systems.

The oils and polyurethanes can also be applied to existing timber flooring making SuperSolid a great option for any commercial or residential new build or renovation. Fully installed or supply only options are available and SuperSolid can be delivered pre-finished or finished on-site.

Just Hardwood Floors is owned by Nicole and Steve Heald. The company supplies and installs hardwood flooring as well as sanding, coating and supplies timber and adhesives for the trade, home handyman or builder keen to install their own floor.

“It’s about offering advice and directing people towards what is suitable for their specific situation.”

The company takes on jobs ranging from small kitchens right up to commercial and retail buildings.

From 100% timber to pre-finished timber veneers (a veneer of real wood stuck onto a solid base) Just Hardwood Floors can undertake any work from staircases and custom work including design features set into the floors to tongue and groove long run flooring, parquet and laminated flooring.

Steve and Nicole say a major point of difference is that everything is undertaken in house and the company has its own dedicated show room so customers can see exactly what the flooring products will look like. The company has undertaken some high profile projects including Auckland Art Gallery, Botany Downs Shopping Centre, the America’s Cup Village and a 1000 square metre floor (that’s seventeen kilometres) in the newly constructed Tauranga Art Gallery.

Just Hardwood Floors has installers who can work anywhere in New Zealand.

| 13

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MILLWATER » The House Company

Business North

The ultimate in modern family living Karen Phelps The House Company is due to open a new show home in Millwater in June which business development coordinator Olivia McArthur says epitomises the ultimate modern family home.

Located at 3 Sawyers Lane the 203 square metre split-level home is clad in plaster and cedar weatherboard and showcases top quality products.

With three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an entertainers kitchen and double garage she says that the home is ideally suited to Millwater where clients desire a stylish modern home.

“The show home combines classic features with a sophisticated edge to suit a modern lifestyle and is a good example of the design difference that makes The House Company stand out,” she says.

In Millwater the company offers house and land packages and also works with clients who have already purchased a site.

The company’s latest release to the market in Millwater is a 245 square metre home built on a site next to the new show home in Sawyers Lane.

Olivia McArthur says that the company has a list of clients waiting to build with The House Company in Millwater.

“It’s a great location and a quick commute to the city. The majority of people we are working with are young families who are attracted to Millwater because of the community feel.”

A boutique design and build company, The House Company has been going for 25 years, and is owned by Olivia’s father Hamish McArthur.

The House Company has now built more than 1000 homes from Central Auckland to as far north as Kaitaia.

The company head office is located in Silverdale and it has show homes in Millwater and Warkworth.

The House Company is presently building five homes in Millwater and aims to build around 40 homes per year around Auckland.

More than half of the company’s work comes from referrals.

“As design and build specialists no two homes are the same,” says Olivia.

“We customise each design according to our client’s site, budget and wish list. For us it is more about quality than quantity.

In Millwater, The House Company offers house and land packages and also works with clients who have already purchased a site.

“We focus on building a selected number of homes each year and our project managers are on site each day so that we can offer our clients our undivided attention.”

A key point of difference is that The House Company doesn’t employ sales people but rather design and build consultants.

“All our consultants come from different backgrounds in design and build.

“They are involved in the decision making and technical process right through till construction,” says Olivia.

“This means our clients receive informed recommendations and answers to their questions right from the initial enquiry.

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Business North

MILLWATER » The House Company

The House Company’s latest release to the market in Millwater is a 245 square metre home built on a site next to the new show home in Sawyers Lane.

“We work with a wide range of qualified designers on projects so we have the ability to match each client with the designer most suited to their particular project.”

As testament to the quality of homes it builds The House Company has been winning awards at the Master Builders House of the Year competition since 2005.

At the 2014 competition the company took out a gold reserve award in the new homes $450,000-$600,000 category for a pine weatherboard home in Arkles Bay.

Because The House Company is proudly family owned and operated, Olivia says that this gives customers a more personal experience.

“Our customers actually shake the hand of the owner of the company and deal directly with us,” she says.

“That makes a huge difference because building a home is such a personal thing and it is also one of the biggest investments that most people make and one they do only do once in their life.”

“It’s a great location and a quick commute to the city.

The majority of people we are working with are young families who are attracted to Millwater because of the community feel.”

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| 15

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MILLWATER » Platinum Homes Rodney

Business North

Designs tailored for Millwater living Karen Phelps Platinum Homes Rodney is currently building a new show home in Millwater due to open around October.

Ian Main, Platinum Homes Rodney managing director, says the two-storey design will demonstrate how a home can best maximise floor space and site size.

“Two-storey homes have been popular in the area because of the desire to maximise the return on the cost of land,” says Main.

“Clients in this segment of the market desire a large floor size combined with a low maintenance section. Our new show home has been specifically designed with these attributes in mind”.

The home will feature longrun roofing and weatherboard, brick and aerated concrete exterior which will create a stunning, original look.

The company also has an existing show home in the area located at 391 Millwater Parkway.

This home - the aptly named ‘Millwater’ design - was opened two years ago.

The design was purpose-created for the Millwater region for clients desiring great features in a medium sized, single level home.

The flowing four-bedroom home offers a seamless indoor/outdoor lifestyle with multiple living zones. Built using quality brick and tile the finished home is both beautiful and energy efficient.

A smart home that will provide years of great living.

“Platinum Homes is serious about innovation, style and quality,” says Main.

“When we build, we use only proven construction methods and materials including market leading BRANZ appraised products.

“Platinum Homes stringent quality control ensures our homes are equipped to stand the test of time with many of our supply partners being part of the future-proof building programme.

Platinum Homes puts the focus on innovation, quality, and style.

“In addition, all Platinum Homes are covered by a 10-year independent Homefirst Builders Guarantee – and during construction all homes are insured by a works policy underwritten by NZI. You’re covered at every step of the process.”

Main says it is essential that clients talk to Platinum Homes early in the process as the company has a wealth of experience and expertise when looking for a suitable place to build.

“We have relationships with subdivision developers which ensures we are up to speed with

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specific requirements for each area” he says.

Platinum Homes also offer house and land packages. “We are currently advertising a number of house-and-land packages in a new development in Long Bay. These packages are a great way into a new home as a lot of the thinking and planning

has already been completed by the time people talk to us”.

For those wanting to start from scratch, Platinum Homes offers four concise ranges of innovative designs, with hundreds of variants within each range.

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Business North

MILLWATER » Platinum Homes Rodney

| 17

Platinum Homes’ Millwater design was created for the Millwater region for clients desiring great features in a medium sized, single level home.

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18 |

Business North

BUILDING » CKC Holdings

Titoki Park - a diverse community Sue Russell By deliberating creating a variety of section sizes Keith and Gary Clapson - the developers of Hamilton’s newest subdivision Titoki Park - have created an instantly diverse community of homeowners; which is a really special feature of the project.

“We chose a range of section sizes, up to 791sqm, because we wanted to draw different age-groups and household types into this subdivision,” says Keith Clapson.

Taking time out from on-site duties at the expansive development now nestled on what was once Stan Heather Park rugby grounds, Keith Clapson suggests a stroll down a nearby street peppered with a whole mixed-bag of residents and design styles.

“It’s been one of the really positive biproducts to come from establishing a subdivision with an array of section size options that essentially a diverse demographic has been drawn toward it,” he says, as we walk along a ‘shared-way’ street where grass verges extend right to the road.

So far 31 of the eventual 90 homes have been built and mostly occupied.

Living inside these homes are young families through to those of more mature years.

It’s something that Clapson describes as the subdivisions’ “special character” which he says adds “a richness that you wouldn’t usually see immediately in a new housing development”.

“We also have a whole raft of different ethnicities buying here which is really exciting for us.

“It’s certainly not a homogenous community as you can often have when a particular style of home is built and replicated throughout a subdivision,” says Clapson.

The building process he and his team have developed is also pioneering stuff.

“Right through the building phase at specific pre-set intervals clients come back in to make design element decisions,” he says.

“You might think this would become frighteningly unwieldy but actually our system is highly evolved and it really works well.”

Homes range in price from a starting point of $350,000 for two bedrooms, three bedrooms from $390,000 and four bedrooms from $460,000.

Within the design and build system the price of chattels is calculated and included but clients are free to change these to higher specified items should they choose.

With a variety of section sizes, Titoki Park has attracted a diverse community of home-owners.

• to page 20

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Business North

BUILDING » CKC Holdings

| 19

Located in the south of Hamilton, Titoki Park is now nestled on what was once the Stan Heather Park rugby grounds in south Hamilton.

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Business North

BUILDING » CKC Holdings

Titoki Park - a diverse community • from page 18 “There is so much freedom to bring in exactly what you want,” says Keith.

“Our documents make it very clear just what is covered in the set price and what is not.

“It’s great to see clients get really involved in personalising their home to just what they want,” he says.

With the show homes and stages one and two completed and sold and with stage three on the market and selling fast, Keith says the challenge is to keep sufficiently ahead of demand.

“I guess if I’ve learnt anything it is that I needed to be developing on new sections and areas much faster than imagined. It’s certainly been a learning curve.”

Particular attention has been placed on technologies that greatly inhibit dust falling into a stream that skirts part of the boundary and the park-like spaces either side of the stream will create an inviting recreational area.

Once a concept plan has been agreed to and signed off the home-owner puts down a 10% deposit which is placed into a Trust fund.

The balance is paid on completion of the home when it is finally signed off.

Clapson Construction has engaged the services of Marina Spavoska from surveying and planning company McPherson Goodwin whose architectural design services come at no cost to the prospective purchaser.

“We have formed some key supply relationships including Carpet Mill whose staff have amazing capabilities to match specific colour pallets to exactly what the client wants while Aaron Paterson from Bayleys Real Estate is in charge of marketing.”

Located in the south of Hamilton, away from the cities traditionally expanding North-Western catchment, Titoki Park is a few minutes drive

Developing fast: so far 31 of the eventual 90 homes in Titoki Park have already been built.

from Waikato Hospital and the CBD, 500 metres to the nearest supermarket and less than 1 km from primary schools, a high school and preschools.

“I think this area is perfect for a housing development like this, so close to arterial routes and away from the more frenzied vastly populated areas on the other side of Hamilton,” says Keith.

Work on Titoki Park is scheduled to be completed by the end of next year.

“Our documents make it very clear just what is covered in the set price and what is not. It’s great to see clients get really involved in personalising their home to just what they want.”

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BUILDING » Renovo Group

Business North

| 21

Renovo Group expands its services Sue Russell Every two weeks Shaun O’Mara owner of contracting company Renovo Group based in Auckland makes a visit to Christchurch to oversee the work the company is involved with in the rebuild.

These visits, he says, are not only about checking up on progress but also to connect and support home-owners who, in some cases, have been waiting years for work to be carried out.

“I guess it’s the pastoral care side that I didn’t really expect to get involved in that has become for me a really important element in what we do,” says O’Mara.

“We have started to work with the customers as building services consultants to ensure they are getting the repair programme their property requires and providing after build work reports ensuring that the work undertaken has been completed to NZ standards and building code.”

Beyond the work in Christchurch the scene in Auckland is very different with a great deal of building boom related work now coming the company’s way.

O’Mara took over the company proper only last year and in that move has re-positioned the company into new directions, moving away from its maintenance sub-contracting work back to focusing on large commercial projects offering both concrete and carpentry packages.

That history though meant that Renovo Group had a multitude of work-related relationships formed with contracting companies, something he says has been pivotal in helping his own aspirations of Renovo becoming a fully-fledged main contractor in its own right.

“It’s my intention that the company is positioned to take on substantial contracting work and so far the projects we have had on our books have been just that.”

Those jobs include work recladding a primary school sub-contracted to another company and assisting in the build of two apartments working for Fletcher construction.

The last 4 ½ months Renovo has been on site at the University of Auckland undertaking the carpentry package for the new science block in what has been the company’s largest individual job to date.

Recently David Brown, a highly experienced construction manager has joined the company, something O’Mara says has greatly increased its capacities.

“He carries a wealth of experience on major construction projects throughout New Zealand and the Pacific.

“He was attracted to come on board I think mostly because that he, like myself, could see

Renovo Group offers a wide variety of services including project management, construction management and construction services.

major opportunities for growth into full contracting in the next five years.”

These days Renovo Group has evolved into offering full procurement, project management, constructions management and construction services.

The next evolution for the company, O’Mara says, will be to move into the architecturally designed residential sector with a full design team formed to offer complete design and build services.

“With all the relationships we’ve forged over the years from our background in construction and maintenance we have the ability to very quickly find enough trades who meet the standards of workmanship we expect.

“This means as a company we’re extremely adaptable and flexible and able to seize opportunities as they come up,” says O’Mara.

With big dreams and plenty of work on hand Renovo Group seem set to continue to evolve into a bright and productive future making a difference in the Auckland and Christchurch areas.

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22 |

BUILDING » Auckland Builders / GST Construction

Business North

GST Construction making it count in the Waikato Karen Phelps

Auckland Builders tackles a variety of projects including new builds, landscaping, roofing, light commercial, maintenance, leaky homes and reclads.

Firm has the winning recipe Karen Phelps Auckland Builders has been busy due to the strong economy and the tightening of legislation around the building industry which has led to the removal of ‘cowboys’, says Auckland Builders owner Mathew Den Boogert.

The company is presently working on a variety of projects including bathroom and kitchen renovations in Blockhouse Bay and Onehunga.

Den Boogert, who has a level 4 certificate in carpentry and is a Licensed Building Practitioner and member of the Certified Builders Association of New Zealand, places a big focus on qualifications and professionalism in all aspects of his business.

For example staff are attired in uniforms with the company logo to ensure a professional image.

“The first thing we do with our customers is to build trust,” Den Boogert says.

“We do this by presenting a professional image in all aspects of the business and by listening to their ideas,” he says.

Auckland Builders was started by Den Boogert in 2008 and has grown from smaller jobs to pricing contracts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Den Boogert started his business with nearly two decades of building experience behind him.

He worked for various building companies before starting his own business.

Den Boogert has been quick to surround himself with the right team, including an accountant and lawyer, and the right certifications and systems to ensure the business is a success.

Auckland Builders tackles a variety of projects including new builds, landscaping, roofing, light

commercial, maintenance, leaky homes and reclads, renovations and alterations, electrical and plumbing work, painting, decks, fences and retaining walls.

Den Boogert offers free quotes and works with architects to provide a complete service to clients.

Auckland Builders has its own office and employs a quantity surveyor.

This year the company has taken on two new young apprentices and Den Boogert says he is enjoying passing on his knowledge to the next generation of builders.

“Auckland Builders is based on the belief that our customers’ needs are of the utmost importance. Our entire team is committed to meeting those needs. ‘No excuses - only results’ is the company slogan. As a result a high percentage of our business is from repeat customers and referrals.”

Past projects completed by the company include renovation work completed for the offices of politician Phil Goff, renovating award winning restaurant Pane and Vino in Ponsonby and a small project for the Tongan Consulate in Epsom, which saw Den Boogert meeting the Queen of Tonga.

To give further indication of the variety of work the company completes Auckland Builders has just completed a project in Lynfield Auckland, which included building a hardwood deck extension, new external stairs with balustrade and two sets of new aluminium double glazed french doors to open up the house to the decks and gardens.

The company has also completed the recladding of a wall and construction of a large covered pergola over the loading zone of a busy commercial shop in Mt Albert.

Waikato-based GST Construction aims to be involved at the outset of projects offering valuable advice from both an engineering and building perspective, says company owner Grant Tidmarsh.

An engineer by trade, Tidmarsh has experience in all facets of the concrete and steel construction the company specialises in.

“In my career I have laid concrete, welded beams and pipework and made concrete tilt panels,” he says, citing the fact that this hands on experience sets the company apart.

Tidmarsh started GST Construction in 2004 to focus on steel and concrete construction for the rural and commercial industries.

GST Construction has a professional team from which Tidmarsh selects those team members that have the skills and expertise for each aspect of the construction.

“I’ve picked the best group of people in the industry. Between us we create a team with a lot of experience,” he says.

Companies that GST Construction regularly works alongside include Concrete Bindings, Waikato Steel Fabricators, Nicholson Surveying, Todd McPhee Crane Hire, Vida

Group, Concrete Structures, Tilt Up, GA Hughes & Associates, Steel n Tube and Comag.

GST Construction attends the initial meeting at the start of the project then facilitates the design process for the client sharing valuable information and advice from the company’s vast building experience.

“Clients want as many square metres for their budget as they can.

“I know how to achieve maximum bang for buck for the client without compromising quality,” says Tidmarsh.

“I am aware of potential pitfalls and how to present all the options to the client so they can make an informed decision.”

Tidmarsh then facilitates and project manages the build process ensuring everything runs smoothly and any issues are dealt with and resolved as quickly as possible.

GST Construction has been working with long term clients.

“Time equals money for my clients.

Honesty and integrity is important. I treat every project as if it I was building it for myself.

“Most of the business I do could just about be done on a handshake – that’s the kind of rapport and trust we’ve built with clients over the years,” he says.

GST Construction has a professional team from which Tidmarsh selects those team members that have the skills and expertise for each aspect of the construction project.

Business North

BUILDING» GST Construction

| 23

GST Construction has just completed a 4300 square metre extension to the Blue Pacific Minerals building in Tokoroa to house a new processing plant.

Coming from an engineering background Tidmarsh says this is a distinct advantage.

“I know how structures work and spend a lot of time with steel fabricators to ensure the steel structure is as accurate as possible so unnecessary on site engineering and welding is not required.

“It’s about making sure everything is manufactured correctly and accurately so that when it arrives to the site the project can run smoothly,” he says.

GST Construction has just completed a 4300 square metre extension to the Blue Pacific Minerals building in Tokoroa to house a new processing plant. GST Construction is presently working on phase two for RJ Lincoln Logistics of a 9600 square metre building and inland port at Tokoroa after finishing a 6000sqm building in 2013 on the same site.

The company also regularly completes feedpads, new cow sheds and alterations to existing sheds for the rural industry.

“Most of the business I do could just about be done on a handshake – that’s the kind of rapport and trust we’ve built with clients over the years.”

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24 |

Business North

BUILDING » Rob Littlejohn Builders

Variety is the spice of life for Rob Sue Russell With more than 35 years of building experience, Northland’s Rob Littlejohn Builders has a wellrespected track record for completing a variety of high quality building projects from architecturally designed homes, contemporary family homes, and renovations through to commercial construction and farm buildings.

The company applies the same attention to detail and quality craftsmanship to all the projects it undertakes, no matter the building type or the budget.

Relying on its outstanding team of craftsmen to meet and exceed the company’s requirements for excellence, Rob Littlejohn Builders’ commitment to quality and value has earned the company an award

for every entry in the Master Builders House of the Year awards over the past 10 years, including two awards in 2010.

Company director Robin Littlejohn and his skilled team are dedicated to providing quality and exceptional service that is tailored to meet individual needs.

Right from the beginning of a project through to final completion, Rob Littlejohn Builders is able to offer both planning and construction services.

“We enjoy working closely with our clients to achieve their vision and turn their dream home into reality,” Littlejohn says.

“The plans in our New Zealand Collection range are a great place to start, or bring in your own plans, or we can liaise with local architects and designers to get your dream home onto paper and into fruition.”

While Rob Littlejohn Builders prides itself on creating new homes for families to love living in, it also carries the passion for building into the commercial sector.

Whether creating new learning spaces for the children of the future, renovating and extending shop premises, or upgrading service clinics, every commercial project is undertaken with the same dedication and quality construction it puts into each home it builds. With an outstanding team of craftsmen upholding the company’s standards for excellence, the same quality is available for the construction of new sheds, barns, or farm accommodation buildings.

Rob Littlejohn Builders can expand and enhance an existing home to keep it growing with the family, or uplifting tired bathrooms, kitchens, and living spaces.

“We understand the importance of extending or renovating a clients home with as little disruption as possible, and to maintain a comfortable living environment for clients.

“Many people choose to renovate simply to spruce their home up before sale, while others have a goal of improving their home for their family requirements.

Littlejohn says an essential first step towards achieving the best result on any project is securing the right company to build with at the outset.

“We ensure the best possible experience for all of our clients, with every detail of the project being professionally managed, including design and pricing, right through to completion,” he says.

“We like to work with an open book and we run our projects as either labour only contracts or cost plus margins contracts.

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Business North

BUILDING » Rob Littlejohn Builders

| 25

Rob Littlejohn Builders’ commitment to quality and value has earned the company an award for every entry in the Master Builders House of the Year awards over the past 10 years.

“We want our clients to have the best experience and that means knowing up front what their build is going to cost before you even start.

“All our projects are individually tendered amongst specialised sub-trades so we can obtain the best quality at the best price.”

Rob Littlejohn Builders’ commitment to its clients’ satisfaction continues during the construction process, where the company aims for clients to enjoy the process and have confidence throughout.

Good communication channels between the client and all those involved in their build are established early on to achieve the best possible outcome.

Rob Littlejohn Builders is an active member of the Certified Builders Association and is a Licensed Building Practitioner.

The company is committed to complying with the Health and Safety in Employment Act, and is continually improving and reviewing its health and safety policy.

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26 |

BUILDING » Coolhouse

Business North

The award-winning 228 square metre home in Glendowie, Auckland, was the first certified Passive House in Australasia.

Firm at forefront of ‘Passive’ design Karen Phelps A New Zealand designed home has won the overall house award at the 2015 South Pacific Passive House Awards.

The win follows on the back of success at the 2014 International Passive House Awards where the same project won the single family home category.

The 228 square metre home in Glendowie, Auckland, was the first certified Passive House in Australasia.

“We’re three years into passive home design now so it’s a great confidence boost to get this kind of recognition for understanding the process and trends behind low energy passive ideas,” says Coolhouse director Darren Jessop.

Established in Germany in the 1980s Passive House is a standard designed to reduce the ecological footprint of a building by focusing on low energy consumption.

“A Passive House is a well-insulated, virtually airtight building with air circulation that is primarily heated by passive gain. This means that the building’s interior climate can be maintained at a comfortable level without active heating and cooling systems so the house heats and cools itself.”

Jessop says that Coolhouse, which also uses green, sustainable practices, aims to deliver homes in excess of the current New Zealand building code standards.

He stresses that Passive House is a performance standard and not a design standard and Coolhouse aims to produce contemporary design with a focus on clean lines and functional living spaces while still meeting the strict certification criteria.

Coolhouse designs have been specifically modelled to suit the New Zealand climate.

Coolhouse is an offshoot of sister company Jessop Architects, which has a history spanning 25 years and was the company that designed the Passive House Award winning home in Glendowie.

Coolhouse was started as a separate company to focus exclusively on passive design.

The company’s range, the Coolhouse Collection, includes seven designs in total ranging from studio to five bedrooms.

All designs can be altered as required to suit the site or customer requirements.

The homes have been designed focusing on air tightness and using European window technology, high insulation, a heat recovery ventilation system and thermal bridge-free construction.

“The Coolhouse building envelope means the insulation properties will not break down and will insulate to 100 percent of its value for the life of the building.”

“Thermal bridging occurs where heat is transferred between material such as the floor slab and the ground.

“This commonly occurs at corners, connections, windows and where insulation is interrupted.

“So thermal bridge-free construction covers everything from windows and internal steel beams not touching the timber framing, to insulating the footings and having the concrete slabs sit on high density polystyrene,” explains Jessop.

He says that a key focus for Coolhouse is to educate consumers about the benefits offered by passive design.

“The Coolhouse building envelope means the insulation properties will not break down and will insulate to 100 percent of its value for the life of the building.

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“On-going energy consumption is reduced, decreasing the household’s impact on the environment and returns considerable cost savings on energy bills, about 80% lower than in conventional buildings.”

Jessop says the company has developed an off-site manufacturing techniques resulting in a construction process that is quick and efficient with an airtight and weather tight structure within seven days and a fully completed construction within as little as 12 weeks from the slab going down.

He says this makes passive house design competitively priced compared with conventionally designed homes. Passive house technology is in demand, says Jessop.

Coolhouse currently has 10 homes underway around New Zealand and has had enquiries from as far afield as Japan and London.

Business North

BUILDING Âť Coolhouse

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28 |

BUILDING » Summit Construction

Business North

Summit takes on exciting project Karen Phelps Taking an existing nine-storey building and converting it into 87 apartments is one of the latest projects being undertaken by Auckland building company Summit Construction Ltd. The Hopetoun Residences project involves stripping the original building back to a concrete shell then constructing three new structural steel floors on top, a new roof, cladding system and large decks added to the exterior of the building.

It’s the fourth project director Andrew Burden has completed for client Tawera Group after converting two buildings to apartments and a large commercial fit-out.

Construction of Hopetoun Residences was started in July 2014 and completion is earmarked for August 2015.

Burden says that the main challenge of Hopetoun Residences has been the sheer size of the project.

“We’ve managed to build the right team to get this project done. Retrofitting an existing building is our area of expertise; it’s technically challenging work,” says Burden.

For example strengthening work was required including carbon fibre wrapping on a number of existing columns and strengthening of existing concrete frame through additional steel brackets and members. A new lift was installed requiring the upgrading of the existing shaft both structurally and for fire rating.

Burden says the project emphasises the experience and capability of his company.

“The fact that we are able to negotiate a project like this and add value during the pre-construction phase saving the clients money is key.

“We like to invest upfront in pre-construction providing the client with advice on design, buildability and programme.

“This can bring cost savings from simplifying details, finding time advantages or coming up with more efficient methodologies. Basically we do this by being flexible, adaptable and innovative, sharing our experience and expertise so the entire team will increase their capacity for innovation.”

As an example a review by Summit Construction of the cladding system revealed a new option resulting in a significant saving to the client. The roof was also reviewed and re-engineered to a simpler solution.

Although Summit Construction is a new company established in August 2013, Burden has extensive industry experience and contacts, which has seen the business grow rapidly.

Summit Construction has stripped the original building back to a concrete shell then constructed three new structural steel floors on top.

Burden forged a successful career in the industry for well over two decades prior working for Fletcher Construction and Hawkins Construction as a manager of the Auckland interior divisions for each company.

He was a part owner in another construction company when he made the decision to go out on his own and start Summit Construction.

The company’s other director John Carter joined Summit Construction a year ago in order to help facilitate the growth of the company.

Carter, a builder by trade, brings significant construction management experience.

“We like to invest upfront in pre-construction providing the client with advice on design, buildability and programme.”

Summit Construction is a member of the Licensed Building Practitioner scheme and Site Safe. Burden says the company focuses on the challenging projects.

“We typically will tackle the projects that others don’t like to do. We work alongside our client in true partnership style. Our clients like that they have direct access to our management team whenever they need to talk.”

Burden says that Hopetoun Residences represents a significant stepping stone for the company in terms of growth.

“We’ve been inundated with enquiries since for similar projects and have two other projects about to start that we got as a direct result of our work on Hopetoun Residences.

“But we are very focused on sustainable growth.

We want to build a well-resourced business in terms of systems, management and staff,” says Burden.

“We are committed to working in partnership with our clients, team, sub-contractors, consultants, suppliers and wider community so we all achieve success now and in the future.”

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Business North

BUILDING Âť Summit Construction

| 29

The Hopetoun Residences project will see the existing nine-storey building converted into 87 apartments.

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30 |

BUILDING » The Construction Company

Business North

Firm’s success is built to endure Kelly Deeks The Construction Company is a specialist new build and renovation company with a strong commitment to completing clients’ building projects within budget and on time while delivering high quality workmanship to their biggest investment.

Lead by William Denysschen, The Construction Company has evolved based on a vision to create a building company that is renowned for unprecedented customer service, quality of workmanship and integrity.

“Last year we embarked on a new chapter of our company’s history by rebranding to become The Construction Company Limited,” says Denysschen.

“This repositioning now reflects the direction, growth and scale of our future vision.”

Denyschen has more than 14 years building experience restoring, renovating and building new residential homes.

He is supported by a team of highly reputable builders and specialised sub-contractors, who collectively have extensive building code and construction knowledge.

“We have also recently appointed an operations manager to support our continued growth and commitment to improving our operational efficiencies, who brings a wealth of business management experience to the team,” says Dennyschen.

“Communication forms a critical part of our business operation.

“This is reflected in our commitment to having regular client update meetings, utilising a transparent monthly invoice process and providing client access to Co-Construct – a secure online website that provides up to date details of their project.”

“This enables us to place all the relevant information about a client’s project at their fingertips.”

He says The Construction Company is very aware that time is money and as a result efficiency and effectiveness are central to its business philosophy.

“We have a very strong work ethic that is focused on a ‘do it once, do it right’ policy.

“To facilitate this we are able to offer clients a personalised sole point of contact throughout the build process.

“This allows us to plan and project manage all the required details and workflow to ensure continuity and consistency and that time-lines

The Construction Company is equipped to complete any residential building project.

are met, with the aim of delivering an awesome result that we can all be proud of.”

The Construction Company’s commitment is supported by its seven company values: client first, trust, integrity, respect, accountability, transparency and passion.

“All of which are directly reflected in the way we conduct our business operations.”

The Construction Company Limited is a highly respected building company and a proud member of Certified Builders Association.

“We take pride in our workmanship and are committed to offering guarantees on any work

we undertake.”

“We have a very strong work ethic that is focused on a ‘do it once, do it right’ policy. To facilitate this we are able to offer a personalised sole point of contact throughout the build.”

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Business North

BUILDING » Thorburn Builders

| 31

Unique challenges in school project Kelly Deeks Huntly’s Thorburn Builders is currently building on its reputation for providing quality education work with a new classroom block project at Ohaupo School.

Thorburn Builders prides itself on being an excellent building partner in creating genuine value for its education clients.

Collaborating with boards of trustees, principals, project managers, architects, and other stakeholders, Thorburn Builders provides the knowledge and craftsmanship to exceed all their expectations.

The Ohaupo School project is one example of a job with a large number of stakeholders to be managed.

The project began at Christmas time last year, initially with the demolition of the existing 99-year old-building. This was not the original school building, which was one of the first school buildings in the district, but the one built to replace it after it was destroyed by fire.

Thorburn Builders contracts manager Paul Taylor says when the demolition and earthworks started on the site, it was under the supervision of archaeologists and Heritage New Zealand, looking for anything of potential historical value in the ground. Writing slates were found, as were burnt foundation posts from the original building.

Thorburn Builders leading foreman Adam McKenzie says the new 300sqm three classroom plus awhina space building is now up to “lock up stage”.

Paul Taylor says the build is going smoothly, even though it is a project with a sensitive nature.

“With Heritage New Zealand and archaeologists on site, there were a lot of stakeholders in this project and most had considerably strong views,” he says.

“Ohaupo has a very strong local community and the school is particularly important to the people.

It is creating an asset that significantly increases functionality, while maintaining its historical links.”

He says previous worries about replacing the

The demolition and earthworks at the Ohaupo School site were supervised by Heritage New Zealand, with archaeologists looking for anything of potential historical value. old with something new are now giving way to comments on how awesome the building is starting to look now the trusses are up and the pitch of the roof line can be seen.

“The design team Chibnall Buckell Marovic Team Architects had as their brief to recreate as much of the historical building as they could,” Taylor says.

“The new building has high studs and quite a high pitched roof at 30 degrees.

“There is detailing in the facings around the windows and the corner boxes to maintain the link to the previous structure.

“The building is specified with James Hardie’s Linea cladding system, so modern building materials have been used to replicate a historic building.”

As builders specialising in education work, Thorburn Builders, its builders, foremen, and office staff needs to maintain an understanding of Ministry of Education specifications and specific requirements.

The company has forged relationships with subcontractors who also specialise in Ministry of Education work.

From its location in Huntly, Thorburn Builders has been undertaking construction work in the greater Waikato region and beyond for the past 40 years.

It has a growing portfolio of residential, rural, educational, institutional, light infrastructure, and light commercial work.

The range of work completed reflects the skills and mindsets of the construction crews, whose abilities to create enduring solutions draws from this exposure to a wide range of building disciplines.

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Business North

BUILDING » New Style Homes by Mike Childs

32 |

Show home’s style captures interest Karen Phelps Stratford-based building company Mike Childs Builders is now operating under the New Style Homes brand reflecting the contemporary approach the company takes to house building, says company director Lynette Childs.

The company’s new show home, located at 22b Montague Grove, is a good example of the brand, says Lynette.

The 233sqm home sits on a 925sqm section and comprises three bedrooms, two bathrooms and three car garaging. It has a large open living area and separate lounge plus designer kitchen. The large deck leads onto a fully landscaped garden.

The home has a Linea weatherboard and plaster exterior with schist stone pillars forming a focal point in the design.

Last year the company won a gold regional award at the Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition and was named in the top seven in its category at the national competition for its show home.

Lynette admits it was a “risqué project” for the Stratford market but says the company has been overwhelmed with positive feedback.

Two other homes have already been built by the company based on the design with another to commence shortly. The show home itself is currently for sale.

“It really showcases what we can offer customers,” says Lynette.

The company offers a range of plans as a starting point for builds or a full design and build option. It also offers house-and-land packages and currently has four on offer located near the show home.

Although plans have been designed for each section Lynette says that customers are welcome to opt for a different design if they choose.

All homes built by the company come with a full ten year New Zealand Registered Master Builders guarantee.

Mike Childs builds a wide range of homes and buildings including commercial and rural as well as undertaking renovations.

The company was started by Mike, a Master Builder and Licensed Building Practitioner, in 1987 and has built everything from cow sheds to motels and supermarkets. Projects completed by

New Style Homes’ new show home, at 22b Montague Grove, is a good example of the quality and style of the company’s homes. the company include Amity Court, Four Square and Guthrie Bowron – all in Stratford. Recently the company completed two three-bedroom two storey townhouses in New Plymouth.

The company employs a team of 10, including its own builders led by Mike.

Born and bred in Stratford, Lynette says Mike is fiercely loyal to the local area and is an active member of the community. The Childs’ sons also now work for the family business: Blair, 27, is a qualified joiner while Nick, 22, is a qualified builder.

“We really focus on offering our clients a personal building experience,” says Lynette.

“They deal with Mike throughout the build and each project showcases the highest standard of quality and workmanship.

Call Paul for all your

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“Every member of the our team, from our office staff and qualified tradespeople, is committed to making the process a stress-free, pleasurable and rewarding experience for our clients.

“We are extremely proud that over the past 25 years we have forged a reputation for combining quality workmanship and unique styling,” says Lynette.

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Business North

BUILDING » RCS Construction

| 33

Reclad specialist a lateral thinker Karen Phelps Choosing to specialise in recladding has kept RCS Construction extremely busy since the company was formed a decade ago.

RCS director Stuart Goldsworthy says the company is one of the oldest in the Auckland market to exclusively focus on this highly specialised area of building.

“This means that we have built up considerable knowledge and expertise in this area. This aids our problem solving on site and enables us to come up with the best solution for our clients,” he says.

Goldsworthy says the company’s philosophy is to think laterally around problems or challenges and generate solutions based on expertise and experience rather than system based formulas.

“Our main aim is to understand and solve our customers’ often complex problems. We pride ourselves on our ability to think outside the square.”

Based in Auckland, RCS Construction was started in 2005 by Goldsworthy.

The company has since grown as many homeowners and property investors find themselves in the position of needing a company who can work alongside body corporates and building consultants.

Goldswothy, who has been working in the building industry for 25 years, says he takes a lot of pride in not only managing a large and experienced team but also ensuring that he stays personally involved in all projects.

“In this way we ensure all work is well coordinated, on track and kept within budget.”

RCS Construction specialises in $1m plus projects and Goldsworthy says that the company has developed an industry reputation for its commonsense approach and ability to find solutions for challenging projects that others find too difficult to tackle.

“We have a highly experienced labour force at our disposal all with a reputation for quality workmanship and exceptional time management.

“We work closely with engineers, architects and any other consultants to diagnose the problem,

RCS Construction has developed an industry-wide reputation for its commonsense approach and ability to find solutions for challenging projects. identify building or design faults and then have them repaired using the most effective solutions.

“Our priority is not only to restore the value of the property but to make the whole process as uncomplicated and stress free as possible.’

A good example is the company’s remedial works to a three block 10-storey apartment complex in Upper Queen Street.

Situated among existing commercial premises Goldsworthy says extensive project management was required: “This project had major scaffolding, roof and access issues. Our solution was to go

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through the neighbouring office block roof with the scaffold set up in order to gain access to parts of the building requiring work,” he explains.

He says the company has developed good relationships with many body corporates and building consultants around Auckland.

Past projects include a full reclad of 97 units at Tuscany Towers in New Lynn; removal and re-membraning of concrete decks to multi-level complex The Ridge at Oteha; deck remediation of Monterey Apartments in Howick and a full reclad of Castleglade apartments at Birkenhead. www.classicsheetmetals.co.nz Ph. 09 837 3659 Mob. 021 555 302 E.classicsheetmetals@vodafone.co.nz

We can offer specialist advice and service for any sheetmetal requirements, such as design, prototype work, architecturally designed work, production runs, any variety of fabrication work and the supply of raw materials.

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34 |

Business North

MANUFACTURING » Yunca Group

New factory delivers cost savings Karen Phelps Investment in its own offshore factory while maintaining a New Zealand design and management base has enabled Yunca to deliver high quality wood burners to the New Zealand market for nearly a decade.

Although the company has been producing wood burners for 38 years, with the increasing difficulty of manufacturing in New Zealand, Yunca didn’t want to compromise any of its standard quality features to bring New Zealanders well priced heaters, says Karyna Young from Yunca.

“In order to accomplish this goal we chose to purchase a factory in Goa, India, where Yunca management is in charge of the complete operation.

“But instead of handing over a blueprint and getting someone else to undertake the manufacture of our units for us we did things the hard way and set up our own factory.

“This means we can offer the same Yunca technology, durability and quality at a better price so we are passing on the benefits to the customers as we want to be here for the long term,” she explains.

The move has also helped to open international markets for the company as Young says that having a base in India allows possible entry into a number of other countries.

It also assists Yunca Group’s other divisions, primarily Yunca Engineering, which was established in 1994, and offers production and general engineering, she says.

But although Yunca is manufacturing its entry level products off-shore it has still maintained the manufacture of its vitreous enamel products as well as its multi-fuel ranges at purpose-built factories in Dunedin and Invercargill.

Established in 1977 by Karyna’s father Terry, the Yunca Group remains a wholly New Zealandowned company with its head office still in Invercargill.

The group comprises Yunca Heating; Procote Industries, which provides powder coating and enamelling services for both Yunca products as well as independent customers, and Yunca Engineering, which offers specialised production

Heating style: Yunca produces a wide range of wood burners and multi-fuel burners.

engineering, especially maintenance and manufacturing work focused on the aluminium smelting industry.

The Yunca Group trades both nationally and internationally and has a strong position in the New Zealand market, says Young.

Quality in all aspects of its products has been one of the keys to success over the years, she says.

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“We are probably known to over-engineer our heaters and to date they have predominantly been designed to withstand the extremely harsh winters of the South Island,” she says.

Yunca still supplies every part to every solid fuel heater the company has ever made.

“We still have heaters out there that are in excess of 37 years old and still going strong,” says Young.

Yunca sells direct to the public from its Dunedin and Invercargill branches and is also supported by a strong national network of dealers. Wood burners come with a ten-year firebox warranty and multi-fuel products with a five year firebox warranty.

Young says the aim is to continue to build the company’s Australasian market share as well as focusing on emerging offshore markets.

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CONTRACTING » Executive Pools

Business North

| 35

Hot summer drives valet demand Karen Phelps The intense heat of summer this year has resulted in increased demand for Executive Pool’s valet and water testing service, says Russell Jackson from Executive Pools.

“Intense heat and sunshine creates heavier bathing use as well as degrading the chlorine levels in a pool. For example chlorine can go from the recommended two parts per million to virtually zero in two days in the right conditions,” says Jackson.

“Problems such as algae growth then follow and since Christmas we’ve had a lot of people coming in for our help and advice,” he says.

Executive Pools offers a full valet service and a free water testing service. Jackson says the valet service is an area of huge growth for the company and common pool problems can often be avoided with regular maintenance and inspection of equipment to avoid costly and unnecessary repairs.

The company’s complete swimming pool and spa pool valet service includes a pool vacuum, back wash and rinse filter, clean of the skimmer, hair and lint baskets, bushing of walls/stairs as well as chemically balancing the pool and raking out any debris such as leaves. The company can attend to the customer’s pool on a regular weekly or fortnightly service.

If clients prefer to take care of their pool or spa themselves the free water testing service is a good option. Customers can also shop online for chemicals and other pool and spa care products from the comfort of their homes or visit the company’s retail outlet.

“Clients just need to bring in a water sample, one of our qualified pool technicians will test it, then give them a print out of the chemicals they require to bring the water up to standard.

“The process of balancing the water is a bit of science and a bit of art which is where our expertise comes in.”

Based in Pakuranga, Auckland, Executive Pools was founded over 30 years ago by John Honore who has been involved in the swimming pool industry within New Zealand since 1974.

The company designs, builds and services concrete pools and spas for the residential market

Executive Pools designs, builds and services concrete pools and spas for the residential market as well as offering associated after sales services. as well as offering associated after sales services.

Executive Pools has now built over 500 pools around Auckland.

“All pools and spas are individually designed to suit our customers wants and needs,” says Jackson.

“Our pools are free form which means the pool will be tailored to the site and landscape plans.

Many people find something they love in our designs but we always love the challenge of coming

up with something new to surprise our customers.”

He says the company only builds concrete pools made of reinforced concrete believing they are more durable and will stand the test of time. In fact care and attention to detail means that it takes the company three to four months to construct a pool.

Executive Pools offers a full service right through to decking and landscaping managing all the necessary contractors required for the job such as plumbers and electricians.

Executive Pools also offers a repairs and maintenance service. Pools and spas come

with a five-year structural warranty and all associated equipment such as filters is covered by manufacturer warranties – typically one to five years.

As of April 1, Executive Pools will be under new management.

Paul Barnard is a construction company expert and sees the potential for new pools in Auckland, which also generates revenue from service and valeting. Barnard will take over the management of the company and says he has plans to modernise and expand.

“Clients just need to bring in a water sample, one of our qualified pool technicians will test it, then give them a print out of the chemicals they require to bring the water up to standard.”

Executive Pools has now built over 500 pools around Auckland.

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36 |

STONEWORK » Auckland Stonemasons

JOINERY » The Joinery King

Business North

Client liaison gives top results Kelly Deeks

Auckland Stonemasons does a wide variety of work.

Family history carved in stone Sue Russell Len Lavas along with his brother leads a company with an enviable reputation and unique longevity, following on in the footsteps of their grandfather Ivan Lavas who, having arrived from Korcula Island on the Dalmation Coast, established Auckland Stonemasons nearly 90 years ago.

Evidence of the structures that have been built by the stone-craftsmen of the family are peppered all over Auckland and further afield.

“Ivan brought with him generations of stonemasonry experience from the Adriatic and the exacting standard of work he poured into every project he does is something we have proudly maintained ever since,” says Lavas.

The last seven years he says have at times been difficult for the company having to adapt to a competitive industry driven by price rather than quality. “We won’t be the cheapest stone construction company because we place quality above all else. This is not something we are prepared to compromise on and that quality speaks for itself when you see the projects we have completed. This is why we are often the preferred option for Councils.”

Acknowledging that what they often produce in the domestic and commercial markets could best be described as sometimes ‘luxury items and not a necessity’, Len says it is very satisfying to look

back at projects like sea-walls, bridges, and houses that have stood the test of time.

“We also do lots of special jobs and on the engineering side I’m often called on to help formulate just how to go about building a structure.

“We try as much as possible to help Councils and the like by cutting through all the red tape which is often time-consuming and adds huge costs to the build.”

With so many years designing and working with stone it isn’t surprising that Len has been asked by Government to be part of a group who will develop training and standards process for those wishing to become qualified in stonemasonry.

“I have been down to three meetings in Wellington and I can see the process is going to take a long time with a frustrating amount of report writing and bureaucracy surrounding it, which is the game you have to play dealing with government departments,” Lavas explains.

Carrying years of expertise in figuring out how to build walls that are technically challenging from an engineering perspective means that Len often helps engineers with construction sketches to demonstrate how best to go at building.

“I do a lot of drawings for architects and engineers, sketching up a cross section. It’s really important to start off on the right track with professionals engaged in construction. Good jobs evolve and you don’t have to be in charge of everything.”

Traditional and contemporary joinery specialist The Joinery King listens closely to its client’s briefs, to fully understand what they have in mind, before adding both practical and design ideas to ensure the finished product is exactly what’s required.

Listening to clients is critical to ensuring the joinery that arrives on site is exactly what the client is expecting, often exceeding expectations.

Tony King owns and manages Wellington based The Joinery King along with his wife, Juliane Ludwig.

After working for more than 20 years for Cornick Joinery, King took over the business and rebranded it under the name of The Joinery King.

He has more than 30 years of experience in the joinery industry, and has personally trained his hardworking and experienced team, ensuring they all strive for his standards of excellence.

“Generally all my staff started as apprentices or trainees,” King says.

“They are energetic and are professional joinery experts, and together we can assure customer satisfaction and customer service is second to none. We carry out the work as if it’s for our own homes, and we have never had a dissatisfied customer.”

The Joinery King offers superb kitchens individually crafted for each client, custom-made door and window joinery for homes where matching existing joinery is critical, and a range of entertainment units, shelving, and storage cabinetry to suit each client’s requirements.

“The clients’ ideas are the driving force,” King says.

“While I offer experience and a design perspective, along with craftsmanship and attention to detail, most importantly I listen to my clients.”

He believes he can’t enter into someone’s home thinking he knows what’s best, or how people operate during their daily lives.

He articulates his clients’ ideas and sketches as they’re talking, to help people visualise the end result.

“I’ve remodelled kitchens that people have put in five years previously, because the kitchen designer didn’t listen to the client and the client didn’t feel they could say anything,” he says.

“I feel my clients know what they want in their kitchen because they’re there every day and they think about the things they don’t like, and the things they do like.

“I’ll let them do the talking initially and then offer ideas and suggestions, while sketching their design, in the end the design is a collaboration between the client and myself.”

The Joinery King has been privileged to work on some rare and special projects.

Two years ago the company completed the joinery for a Waiheke Island guest house for a previous client, and is now working on the joinery for the eight-bedroom house going up on the same property.

The Joinery King and the client worked well together, collaborating on ideas with King’s innovation to create beautiful spaces with functionality and good design.

Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd is proud to be supporting Auckland Stonemasons by supplying high quality Cement.

Quality in all it does is the top priority for The Joinery King.

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Business North

JOINERY » The Joinery King

| 37

The Joinery King offers superb kitchens individually crafted for each client, custom-made door and window joinery, and a range of entertainment units, shelving, and storage cabinetry.

“While I offer experience and a design perspective, along with craftsmanship and attention to detail, most importantly I listen to my clients.”

With only two visits to site, King was able to template and scope out all that was required to then complete manufacture back in the workshop in Wellington.

“We’re manufacturing all sorts of things for this project, including the kitchen, wall hung TV cabinets, bathroom vanities, a solid veneer wardrobe, thick melteca wardrobes, desk tops, and all the interior doors.

“The interior doors are standard doors but we’re going to hang them properly with better quality hinges and better quality frames. Our client could buy pre-hung doors, but he wants it to be the best it can be.”

Another special project was a fabulous family home just north of Wellington. The owners wanted a classic English look and were looking to import a kitchen.

The Joinery King was able to authentically craft a beautiful kitchen, which wouldn’t have been achievable nor cost effective with an imported kitchen.

• Specialists in matching existing joinery

• French doors & profiled mouldings

• Individually crafted kitchens and vanities

• Doublehung & casement windows

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Bench Tops | Commercial | Custom Design

38 |

Business North

ENGINEERING » JP Marshall Engineering

Diversification the key to success Sue Russell

JP Marshall is the New Zealand agent for SAMI, Poggi and Cifa horizontal silos and batching plants for the storage and processing of cement and has gained enormous experience maintaining concrete processing plants.

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Based in Hamilton’s industrial suburb Te Rapa, JP Marshall Engineering is one of the Waikato’s busiest and most experienced steel fabricators and industrial engineering providers.

With capability to design, laser cut, machine and fabricate all on one site, JP Marshall Engineering has integrated across the supply chain to provide a ‘one stop shop’ to its customers.

This capability, coupled with its size, enables it to provide a diverse range of products and services including general fabrication, laser cutting, machining, design and production of grain storage and processing facilities, flighting and screw conveyors to name a few.

Gary Brown is in charge of the fabrication division and is also actively involved with other company operations. Brown says the company has been able to thrive, while operating in a competitive and challenging environment.

“Continually evolving in the business of engineering is about ensuring staff on the workshop floor are provided with opportunities to develop professionally and get to work with the best technologies at hand,” says Brown.

“We have a core group of staff who have been here for a long time because it is a good company to work for,” he says.

“Our attitude is very much that if someone walks in off the street and they have experience and qualifications we will take them on.”

JP Marshall is the New Zealand agent for SAMI, Poggi and Cifa horizontal silos and batching plants for the storage and processing of cement.

The company has been developing its own silos having gained an enormous amount of experience maintaining concrete processing plants around the country. “There is growing demand to be able to readily access cement and process concrete on site

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Business North

ENGINEERING » JP Marshall Engineering

| 39

“Because our reputation is so strong and our customers know we stand by our products 100% we are finding that the price isn’t the only factor determining a decision to purchase.” particularly in the wake of the Christchurch rebuild.

“Because our reputation is so strong and our customers know we stand by our products 100% we are finding that the price isn’t the only factor determining a decision to purchase,” says Brown.

In collaboration with a Christchurch-based business, the company has also been involved in the design, development and supply of costeffective systems for re levelling earthquake damaged houses.

Brown says this illustrates the company’s ability to seize product development opportunities as they arise. Designing and manufacturing high performance auger flights (also known as helices) for a diverse range of uses is also another key growth activity for the company.

“We can design and build flights in a variety of materials such as stainless, mild steel, aluminium and bisalloy, ranging from 3mm to 20mm thickness,” says Brown.

“They are technically highly demanding pieces to build and we have certainly acquired the skill-set in our team to produce them.”

JP Marshall also supplies auger flights for other companies to manufacture their own equipment and screw conveyors.

Brown acknowledges there is a real focus for the company in eventually supplying all the New Zealand market. The company’s management culture is very inclusive. “Because we get our people staying with us so long it gets very hard to promote within, so we felt we needed to give some emphasis to encouraging their participation in how our operation is run,” says Brown.

“This has proved effective in retaining high levels of quality staff.”

The company also has a healthy attitude to taking on apprentices.

“If someone looks like they will have the potential we are quite open to take them in to give the right person that opportunity. Their attitude plays a big part when recruiting apprentices.”

Carrying a long and proud tradition and in an industry where change is constant J P Marshall Engineering has worked hard to evolve into an industry leader.

“It is true that no job is too big or too small and our door is always open for anyone who wants to discuss their engineering needs.”

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JP Marshall has diversified into a number of significant divisions, including general fabrication, laser cutting, machining, design of grain storage and processing facilities, flighting and screw conveyors.

Apprentice profile: Chad Whitehead Juggling an apprenticeship and hockey training – to try and make the Black Sticks – isn’t always easy, but 22 year old Chad Whitehead is “pretty happy” with the choice he’s made.

As a kid Chad was always hands-on, so when his older brother, Jesse Whitehead, took up an apprenticeship at New Zealand Steel, Chad saw this was an opportunity.

Contact Apprentice Training New Zealand to manage apprentices to train in your business.

But he had to prove himself first. So after finishing school, Chad completed four weeks work experience at the Steel Mill in Waiuku and had to pass a pre-trade qualification before being offered his apprenticeship at New Zealand Steel under the management of Apprentice Training New Zealand (ATNZ).

Now in his fourth and final year of the National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering – General Engineering, Chad says he loves the variety of work at his job.

“I can be machining new parts, repairing gear boxes or making repairs to hot metal rollers.

There’s so much different equipment and so many machines to work with,” says Chad. “I also like that with an apprenticeship I’ve been able to pay my own way for everything – I don’t have to rely on my parents!”

Outside of work, Chad’s time is devoted to making the Black Sticks team, with training and games twice a week – all based in Hamilton – an hour’s drive away for the Waiuku local.

Chad’s already been asked to play in a couple of Invitational games against Canada – taking him one step closer to his ultimate goal. And with only a few months left of his apprenticeship, Chad’s other goal – to become a fully qualified engineer – will soon be achieved.

0800 526 1800 www.atnz.org.nz

40 |

Business North

ENGINEERING » Cullen Engineering

Firm expands with new workshop Karen Phelps Cullen Engineering has built a new workshop which is a signal of the growth the company has been experiencing, says company managing director Richard Cullen.

An additional 800sqm of workshop space has been added onto the company’s site with two five tonne gantry cranes enabling the company to now lift up to ten tonnes.

Cullen says this has significantly expanded the company’s capabilities to manage heavy steel projects enabling it to target new areas of work, for example larger structural steel and miscellaneous work including platforms, walkways and stair towers. The new workshop has also enabled the company to transfer its stainless steel workshop into a larger area giving the company dedicated stainless steel and carbon steel workshops.

Cullen says this is beneficial when customers’ projects require a component of the two different types of steels enabling speedier delivery and enhanced quality control as everything can be completed in-house.

Cullen Engineering has also purchased a laser cutting machine whereas previously the company had to outsource this aspect of production. The 3kw Amada laser cutter can cut carbon steel up to 16mm and stainless steel up to 5mm.

Cullen says there are a range of other materials the company can now cut including wood, cardboard and Perspex.

Richard, who took over the helm of the business in 2011 and is the third generation to work in the business, says Cullen Engineering is growing signalled by the recent investment in the company.

He says growth is coming from a number of sectors as industries in the local region continue to expand their operations.

“We’re trying to constantly improve on what we offer, increase our productivity and efficiency while maintaining high quality standards without pushing costs up for clients.”

Cullen Engineering was established in 1953 and today is owned and managed by Richard and company operations director Michael Harris.

Richard has been with the company for over 10 years and Michael has been with Cullen

Cullen Engineering contracted to Tetra Pak for the design and production of these powder bin platforms and access walkways for Synlait.

Engineering since 1969 and became a partner in 1992.

Richard says the company remains very much a family run business and maintains those core values in all aspects of its operation.

It operates from a 7200sqm site located in close proximity to Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Rotorua. It undertakes a broad range of general and precision engineering work across a variety of market sectors, including the meat, poultry, dairy, transport and construction industries.

It also has its own range of products including vertical tail lifts, bin tippers and bobby calf lifter.

Clients, many of which are longstanding, are spread throughout New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific.

Richard says since he took over as managing director he has been focusing on growth by investing in new machinery including CNC equipment (vertical machining centre and a multifunction CNC lathe), new manual machines, large structural bandsaw and a variety of smaller equipment.

Investment will continue later this year with the purchase of a 320 tonne CNC press brake.

“This will mean we will not be outsourcing and can improve our project timing and turn around for this particular service to complement our laser cutting service,” he says.

Cullen Engineering employs 32 staff including two full time design/draftspeople, qualified fitter turners and fitter welders ticketed to AS/NZS 2980 and ASME IX. The company offers a comprehensive design, analysis and detailing service and has licenses in AutoCAD Factory Design, Tekla Structures and Pro Engineer.

“This means that we can offer a complete design and build solution utilising our well equipped

workshop or standalone design, analysis and detailing for those with their own fabrication capabilities.

“We can offer customers a complete solution as we work closely with a licensed structural and mechanical engineer to provide fully certified solutions.”

A recent example of a project completed by the company was the design, fabrication and certification of powder bin platforms and access walkways for Synlait.

Cullen Engineering contracted to Tetra Pak and produced the main structure in carbon steel. It also completed the stainless steel mounting plates, ladders, handrails and support legs.

Other clients include Ingham Enterprises, Greenlea Premier Meats, Ebert Construction, Silverfern Farms, Orion Haulage, AFFCO New Zealand, DownerTenix, Wallace Corporation Limited, Tetra Pak, Fonterra, Matamata Piako District Council, the Waikato Regional Council and Northpower.

Cullen Engineering offers a comprehensive design, analysis and detailing service.

50 Cryers Rd, East Tamaki Auckland, NZ P. 09 274 4906 F. 09 274 4273 E. tubebend@xtra.co.nz www.tubebending.co.nz OVER 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE FORMING TUBE AND PIPE. Specialized mandrel benders and rollers of tube / pipe from 6.35 - 127mm.

Handle aluminium, brass, copper, stainless, carbon steel and chrome moly.

Over 250 die sets, 8 Bending Machines (incl CNC capability) and 2 Rolling Machines provide prompt turn around and quality product.

All jobs from one off to multiple runs accepted.

Business North

Cullen Engineering’s new 800sqm workshop has significantly expanded the company’s capabilities.

ENGINEERING » Cullen Engineering

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Business North

CONTRACTING » Jilesen Contractors

Roads contract brings expansion Karen Phelps Jilesen Contractors has just won contracts with the Ruapehu District Council, which will see the business significantly increase in size.

It will undertake metal road maintenance grading, heavy maintenance and improvement and pavement rehabilitation and emergency works on 850km of roads in the region. The company’s staff numbers will rise from 35 to 45 and the company has invested $2m in new equipment.

One of Jilesen Contractors’ company directors Tony Jilesen says the company was successful in securing the contracts due to its reputation for efficiency, sound operations and value for money.

Based in Taumarunui, the company provides a range of services, including roading, earthmoving, rock works, drainage and transport.

Jilesen Contractors also owns King County Quarries giving the company a ready supply of aggregate for projects it undertakes as well as the ability to provide a high quality range of rock and metal services.

Jilesen Contractors was started by local brothers Tony and Martien in 1989. It now operates in the King Country region and owns 28 machines including mobile crushers, eight trucks, and three quarries.

It remains a family-owned and operated business with Martien’s son Luke also operating machinery in the quarry division.

“This gives a more personal touch to the business for our clients who typically deal with either me or Martien,” says Tony.

The company aims to offer customers a complete service.

The roading services division includes repairs and rehabilitation work on state highways and rural roads and the creation of new roads in rural and

Jilesen Contractors provides a wide range of services, including roading, earthmoving, rock works, drainage and transport. residential areas as well as farm roading projects and bridge construction work in the Ruapehu District.

The earthmoving service is utilised on projects as diverse as re-aligning roads, State Highways and Council roads and clearing building sites. It also forms tracks on farmland and in the bush, sets out

Proud to be associated with Jilesen Contractors for over 25 years.

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52 Bell Rd Taumarunui P: 07 895 8582

Your Local Fuso Services, Parts and Sales Dealer

sites for large barns and sheds on rural properties, creates water storage ponds and dams and lakes, installs irrigation pipes and drainage and water reticulation and reclaims land banks or stop banks.

The rock works division involves creation of major retaining walls, fixing stop banks on rivers as well as repairing roads where banks or slips

have been eroded away due to bad weather. The transport arm of Jilesen Contractors complements the core business of Jilesen Contractors and King Country Quarries giving the company greater control over project timings and delivery.

Jilesen Contractors is a member of the Road Transport Association NZ.

Business North

CONTRACTING » Hamilton Asphalts

| 43

Lance’s vision drives firm’s growth Kelly Deeks Since buying Hamilton Asphalts in 2000, Lance Hughes has built the business up from a small asphalt placing company to now taking on all areas of site works with a staff of 55, including some of the best qualified and experienced people in the industry.

Before buying Hamilton Asphalts, Hughes was an owner driver running fuel trucks out of New Plymouth and Tauranga.

He started off with one truck and by the time he sold that business he had built it up to three trucks and six full time drivers.

He then saw small pot hole repair company Hamilton Asphalts for sale, which he bought with its Toyota Dyna with hot box attached and old Commer truck, and set about learning his new trade under the guidance of the Hamilton Asphalts’ founder Jock Carlton.

“You learn pretty quickly when you’ve got to pay for your mistakes,” he says.

“But the work kept coming in and the phone kept ringing, and I made myself available to go out and see people and give quotes.”

He says by the following year he had realised his clients had expectations of quality beyond that of hand laid driveways, so he designed and built a tractor drag box to provide a machine laid finish.

In 2002, he bought Hamilton Asphalt’s first digger and expanded the company’s capabilities into earthworks.

The next year he bought a paver, and started chasing the bigger projects.

“By that stage instead of doing 15sqm or 20sqm driveways, we started doing 200sqm to 300sqm driveways,” he says. “We also started doing the finishing work on commercial jobs, and this is where it all turned around.”

After Christmas 2008, Hamilton Asphalts came back from the Christmas break being owed a large amount of money as a subcontractor.

Hamilton Asphalts has some of the latest technology on board with the purchase of a Bomag paver last year.

“It took such a long time to get it in, so we decided to hire a quantity surveyor, and upskilled and upgraded so we could take the whole job from excavating to construction, kerbing, and finishing.”

In 2010 Hamilton Asphalts’ capabilities were further expanded when the company bought one of four asphalt plants in Hamilton and began manufacturing its own asphalt.

Today Hamilton Asphalts completes all types of site works including asphalt, excavation, roading, kerbing, compaction, retaining walls, paving, and

landscaping for residential, commercial, and civil projects.

The company has some of the latest technology on board with the purchase of a Bomag paver in October last year.

Hamilton Asphalts expertise is in regular demand in Auckland and Tauranga, and even as far

away as Samoa where the company has helped a Samoan construction company to set up and run an asphalt plant, complete asphalt mix designs, and lay asphalt mix.

Hughes says Hamilton Asphalts is still growing, and continues to look for ways of improving its service for its clients.

Initiom proudly working in partnership with Hamilton Asphalts to build them a secure future.

INITIOM LIMITED - CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS PO Box 9255 . 28 Empire Street . Frankton . Hamilton 3240 P 07 957 0188 E info@initiom.co.nz W www.initiom.co.nz

Specialists in Transport Engineering Lance Hughes - always looking for ways to improve his company.

Proud to be suppliers of steel tipping bodies & trailers to Hamilton Asphalts Ken Jones

Hydraulic Hose & Fitting Specialists Mobile Service 24 Hours/7 Days • Excavating & Earthmoving Attachments • Hoses, Couplings & Fittings • Ram Repairs • Hydraulic Flow Testing • Pump Replacement & Repairs • Hydraulic Circuit Design • Mobile Service throughout the Waikato

Call us now (07) 846 6260 A: 29 West St, Frankton, Hamilton E: megafluid@xtra.co.nz

Phone. 07 827 5127 Fax. 07 827 8176

PO Box 348 Hautapu Road, Cambridge Email. cws1953ltd@xtra.co.nz

TE RAPA PANEL BEATERS Te Rapa Panel Beaters; celebrating over 20 years in business with over 15,000 vehicles repaired. We provide excellence in service and workmanship that surpasses your expectations, every time. Thanks Lance and the team at Hamilton Asphalts for your great work.

Call us on 07 849 3771 or 021 433 3734 Email: simon@trpb.co.nz Visit our website trpb.co.nz

44 |

CONTRACTING » Byfords Construction

Business North

Byford’s building on proud history Sue Russell The last twelve months have been the busiest yet for Sam de Vries and the team at Taihape-based aggregate and contracting company Byfords Construction.

Since taking the company over in April last year de Vries says he has concentrated on attracting as much business as he can.

“We operate in a very competitive market but the company’s size, its geographical location in the North Island and its ability to react quickly when product is required are key reasons why business is growing and the future looks strong,” he says.

The company’s history spans over half a century servicing the Rangitikei District. The new owner’s aspirations are to see it evolve into New Zealand’s leading mobile aggregate supplier.

To achieve this Byfords has an impressive array of machinery, including four mobile crushers as well as its own quarries to supply local demand.

The Terex Pegson SR1000 Mobile Cone Crusher is capable of producing two different sized aggregate products at the same time and up to 260 tonne per hour while the LT106 Nordberg C106 Jaw Crusher is the most highly evolved in its field, capable of crushing the hardest rock.

While the business of providing aggregate is core for the company, Byfords Construction provides a diverse range of services including colourful stones and boulders for landscaping work sourced from quarries near Turangi and Taihape as well as farm and general contracting services.

Byfords transport arm operates trucks, trailers and transporters suitable for carting any material around the central North Island.

Leading a diverse company operating in such a competitive environment calls for a flexible disposition and an ability to respond quickly when work opportunities arise.

“We have a team of 30 or so staff and they’re all very skilled at what they do. Each has there specialty area, but all are flexible, and able to adapt to different roles. This means we operate very efficiently. Our focus always is how best to utilise our resources and provide the services we do as cost effectively as possible,” de Vries says.

Before any aggregate is supplied the company’s own laboratory facilities and technicians have sampled and tested it for suitability.

Byfords has an impressive array of machinery, including four mobile crushers as well as its own quarries to supply local demand.

At the point of extraction similar care is taken when it comes to matters environmental.

“We take a lot of care when harvesting product from river beds and land. Every part of the extraction operation meets the stringent environmental codes and management practices of the Regional Councils operating in our catchment.”

Taking over a company built on strong family values and having the opportunity to take that company to its next evolution is an exciting and challenging prospect for de Vries.

“I think it comes down to knowing what we do well and continually trying to improve on those standards. We guarantee to deliver top quality aggregate solutions and there is no job too big or small.”

New Zealand wide shipping

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Earthworks, Pavements & Foundations Investigation, Quality Control & Verification Testing Design, Project Management & Training Welcome to the new Byfords team from TestLab, proudly providing your testing services for the past 25 years.

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www.testlab.co.nz office@testlab.co.nz

CRUSHER • SCREEN • FEEDER SAND WASHER • WEAR RESISTANT PRODUCTS Phone: (09) 296 9488 Fax: (09) 296 9489 Trevor Heaphy - Mobile: 021 594 233 Email: trevor@sanland.co.nz www.sanland.co.nz

MARINE » Senator Boats

Business North

| 45

Senator Boats still ruling the waves Kelly Deeks Building on a long-standing reputation for building quality crafts, Napier’s Senator Boats listens to the needs of the boating community, continually evolving its designs that are proven, trusted, and valued for their stability, superior load carrying and storage capability, and affordability.

Senator Boats was established in 1996 by Wayne McKinley, an engineer and avid fisherman who built his first boat for a friend almost three decades ago.

With a national network of nine dealers selling Senator Boats throughout New Zealand, the company now employs a team of nine boat builders, a factory manager, and an office administrator all based in the Napier Factory, which is producing 130 boats every year.

“Our staff all range from being with me for the past 14 years, to just new today as an apprentice,” McKinley says.

He says Senator Boats aims to keep one or two apprentices on staff at all times, as boat builders are notoriously hard to find. “There is a shortage of aluminium fabricators, and boat building is a lot harder than normal sheet metal work,” he says.

The design of a Senator Boat is leading edge, with a unique hull shape allowing each boat to cut through the water providing the characteristic smooth ride, and a more pleasant journey for everyone on board.

Senator Boats was one of the first boat manufacturers in New Zealand to pioneer the unique folded style alloy pontoon.

“The pontoon is generally well known for safety, but the Senator Pontoon takes safety a step further by taking flotation high into the sides of each craft, making them virtually unsinkable,” McKinley says.

Senator Boats prides itself in providing boats with many features incorporated in the standard boat, such as hand rails, bollards, cleats, and boarding ladders, and more.

The Offshore 1020 is designed as a moored vessel with the ability to be towed behind short to medium wheelbase trucks.

In response to client demand, Senator Boats’ new customised offshore alloy catamaran series was launched with the catamarans now finding favour as commercial charter and cray fishing boats.

The Pontoon Cuddy - the Pontoon range sets new standards in aluminium pontoon design, and is ideal for serious fishing and diving.

Their sea-keeping stability, safety, manoeuvrability, and power to weight ratio for speed are all important factors for their skippers.

The Senator Pontoon range sets new standards in aluminium pontoon design, and is ideal for serious fishing and diving.

The company’s well respected and proven pontoon and offshore models are now complemented by the Senator Typhoon series of alloy plate boats from 5.5m to 6.5m in cuddy style, and 6.7m to 9.2m in hard top crafts.

“Our team loves building boats, and we know we create great boats customised to specific customer needs,” McKinley says.

“The Typhoon series adds another option for boaties who love the quality and reliability of Senator.”

Senator Boats also builds larger custom crafts to suit a variety of applications, from overnight

adventure boats, to serious working boats. These boats can be fully custom specified to individual needs, whether to accommodate and sleep passengers, or pull a variety of nets, pots, and lines for a living.

Summer 2008 marked the start of a new era for Senator Boats, when the company took full control of sales nationwide, supplying boats directly to

dealers from the factory, and supporting their sales and marketing activities.

This year Senator Boats has installed 70 solar panels on the factory roof, generating 20kW of electricity per hour, and providing 40% of the factory’s electricity needs. McKinley says he will trial the panels for six months and, if the results are favourable, will then double the number of panels.

FOR ALL YOUR CARPET LINING & BOAT SEATS

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Proud to be associated with Senator Boats info@charmans.co.nz www.charmans.co.nz 10 Holden Street, Onekawa, Napier

Air Liquide is proud to provide industrial gases and gas related services to Senator Boats

50 years of experience, for all your aluminium and fastening needs. www.ullrich.co.nz

0800 500 338

Ullrich Aluminium are proud to be suppliers to Senator Boats

At Air Liquide, we strive to provide innovative solutions to industries in this very competitive market. Whether you are supplying your products locally or internationally, you need to be more efficient than your competitors.

Developments with gas and gas related services such as reticulation systems and the ALTOP™ Integrated Regulator provide this competitive advantage.

For more details, please call one of our Customer Services Representatives on 09 622 3880

46 |

PRINTING » PMP New Zealand

Business North

Printed media continuing to thrive Karen Phelps Fragmentation of the advertising market has meant that the value of printed media is on the rise, says Danny Trainor, managing director of New Zealand for PMP. “Letter and postal box distribution is working exceptionally well for our customers which includes many of New Zealand’s most well-known retailers,” says Trainor.

“Because the internet is not cutting through to consumers like it once was and there are now paid TV options which allow people to skip through advertisements, letterbox really cuts through. We are taking our product right into peoples home and business mail boxes.”

PMP New Zealand provides specialised standalone media services and offers fully integrated supply chain solutions to print media.

The company is comprised of five divisions: PMP Print, PMP Distribution, Gordon & Gotch, PMP Maxum and PMP Mailhouse. PMP New Zealand is part of PMP Limited, an ASX top 200 listed company with over 2,500 employees in locations across New Zealand and Australia.

Trainor says that PMP focuses on target, create, print and deliver for its customers.

“We profile and target an audience, can assist with creation of the collateral to match, then manage the print production and ultimately distribution through our own network to the letterbox. We are in the business of managing brands and driving store traffic.”

Trainor says that PMP specialises in high volume, fast turn-around print jobs, and has a reputation for ‘making it happen’ as the company has access to printing facilities in both the North and South Island. Print options include digital, sheet fed and web offset.

“We are the only company in New Zealand to offer all three printing solutions under one roof.

“This means we can choose the best option for the client rather than the technology dictating the solution.

“A dedicated account manager assists clients throughout the entire production process making certain they achieve the results they want.”

PMP also offers a dedicated distribution division, which offers a variety of services from mass distribution to specifically targeted campaigns.

“If businesses want to identify, locate and deliver to targeted households then we can help them to find the customers most likely to act on their marketing message,” says Trainor.

“Because we can manage the design, print and delivery of marketing material we can create a highly targeted campaign. We can also manage customer databases and do subscription mailouts throughout New Zealand.”

PMP New Zealand provides specialised stand-alone media services and offers fully integrated supply chain solutions to print media.

The print and distribution divisions are supported by Gordon & Gotch, PMPs retail business, which delivers to moer than 2500 retailers per week.

PMP services a wide range of customers including retail, SME’s, real estate and publishing clients. Some of the company clients include NZME, Noel Leemings, Ray White, Harcourts, Progressive Enterprises and Foodstuffs.

PMP can print anything from the company’s business card right through to a major retail catalogue or magazine.

“We continue to invest in technology because we believe in the value of print. It’s a time honoured way of marketing and it has stood the test. We aim to be a true partner with our customers creating value for them through printed material that achieves real results.”

Telephone: 0800 236 245 or 09 376 9201 customerservice@admailnz.co.nz www.admailnz.co.nz

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Proud suppliers of printing rollers to PMP Phone: 04 567 3135 Fax: 04 567 0172 Freephone: 0800 658 686 www.thorndonrubber.com

Whether your ad needs to get to an apartment, home, business or café, we’ll create, print and deliver it for maximum results, at the minimum cost.

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Business North

PRINTING » PMP New Zealand

| 47

PMP specialises in high volume, fast turn-around print jobs with print options including digital, sheet fed and web offset.

Find out more at

www.coural.co.nz

“Energy efficient solutions for all your cooling requirements” Supporting PMP Print for 25 years

Rural Delivery is our business. Talk to us about delivering your next Direct Marketing campaign, no matter how big or small!

Coural (Rural Couriers Society Limited) is a cooperative company, owned by independent rural delivery contractors with a network that covers the

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whole country.

Coural can deliver letterbox marketing material and/or parcels to all or any portion of 200,000 rural residence and businesses – over half a million people!

Contact Us Free Phone 0800 731 299 Head Office. 41 Havill Street, Palmerston North Email. coural@coural.co.nz | Fax. 06 356 6618

48 |

TRANSPORT » Direct Fuels

Business North

Fuel specialist keeps wheels turning Kelly Deeks Direct Fuels has a reputation for being able to find a solution to any situation in fuel delivery, no matter when, no matter where.

Direct Fuels is a New Zealand owned and operated family business, operating since 1999 with a dedicated team and a “can do” attitude that surpasses all of its clients’ expectations in the delivery of their fuel.

Since winning the Westpac Business of the Year Award in 2006, Direct Fuels has strived to improve every aspect of its business, continually investing back in new technology and infrastructure.

General manager Rick Williams says Direct Fuels has a proven track record for delivering fuel direct to bulk tanks, generators, machines, boats, or equipment when no one else can, with an incredibly fast and reliable service and at a very competitive price. The company now also supplies a full range of oil and lubricants.

“In today’s economy, keeping the wheels turning is no easy task,” he says.

“It requires a keen knowledge of the marketplace and a sincere dedication to service.

“Direct Fuels has that knowledge and dedication.

“In our continuing pursuit to service the diverse fuelling needs of companies in today’s rapidly changing marketplace, Direct Fuels has established an entity to meet any refuelling requirement.”

Onsite refuelling is a service designed to save time and money.

“Our clients’ staff can spend many hours of idle time fuelling their vehicle or equipment.

“By coming to them and delivering directly to their equipment, onsite fuelling provides substantial customer benefits.”

Direct Fuels’ customers include construction, earthmoving, transport, forestry contractors, industrial sites, fishing boats, farmers, and horticulturalists, to name a few.

With its head office in Mount Maunganui and branches in Napier, Tokoroa, and Auckland employing 26 full time staff, Direct Fuels covers

The Direct Fuels fleet of small to medium-sized trucks is able to gain access onto sites where larger vehicles can’t or find it difficult.

the Bay of Plenty, Taupo and National Park regions, the Waikato, Auckland, and Hawkes’ Bay. “Odds are we can get to you, and fast,” Williams says.

With 19 trucks ranging from 4000 litres to 18000 litres capacity, Direct Fuels delivers fuel when its customers need it, quickly and efficiently, whether its 30 litres or 75,000 litres.

Its fleet of small- to medium-sized trucks is able to gain access onto sites where larger vehicles can’t or find it difficult.

Because of the lighter weights, there is less damage to tracks, roads, and surrounds.

All trucks have RT and GPS which allows Direct Fuels to monitor and react very quickly to any situation.

“In our continuing pursuit to service the diverse fuelling needs of companies....Direct Fuels has established an entity to meet any refuelling requirement.”

The company is an expert at scheduling work to allow for flexibility, enabling it to ensure a continuity of supply by always having trucks available where required, in cases of breakdowns or large volume requirements.

Williams says the company caters delivery

times and days to customers’ needs, and believes in refuelling more often - either direct to machines, equipment, or tanks - meaning less storage of fuel for their customers.

“This mean less capital cost and a lower risk of contamination and theft of fuel”.

Proud to be associated with Direct Fuels as their preferred supplier of new truck sales and service provider.

07 928 4399 • 0800 447 818 • WWW.CALISUZU.CO.NZ

Read More Online VISIT OUR WEBSITE 5

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Business North

TRANSPORT Âť Direct Fuels

Direct Fuels’ customers include construction, earthmoving, transport, forestry contractors, industrial sites, fishing boats, farmers, and horticulturalists.

| 49

50 |

AUTOMOTIVE » Golden Gun Panel and Paint

Business North

Golden Gun keeping up with changes Sue Russell New Lynn panel and paint company Golden Gun has operated out of its Stock Street premises for 45 years; long enough for Norman Shadbolt who has been associated with the company for 33 of them, to see a vast amount of change in the industry take place.

“Technologies used in the paint and panelbeating arms of the company are continually evolving. For instance the new water-based paints are beginning to come on to the scene in the industry,” Shadbolt says.

A year or so ago another big change happened for the company when it worked through all the processes and criteria required by insurance companies to be approved for their work.

“That was a very good thing for us to do because we had to measure up on a number of critical fronts, including health and safety, and be audited on all our systems and management.

“As such it has meant we’ve turned a new page in terms of how we operate and deliver our services.”

Shadbolt is the first to acknowledge he operates in a very competitive industry but from his perspective it is all about keeping service standards to customers high and that means he’s prepared to turn work away if he feels it can’t be undertaken in good time.

“We’re certainly not greedy. We know how important it is for our customers to get their vehicles back as soon as possible so we don’t overbook,” says Shadbolt.

“We also have a fleet of 13 late model vehicles

we provide as courtesy cars for them.’

Car manufacturers produce stringent and highly detailed repair guidelines that panel beaters must follow and he laments the fact that this highly sophisticated and at times complex work is not seen by young ones as a career choice.

“We’ve had our share of apprentices come through but there seems to be a general lack of the good old-fashioned work ethic. This is an industry that demands hard work and it is disappointing at times to see the calibre of person entering apprenticeships.”

Aspirations in the not too distant future include purchasing another chassis machine with all the computer bells and whistles.

At a cost of about $80,000 the unit is made in Sweden and Shadbolt says it will really help alleviate demand on the company’s existing two machines.

Seven staff work in the company, four in the painting division and three on the panel-beating side.

The shop frontage is about to get its own upgrade with new colours and signs along with a new tint room and prep bays.

“We’re a bit stuck in the 70’s at the moment but that will change soon,” says Shadbolt.

Golden Gun Panel and Paint offers a wide range of services including corrosion protection for new and used vehicles, touch-up paint jobs, chassis straightening and a full 3D measure for the purpose of vehicle compliance.

“In the years we’ve been operating there isn’t much we haven’t seen or dealt with and we’re happy to provide free estimates, quotes and advice.”

“Technologies used in the paint and panel-beating arms of the company are continually evolving. For instance the new water-based paints are beginning to come on to the scene in the industry.”

Golden Gun Panel and Paint offers a wide range of services including corrosion protection for new and used vehicles, touch-up paint jobs, chassis straightening and a full 3D measure for the purpose of vehicle compliance.

STEERING & BALANCING SPECIALISTS LIMITED FOR ALL SUSPENSION REQUIREMENTS

Autolink are proud to support Golden Gun Panel & Paint We are sure you will find our product range, Technical support and service to be second to none when it comes to customer satisfaction.

P 09 589 1932

M 021 223 8802

W www.autolinkdistributors.co.nz

Ph: 827 4068 Fax: 827 7535 10 Crum Ave, New Lynn, Auckland 0600

NATION WIDE! P. (03) 983 5500 70 Glenda Dr, Queenstown

www.waterfordpress.co.nz

Business North

AUTOMOTIVE » Bodytech Panel & Paint

| 51

CRA membership a big drawcard Karen Phelps The cars of today are made very differently from the cars of the past. The materials used are different and so are the designs.

That’s why it is important to choose a panel beater that is keeping up to date with the latest technology and changes, says Patrick Murti, owner of Bodytech Panel & Paint, which is a member of the Collision Repair Association (CRA).

“A range of different strength steels, aluminium and composite materials are used in vehicles today and it’s important that those materials are repaired correctly because if they are not it could compromise the safety of the vehicle,” says Murti.

Based in East Tamaki, Auckland, Bodytech Panel & Paint was started in 2000 and is a family operated business.

The company started with a small workshop and two staff and has now grown to occupy 560 square metre premises and employ nine staff.

Murti has also invested a lot of time and money into the business to ensure it meets the rigorous standards of the CRA. For customers choosing Bodytech Panel & Paint this means they are assured of audited standards, guaranteed workmanship and a disputes resolution service.

Murti says the process of becoming a CRA member is not easy.

“Prospective members are screened by the CRA to make sure they have the correct equipment to realign a vehicle to manufacturers specification.

“Auto refinishers also need to also reinstate the manufacturers original finish to the vehicle; a process which requires heated paint booths and the correct dust and paint extraction systems.

“The CRA inspection also takes into account workplace standards and how clean and tidy the workshop is.”

Bodytech Panel & Paint operates a fully equipped workshop including computerised chassis machine and spot welding equipment.

The company has a low bake oven for curing paint at high temperatures and sand blasting booth.

Bodytech Panel & Paint is an approved repairer for insurance company IAG and brands Hyundai, Toyota, Holden, Mazda and Ford.

It also works for the general public who can approach them direct for a free quote.

Bodytech Panel & Paint offers customers a courtesy vehicle and can offer a pick up-drop off service if required.

Murti says that for customer peace of mind the CRA also has a quality assurance disputes procedure.

“Customers who are unhappy with work done by an association member can apply to have their complaint adjudicated by a committee on how the dispute can best be resolved,” he explains.

Murti says Bodytech Panel & Paint’s growth has come about due to the quality of service and reputation of the company.

“A lot of our work is by word of mouth.

That’s a pretty good indication of the fact that we do a good job.”

“Prospective members are screened by the CRA to make sure they have the correct equipment to realign a vehicle to manufacturers specification.”

“Proud to support Bodytech Panel & Paint” MANUKAU AUTO GLASS WINDSCREEN SPECIALISTS WWW.MANUKAUAUTOGLASS.CO.NZ

Ph 09-263-4634 Mob 027-493-3358 PO box 75023, Manurewa 2243

manukauautoglass@xtra.co.nz

Bodytech Panel & Paint can fix any smash, with a fully equipped workshop including computerised chassis machine and spot welding equipment.

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Phone our experienced team on 0800 377 374

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December 2014

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Summer 2014

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No revolution, say ‘new boys’

WINTER 2013 SUMMER 2014

Mark Rawson (left) and Kelly O’Driscoll have taken the directors’ reins at Plunket Electrical after nearly 10 years as shareholders. They are not planning any GUDVWLF FKDQJHV 7KH ÀUP¡V UXUDO interests have evolved into grainIHHGLQJ V\VWHPV URERWLF PLONLQJ V\VWHPV DQG FRQWURO V\VWHPV

Winning Style - page 28

Korean trade deal nearly there Hugh de Lacy The long-sought after goal of a free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea, New Zealand’s fifth largest trading partner, is virtually a done deal.

However, New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser isn’t prepared to say so just yet. “After walking across broken glass on this negotiation over many years I am now prepared to say in public that I’m very confident we can get this thing together, but we’re not quite there,�

Groser said.

Groser recently met with his South Korean

counterpart on the fringes of the Asia-Pacific Economic conference in Beijing and again at the East Asia Summit in Myanmar. “All I can say with necessary caution on my part is that nothing’s done till it’s done. “After all I’m one of the millions of New Zealanders who thought when we were leading 8-1 in the America’s Cup with nine sailing days to go that it was pretty well assured – and how wrong that proved,� Groser said. “Apart from the pain it just showed once again in the real world, don’t count your chickens until they hatch. “It’s a simple truth of human behaviour. “So I’m not prepared to say it’s done: we’ve

got one or two final steps, but it’s looking very good.�

Negotiations towards an FTA began in 2009 soon after the then South Korean President Lee Myung-bak visited New Zealand.

Seven rounds of largely fruitless negotiation followed before current President Park Geun-hye gave new impetus to the talks which resumed in February this year in Wellington.

The sticking point has been the impact of New Zealand’s agricultural trade on South Korea’s.

Last year trade between the two countries was worth $3.59 billion, slightly favouring South Korea which imported $1.63b worth of products

from New Zealand and exported $1.96b worth to here.

New Zealand has the largest expatriate South Korean population in the world, with around 30,000 ethnic Koreans living here.

It is also the fourth largest source of foreign students in New Zealand and the seventh-largest source of overseas visitors.

An FTA would save New Zealand exporters about $230 million in tariffs, including 89% on butter, 45% on kiwifruit, 40% on beef and 11% on processed wood products.

Korean exporters would save only about $5m in tariffs, but their home economy would benefit from a wider range of cheaper goods.

•See page 28

Migration rise a major factor

It’s hard to find a better wastewater system

AES www.et.nz

No Power No servicing 20yr warranty Unobtrusive!

Hugh de Lacy

economy’s capacity to produce goods and services without generating inflation – the so-called inflation speed limit – is higher than we thought, so it’s a good news story.�

Only months ago home mortgage holders were rushing to fix their interest rates against an expected rapid hike as the economy shrugged off the hangover of the 2008 global financial crisis.

But the feared 2-3% jump over a year or less, which would have seen many mortgagees struggling to meet their payments, simply hasn’t happened. “Markets are re-rating their expectations of where the overnight cash rate (OCR) is going over the next year or two. “They’re not looking at cuts, but whereas a year ago financial markets might have expected three or four [interest rate] hikes over 2015, now they’re looking at one or two,� Stephen said.

“With low inflation the Reserve Bank will be able to keep those interest rates low for longer than previously thought, and that’s why what you’re seeing at the moment is fixed mortgage rates coming down.�

Other factors holding inflation in check include the plummeting price of petrol, down below $2 a litre for the first time in years, and relatively low upward pressure of wages.

A two-speed economy was developing in an environment of “fairly strong� economic growth, with challenges to the export sector from dairy and forestry which will affect some regions of the country. “Equally we’ve got the Canterbury rebuild and Auckland construction activity, and my expectation is that house prices will start rising again pretty smartly on the population boom.�

The strengthening US economy has pushed the New Zealand dollar well under the US80c mark,

enhancing the attractiveness of our exports, with the meat industry taking particular advantage.

The low kiwi dollar is also helping put a floor below dairy returns which formerly comprised a quarter of total exports but which have plummeted to half their level of a year ago. That said, the latest Fonterra monthly dairy auction has shown further weakness in global demand that suggests a new floor price has yet to be reached.

The net effect of these sometimes contradictory factors would be a slight worsening of the economic imbalances, such as a relatively small current account deficit and a shrinkage in overseas debt, that had been improving under a more inflationary environment. “We’ll end up with decent domestic demand propping growth up, with major faltering in the dairy sector detracting from growth to an overall average [GDP growth] similar to the last couple of years.�

New factory for Skellerup Hugh de Lacy

INSIDE

Ram breeders ready for sales PAGE 8

Services target rural market - PAGE 16

Silage specialists strut their stuff - PAGE 29

Promise on deer market - PAGE 43

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Church plans coming to fruition...

More than 170 years after the land was first purchased, and nearly 60 years after the foundation stone was laid, the race is now on to finally complete Auckland’s Holy Trinity Cathedral. Bishop George Selwyn purchased the land In 1842 with the vision to build a cathedral for the Anglican Diocese of Auckland that would become a centre for

educational, social, charitable and missionary work in the city. There are currently three projects underway at the cathedral, which will effectively complete it: a new organ for the cathedral, construction of the Bishop Selwyn Chapel and projects at St Mary’s-in-Holy-Trinity church located next door to the cathedral. See story page 9

Now offering

Bruce Hore Consultant

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Low inflation keeps economy robust

Shake up for demolition industry - PAGE 2

Seafood technology a winner - PAGE 3

Holy Trinity plans on track - PAGE 9

0275 760 303 bruce@agriganics.com www.waterfordpress.co.nz

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Jeremy Cunningham Consultant

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Christchurch rubber manufacturer Skellerup Industries has unveiled plans for a new factory in Christchurch.

The $30 million new plant at the Wigram Business Park will replace its quake-damaged Woolston factory where much of its agribusiness supplies are made, for the dairy industry in particular.

Partly funded by earthquake insurance money, the new 18,900sqm factory is 20% bigger than its old one and is expected to be occupied progressively by the existing 200 staff in about December of 2015.

Skellerup chief executive David Mair said he didn’t expect the company’s annual revenues of about $200m would be greatly affected by the halving of New Zealand dairy farm revenues in the past year, because the company’s domestic markets represents only a small part of its turnover. “If you pulled it right down to how much revenue was generated by things that New Zealand farmers buy, it’s of the order of 10% to 12%,� Mair said.

Dairy equipment was a major part of Skellerup’s domestic and export business, along with the gumboots that made it a household name in New Zealand, but dairying was still in expansion mode. “There is an expansion of [dairy] farms under way in the South Island through Ngai Tahu, and there have been irrigation schemes finished, but what it comes down to is credit for farmers, and I don’t know if that’s going to tighten up or loosen.�

INSIDE

All bound for Queenstown ....

Queenstown Airport is expanding its facilities at a rate unparalleled by any other transport business or agency in New Zealand – and it continues to expand in both passenger traffic and services at the airport. The first stage of an estimated $12 million project to expand international

Protection for sub-contractors - PAGE 2

Visitor levy for Queenstown?

- PAGE 2

operations at Queenstown Airport is expected to be completed by June next year. The expansion will more than double the size of the international terminal and comes on the back of a big increase in both domestic and international passenger numbers. See story page 2.

Passion for organics drives business - PAGE 3

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Environment Technology - Page 6

the Pacific

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Volume 20, Issue 2 2014

EVENTO SUPREMO

Surfing Pacific

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per cent larger than the old building, with improved workshop facilities and a showroom. This means capacity to hold more stock and a larger range of filters and pumps. •��More on Moa: page 35.

A Feilding High School troupe brings wearable arts to life in a guest performance at the Palmerston North Cossie Club’s 125th celebrations. The group presented some of the routines that have made the school’s annual wearable arts show, Evento, a hit over 18 years. • See page 4.

IN PARTNERSHIP WTH

Summer 2014

Moa rises from ashes A little over a year after its premises were gutted by fire, Moa Milking & Pumping is back on the same site – bigger and better than ever. The company has continued to operate, but now has a base in Inglewood that is 50

the

NZ 9.90 EUR 7.50 USA 12.50 AUS 9.90 INR 450 www.gotravelthepacific.com

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LPC - moving ahead 12-page liftout

New Zealand’s economy is holding firm - with inflation remaining lower than expected, while the continuing rise in immigration is also helping to drive growth.

This is despite plummeting returns from both the dairy, in particular, and forestry sectors.

Westpac chief economist Dominick Stephens said inflation is defying all predictions of a year ago and refusing to accelerate wildly.

Also contributing to a continuing economic robustness and steady Gross Domestic Product growth of around 3% is the immigration boom, “The inflation picture has been very surprising over the past year: much lower than anybody expected,� Stephen said. “What that indicates is the New Zealand

Hugh de Lacy Suggestions the Christchurch post-quake building boom has already peaked, and has only a couple more years to run, have been rubbished by Bank of New Zealand chief economist Tony Alexander.

Current record net increases in migration, tipped to reach 50,000 a year by the end of 2014, would ensure an extension of Christchurch building well beyond the actual repair programme, and offer a similar boost to the highly buoyant Auckland market, Alexander told Business North.

The Canterbury Development Corporation said recently that economic growth in the region is set to slide over the next two years because post-quake building has already reached its peak.

But Alexander said most economists have “been struggling for the past three years to figure out what the profile of the rebuild will be�, and the net migration boom clouds the picture even further.

Immigration would have a three-way impact on construction. “Number one, there will be a few extra builders around so I would expect extra houses to be built than would otherwise be the case. “Secondly, I think that the accommodation demand will exceed the speed with which extra supply will come forward, therefore it will tend to place upward pressure on rents and house prices as well,� he said.

The third factor arose from the familiarity investors already have with the impact of immigration changes on construction demand, especially in the Auckland market, which “will add even further upward pressure on prices�.

December 2014

INSIDE

Early arrival sparks career - PAGE 9

Continual learning - PAGE 18

Mochaccinos to milking cups - PAGE 25

Gipsea Surf Charters s Can apply rates below 7mm/per hr and depths down to 3mm, while still dealing with raw effluent

Romance in the Pacific

Fish beat stormy start - page 8

Plantation Island Fiji www.gotravelthepacific.com

Dance sports challenge - page 15

White Xmas in Howick - page 23

Surf, club pumping - page 27

s 4HE '"-AGNUM HAS A MOUNTED RAIN GUN TO PROVIDE TWICE THE APPLICATION AREA YOU WOULD COVER WITH A CONVENTIONAL TRAVELLING IRRIGATOR s ,OW !PPLICATION RATES WHILE CUTTING DOWN THE LABOUR INPUT

1

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Good effluent advice ‘critical’ - PAGE 43

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