Business South - November 2015

November 2015

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Chch development 36-page liftout - inside

Coast stays positive despite drop Hugh de Lacy It may be the only region in the country to have experienced a decline in population this year, but the figures mask a major shift to sustainability on the South Island’s West Coast, Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn says.

“It was a [population] drop of only 128 people – 0.4% of the 32,000 who live here,” Kokshoorn told Business South, “and that’s a very small number if you put it against the huge adjustments we’ve been making over the last five years.”

Most of the decline in population occurred in the Buller District, which has been haemorrhaging coal-mining jobs since the Pike River Mine Disaster in 2010 and the subsequent collapse in global coal prices, while the Grey and Westland Districts both recorded slight increases.

“We’ve lost about 1500 jobs all up in the [regional] coal industry and the associated trickledown in other industries associated with mining, yet experienced a population drop of only 128, and if you look at it in that vein we’re holding our ground.”

Kokshoorn said he was not expecting a recovery in global coal prices to reignite the industry which has been a major player on the west Coast for most of the last 150 years.

“It’s hard to see coal ever getting back to what it used to be, so we’re doing a lot of renewal work, such as infrastructure building for the tourist industry.”

Forward tourist bookings for the coming summer were the highest yet, while agriculture, led by dairying was in growth mode despite the recent volatility in milk prices.

“The [Hokitika-based] Westland Dairy Company

is just concluding a $120m value-adding expansion that bodes well for the whole region, and in Greymouth we’ve recently finished a new $12m fish processing factory that’s employing well over 100 people,” Kokshoorn said.

The expansion of the agriculture, tourism, fishing and service industries had come within a whisker of completely offsetting the near-collapse of the coal industry, the shrinkage in gold-mining and the close-down of Westport’s cement manufacturing industry.

“We knew the writing was on the wall for a lot of our extractive industries, so we’ve made a tangible shift to other industries which will hold us in good stead. We might have had a small decline in the face of one of the toughest patches in our history, but we’ve seen the worst now, and we’ve got a strategy in place to re-build the West Coast,” Kokshoorn said.

Tourism, which has shown rapid and consistent growth over the past decade, has been bolstered by environmentally sensitive refurbishing of sewerage and water services in Greymouth, while more than $10 million has been spent developing cycleways throughout the region.

Te Tai Poutini, the Greymouth polytechnical institute, was also continuing its long-term expansion, work was expected to start in November on a new $68m hospital in the town, and a new $11m sports stadium was nearing completion to complement that recently built $11m aquatic and spa complex.

In the context of a net immigration gain for New Zealand of more than 60,000 in the last year, every South Island region other than the West Coast recorded rises in its population, these were led

by Canterbury (2.1%), Otago (1.6%) and Nelson (1.3%).

Kiwi Rail signs contract with Solid Energy Chris Hutching Kiwi Rail and Solid Energy (in voluntary administration) have signed a new contract to move coal over the Midland Line for export through the Port of Lyttelton.

Solid Energy has refused to provide any further details about the contract in response about whether the deal would have any constraining effect on its forthcoming sale of assets.

The arrangement came to light recently when Kiwi Rail chief executive Peter Reidy told West Coast staff the company had secured a 10-year contract.

Reidy said the contract also included a penalty clause should Solid Energy quit the contract.

Kiwi Rail’s public relations department says the new contract is “good news” for its staff and the West Coast, which has been hit by the downtusrn in the extractive industry sector.

“While the terms and conditions are confidential, signing a new contract means that it can be re-assigned to any potential buyer of Solid Energy or its assets,” Kiwi Rail says.

It also means that Kiwi Rail would be able to work with any new operator to meet its freight requirements, the company says.

INSIDE

A taste of London in Queenstown....

New basement bar The London Flatbread Pizza Co & Bar has brought a taste of London nightlife to the heart of Queensown. The Shotover Street venue has proved a hit with locals and visitors alike since it opened in mid-June. General manager Peter Robertson says the simple doorway off the street adds a sense of mystery to the venue, and customers have

Farmers slow on environment plans - PAGE 2

I Port gathering momentum - PAGE 3

been “wowed” by what lies beyond. “People come through the door and are hit by a big vibrant entranceway with music posters plastering the walls, neon signs and a stairwell which has been designed to resemble an underground tube station. When they reach the bar downstairs they are blown away by its size and atmosphere.”

See story page 6

Tax changes for holiday homes - PAGE 4

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EDITOR Nick Gormack nick@waterfordpress.co.nz Journalists Jo Bailey, Karen Phelps, Chris Hutching, Kelly Deeks, Sue Russell, Hugh de Lacy

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BS5 2015

November 2015 Business South

NEWS »

Farmers slow on uptake Chris Hutching Only 16 percent out of 500 Canterbury farmers surveyed have a farm environment plan in place.

The environment plans will be required where an application for consent to farm is required under the proposed Land and Water Regional Plan.

The Land and Water Regional Plan is the primary delivery mechanism of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy, according to Environment Canterbury Chief Executive Bill Bayfield.

Environment Canterbury’s public relations team carried out a survey of farmers in July.

They found just 16% had a plan in place, 29% had started the process, and 56% had not begun.

Three quarters of respondents (78%) were aware of the need for farmers to prepare a Farm Environment Plan under the new planning rules.

The majority of respondents (81%) were aware that every farmer in Canterbury is required to capture nitrogen loss data from 2009-2013.

Thumbs down for high country irrigation plans Chris Hutching Environment Canterbury staff have recommended that resource consent commissioners decline an application for two irrigation and hydro electric dams in Canterbury’s high country.

A decision is due out.

The Kakapo Brook hydro and irrigation scheme is located in the Lewis Pass near the Hope and Boyle Rivers, at the margins of viable farming.

The application is from Rooney Farms and Mainpower NZ, a north Canterbury electricity company. Rooney Farms owns Glen Wye Station comprised of 20,830ha of Crown pastoral leasehold land and 4780ha of freehold with about 800ha of developed flat land.

The applicants are seeking 1600L/s from Kakapo Brook, which would result in “flat-lining” of Kakapo Brook downstream of the take, for nearly 80% of the time, contrary to the Waiau/Hurunui district plan. The water abstracted from Kakapo Brook would be stored in two out-of-channel storage dams capable of holding up to 700,000 and 300,000 m3 of water.

The recommendation from Environment Canterbury staff identify the following issues; • The water take does not comply with the environmental flow and allocation regime outlined in the proposed Hurunui Waiau River Regional Plan and is subsequently a prohibited activity under both the proposed and operative versions of the plan.

• However the water take is treated as discretionary because the application was lodged before the plan became operative • The overall activity status of the proposal is non-complying • The proposal is contrary to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (2014) as the proposal will result in the over-allocation of water resources and may compromise the ability to meet freshwater quality objectives • There is insufficient information to determine that the effects of the proposal will be minor.

The applicants say the low flow would only affect a 750m stretch of water; vegetation loss would be restricted to 1.5ha of mountain beech on the leasehold land and 5.3ha of matagouri and other indigenous vegetation; a dam break would not affect any dwellings and water would flow into the Hope River; ecological effects such as algae growth would be monitored; low numbers of black fronted terns which would be affected and the vulnerable banded dotterel is a versatile and mobile feeder.

Only a fifth (18%) of respondents stated that they were very familiar with the Canterbury Water Management Strategy but half of respondents (48%) stated that they were somewhat familiar.

Two thirds of the respondents (67%) felt that they had the opportunity to contribute their views to the development of water management plans in their area.

Eighty seven per cent were aware of the local Zone Committees established to facilitate community contribution to water management.

Nearly a third of respondents (30%) were distrustful that the Water Management Strategy would achieve a fair balance between water use for recreation, urban supply and the needs of farmers.

Nearly half (47%) gave a neutral response but 23% did trust that the strategy would achieve a fair balance.

Fifty seven per cent believed the strategy would be somewhat effective and 10% believed it would be very effective in terms of protecting water quality and keeping decisions about water use out of the courts

While 29 percent % felt that farmers would be treated fairly, 40 percent thought that they would not.

Nearly all of the respondents (92 percent) were aware that there are new planning rules in Canterbury governing nutrient loss.

A high proportion of respondents had heard of the Land and Water Regional Plan (89 percent).

The survey has been circulated in the same month as the first reading of the National-led government’s Bill denying full democratic representation at Environment Canterbury in Parliament.

Environment Minister Nick Smith claims Ecan commissioners have made “huge progress” by continuing the water management strategy set up by their elected predecessors.

However, Ecan’s own recent evaluation of lakes and rivers in Canterbury shows water quality continues to deteriorate.

“Commissioners have successfully shifted ECan from being a laggard on water management to being a leader, according to Mr Smith.

Partnership model for health sector Hugh de Lacy So-called redevelopment partnerships seem to be the way the Government is choosing to manage major South Island hospital construction contracts, with Dunedin joining Greymouth under such a structure.

The Ministers of Health and Finance, respectively Jonathon Coleman and Bill English, have announced terms of reference for the Southern Partnership Group (SPG) that will oversee the $23.4 million redevelopment of Dunedin Hospital.

In concert with the group which has lately let a contract to Fletcher Construction for the preconstruction phase of the new $68.1m Greymouth Hospital, the SPG has been charged with governing the Dunedin work and overseeing the business case for the redevelopment of Dunedin Hospital.

Up to five members will be appointed to the SPG by the Health Minister, while others will be appointed ex officio from the Southern District Health Board, Treasury and the Ministry of Health.

The tasks that the group will undertake include services plans for both the district health board and the hospital, and reports on existing assets’ age

and condition, the feasibility of refurbishing them, and on expansion zones on board-owned land.

The longer-established West Coast group has brought Fletcher Construction aboard in an advisory capacity because of its expertise in developing other hospitals around the country, including Christchurch Public and Taranaki Base.

Fletcher’s appointment does not include the actual building of the new Greymouth facility, for which tenders have yet to be let.

The chair of the West Coast Hospital Redevelopment Partnership Group, Cathy Cooney, told Business South the group structure was “a way of assembling the expertise available for district health boards to assist with projects so as to get the best outcome for the community”.

Cooney herself is a director of Kowhai Health Associates, a Rotorua-based consultancy offering services to the public and private health sectors.

A fellow of the Australasian College of Health Service Management, Cooney is a registered nurse and midwife.

The chairs of the partnership groups are paid a daily fee of between $500 and $1062, while members receive between $375 and $800.

The groups’ operating costs are met by the Ministry of Health.

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Business South November 2015

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Strong interest in industrial port The Carter Group, the developer of the new $500 million Industrial Port (I Port), an industrial and logistics park located on 122 hectares of prime industrial-zoned land at Rolleston, says it is buoyed by the interest the project is attracting.

“The fact that we share a boundary with the Lyttelton Port Company’s (LPC) MidlandPort and provide direct access to that facility is proving a key attraction for a range of potential clients, especially in the logistics and warehousing sectors,” says Carter Group’s I Port Director Tim Carter.

“Rolleston is now clearly positioned as the key transport hub for not only Canterbury, but also the whole of the South Island,” he says.

The presence at Rolleston of both the LPC MidlandPort and the Port of Tauranga’s Metroport facilities, alongside the I Port and iZone business hub, is a huge boost for the efficiency of transport for businesses involved in exporting, importing, logistics, industrial and agriculture Carter says.

The Canterbury region remains one of the country’s top performers, posting 16 consecutive quarters of economic growth. Commodity exports such as dry and refrigerated dairy, frozen meats and vegetables are forecast to keep rising due to new irrigation developments. In Central Canterbury alone 60,000 hectares of mostly dryland farms will be transformed by the Central Plains Water Irrigation scheme, increasing agricultural output by an estimated $264 million per year.

By late this year, MidlandPort will have a road shuttle service to the Lyttelton sea port. Direct rail access to Lyttelton Port, commencing in early 2016, will be a key feature of the MidlandPort service unmatched in the Canterbury market, providing customers with efficiencies and cost savings by reducing container handling.

Lyttelton Port of Christchurch chief executive Peter Davie says “MidlandPort will improve container freight efficiency, travel time, reduce road congestion and costs for our customers.

It will act as a hub for receiving, storing and

The developers behind Rolleston’s $500 million I Port, The Carter Group, have been buoyed by the interest the project is attracting.

consolidating containers and as a distribution point where containers are transferred between trucks and trains.”

Davie says over the next 30 years Lyttelton

Philip Carter, LPC Chair Trevor Burt and Tim Carter, I Port director, at the proposed I Port site.

“MidlandPort will improve container freight efficiency, travel time, reduce road congestion and costs for our customers. It will act as a hub for receiving, storing and consolidating containers.”

Port of Christchurch will implement its Lyttelton Port Recovery Plan which will see the company develop land and facilities to cater for long-term international trade growth.

Carter says the experience of large companies in places such as Auckland who have channelled their operations through an inland port proves the potential for supply chain efficiencies.

New Zealand Appliance Company Fisher and Paykel (F&P) found that the move to the Ports of Auckland (POA) inland port at Wiri in South Auckland provided flexibility with the management of containers on its own site, as well as improving container utilisation for the business.

“Previously we had a micro-port onsite,” Richard Driver, F&P’s Global Logistics Project Co-Ordinator, says. “But changes to our facility meant we lost the use of that space. The move

to the inland port allowed us to remain efficient in our container movements while taking advantage of the other benefits inland ports offer.”

F&P had been looking to future-proof the logistics component of its business, Driver says.

A change in the import/export balance of F&P’s operations brought about by increased offshore production reduced flexibility on the company’s own site and they decided to adopt the Wiri inland port solution. More than 60 percent of F&P’s freight is now inbound.

“Using the inland port did mean we had to place more emphasis on forward planning,” Driver says. “The result, though, has been improved container utilisation as well as transport efficiencies.”

Carter says the proximity of I Port to LPC’s inland port makes staging of containers easier and reduces handling delays.

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NEWS »

November 2015 Business South

Taxing the holiday Commitment, can-do home or boat ....

BUSINESS SERVICES » Bonisch Consultants

Holiday homes and boats can tie up a lot of capital. There are weeks and weeks where they sit there idle. Because of this a lot of people will make them available for others to hire to help cover some of the costs. In addition to the revenue coming in there are also tax deductions for some of the costs.

The tax rules in relation to assets which have both a private and a business purpose (such as holiday homes, boats or even aircraft) changed a couple of years ago.

Under the old rules you could claim some of the costs (interest, depreciation, maintenance) as a tax deduction and offset any overall loss against your other income.

Costs were split between private and business by looking at the number of days in a year that the property was being used for private purposes and the number of days the property was available for hire regardless of whether it was actually used This meant that significant deductions were claimed for assets that were mainly used for private purposes (the argument being that when not being used privately they were available for hire).

Not any more. If you are still applying this approach then you are doing it wrong!

The new rules are known as the mixed-use assets rules.

The apportionment is no longer based on how many days the asset was available for hire, but how many days it was hired relative to the total days used.

This is a significant change.

Essentially the rules can be summarised as: • Expenses directly attributed to renting out the property are deductible • Expenses directly attributed to private use (including where the property is rented to the owner or associated persons at market value!) are not deductible Other expenditure is apportioned based on a formula which essentially prorates on the above two categories based on actual usage – rather than the old approach which was based on available for use

attitude focus for firm

Don MacKenzie

In addition to the apportionment rules, there are also rules that limit the ability to offset any loss resulting against other income. In other words you can’t use these losses to reduce your overall taxable income.

The losses are effectively quarantined and carried forward to offset against any income from the asset in future years. This applies where the income is less than two percent of the assets value.

There are complex rules to quantify interest deductions available to companies that hold the assets subject to the mixed-use assets rules.

If the amount of income from a mixed-use asset in an income year is less than $4000, you can choose to treat the income as exempt and effectively opt out of the apportionment rules.

This would mean however that all expenditure will be non-deductible.

Under this approach you can essentially ignore the tax implications of owning a mixed-use asset.

There are helpfully some further exemptions from the rules: - the asset is a residential property and is being rented out long term - the private use is minor - the main use of the asset is in a business (excluding a rental or charter business) The mixed-use assets rules apply to all holiday homes or land. The rules also apply to boats and aircraft with a cost of more than $50,000.

If you have a holiday home and earn more than $4000 from it then you need to consider the above rules when calculating your tax liability for the year.

Karen Phelps Just five years ago, Bonisch Consultants was only involved in the surveying component of land development.

Now, the company offers the in-house capability to take a block of land from greenfield to a completed subdivision.

One of the company directors, Boyd Wilson, says it has been a natural evolution as the company has sought to take advantage of opportunities in the market.

It now assists clients with everything from redefinition surveys for new houses to multimillion dollar infrastructure projects for government and companies.

“Changes in land use saw the industry become increasingly multi-disciplinary and, in recognition of this, our services were broadened to include a whole range of professional land development consulting services,” explains Wilson.

A privately owned multidisciplinary firm, Bonisch Consultants had its beginnings in 1973 when it was founded by surveyor Noel Bonisch. In 2010 long-term employees Wilson and Craig Ireland took over the reins when Bonisch retired and registered Bonisch Consultants Limited.

Based in Invercargill the company also has offices in Te Anau and Christchurch, which opened in 2012, to support the rebuild.

Bonisch Consultants employs a skilled team including fully qualified engineers, environmental planners and dedicated project managers.

The company’s services include land subdivision, resource management and planning, surveying, land development, building and construction set out, project management and civil engineering.

Wilson says that the company focuses on quality and accuracy, using the latest technology to

deliver results with maximum efficiency.

Over the years, the company has been involved in many high profile projects throughout the Southland and Otago regions including the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter and Fonterra developments at Edendale, rural subdivisions in the Gibbston Valley and large-scale residential developments in Te Anau, Winton and Invercargill.

Wilson says that a can-do attitude and a commitment to personal service has seen Bonisch Consultants build a strong relationship with a number of national clients and today, the company works on a diverse range of projects.

For example, the company has been actively involved with Bupa retirement villages up and down the country undertaking all of the land development to the point where construction is ready to begin.

The company recently completed the design and earthworks for the Canterbury Soccer Academy and has been involved in the Christchurch CBD verticality surveys for insurance companies, as well as construction set out for new buildings.

Wilson says that the company has to be extremely innovative to make projects stack up in Invercargill, which has benefits for clients around New Zealand: “We don’t have the huge population growth and demand here of a city like Auckland, for example.

Time is money in land development so we have to look at ways to minimise the cost and stage out the development.

This mind-set when transferred to projects in other parts of New Zealand means potentially more profit for our clients.”

Bonisch Consultants employs a total of 27 staff and Wilson says the aim is to continue to grow while still providing clients with personal service.

“We are very client focused and clients have direct access to the company directors. This is important because accountability is key for our clients.”

Don MacKenzie is a specialist tax partner at the Christchurch Office of Deloitte and can be contacted on 03 363 3819.

Brad and the team are proud to partner with Bonisch Consultants, delivering specialist advice to help them succeed in business.

“The apportionment is no longer based on how many days the asset was available for hire, but how many days it was hired relative to the total days used.”

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HOSPITALITY » The London Flatbread Pizza Co & Bar

November 2015 Business South

A taste of London in Queenstown Jo Bailey When Pete Jefford was shown into the basement of the old Outside Sports building in the heart of Queenstown late last year, he knew he had found the space for his new hospitality venture, The London Flatbread Pizza Co & Bar. “It was a unique and sizeable space that provided the opportunity to create a cool, underground vibe, like bars that you would find in some of the world’s bigger cities.”

Pete immediately started throwing around some ideas with Chris Stevens, of Aucklandbased design firm CtrlSpace that specialises in the hospitality sector.

By the time he signed the lease for the basement space in February this year, his concept for the bar’s fit-out was gaining traction.

Originally from the UK he was keen to incorporate some of his heritage into the design, but with the more industrial feel of an underground tube station rather than replicating an English pub.

“The design had to reflect that most of the action would happen between 4pm and 4am, although the venue has also been open for lunch.”

He is pleased with the transformation of the space, (formerly a bike repair shop) which was completed by Alpine Construction Group under extremely tight time pressure.

“We had a deadline of June 18 so we could start trading on opening night of the Winter Festival, which along with New Year’s Eve marks the two biggest dates of the year in downtown Queenstown.”

Alpine Construction had already completed the building conversion works for the owners of the building, which included the removal of a large central staircase going through the heart of the structure.

“The design had to reflect that most of the action would happen between 4pm and 4am, although the venue has also been open for lunch.”

These reconfiguration works included the construction of a new staircase and entranceway for The London.

By early April, the Alpine Construction team had moved onto the bar’s fit out, and with a “can do attitude” managed to meet the deadline.

“It was a great effort that included a massive push in the last two weeks, with a lot of extra manpower brought in on site. By that stage we had recruited 20 odd staff who were being trained partly in the business and partly off site.

It was a pretty full on period.”

Pete says the opening went well, given that “half of Queenstown” was out on the town for Winterfest. “We had some wide exposure in the first couple of nights, which was great.”

Response to The London’s menu of “comfort style” food cooked in front of guests in a large, central open kitchen has been positive.

“I didn’t want anything too complicated on the menu, as it had to be able to transition easily from early evening offerings into late night.”

Since opening The London has introduced its own signature three-foot pizza which is “amazing and sure to be a crowd pleaser”, he says.

Pete first got into the hospitality sector in Queenstown when he developed Brazz

The London Flatbread Pizza Co & Bar has a big vibrant entranceway with music posters plastering the walls, neon signs and a stairwell which has been designed to resemble an underground tube station.

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Business South November 2015

HOSPITALITY » The London Flatbread Pizza Co & Bar

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The London Flatbread Pizza Co & Bar has a cool, underground vibe and a large, central open kitchen which offers “comfort style” food cooked in front of guests.

Steakhouse & Bar in 2002, which is still going “great guns” and has firmly cemented its place in the hospitality scene.

“I’ve learned a lot over the last 13 years about what works and what doesn’t in this market.

“Our audience in Queenstown is fairly wide, as we have a broad mix of transient workers, locals who live and work here, and tourists who stay on average two or three nights.”

Three months after it opened he says The London is “evolving nicely”.

“Because it is an underground venue, and has some concealment to the recessed entranceway, it is going to take time for the word to spread.

“You can’t buy time as they say.”

Bookings for functions and events are growing steadily, which is helping to build awareness and The London’s client base.

“We will continue to evolve and do our part well, which is to consistently provide good hospitality by way of service, offerings, attention to detail all in a unique venue.

‘It’s not rocket science, but doing that every day of the year is the challenge and key to what keeps a well-run hospitality businesses at the top of their game.”

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Hospitality » The London Flatbread Pizza Co & Bar

November 2015 Business South

Bar offers big city, late night vibe Jo Bailey New basement bar The London Flatbread Pizza Co & Bar has brought a taste of London nightlife to the heart of Shotover Street in Queenstown since it opened in mid June.

General manager Peter Robertson says the simple doorway off the street adds a sense of mystery to the venue, and customers have been “wowed” by what lies beyond.

“People come through the door and are hit by a big vibrant entranceway with music posters plastering the walls, neon signs and a stairwell which has been designed to resemble an underground tube station. When they reach the bar downstairs they are often blown away by its size and atmosphere.”

A mix of steel, concrete, wood, exposed brickwork and wall and floor tiles have been cleverly combined to provide a “funky, industrial” aesthetic and break the vast 400-plus sqm space into attractive zones for dining or catching up over a drink.

Seating options include tables, leaners and booths, and even bar stools for those wanting to get closer to the action behind the bar.

Services in the cavernous ceiling are fully exposed, with hanging lanterns and lightbulbs further enhancing The London’s industrial flavour, along with an open kitchen area.

“A lot of work has gone into the design and lighting, which provides the venue with a cosy, comfortable feel rather than being cold and clubby,” says Robertson.

He says The London’s name is in keeping with the bar’s “metropolitan, big city vibe” and has an underground late night venue feel.

Food is a “major focus” at The London, with the menu full of items designed to share such as pizzas, flatbreads, sharing boards, London plates and salads, which are available from lunchtime into the evening.

A late night menu continues into the small hours.

This is when the lights go down and the venue

The London Flatbread Pizza Co & Bar’s mix of steel, concrete, wood, exposed brickwork and wall and floor tiles provides a “funky, industrial” aesthetic. really comes into its own, says Robertson.

“Being in the middle of town gives us the opportunity to trade a bit later. The nights are busy, especially at the weekend. It’s a big place so when it’s full there is no other place like it in town in terms of atmosphere.”

Entertainment is provided by a combination of bands and DJs, and The London also hosts other events and themed nights, such as beach parties, ladies’ nights, hospo parties, and a Fiesta Latina event.

The venue has a capacity of 275 people and

is one of the few in Queenstown other than the convention centre that can fully cater for over 250 people.

“We have already attracted a number of bookings for large groups in excess of 100 people, as well as a ticketed event for NZSki for 250 guests,” says Robertson.

There are seven kitchen staff and 18 front of house staff at The London, excluding DJs and security.

“Between The London, and owner Pete Jefford’s other Queenstown offering Brazz Steakhouse & Bar,

we employ more than 50 people, which is quite significant,” he says.

With the busy spring/summer visitor season underway, Robertson expects more locals to start making The London their regular haunt.

“There are so many hospitality options in Queenstown, and new places popping up often, so it can often take a bit longer to build the local market.

“However, with our fantastic venue, great food and friendly team we’re definitely attracting a lot more local people.”

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DEVELOPMENT » Dungarvon Estate

November 2015 Business South

Hot demand expected for properties Kim Newth Several high spec architectural house and land packages under construction at the sought-after Dungarvon Wanaka are unlikely to sit on the market for long.

Dungarvon Wanaka, a project of Universal Developments Ltd, is conveniently located on flat land within a short walking distance of Wanaka’s town centre and lake foreshore.

Following the release of titles nine months ago, most sections have sold. This has prompted the developer to commence construction of architectural house and land packages on the balance of land remaining, accessed from Tenby Street.

Four have recently hit the market at 41, 43, 45 and 47 Tenby Street.

“Within a week, 43 Tenby Street has sold off the plans and there is strong interest in the others,” says the project’s general manager Dan Curley.

He suggests these high-quality homes, designed

by Wanaka architect Chris Norman, will appeal to those wishing to invest in a manageable asset, situated in a prime location and being built to a high standard not otherwise readily available to the market in the location of old town Wanaka.

Adding to the appeal is that these homes are sited on flat sections within 400m of Wanaka’s shopping and hospitality hub.

Chris Norman Architects is an established Wanaka-based architectural practice. Director Chris Norman has an intimate working knowledge of the site, underpinned by 20 years’ experience working nationally and internationally on a wide variety of projects. The firm’s Wanaka-based team is easily accessible, ensuring open communication, quick response times and flexibility to meet project and client requirements.

The homes released thus far (ranging from 187sqm to 213sqm) comprise three bedrooms and modern, well thought out living environments. Each home has a northwest aspect, providing excellent solar gains and spectacular views of Wanaka’s internationally renowned mountain vistas.

The design of each home is in keeping with Wanaka’s alpine environment. Cedar weatherboards are a distinctive feature and three of the homes’ exteriors also feature Central Otago Schist rock cladding.

“We have been made aware that there is a shortage of architectural house and land packages like this, which offer high quality on a more modest scale in a prime sought after location,” says Dan. “Potential buyers love the idea of being so

The design of each home is in keeping with Wanaka’s alpine environment. Cedar weatherboards are a distinctive feature and three of the homes’ exteriors also feature Central Otago Schist rock cladding. close to Wanaka’s town centre amenities on a flat easy care section in a beautifully designed high quality home. These homes will be presented to potential purchasers complete with fencing, soft landscaping, window furnishings and appliance packages – buyers can simply turn up, unpack and immediately immerse themselves in what Wanaka has to offer.”

For older people whose children have left home, the lifestyle on offer at Dungarvon Wanaka is likely to be very attractive.

However, Dan suggests these packages could also appeal to investors at the high end of the market, perhaps looking to add a ski holiday home to their portfolio.

The project’s developer has been active in Otago over a number of years, having previously built a number of homes in the region.

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DEVELOPMENT » Dungarvon Estate

Business South November 2015

| 11

The homes released in Dungarvan Wanaka so far (ranging from 187sqm to 213sqm) comprise three bedrooms and modern, well thought out living environments. Each home has a northwest aspect, providing excellent solar gains and spectacular views of Wanaka’s internationally renowned mountain vistas.

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12 |

DEVELOPMENT » Mitre 10 Mega Queenstown

November 2015 Business South

Mitre 10 Mega just weeks away Jo Bailey The wait is almost over for Central Otago tradespeople and DIYers, with the new Mitre 10 Mega Queenstown store just weeks away from opening at Shotover Park.

“We’re all pretty excited and our team on the ground can’t wait to welcome in the first customers,” says Jason Smith, managing director of H and J Smith Ltd, the owners and developers of the new store.

The internal fitout of the main retail area is already underway, with more than 20 Mitre 10 Mega staff putting up racking and stocking the outlet, alongside main contractors Naylor Love, which is completing the remainder of the building works.

“We spent a lot of time during the planning stages working out how to line up our programme with Naylor Love’s so we could start our merchandising programme before the building was handed over,”says Jason.

“The project has been a truly collaborative partnership from the start and has worked incredibly well.”

Part of the fitout has included the installation of tonnes of steel racking that recently arrived in 15 shipping containers from China.

“We had to create our own MPI facility in the yard and part of the drive-through area for the containers. It’s been a massive task.”

The main Mega store also incorporates offices, staff rooms and training rooms.

A children’s playground connects to an onsite Columbus Café with outdoor courtyard, which overlooks the outlet’s 900sq m garden centre.

Jason is full of praise for Naylor Love, which has kept the fast-track project on schedule, despite climatic challenges during winter and some unexpected ground issues early on in the project.

“Although it is not a hugely complicated build, the ground issues and new building codes requiring a much stronger structure added around a month

Despite climatic challenges during winter and some unexpected ground issues early on in the project, Queenstown’s new Mitre 10 Mega is on track. and a half to the build programme. All credit must go to Naylor Love for overcoming these challenges and working incredibly hard to hit the milestone dates.”

Jason says the 8000sqm store is the largest building project ever undertaken by H and J Smith Ltd.

“In pure dollar terms it is a very significant investment.”

Since it was founded in Invercargill in 1900, the family-owned group has established a range of retail and service interests throughout Otago and Southland, which now employ more than 600 staff.

It has owned and operated a Mitre 10 franchise 1257 M10 Mega NZ Ad.pdf 1 3/09/15

in Queenstown since 1994, when it took over the original store in Frankton.

In 2000 H and J Smith shifted the store to its current site at Remarkables Park, which proved too small almost from the beginning, says Jason.

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DEVELOPMENT » Mitre 10 Mega Queenstown

| 13

The 8000sqm Mitre 10 Mega Queenstown is the largest building project ever undertaken by H and J Smith Ltd and the main Mega store also incorporates offices, staff rooms and training rooms.

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Modern, contemporary fencing The high quality Guardian range of aluminum fencing and driveway gates are just some of the exciting products that will be available from the new Mitre 10 Mega Queenstown store from suppliers, Harkness and Young.

“The Guardian range is an affordable solution for residential homes and commercial building, that add style, value and security,” says James Harkness, director of Harkness and Young.

The powder coated fencing system can be used for perimeter fencing, pool fencing and driveway gates, and comes with a 10-year warranty.

Customers can follow an easy step-by-step guide to assist them to select the right Guardian fence solution to suit their needs.

“The planning process will involve people consulting with their local council to ensure that the system they are intending to install will comply with local regulations. It is also important they work out the correct fence position and measurements of the panels, posts and gates.”

He says measuring the fence correctly is the first and most vital step to ensure customers order the correct materials for their job, saving time and money when it comes to installation.

Guardian also produces an exciting range of glass systems that are a great choice for pool fencing and balustrades.

“These systems create a modern, contemporary look at a very affordable price.

They use the very best quality glass which is 12mm toughened, and Grade A manufactured to meet strict New Zealand Building code regulations for safety and strength,” says James.

The Guardian mini posts are made from 2205 Duplex stainless steel, which is marine grade, and available in a polished or satin finish.

The Guardian Glass range offers affordable glass fencing solutions for pools, as well as backyard, garden areas and balustrade situations.

“It is also the ideal solution for interior and

Harkness and Young’s Guardian range is an affordable solution for residential homes and commercial building, that add style, value and security. exterior balustrades and can be used on open timber, slated or concrete decks.”

These products come with a 12-year warranty.

James says Harkness and Young advises customers to consult and work with a qualified building practitioner on their new fence or balustrade project.

“This is critical to ensure the fencing and balustrade systems are installed correctly and

comply to strict council requirements.”

Harkness and Young is an importer and distributor of a wide range of hardware, homeware and outdoor furniture products to the New Zealand retail and wholesale markets.

The company also supplies the Mitre 10 group with the Fire Angel smoke alarm range, which offers some of the most innovative technologies in fire safety.

“The range includes smoke and heat alarms that are powered by non-removable 10 year lithium fuel cells and leading Thermoptek technology. These products are available throughout all Mitre 10 stores,” says James.

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Business South November 2015

DEVELOPMENT » Mitre 10 Mega Queenstown

| 15

The internal fitout of the main retail area is already underway at the Mitre 10 Mega Queenstown.

Mega store just weeks away • from page 12 “When Mitre 10 became committed to the Mega programme we started working on different site options. “As far back as 2003 we had an agreement to build a new store on a site pretty close to where we are now, but that was put on hold.

“Then we had another site at Remarkables Park, which was taken over by Queenstown Airport under a compulsory land acquisition.”

H and J Smith lodged the first resource consent for its latest site at Frankton Flats in November 2011, and after progressing through Environment Court and High Court processes, lodged a second

resource consent with amendments, which was finally approved.

The existing store at Remarkables Park will continue to trade until the new Mega store opens, with more staff being recruited to swell the existing team of around 40.

Jason says H and J Smith Ltd, its staff and wider Mitre 10 “family” are looking forward to the store’s opening.

“This project has faced a lot of setbacks over the years so it will be great to have the big box finally open. We are fortunate to be able to operate it from our own land and buildings, which is testament to some serious planning and a lot of hard work.”

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November 2015 Business South

DEVELOPMENT » Mitre 10 Mega Queenstown

New store an ‘exciting development’ Jo Bailey The brand new, $20 million Mitre 10 Mega store opening at Frankton Flats before the end of the year will deliver significantly enhanced product and service capability, particularly to the trade market, says general manager Paul Reeve.

“Over the last few years nationally, Mitre 10 has invested heavily in its supply and service model to trade customers.

“We look forward to providing greater rewards and an enhanced service to our local trade network, that has grown since we launched our own service and supply model in Queenstown around four years ago.”

Given the limitations of its much smaller footprint at the existing site, Paul says Mitre 10 has had to be “cautious and strategic” about its growth in the trade market to date, as it didn’t want to overpromise or under-deliver.

“However, once our big new store is up and running we will be, without a doubt, the ultimate trade partner.”

At approximately 8000sqm, the new Mega (the latest store in the H and J Smith group) will more than triple the footprint of the existing Mitre 10 store.

“In fact, the new trade drive-through and yard being constructed for Mega will be bigger than our entire current store at Remarkables Park,” says Paul.

It is not only local tradespeople that will benefit when Mitre 10 Mega opens its doors, he says.

“Local DIY and home improvement enthusiasts can look forward to an enhanced shopping experience that includes an instore Colombus Café, children’s playground and an expansive garden centre.

“Our customers will have more choice instore with our product range that will increase significantly to around 30,000 individual product lines.”

Paul is excited to continue the growth of Mitre 10 in the Wakatipu.

“From small beginnings we have worked hard to steadily build our business.

“Over recent years we have been successfully supplying timber and building supplies to residential and commercials projects across the region including the substantial Five Mile development, the largest construction project underway in Queenstown.”

“Whilst we outgrew our premises some time ago we have continued to gain good momentum.

“Over recent years we have been successfully supplying timber and building supplies to residential and commercials projects across the region including the substantial Five Mile development, the largest construction project underway in Queenstown.”

Paul says the new Mitre 10 Mega store is an “exciting development” for Queenstown

that will employ around 80 team members, more than double the current team at Remarkables Park.

The new store has opened career opportunities for the existing team and new employment options for locals.

“We’ve been trying to get this project through council for over 10 years, so to finally have consent and see it built is great for the community.

“It’s something everyone has been waiting for.”

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Business South November 2015

DEVELOPMENT » Mitre 10 Mega Queenstown

Collaboration the key Close collaboration between main contractors Naylor Love and the developers has been a key factor in the delivery of the new Mitre 10 Mega Queenstown store, says project manager Morgan Stacey.

“It has been a fast track process with the design stage completed once construction was underway, “ says Morgan.

“A close working relationship with Jason and Acton Smith as owners has allowed us to to meet and adapt to their requirements as the project has progressed.”

access to H and J Smith and its team of Mitre 10 Mega Queenstown staff around 10 weeks before handover to enable them to start fitting out and stocking the retail store.

“This access was carefully planned with all stakeholders at the start of the programme, which has made it a reasonably seamless exercise.”

“We communicate daily with the Mitre 10 Mega team to ensure a logical progression of this process.”

The Naylor Love team started on site in January, with the store expected to be handed over before the end of the year.

Completing these works concurrently will enable the new Mitre 10 Mega store to start trading within a very short time frame once handover is complete.

Land issues caused one of the project’s early challenges, with a poorer land quality requiring structural changes the store’s external drainage.

With around 8000sqm of retail space, drivethrough, trade centre, garden centre, café and office space, this is a sizeable development for Queenstown

Pouring the massive post-tensioned concrete slab for the Mitre 10 Mega in sub-zero temperatures in the heart of winter was another challenge for the Naylor Love team.

“We are proud to be associated with the milestone Mitre 10 Mega team on this important project for the region”.

Morgan says the site team led by site manager Tom Glover and foreman Bruce Harris have been instrumental in the success of this project.

“They have worked through difficult winter conditions including mud, snow and ice to bring this project together right on programme and to a very high standard.”

A huge amount of logistical planning has gone into the build programme to provide

Morgan says Naylor Love is also pleased to have developed a relationship with Mitre 10 Mega as a supplier to its projects in the region, “including stage one of the prestigious Five Mile project we are working on nearby”.

Some of the other upcoming projects to be completed by Naylor Love Central Division include the new Pak ‘N Save and Remarkables House, a multi-storey commercial office development at Remarkables Park Town Centre.

Dewalt leads the way Dewalt Power Tools will spearhead a comprehensive range at Queenstown’s new Mitre 10 Mega, which will feature a more interactive and engaging power tool and accessory department, says Damian Firth from Stanley Black & Decker.

“In conjunction with Mitre 10 we are refreshing our displays making them more interactive right throughout New Zealand.”

“Customers at Mitre 10 Mega Queenstown can look forward to a display with all new branding and signage that will make product choice easier.”

Stanley Black & Decker is a leading supplier to Mitre 10 outlets nationwide, with a strong family of trade quality brands including Stanley, Stanley FatMax and Dewalt powertools, handtools and accessories.

Damian says SBD’s wide range of industrial products support Mitre 10 Mega Queenstown’s growing focus on the trade sector.

“The Dewalt family of industrial and construction tools and accessories are very popular with New Zealand’s professional trades. Dewalt is a global market leader that continues to be at the frontline of innovation, while producing an extremely consistent and reliable product.”

The DEWALT catch cry “Guaranteed Tough” means its products are designed and built to last longer, run better, require less servicing and to create time and cost savings over their lifetime. “Dewalt is well known for

its market changing innovations including recent innovations like the world’s first cordless framing nailer, the first gas-free nail gun for use on construction sites.”

Its latest initiative, launching in the New Zealand market soon is the Dewalt Tool Connect system. The system links Bluetooth technology and a mobile application to create a smart solution that enhances tool security on the worksite and simplifies jobsite inventory management.

The mobile app is loaded onto a compatible smart phone or tablet, connects with the user’s Bluetooth-enabled Dewalt 18V batteries, and is used to identify, enable and disable, and check the battery’s diagnostics.

“This technology enables users to monitor and lock their tools, creating a more efficient and secure jobsite. This is the job site of the future, one where there are large numbers of industrial users and vast numbers of cordless tools in use.”

“The application will enable contractors to identify at the touch of a button which batteries are in use, need charging and in what order. This takes tool management to a whole new level.”

Damian says both trade and DIY customers will be pleased that all their power and hand tool needs will be met at the new Mitre 10 Mega Queenstown store.

“We are proud to continue our relationship with Mitre 10 in the region, and look forward to reaching a growing customer base in this exciting new store.”

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| 17

18 |

DEVELOPMENT » Countdown Queenstown

November 2015 Business South

Countdown celebrates QT opening Jo Bailey Countdown is about to gather a new customer base with the opening of its brand new store at Five Mile, in Queenstown.

Adrian Walker, Countdown’s general manager property, says the supermarket giant is excited to have its first store in the region.

“We are delighted to be bringing Countdown to Central Otago and to be able to offer the latest brand standard to the community,” says Adrian.

“There has been very limited choice in the region until now, and we’ve heard from a lot of locals that they are really excited about our arrival,” he says.

The 4000sqm store - which opened on October 22 - is the largest of all the anchor tenants in stage one of the Five Mile development.

Main contractors Naylor Love handed the building over to its owners Progressive Enterprises on schedule on September 30.

The light, bright store is a full service Countdown, with separate bakery, delicatessen, seafood, meat, and fresh produce departments, says Adrian.

“The design of the store has been carefully thought out, and also incorporates a lot of energy efficient plant and equipment, particularly refrigeration, air conditioning and lighting.

“These initiatives have been a focus of the company for some time, and we pride ourselves on the energy savings we have been able to make across our entire portfolio.”

Another feature of the Queenstown store are the two travelators, or trolley escalators, which run from the basement carparking area, up to a store entrance on the ground level.

“We want to make it easier for our customers

to manage their trollies, so we install travelators wherever we have basement carparking.

Underground carparking was necessary at Queenstown to ensure there were sufficient ongrade carparks for our customers and the wider Five Mile development.”

Countdown Queenstown becomes part of a network of over 180 Countdown stores owned and operated by Progressive Enterprises nationwide.

The group is the country’s largest private sector employer, with more than 18,000 employees across its stores, support offices, processing plants and distribution centres.

Countdown services more than 2.7 million customers per week, offering a choice of more than 20,000 different products in each of its stores.

Around 100 people will be employed at the new Queenstown store, with some of these staff completing their training in Invercargill and Dunedin, says Adrian.

“Because this is the first store in the area, our new team have had to travel a bit to complete their training. Everyone is looking forward to applying what they have learned at the new store.”

Antony Tasker is the new store manager.

“We have a very experienced and knowledgeable management team which includes senior staff from Auckland and Dunedin. All are excited to get the store up and running.”

Adrian says Countdown first earmarked Five Mile for its new store several years ago, after negotiating with the original developer, Dave Henderson to be part of the township he was proposing at the time.

“When that project didn’t proceed, our plans went on hold. However, we have been fortunate to secure our involvement at the site with the current developers, Queenstown Gateway Five Mile, and bring the project to fruition.”

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“The design of the store has been carefully thought out, and also incorporates a lot of energy efficient plant and equipment, particularly refrigeration, air conditioning and lighting.”

He says it is “exciting” to see the store finally ready to open and operate.

“Some of these projects can be quite complex and take a long time.

“It’s fantastic to see the end product, which is the result of a lot of hard work.”

A good working relationship with main contractors Naylor Love has been an important aspect of the build, he says.

“The teams have worked well together, and obviously produced a very good retail facility at the end of it.”

Adrian expects a lot of interest in the store following its opening, and says the site at File Mile was definitely worth the wait for the new Countdown Queenstown operation.

“It is an extremely attractive development to be part of, given its location directly off the main road, and proximity to a range of other leading national brands.

“It will be very easy for customers to access the site and our store, and we are excited to welcome many new Central Lakes customers to the Countdown family.”

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DEVELOPMENT » Countdown Queenstown

Business South November 2015

| 19

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20 |

CONSTRUCTION » Suter Art Gallery

November 2015 Business South

Gallery preserved for generations Jo Bailey Major redevelopment works at the historic Suter Art Gallery in Nelson will preserve it for generations to come, says gallery director, Julie Catchpole.

“This is a wonderful project for the community as there is such a lot of affection for The Suter, especially from people who have grown up in Nelson.”

Local firm Scott Construction is more than halfway through the project, which when complete later next year, will have a mix of heritage and contemporary building fabric.

The original Bishop Suter Memorial Gallery (opened in 1899) and a 1980s theatre are being retained as part of the works. However, all other built fabric and areas generally substandard or not to current code have been removed.

“There were increasing problems with watertightness following so many alterations and additions to the gallery over the years. The old original gallery space also needed to be earthquake strengthened and restored. This redevelopment addresses all those concerns and will turn The Suter into a true regional arts centre,” says Julie.

Once complete the footprint of The Suter Te Aratoi o Whakatu will be 27 per cent larger, with more gallery space, an extended foyer, new high-tech heating, lighting and security systems, and improved storage to ensure the long term preservation of its collections.

“The new technology is a critical aspect of the project to enable us to protect our collections of New Zealand and international artworks into the future and establish a programme of regularly changing exhibitions. We had become less able to comply with the increasing number of conditions being specified to enable a loan exhibition to take place.”

The gallery’s shop, café, theatre, rest rooms and staff facilities will also be significantly improved with a dedicated creative learning space developed, says Julie.

The Suter Art Gallery was opened in 1899 as a

The footprint of the redeveloped Suter Art Gallery will be 27 percent larger, with more gallery space, improved storage and an extended foyer. memorial to the second Bishop of Nelson, Andrew Burn Suter, who had died four years earlier.

It is the third oldest, purpose-built art gallery in New Zealand, with the original Bishop Suter Memorial Gallery believed to be the oldest building in the country to be used solely as a gallery space throughout its entire history.

Local architects Jerram Tocker Barron has designed the redevelopment project in association with Christchurch firm, Warren and Mahoney.

“We are working with an excellent team of consultants and contractors, all of whom have

taken tremendous pride in the project.

“Project manager Hans-Peter Froeling of Opus has been marvellous as has the Scott Construction team who come up with some really clever solutions for the restoration works to the old gallery.”

Materials have been sourced from the local region as much as possible, she says.

One of the project’s biggest constraints is its “really tricky triangular site”, bounded on two sides

by the historic Queen’s Gardens and Albion Square, and on the third by Bridge Street.

“We’re trying to squeeze as much as we can on what is a really interesting and significant site with a strong historical background.

“Before The Suter there was a school on the land, which had been built in the 1840s.”

The idea to redevelop The Suter goes back to 1999, when a project called Suter 2000 was launched.

“This is a wonderful project for the community as there is such a lot of affection for The Suter, especially from people who have grown up in Nelson.”

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Business South November 2015

CONSTRUCTION » Suter Art Gallery

| 21

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Proud to work with Scott Construction The gallery’s shop, café, theatre, rest rooms and staff facilities will be significantly improved with a dedicated creative learning space developed, “Although this never came to fruition, a lot of ground work was completed in terms of figuring out what could be done, which was helpful when the trust board and Nelson City Council picked up the project again after 2008.”

By this stage the Bishop Suter Trust had been restructured as charitable trust working in equal partnership with Nelson City Council on the project, which helped to progress the works forward, says Julie.

“In another little quirk of Suter history, the Gallery had its own Act of Parliament, which was repealed in 2008, making a few more things possible.”

The project’s biggest funders are the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board, the Ministry for Culture & Heritage’s Regional Museums Fund, and the Rata Foundation.

“The community has also been immensely generous, with contributions from many private individuals and local businesses.”

Although progress has been slow and steady, there is growing excitement in the community as the delivery of this special project draws closer.

“As caretakers of the project, we are truly proud that we will be able to leave the Gallery in a better state than when we found it for future generations to enjoy.”

Scott leading the way Scott Construction is proud to have been chosen as lead contractor on the significant redevelopment works at Nelson’s Suter Art Gallery, says the firm’s project manager/ quantity surveyor John Smithies.

He says Scott Construction’s site manager Nathan Edwards “loves a challenge” and has come up with some innovative solutions to the various construction challenges throughout the project.

“This is another special, high profile project for the company and we are focused on delivering the best possible result for the clients and local community.”

“When it came to strengthening the historic gallery, we originally planned to cut out a portion of the timber floor and get underneath to do the work on the foundations but this wasn’t possible due to a lack of clearance. Nathan came up with the idea of bracing the entire floor with steel, lifting it to the eaves with chain hoists connected to the roof trusses.”

John says the project is a mix of the old and the new, with the restoration of two of the existing buildings on the site including the original heritage gallery building, and the demolition of the remainder of the old gallery buildings, which are being replaced with new spaces such as galleries, foyer, reception area, education room and café.

“The project has thrown up some unique challenges, with a lot of thought going into the logistics of how we deliver the works on what is a very constrained, triangularshaped site.”

He says the limited access has seen the firm start construction at the south end of the building and work northwards towards the street, with heavy lifts being carefully planned.

“We had to make arrangements with the Department of Conservation to use the carpark on the western side of the building for cranes with a long reach to lift heavy objects into the building. We’ve also used a ramp to get vehicles and handling equipment in and out where the new entrance is going to be, but once the basement works started in this area in late October, we were no longer able to get heavy equipment on site.”

The solution worked incredibly well, as it enabled the Scott Construction team to work on the foundations and strengthening unhindered, and use the floor as a platform to restore the upper walls and roof trusses.

Maintaining the integrity of the heritage features in the historic gallery has also been paramount during the restoration works, he says.

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“We are excited to play our part in turning The Suter, one of New Zealand’s oldest art galleries, into a vibrant regional arts centre for the 21st century,” says John.

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22 |

CONSTRUCTION » ASB Theatre Marlborough

November 2015 Business South

Wait almost over for new theatre Jo Bailey The wait is almost over for Marlborough residents, with the region’s keenly anticipated $20million theatre set to open next February.

An exciting programme of events is already in place for 2016 at the new ASB Theatre Marlborough, although its general manager Andrew Scott won’t give away too many details just yet.

“We’ve got some great events and entertainment lined up through various promoters and have several conferences booked in too. The extra capacity of the theatre is enabling us to attract more high-profile acts to Marlborough, which is great for the region.”

The state-of-the-art multi-use, multi-purpose venue overlooks the Taylor River, and will house two theatres (with a capacity of 700 and 200 people); a Riverview function room which can accommodate up to 170 people for dinner; large public foyer areas; and extensive back of house facilities.

ASB Theatre Marlborough will be used for everything from live performance, to performance arts, conferences and functions.

The “elegant” public foyers can also be utilised for pre and post function events, public meetings and art displays.

“We are located right next to the Marlborough Convention Centre, so linking the two facilities should also enable us to attract larger conferences to the region. This would result in a positive economic spin-off, particularly for the local accommodation, hospitality and tourism sectors.”

A local couple, who wish to remain anonymous, has donated a Steinway concert grand piano to the theatre which they purchased from a private owner in Auckland.

“We are indebted to the couple for their incredible generosity given a new Steinway costs around $336,000. A grand piano was on our wish list for the future, so to have that asset straight off is wonderful.”

Wellington architects Shand Shelton designed the theatre, with construction being carried out by local, family-based construction company, Robinson Construction, which has completed many other high-profile commercial projects in the region.

“This project is definitely a one-off. There wouldn’t be many people who get to build a brand new theatre from scratch.”

The state-of-the-art ASB Theatre Marlborough will house two theatres and a function room which can accommodate up to 170 people for dinner.

There has been a few challenges throughout the process, with changes to the building code following the Christchurch earthquakes forcing some aspects of the plans to be redesigned.

“The building was originally going to have a rib raft foundation, but it now has 94 piles, dug 27m deep. It is a super-strong structure which is being built to 130 percent of the building code.”

Construction got underway in December 2013, with the idea for the project first mooted around a decade ago.

Andrew says the new facilities will be a big step up from Marlborough’s current theatre, which was retro-fitted into a “box-shaped” retail building several years ago.

“We haven’t had a fit-for-purpose theatre since the 1970s, when the region’s historic theatre was pulled down and turned into a carpark. A hall at a local boys’ college was used for the next 11 or 12 years, with the current theatre developed in the mid 1980s always seen as a stop-gap measure.”

The current theatre has a capacity of 461, is height limited, and only has two dressing rooms, he says.

“We can’t do a lot of things rigging wise, and with a complete lack of acoustic isolation, are unable to host two events at the same time due to the noise passing through the walls.”

There will be no such problems at the new theatre, he says.

“The theory is that we could run three events concurrently in the new theatre with 1300 people in the building.

“It will be great to have a venue where function dictates form, rather than the other way around,” says Andrew.

He says once complete, the “outstanding” new theatre will be the envy of other regions.

“This is the largest build of its type in New Zealand for some time.

“A lot of determination and hard work has gone into the theatre’s development..

“We are very excited we will soon be sharing this impressive facility with the Marlborough community.”

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Business South November 2015

CONSTRUCTION » ASB Theatre Marlborough

| 23

ASB Theatre Marlborough, which opens next February, will be used for everything from live performance, to performance arts, conferences and functions.

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24 |

CONSTRUCTION » Kaikoura ITM

November 2015 Business South

Diversity crucial for Kaikoura ITM Jo Bailey Diversity of product and services is key when based in a fairly isolated location such as Kaikoura, says Richard Cotter, manager of Kaikoura ITM. “We have to be able to think on our feet and adapt to what is going on in the market as we don’t have the joy of being in a metro area where everything is available on the doorstep.”

As the major trade supplier in the wider Kaikoura region, Richard says the company has lots of builders relying on it for all their building material needs.

“We liaise closely with our clients to get an idea of their product needs at the start of their projects.

That way we can order things in ahead of time and not hold them up.”

In addition to its fully stocked modern showroom and drive-through, Kaikoura ITM has its own high capacity frame and truss plant, which is kept busy supplying a steady stream of trade and rural customers with high quality Mitek design frame and truss products.

“Farm sheds are a growing part of our business. We can help rural customers to custom design a gable or lean-to pole and rafter shed, with fully engineered structural designs then prepared

by Mitek.”

Once the design has been finalised, Kaikoura ITM manufactures the building materials to order, which are delivered to the site in kitset form, ready to be constructed.

The sheds can also be used as utility or light industrial applications, says Richard.

“Local knowledge is critical to ensure the sheds are designed for the local climate. Kaikoura is classed as an extra-high wind zone under the Building Code, and sea spray issues also have to be considered when choosing materials.”

A local businessman owns both Kaikoura ITM and an adjacent timber mill, which provides the ITM outlet with a ready supply of raw material.

“It’s great having the operations under one umbrella. As a group we are among the largest employers in the local community with up to 30 people working in the mill and another 12 or so in the ITM store.”

Kaikoura ITM has its own high capacity frame and truss plant, which is kept busy supplying a steady stream of trade and rural customers.

The company also produces its own range of manufactured products everything from barbecue tables to calf shelters.

It has also just purchased a “nearly new and extremely big” delivery truck with Hiab, which has been signwritten in the firm’s new branding.

“The truck has the capacity to lift more than any Hiab in town previously, which will create some other new opportunities for us.”

“Kaikoura is classed as an extra-high wind zone under the Building Code, and sea spray issues also have to be considered when choosing materials.”

Kaikoura ITM has recently supplied the two brand new commercial builds in the town – the 2500sqm Kaikoura Hospital; and new Civic Centre, which will become home to Kaikoura District Council.

“Both are fantastic projects. The hospital was quite a logistical challenge as we had to shift the trusses onto the site in the early hours of the morning when the roads were quiet.”

Richard says winter was reasonably quiet in Kaikoura.

However the building market is starting to take off again.

The firm covers a wide area, generally from the Clarence in the north, to Cheviot in the south, and as far west as Hanmer Springs.

Ricahrd says Kaikoura ITM’s team is among its biggest assets.

“We have some pretty experienced people who have been in the game a long time. They know the products, understand the market, and provide excellent service to all of our clients.”

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Business South November 2015

CONSTRUCTION » NAWIC

| 25

More women embrace construction Jo Bailey The outstanding achievements of women who are passionate about changing the construction sector have been recognised at the inaugural Hays National Association of Women in Construction Excellence Awards.

Diana Barr, chair of the Canterbury branch of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) said the association and its awards partner Hay’s Recruitment were delighted with the positive response to the initiative.

“We had loads of entries and the calibre of nominees was amazing. It made choosing the winners extremely difficult.”

Wellington-based architect Deborah Cranko, who has run her own architectural firm for 28 years, won the Professional Woman of the Year Award, while Mary Bartlett, who owns and runs 20-year-old painting business Tickled Pink, was named Tradeswoman of the Year.

Lianne Cox, of Studio Pacific Design, and Sarah Neill, of Beca, were named joint winners of the Outstanding Achievement in Design award. The CIRT Women in Construction initiative won the Helen Tippett Award for actively promoting the participation of women in construction.

Other awards went to Kristina Wyschnowsky, of Corbel Construction (Excellence in Construction Administration), and Gail Royston (Apprentice and Student Award).

Diana says women are joining the construction sector in greater numbers than ever before, with NAWIC predicting a 10 percent yearly growth rate through to 2019.

“The number of women in the construction industry has grown exponentially in recent years with opportunities in just about every construction job. Women are realising they can take their skills and utilise them in an industry that is exciting, and moving ahead.”

NAWIC is an international organisation, founded in Texas in the 1950s, which encourages, informs and upskills women in construction while promoting networking and information sharing.

It has been active in Wellington since 1996, with chapters in Auckland and Canterbury established within the last five years.

“Our vision is to be the leading voice for our members who represent a wide range of professions, whether onsite or in organisations which provide services to the industry.”

Quantity surveyors, project managers, suppliers, planners, designers and architects, engineers, tradespeople and lawyers are among NAWIC’s members.

Each chapter runs a varied programme, including site visits, professional development opportunities, industry speakers and networking events, often in partnership with other industry related groups.

“All three chapters offer some really interesting

Each NAWIC chapter runs a varied programme including site visits, professional development opportunities, industry speakers and other networking events. site visits, with members able to get the inside running on some key, often award-winning commercial projects under construction.”

Diana says NAWIC recognises women are often balancing multiple work and family commitments, so is mindful of arranging activities at suitable times of the day.

Increasing the visibility of NAWIC in order to promote the construction industry as an exciting career choice for women is one of the goals moving forward, she says.

“It is important we create a pathway so young women are aware of the options available to them within the construction sector. The Canterbury rebuild, Auckland building boom and strong Wellington market are providing great opportunities for women across a range of fields.”

Women’s skills in other professional fields are often immediately transferrable to the construction sector.

“There are also excellent free training schemes provided for women who are keen to enter the trades.”

At a personal level, Diana Barr says the highlights of her involvement with NAWIC so far have been the “huge number of contacts” she has

The number of women in the construction industry has grown exponentially in recent years.

made within the construction sector which has enhanced her work as a structural engineer with Opus.

“NAWIC has also provided me with continued

professional development and the opportunity to look at some fascinating rebuild projects under construction in Christchurch that I wouldn’t have otherwise had the chance to see.”

26 |

BUILDING » SC Projects

November 2015 Business South

Win an ‘amazing achievement’ Karen Phelps First time entrants, SC Projects, has won a gold award in the Builders Own Home category of the 2015 Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition.

Company director Steve Cliff says his extensive background in commercial building was combined with expertise in residential home building to create the distinctive house.

The 260sq m four-bedroom home was designed in an atypical shape to the fit the site.

A distinguishing feature of the design was a central block wall running through the spine of the house which separated the space into distinct areas.

Materials more commonly used in commercial construction, such as structural steel and concrete, were used extensively in the build, which also influenced the design, says Cliff.

“Structural steel enabled us to open up spaces

as by using steel purloins we could span further, up to eight metres,” he explains.

The home was designed specifically to meet the needs of Cliff’s young family and the key objective given to Peter Hawker Architect was to create a homely feel with a sense of space. The design includes an outdoor area that is covered so it can be used in all weather, yet unobtrusive, achieved with a 6m x 4m roof space which cantilevers off the side of the house with stainless steel supports and attractive plywood detailing under the eaves.

Cliff says the build involved a high degree of craftsmanship: “All the trades we used – as we do on all our jobs – made sure everything was spot on. We got over 90 per cent to get a gold award so for a small company that’s quite an amazing achievement,” he says.

A Registered Master Builder and member of Site Safe, SC Projects is an independently owned Christchurch-based boutique building company

• to page 28

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BUILDING » SC Projects

Business South November 2015

| 27

SC Projects’ award-winning home was built using company director Steve Cliff’s extensive backround in commercial building.

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28 |

BUILDING » SC Projects

November 2015 Business South

Win an ‘amazing achievement’ • from page 26 specialising in residential and light commercial new builds, renovations, alterations and decks.

The company was established in 2011 by Cliff and wife Emma and since then the company has forged a reputation for outstanding workmanship, creativity, meticulous attention to detail, pricecompetitive building solutions and open and honest communication, says Cliff.

It could be argued that Cliff has carpentry in his blood. Christchurch born and bred, ever since completing his apprenticeship in 1998 he’s been involved in the building industry. At SC Projects, he regularly spends time on site and personally takes care of project management as well as client communication to ensure satisfaction from start to finish.

“One of the advantages of running a boutique building company means every client is afforded the personal touch. Ongoing communication is vital to a project running smoothly. Every client’s needs and requirements are carefully considered and enhanced with advice and ideas from the team who like nothing better than tackling a challenging build

but are equally adept at building a standard family home that will stand the test of time,” he says.

Cliff believes the company’s success is due in large part to the fact that he and his team are realistic about timing and never over commit, combined with creativity and a firm commitment to quality workmanship and cost-effective outcomes.

“We take great satisfaction in the fact that most of our new and repeat business has come as a result of word-of-mouth referrals and personal recommendations from satisfied clients,’ says Cliff.

SC Projects builds throughout Canterbury and recent projects completed by the company include a head office in central Christchurch and a preschool near Akaroa for Plunket. Cliff says that the aim is to deliver to the market an architectural yet affordable home.

SC Projects has been growing steadily and Cliff says he entered the Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition not expecting to win an award.

“We wanted to benchmark ourselves so to win a gold gave a boost knowing we build award-winning homes. It’s really positive for the business moving forward.”

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BUILDING » Stewart Construction

Business South November 2015

| 29

Firm celebrates 50 year milestone Kim Newth Back in 1965, Otago builder Laurie Stewart could scarcely have imagined how the building business he founded that year would ultimately grow to become one of Otago’s most experienced and respected construction companies.

On October 31, Stewart Construction will be holding a 50th anniversary reunion dinner at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium to celebrate its long and illustrious history.

Guest of honour will be the company’s cherished founder, Laurie Stewart, who originally took up the trade in the footsteps of his father, also a builder in his day.

Through the years the company has acquired a considerable level of experience in the local building industry and an enviable reputation for the quality of its services. The company takes pride in delivering residential projects - from renovations and redevelopments to dream homes - and commercial contracts to a high standard, on time and on budget.

In 1965, when Laurie first incorporated his building business as a private company, New Zealand was a very different place. TEAL became Air New Zealand that year. Ray Columbus and The Invaders had just won the inaugural Loxene Golden Disc Award for Till We Kissed. The last steam express had left Auckland for Wellington on the main trunk line. Compared to today, building materials were much more limited.

Stewart Construction has changed with the times, adapting to new technologies and evolving customer requirements over the intervening decades.

What has not changed is its commitment to professional standards: Stewart Construction has been a registered master builder since the early 1960s and a registered master joiner since 1970.

Today, the company has a specialist joinery division equipped with all the latest technology, including a nesting machine that can cut out acoustic ceiling panels, signage and grooved wall panelling.

Sustainability and environmental responsibility has become a key focus. Recycling is now routine where possible and hazardous materials are strictly managed.

“We are dedicated to promoting green principles and future proof building,” says the company’s contracts manager and director Paul Mulholland.

Stewart Construction has changed with the times, adapting to new technologies and evolving customer requirements over the decades.

“That is reflected in our approach to upgrading and designing insulation, the use of solar power and solar hot water and promotion of carbon neutral, energy efficient building methods.”

Health and Safety is another huge priority.

Stewart Construction has built this into its tendering processes, pre-start meetings and day to day hazard management. A Site Safe Site Specific Safety Management Plan is followed for each job.

The company’s commercial construction work spans small to medium projects, with its design and build services offering both sustainability and functionality.

• to page 30

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30 |

BUILDING » Stewart Construction

November 2015 Business South

Firm celebrates 50 year milestone • from page 29 Clients appreciate Stewart Construction’s inhouse joinery and design capability for office, retail and commercial new builds, alterations and renovations.

Many Otago schools have been shaped by this company’s contribution. It has designed and built many classrooms, administration blocks and gymnasiums for local schools.

Maintenance and repair services can be tailored to individual budgets and client requirements.

In addition, the company has carried out restoration work on many historic buildings in Otago including the Clyde Railway Station, the Dunedin Railway Station and various churches in Dunedin, such as St Peters Church, First Church of Otago and Knox Church.

In the residential market, Stewart Construction has the expertise to tailor individual solutions, whether for carpentry/joinery or a fully managed turnkey project. The company has well-established working relationships with trusted architect partners and quality subcontractors.

“We also specialise in building fully transportable home which are constructed in our yard and transported to any site.”

From time to time, Stewart Construction lends its expertise to other large organisations seeking assistance on new builds or renovations and offers a reliable project management service.

Looking back, Laurie Stewart must be proud of the company he started 50 years ago and all that it has achieved. On his retirement, Laurie was succeeded by Wayne Bowen who took up the reins as managing director in 1984.

Stewart Construction has well-established working relationships with trusted architect partners and quality subcontractors.

He was succeeded, in turn, by Ross Middlemass in 2003.

Stewart Construction’s current managing director is David Grant, who took up the role this year.

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We look forward to continuing to provide Electrical, Fire Protection and Data Services to you for the next 50 years Tansley Electrical branches located at:

50 Carroll Street

Ph: 03 477 9384 www.wrens.co.nz

Dunedin | Invercargill | Queenstown | Christchurch EST 1896

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BUILDING » Stewart Construction

Business South November 2015

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Stewart Construction has the expertise to tailor individual solutions, whether for carpentry/joinery or a fully managed turnkey project.

Simon Tangney

ID M EST

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49c Broughton Street, South Dunedin PO Box 1487, Dunedin 9054 Email: simon@decoratingservices.co.nz

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THE BEST CONNECTION Pleased to be associated with Stewart Construction Limited Otago Electrical & Communications Ltd. Phone (03) 477-2795 Fax (03) 477-1413 PO Box 676 Dunedin

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32 |

BUILDING » Nigel Robertson Building

November 2015 Business South

Small firm building big reputation Kim Newth A small Invercargill building company in its third year of business is rapidly making inroads in the local market as word spreads of its commitment to quality work.

Nigel Robertson Building Ltd employs two builders along with its owners, Nigel and Katie Robertson. Nigel has extensive local building experience and is a born and bred Southlander.

“People know him and they like how he deals with clients from start to finish; he’s a project manager as well and has good contacts with all the subbies here,” says Katie, who handles the administrative side of the business, including accounts, payroll and advertising.

When not working, the couple are also kept on their toes looking after their young family, Abbey, 4 and baby Lucas.

No job is too big or too small for the building team who cover everything from new home builds to home renovations, new decks and garages, sleep-outs and cottages.

The company is a member of Registered Master Builders and a Licensed Building Practitioner and its team works alongside skilled local architectural designers.

“We have just completed two new builds and Nigel is doing two more on contract at the moment.

Once the weather starts to pick up, people will begin to think about their outdoor projects, as well.

Current projects include a deck and a gazebo.

“He doesn’t turn anything down – he will do anything because one job leads to another.”

Free quotes are available for all build and renovation projects. Nigel generally starts by running through some questions with a client to gauge the size and scale of what is required. If it is something such as deck, he will then draw up a plan and give an estimate.

“Some people have no idea of the cost, but he can adjust the plan if necessary to fit within a particular budget. He won’t just draw up a plan and say ‘Take it or leave it’.”

The company works hard to take the stress out of home renovations, such as new kitchens and bathrooms. It offers a full range of trade and

No job is too big or too small for Nigel Robertson Building Ltd. The company does everything from new home builds to home renovations, new decks and garages, sleep-outs and cottages. building services and manages every project from beginning to end.

If someone wants two jobs done at the same time, such as a new kitchen installed plus home reinsulation, then this can be readily accommodated.

“Nigel will work with people to get permits to the council as well, which is never a simple task.”

“Some people have no idea of the cost, but he (Nigel) can adjust the plan if necessary to fit within a particular budget. He won’t just draw up a plan and say ‘Take it or leave it’.”

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Business South November 2015

BUILDING » Nigel Robertson Building

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Nigel Robertson Building Ltd works hard to take the stress out of home renovations, such as new kitchens and bathrooms.

House plans all ready to go Nigel Robertson Building Ltd has housing plans drawn up for two sections in Invercargill’s Lamond Street West, listed for sale through Harcourts Real Estate.

These are both competitively priced for under $500,000 and they will be built and project managed by Nigel Robertson Building Ltd. Each home, sited on a colour steel fenced section with the lawn sown, will be clad with brick and weatherboard and finished to a high standard.

Carpeted and tiled throughout, the homes will be supplied with drapes by Russell’s Curtains.

Quality gib board will be stopped and

painted to a grade four finish and bathroom and toilet fittings for the homes will be supplied by Carters.

Southland’s top electrical company, Nind Electrical, will carry out all electrical work including under tile heating in the bathroom and ensuite.

Each home will come with a Daiken heat pump (supplied by Refrigeration Supplies Ltd) and a designer kitchen (Quality Kitchens) Kitchenware will be Fisher & Paykel.

The laundry, situated in the garage, will have an Aquatica Laundra super tub, and hot water will be supplied by a 180L Rheem water heater.

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34 |

BUILDING » CYB Construction

November 2015 Business South

Oxford supermarket built to last Kim Newth Doing the grocery shopping in the rural township of Oxford in North Canterbury became something to celebrate for local residents in August, following the opening of FreshChoice Oxford.

West Coast-based construction company CYB Construction Ltd built the modern new supermarket over 10 months from November 2014.

Managing director Chris Yeats says the new build was not without difficulty in that the site was squeezed behind an existing supermarket that continued trading during construction.

Now that FreshChoice is open, the old supermarket is finally able to be demolished to make way for customer carparks.

“It is great for the town,” says Chris. “The old one was pretty decrepit and had issues from the earthquakes. It was ready to come down.”

The new supermarket, which has a 1000sqm footprint and a 170sqm mezzanine office floor, is much more solid and built with earthquake resilience in mind. For example, there are five tension piles under the mezzanine floor, extending down 12.5m.

High spec features include a full suspended ceiling and pre-cast concrete walls finished with decorative aluminium weather boards.

CYB Construction completed all the back of house fit-out, such as installing stainless steel benches in the bakery. Back of house also includes cool-rooms, freezers, a packing area and butchery.

Chris says installing the supermarket’s electrical system, including a standby generator, was another complex part of the project. The building, including its veranda, is also fully sprinkler protected. A new water supply has been added, along with an entirely new drainage system.

In order to complete the work without undue disruption, the company obtained permission from the Waimakariri District Council to put in temporary road access behind the site.

The new supermarket is only one of a number of commercial projects CYB Construction has successfully carried out in Oxford.

Its first major project for the township, in 2012, was the Under the Oaks Café building that also includes an antique shop.

Last year, it carried out additions and alterations for the seismic upgrade of the Oxford

The new supermarket has a 1000sqm footprint and a 170sqm mezzanine office floor and is built with earthquake resilience in mind.

Town Hall and also built 12 new motel units for Oxford Motels. In 2013, it constructed a new commercial building including a pharmacy and two other retail premises.

As a company, CYB Construction has been operating since 2010 but its history goes back much further to 1990 when Chris first started as a sole trader. For many years he operated as Chris Yeats Builders Ltd. “It was very successful, but the name change has enabled me to create a new vehicle that can accommodate other shareholders.”

Specialising in commercial, residential and relocatable buildings, CYB Construction works for clients throughout the West Coast and Canterbury and employs a team of more than 30 people. Its portfolio ranges from kitchen renovations through to larger commercial buildings and fit-outs.

“It is great for the town..... The old one was pretty decrepit and had issues from the earthquakes. It was ready to come down.”

The company owns a full range of equipment from scissor lifts, diggers and scaffolding through to heavy machinery, such as a Hiab truck and trailer and a 30-tonne crane.

From the client’s perspective, it means costs associated with hiring equipment are minimised.

An exciting new contract for the company is the Westland Recreation Centre, Greymouth’s new $8 million sports stadium.

Once completed, the 3000sqm building will

have three playing courts and an attached two storey gym with changing rooms.

“It happens to be one of our biggest jobs to date. We started in April and it is due to be completed next July. It is being built beside the existing aquatic centre in Greymouth, so it is going to be a great amenity for the community.

“It is predominantly a council-run project but some funding is coming from central government in compensation for Pike River.”

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Business South November 2015

BUILDING » CYB Construction

| 35

Specialising in commercial, residential and relcoatable buildings, CYB Construction has completed a number of projects in Oxford, including work on the Oxford Town Hall.

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HOUSE OF THE YEAR AWARDS » Landmark Homes - Central Otago

November 2015 Business South

Construction and design praised Karen Phelps Landmark Homes Central Otago has taken out several awards at the 2015 Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards demonstrating the company’s high levels of quality in both construction and design, says company owner Darryn Wilkie.

“The awards really show the attention to detail we strive for on each project and how our designs are not only functional but also make the most of the site and natural landscape,” he says.

The company won a silver award in the

showhomes category for its Queenstown showhome, and picked up bronze awards in the New Homes $650,000-$1m category, for a house at Jack’s Point, Queenstown and in the New Homes $500,000-$600,000 category for a home in Wanaka.

The 240sqm Wanaka home features floorto-ceiling windows in the living room, framing the lake and mountain views and ensuring the scenery takes centre stage in the home.

The view through a ceiling-height window in the bathroom can be enjoyed while soaking in the tub and the natural lighting is a bonus, says Darryn.

A staircase with frameless glass balustrade is another stand out feature of the three-bedroom split level home. The 275sqm Jack’s Point home also makes the most of the views with a twostorey glass façade stretching from the living room to master bedroom.

The stained cedar segments and pitched rooftops are other standout features of the fivebedroom, four-bathroom home, says Darryn.

This home also features an impressive staircase made from a steel frame with solid timber treads, stainless steel handrail and wires.

The home has been cleverly designed to include two self-contained bedsits to give the

owners the option of renting these out to create additional income.

The company also won a silver award for its Queenstown show home.

Darryn says the purpose of the design was to demonstrate the architectural design and detailing which the comapny is capable of achieving.

The 264sqm home also has an innovative design with three large bedrooms on the lower level plus a loft space upstairs, which can be utilised as an extra bedroom or playroom.

The awards come on the back of the company’s success the previous year which saw it win a gold in the New Homes $1m-2m category

Fisher & Paykel proudly supports Landmark Homes Central Otago www.fisherpaykel.com

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Business South November 2015

HOUSE OF THE YEAR AWARDS » Landmark Homes - Central Otago

Opposite page, top, and above - the silver award winning Landmark Homes showhome.

“The awards really show the attention to detail we strive for on each project and how our designs are not only functional but also make the most of the site and natural landscape.”

The bronze award winning home in the New Homes $650,000-$1m category.

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and bronze in the New Homes $450,000$600,000 category.

Landmark Homes has been in operation for 36 years and now has 14 franchises around the country.

Darryn, who has 15 years experience in various facets of the building industry including quantity surveying and project management, started Landmark Homes Central Otago in 2012.

In 2014, the business was named winners of the Excellence in Trade, Services and Construction Award at the 2014 Westpac Queenstown Business Awards – Central Otago and was runners up in the Small to Medium Sized Enterprise category.

Landmark Homes Central Otago offers a range

of over 80-plus house plans but much of the company work is design and build. It also offers house and land packages.

A showhome was also opened in Wanaka in March this year.

Landmark Homes Central Otago covers the whole Central Otago region and Darryn says the market is very busy.

The company employs two sales consultants, a construction manager, a construction coordinator and an account/administration person.

Landmark Homes Central Otago is currently working on seven homes at Jack’s Point, as well as on new builds in Queenstown, Cromwell and Wanaka.

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| 37

Phone: 03 983 5500 Fax: 03 983 5552

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38 |

HOUSE OF THE YEAR AWARDS » Trinity QT Construction

November 2015 Business South

Passion for building on display Karen Phelps Trinity QT Construction acted as the development manager for overseas clients on its recent multiple award-winning home in the Southern region 2015 Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards.

“This means we work directly with the owner to select a site, work out the feasibility of the build and undertake everything prior to construction as well as the actual build,” explains one of the Trinity QT Construction owners Roy Van Leeuwen.

Trinity QT Construction also ran an architectrual competition for the design of the 560sqm fivebedroom, five-bathroom family home at Closeburn Station, Queenstown.

The award-winning design by Mason & Wales

Architects literally spreads the home around the site to take advantage of views to Lake Wakatipu and Remarkables as well as sun.

The contemporary hub links to no less than nine inviting living spaces – the eastern deck, breakfast bay window, family sitting room, fireplace, dining area, living room, children’s den, western verandah, outdoor deck and lawn.

Floor-to-ceiling glass plays a big part in the home, framing the spectacular views. Wrapping around the rim of the plateau site, the building’s forms enclose a sheltered garden courtyard.

Fully clad in cedar, the home merges with the surrounding landscape.

Roy says the biggest challenge of the build was before construction started as extensive earthworks were required to create a level building

“We specialise in working for absentee owners such as those who own the award-winning home. We provide pathways to get their project underway and build with real craftsmanship.” platform. There was a high level of craftsmanship required on the build, including extensive oak panelling inside the home.

It’s the first time Trinity QT Construction has entered the Registerd Master Builders House of the Year Awards and the home won a gold, gold reserve and lifestyle award in the Westpac New Homes over $2 million build.

“This award really recognises the high levels of

quality we strive for and the passion we bring to each project.”

Based in Queenstown, Trinity QT Construction was started in 2011 by Roy and business partner Wayne Foley. The pair also operate Trinity Development Alliance, a developments and projects management company working on residential and commercial projects in Queenstown and Christchurch.

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Business South November 2015

HOUSE OF THE YEAR AWARDS » Trinity QT Construction

| 39

This award-wining five-bedroom, five-bathroom family build by Trinity Construction QT and designed

by Mason & Wales Architects literally spreads the home around the site to take advantage of views to Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables.

Roy is a builder and quantity surveyor by trade with experience in a large construction company.

Wayne has an accountancy and development management background. It’s proved a winning formula for the pair who focus on high end residential builds and renovations.

“Trinity stands apart because of its invaluable commercial insights and established business relationships, thorough knowledge of every stage of the project management and construction process, and focus on delivering quality outcomes that exceed client expectations,” say Roy. “We are aware that no two projects are ever the same, with complex variables, parameters and relationships. This is why Trinity tailors its services to suit specific client needs.

“We deeply value a close, collaborative and

open working relationship with clients built on reciprocal trust. We work hard to open up and maintain healthy communication channels between clients and all key stakeholders.”

Trinity Construction QT is presently working on a $4.5m Queenstown residence, a $1.5m residence in Millbrook and a renovation project in The Preserve, Jack’s Point.

The company works for clients in Queenstown and overseas clients wanting to build in the region: “We specialise in working for absentee owners such as those who own the award-winning home.

We provide pathways to get their project underway and build with real craftsmanship.

“It was these qualities that won us gold as this passion was conveyed and shown in detail to the judges in the high-quality end result.”

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Work speaks for itself Alpine Electric Queenstown allows its work to speak for itself, says company director Wayne Woodford:

doctor. We offer over 60 years experience that’s why our highly qualified hand picked team stands out,” says Wayne.

“We know that we are only as good as our last job. At Alpine Electric we take pride in our ability to complete all forms of electrical work seamlessly,” he says.

Alpine Electric completes all forms of electrical work and the sites the company works on are upmarket design and build projects as well as servicing Queenstown’s growing commercial sector.

Started in 2004, Alpine Electric has grown consistently through general growth in the Queenstown region and the company’s excellent reputation.

The company now employs five staff, including an apprentice and offers over 60 years of combined industry experience.

Being locally owned and operated allows Alpine Electric to do a great job every time.

Most of the company’s work is by word of mouth.

Wayne says that the level of finish consistently delivered allows Alpine Electric to repeatedly secure work on prestigious, custom and exclusive builds. A big part of this success is having the correct systems in place: “Our project management, safety and budget systems are what allow us to deliver an exceptional finish to any project, as well as our people. People are the make-or-break of our industry. Electricians need to be smart and plan ahead,” he says.

Alpine Electric employs four Master Electricians and the company has been a member of Registered Master Electricians since its inception.

“To become a Master Electrician you need to study and practice nearly as long as a

The company has become specialists of inhouse heating and electrical wiring, offering turnkey solutions for homes integrating all services into manually and electronically controlled hubs. It also takes on many other smaller projects.

The Queenstown market is busy and Alpine Electric is working on a variety of projects.

The company completed the electrical fitout for Closeburn Station, the multiple award winning home in the Southern region 2015 Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards constructed by Trinity QT Construction and designed by Mason & Wales Architects.

Wayne says the project is a good example of how the Alpine Electric team collectively takes responsibility for ensuring jobs are completed on time and to budget.

“We project plan ahead from materials to time tables, integrating seamlessly with clients who include builders and project managers.

“We’ve been living and working in the region for a long time. We’re dedicated to Queenstown and taking care of the electrical needs of our customers.”

Residential Electrical Services | Commercial Electrical Services | Industrial Services

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Please visit our website for more information.

Email office@alpineelectric.co.nz | Phone 027 477 2004 | P O Box 1547, Queenstown

40 |

HOUSE OF THE YEAR AWARDS » Craig O’Keefe Builders

November 2015 Business South

Close-knit team secret to success Karen Phelps Craig O’Keefe never intentionally set out to specialise in home renovations and extensions.

It’s just worked out that way that his company has been in demand for this type of work in the south Canterbury region.

Craig O’Keefe Builders has now amassed considerable experience in this specialised market as well as undertaking new home builds for clients.

The company was recently recognised for its expertise when it won a bronze award in the Master Build Services Renovations up to $250,000 section in the Mid and South Canterbury region at the 2015 Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition.

The extension to the Timaru home increased it in size by about a third and showcased the company’s skills as everything had to seamlessly match in with the original home, says Craig.

The Loxo exterior plaster system on the extension merges with the medium stone rough cast of the existing structure. New skirtings, architraves and interior joinery also had to be specially crafted – both by Craig O’Keefe Builders and subcontractors - to match.

As is the case with many older homes, original details were often not square and level meaning Craig O’Keefe Builders had to match tricky out-ofplumb roof and wall lines.

The gable end, roof cladding, trim and colours are all in keeping with the original home. A new kwila deck provides outdoor flow and can be accessed from three areas of the house, including the master suite.

Two additional double bedrooms with built-in storage on the east side were part of the renovation as well as a second living space. The home was fully insulated and double-glazed.

As first time entrants, Craig was pleased with the company’s win but he also has his sights set on silver and gold in future.

“This award really demonstrates how fast we are growing as a young business.

“The fact we are capable of winning an award already indicates good things for the future,.’

A new kwila deck provides outdoor flow to this award-wining Timaru home renovated by Craig O’Keefe Builders.

Craig started his company in 2011.

He originally completed his apprenticeship in Timaru then spent time building railway bridges in Australian mines and was a carpenter on a luxury lodge project when he returned to New Zealand.

The skills he learned gave him a good grounding to start Craig O’Keefe Builders.

Craig credits his tight team, which includes two Licensed Building Practitioners as a key factor in the company’s rapid growth.

“This award really demonstrates how fast we are growing as a young business. The fact we are capable of winning an award already indicates good things for the future.”

Wife Melanie takes charge of the administration side of the business. Craig is aged 31 and most of his team is younger.

“This means we think outside the box and can come up with innovative solutions to problems,” he says.

“We establish good relationships with the architect and client and prefer to be involved at the outset of a project.

“This makes sure everyone is on the same page, which is important as by their nature renovations projects can change day-to-day depending on what is uncovered during the build.

Simply . . .

“It also enables us to offer our expertise up front to ensure the project remains within the client’s budget and helps us to mitigate potential problems,” says Craig.

The company can work with the client’s architect or recommend one and assist with every stage of the project, including consents.

Craig O’Keefe Builders is a member of Site Safe and the company typically works on up to two projects at a time.

At present, the company is completely rebuilding and renovating the interior of an Art Deco house in Timaru.

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Business South November 2015

HOUSE OF THE YEAR AWARDS » Right Angle Construction

| 41

Love of design paying dividends Karen Phelps A love of design has seen Taf Barrie and Jenny Cunningham take their building company Right Angle Construction to an award winner at this year’s Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition.

As first time entrants, the couple, who admit they are both perfectionists with a love of good design, took out a silver award in the Nulook New Homes $650,000-$1,000,000 category for a home at Sumner, Christchurch.

Strong architectural features including a cedar feature wall in the entrance lobby, a floating gaboon ply wall between the hall and living area, skillion ceiling in the main living area and bespoke kitchen make the home a cut above the norm, says Jenny, who was involved in the kitchen design for the home.

The award-winning house is clad entirely in vertical shiplap cedar, including the garage door. Two profiles were used: a wider one on the southern section of the house is stained, whereas the narrower profile has been simply oiled to allow natural weathering over time giving a design point of difference, says Jenny.

Copper spouting and downpipes have been used throughout with the dark bronze anodised finish on the aluminium joinery tying the exterior finishes together, she says.

Right Angle Construction was started in 2010

by Taf, a qualified carpenter/joiner since 1984.

Taf worked in Britain and Germany until leaving Europe in 1990. A New Zealand resident for over twenty years, he has been building in this country both on the tools and as a foreman for the past 15 years with Hanham & Philp before starting Right Angle Construction.

The decision to expand the company in 2012 allowed Taf to build his own team and focus on local work, fitting with the company’s commitment to eco conscious building practices. Jenny says the award winning home is a good example of this focus.

Extra thick insulation and a clever heat pump system, designed by the home owner who is a mechanical engineer, have resulted in a pleasant climatic condition inside at all times and heats the floor in winter and the salt water pool in summer.

Exterior framing is all 150mm, allowing room

This award-winning house in Sumner, built by Right Angle Construction, is clad entirely in vertical shiplap cedar, including the garage door. for r3.6 Batts in the walls, with r5.0 in the roof. The under-floor pipe work for the heating system has been laid over Styrofoam with a screed on top to reduce heat loss through the slab.

Sustainability is something the couple also aims to achieve in how they run their business. They recycle or reuse as much waste as possible, as well as use local suppliers where possible.

They are presently working on their own home, also in Sumner, and have included photovoltaic panels, a wetback and radiator system run off an environmentally approved log burner, rainwater tank and permeable paths and driveways to reduce storm water runoff.

Right Angle Construction undertakes a variety of projects and Jenny and Taf are expecting long-term benefits from their award success.

“People think that building is all about hammering in nails but often its more about preplanning.

“Making sure things are well managed is a big part of the job.

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“We are a small team committed to attention to detail in all aspects of the build.

“Our clients have the reassurance that the people who actually won this award will be the ones building their new home.”

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42 |

HOUSE OF THE YEAR AWARDS » Aorangi Homes / Joseph Builders

Recycled rimu flooring provides the warm glow of wood in the kitchen of this Aorangi Homes build.

Attention to detail pays off Karen Phelps A home built by a builder for himself and his wife as a retirement pad has won the Builders Own Home section of the mid and south Canterbury Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition.

Jeff Wright, who has over 40 years experience as a builder, future proofed the low-maintenance home to serve them into their retirement with an inbuilt vacuum cleaner and the choice of stairs or internal lift to reach the second floor.

Built to capture Seaview’s mountain vista and coastline, the two-storey 210sqm townhouse in Timaru is a great example of laidback inner-city living and incorporates features Jeff had seen and liked during his many years of building. Located close to all amenities, a high level of soundproofing and insulation make for a quiet and cosy retreat for the couple. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home showcases the company’s high quality craftsmanship, says Jeff.

The home is clad in Rockcote Integra Panel System and band-sawn cedar bevelled-backed weatherboards. The timber adds a log-cabin feel to one portion of the house and ties in to the garage door and feature chimney. Recycled rimu flooring provides the warm glow of wood in the kitchen. Renaissance-seamed tray roofing adds an architectural look to the home.

The home also features energy saving products, including double glazing and insulation as well as two heat pumps, which Jeff hopes will cut down on bills as the couple heads into retirement.

It’s not the first award Aorangi Homes has won in the competition. In 2008, the company won a gold award in the commercial section for a project for the South Canterbury District Health Board constructing the education facility at Timaru Hospital. In 2010, a gold was won in the $600,000$1m category and in 2014 one gold in the new homes $450,000-$600,000 section, demonstrating the company’s capabilities at both ends of the market.

Based in Timaru, Aorangi Homes works in the South Canterbury region. The company was started in 1995 by Jeff when he took over an existing building business, which had been operating in the region since the 1960s. Aorangi Homes employs six staff and undertakes mid to high end new builds, renovations and light commercial projects, including sheds, farm buildings and business

premises. The company has just completed an extension to the Power Farming premises and has a maintenance contract for the South Canterbury District Health Board with a full-time carpenter dedicated to repairs and maintenance based at Timaru Hospital.

This year marks 20 years in business for Aorangi Homes and with son Javas entering the business as a partner two years ago after working in the company for 15 years the family legacy Jeff has started looks set to continue. Javas built the award-winning home alongside his father and Jeff plans to step back from the business in the next two years to enjoy his home letting his son take over the business.

“We’re a long-established Timaru company that has been in business for 20 years. We’ve achieved this by our attention to detail and high-quality builds. From this we’ve gained work by word of mouth. The awards we’ve won signify we’re high end builders who demand a very high standard.

We’re only as good as our last build so the fact we’ve won this award speaks volumes.”

In both the residential & commercial markets Nulook enjoys the reputation of being a market leader in aluminium joinery.

03 688 3062 · 027 434 3142 morse-aluminium@xtra.co.nz

www.nulook.co.nz

November 2015 Business South

Projects by Joseph Builders range from small repairs through to large commercial properties.

Employing a winning formula Karen Phelps While many other building companies use subcontractor carpenters, Joseph Builders has chosen to employ its own teams.

“With Joseph Builders our clients know it will be us that will be building their home,” says company director Richard Joseph.

It is this winning formula that has seen the company take home a gold award, as well as being named category winner for the Mid and South Canterbury in the New Homes $500,000 - $650,000 build at the 2015 Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards.

The project which won the award was a rebuild in Richmond, Christchurch, of an 1887 home constructed to modern standards while providing a fitting replacement for an original historic residence lost in the Canterbury earthquakes. The site needed deep piling installed down to 14m before building could commence. Joseph Builders used a RibRaft foundation solution to bring the site up to code.

Christchurch company Philip Kennedy Associates Architects drafted a detailed plan for the company to work from.

The home has a weatherboard and chequered quoin exterior and many crafted details such as planter boxes with copper insets, feature wrought iron driveway gates, high skirtings and trims. This required the assistance of specialist contractors, says Richard. Modern features such as a gas fire, a heated fibrous ceiling with dual thermostat, mid-floor insulation and timber double hung sash windows which were double glazing ensure the home will be warm during cold winters.

It’s not the first time Joseph Builders have won awards at the competition: it also won awards in 2009, 2002 and 2000. Richard thinks this year’s win is a reflection of the company’s sound project management capabilities.

“It’s a very unique and inspiring home,” says Richard. “It reflects the good workmanship of all involved and our ability to take on a challenging build.”

A carpenter with nearly 30 years experience, Richard started Joseph Builders in 1989 with wife Linda. Joseph Builders offers design and build, as well as offering its own range of plans.

The company’s projects range from small repairs through to large commercial properties.

It has been involved in many earthquake repairs

throughout Christchurch and Canterbury. As an example of the company’s diversity at present it is working on a bach at Lake Clearwater in mid Canterbury, fit-out projects at Rotherhams of Riccarton in Christchurch and St John of God Hospital in Halswell. It has recently completed projects building a fire station at Alford Forest, mid Canterbury, and classrooms for Ashburton Christian School.

Richard takes pride in the fact that his team is very hands on: “A lot of our guys have trained with our company so they have a lot of skills. We follow a project right through from start to finish. We aim to build distinctive rather than run-of-the-mill homes.”

The company can also arrange an obligation free visit to the client’s proposed building site to establish its suitability for the new home.

“If the client requires assistance in obtaining a suitable site for their new home, or finance, we can also help and give advice on this,” says Richard.

Joseph Builders employs three teams in mid Canterbury and two in Christchurch, giving a total of 20 full time staff.

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HOUSE OF THE YEAR AWARDS » Faye Homes

Business South November 2015

| 43

Focused on building dream homes Karen Phelps Christchurch’s Faye Homes has a new show home open at Aidanfield in southwest Christchurch, which company marketing manager Jerry Xu says demonstrates what the growing residential building company can achieve in a high-spec build.

The showhome has just won a Canterbury regional bronze award in the showhome category at the 2015 Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition. The previous year the company also won bronze in the new homes $250,000$350,000 category.

The 270sqm show home, which was opened in early February 2015, comprises four bedrooms, a combined lounge/living space, bathroom, ensuite and double garage.

Made from plaster and Linea weatherboard, the home was designed by Faye Homes. Xu says it demonstrates the possibilities available in the highspec end of the market.

The home comes complete with a luxurious German-designed Palazzo kitchen, ducted central heating and LED lighting throughout.

The success of the Aidanfield showhome has led the company to already start building its second show home at Te Whariki show home village at Lincoln, which Xu says will exhibit a standard range of fixtures and fittings. The Lincoln show home was due to open early September 2015.

“We want to show the difference between the two ends of the market,” says Jerry.

“We try to attract our clients with our design and our workmanship.

“The quality of these will be the same in both the Aidanfield and Lincoln show homes as it is in every project we complete.”

Faye Homes offers a range of plans, which can be adjusted to suit clients’ needs. The company also offers complete design and build and provides house and land packages in various subdivisions around Christchurch.

Faye Homes offers complete design and build solutions as well as providing house and land packages in various subdivisions around Christchurch.

The company has been building about 40 homes per year around Wigram and Aidanfield and currently has sections available at Kaituna Neighbourhood in Lincoln and Kirkwood in Halswell.

Faye Homes is presently building a number of new houses at Prestons and six spec retirement units at Pegasus Town. The plaster units range in size from 130sqm and comprise three bedrooms,

ensuite, bathroom and single garage.

Faye Homes is a Licensed Building Practitioner and a member of the Master Builders Association, meaning the company can offer the association’s full Master Builders guarantee, which means customers are fully covered in the construction of their home.

“The Registered Master Builders brand is a recognised hallmark of quality.

It provides protection for our clients as they know that they are dealing with highly-qualified

tradespeople who take pride in the quality of their workmanship.”

Jerry says that Faye Homes takes pride in putting its customers first.

“This is the key in creating excellent, innovative homes. At Faye Homes we assure our customers that they will be satisfied with the production of their home right from selecting land to the final outcome. Our expertise is what we will provide to our customers. Building their dream home is our focus.”

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44 |

JOINERY » Stevenson & Williams

November 2015 Business South

No challenge too big for joiner Kim Newth Making a large two-storey timber stairway for a clock tower was an out of the box challenge for joinery manager Gary Turner and his team, whose combined efforts produced an awardwinning result for Dunedin building and joinery firm Stevenson & Williams Ltd. At the 2015 Master Joiner Awards in June, Gary picked up awards for best use of imported timber and for best speciality stairs, bar/counter or fitment.

The real icing on the cake was winning the ultimate prize – the supreme award.

On the night, Gary was also presented with the prestigious Owen Wright Memorial Trophy in recognition of his significant contribution to New Zealand’s joinery industry, including his long history of involvement with Master Joiners and for his dedication to apprenticeship training.

Gary is a company director at Stevenson & Williams and manages its busy joinery division.

He says completing the award-winning clock tower stairs project was a little like creating a complicated giant wooden jigsaw puzzle, in which no two pieces were the same.

“It was for a privately owned new build, combining a clock tower and a garage. As the stair goes up, it tapers in and gets narrower. It was very complex to measure out. It was also too big to make as one piece.

“So we made a reconstruction of the original room in our workshop so we could make the stair as a kitset and then take it to the site and build it.

“It was a challenge and getting it done required a real team effort.”

The finished stair is some six metres high and leads from a ground floor garage to a loft on the first level and then a clock tower room at the top.

Winning the 2015 Supreme Master Joiner Award was “the ultimate”, says Gary.

“Over the years we have picked up awards in so many categories but we had not won the supreme award before, so it was nice to bring that one away too. It is very rewarding to be recognised by your peers.”

Gary has long been involved in industry training and assisted in development of the latest joinery qualifications.

At Stevenson & Williams, he heads a team of 10 in the joinery division. Across the entire company, which employs some 50 builders and joiners, many apprentices are being trained on an ongoing basis.

Gary says doing so makes sense for the industry’s future and ensures there will be continuity of skills and good staff retention.

Proudly supporting Stevenson & Williams Joinery

25 Ward Street, Dunedin P 477 1360 F 477 1362 M 021 220 4092 E furniturefinishers@hotmail.co.nz

Gary Turner, of Stevenson & Williams, with awards the Dunedin company won at the 2015 Master Joiners Awards.

“The craft has not gone out of joinery. We do such a diverse range from doors, windows, desks, kitchens – you name it – and from cheaper projects to everything in oak. Our apprentices learn to do it all.”

While technology keeps changing, he says the old tried and true ways of doing things remain valid with good skills still required for the job.

“The craft has not gone out of joinery. We do such a diverse range from doors, windows, desks, kitchens – you name it – and from cheaper projects to everything in oak. Our apprentices learn to do it all.

“Unfortunately, parts of the industry are becoming fragmented so you have joiners who do kitchens but cannot cover the whole range.

They are being trained in just one particular area.”

It is many years now since Gary completed

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his own apprenticeship and received the Otago Joiner of the Year Award (1975). Yet he says he has never stopped learning.

“I’m still learning things every day. Materials change, new techniques come along. Our strength in New Zealand is that we can still do these individual projects to meet the needs of one particular person. It is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach.”

Formed in 1947, Stevenson & Williams has a proven record for quality workmanship and professionalism.

It carries out all types of residential and commercial construction, joinery manufacturing and jobbing carpentry.

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JOINERY » Stevenson & Williams

Business South November 2015

| 45

SI joiners scoop awards Karen Phelps

A large two-storey timber stairway for a clock tower proved an out of the box challenge for Dunedin joinery company Stevenson & Williams Ltd.

The South Island has almost had a clean sweep in the 2015 Master Joiner Awards with southern firms picking up seven of the nine category awards.

Gary Turner, from Stevenson & Williams based in Dunedin, also took out the overall Supreme award as well as Best Use of Imported Timber and Best Speciality, Stairs, Bar/Counter, Fitment Awards.

Turner was also honoured with the prestigious Owen Wright Memorial Trophy. The trophy is presented annually at the Master Joiner Awards dinner to a person who has made a significant contribution to the joinery industry.

Other South Island award winners were George Molnar, Bays Joinery, Nelson (Best Use of Creative Lighting); Amanda Guisolan, Barrett Joinery, Timaru (Best Use of Colour); Kirsty Davis, Hagley Kitchens, Christchurch (Best Kitchen and Best Kitchen Design, Best Kitchen under $15,000); and Ryan Butler, Ryans Kitchens, Christchurch (Best Kitchen $15,000 to $30,000).

The only North Islanders who won awards were Craig Burley, from Burley Kitchens & Cabinetry, Napier, who took out the Best Kitchen under $15,000 award and Dave Cunningham, from McNaughton Windows & Doors, Auckland, who won the Best Door or Window award.

Regional award winners were Auckland/ Northland: Kitchen Inspirations, Auckland; Waikato/Bay Of Plenty: Wackrow’s Joinery, Cambridge; Hawke’s Bay/Poverty Bay: Burley Kitchens & Cabinetry, Napier; Central: Reilly Joinery, Feilding; Taranaki: Rhys Powell Joinery, New Plymouth; Wellington: Amalgamated Joinery 1997, Upper Hutt; Nelson/Marlborough: Building Connexion – ITM, Motueka; Canterbury: Sydenham Joinery, Christchurch; Waitaki: Firman Joinery, Oamaru; and Otago/Southland: Stevenson & Williams Ltd, Dunedin.

Registered Master Joiners executive officer

Corinne Moore says there was high interest in the awards and a record number of entries this year.

“We do notice the improvement in standard and quality of entries each year. This competition has shown that winners can come from all sized projects, from those with an endless supply of money to those of very modest means,” says Moore. The high levels of skills, knowledge and innovation the joinery trade offers have been well showcased, not to mention the personal satisfaction that has been gained.”

The awards are the largest industry awards of their kind in New Zealand and have been running since 2007.

Corinne Moore says the aim of the awards is to promote excellence in joinery design and craftsmanship, as well as showcase the finest work from the industry.

Judging criteria includes design, workmanship, innovative use of materials, complexity of project and visual appeal.

Also announced at the awards dinner were the winners in the Master Joiners Apprentice Awards competition.

This competition is open to all joinery apprentices in New Zealand who may present a project with a minimum of 80 percent completed entirely by the apprentice.

By contrast the North Island dominated these awards: Best Fitment 0 – 4000 hours, Forrest Rogers, Bastian Wellington, Lower Hutt; Best Fitment 4001 – 8000 hours, James Coutts, Hughes Joinery, Palmerston North; Best Timber project 0 – 4000 hours, Ashley Hollamby, Lee Brothers Joinery, Rotorua; Best Timber Project 4001 – 8000 hours and Highest Judged for Workmanship and Skill, Sam Palmer, Te Aro Joinery, Wellington.

The Gordon Caulfield Memorial Trophy, awarded to the employer of the apprentice with the highest scoring points in the 4001 – 8000 hours category who is a member of Master Joiners, went to Cliff Hughes, Hughes Joinery, Palmerston North.

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46 |

JOINERY » Hagley Kitchens / Ryan’s Kitchens and Joinery

November 2015 Business South

Family-owned business offers personal touch Karen Phelps

This award-winning kitchen includes a lowered stone benchtop to the island with waterfall end.

Kitchens with the ‘Wow’ factor Karen Phelps Hagley Kitchens has taken out the Best Kitchen Design and Best Kitchen awards at the 2015 Master Joiner Awards for a kitchen in a Christchurch home.

The aim of the awards, which are the largest industry awards of their kind in New Zealand, is to promote excellence in joinery design and craftsmanship and to showcase the finest work from the industry.

The kitchen design is judged on ‘Wow’ factor, cutting edge design, practicality and creative use of materials and colour.

The award-winning kitchen included a lowered stone benchtop to the island with waterfall end, family dining space within the kitchen, additional storage to the front of the island, recessed LED lighting in an aluminium extrusion, gloss vinyl wrapped doors and glass-fronted aluminium framed joinery.

The designer of the Hagley Kitchens’ awardwinning project, Kirsty Davis, says that challenges of the project included having no joinery below the chunky stone island benchtop, which required steel supports to the underside of the benchtop and within the waterfall end to stop the benchtop bowing.

Other design features which made the kitchen unique included tying in the different benchtop materials and creating interest with touches of painted glass in natural tones, which complemented the two different stones, and having no door to the walk-in pantry, making it visible from the kitchen and living space, meaning the materials used needed to be similar to provide a seamless result.

Hagley Kitchens general manager Nathan Moore says that the awards are a result of the fact the business places a big emphasis on quality.

“We don’t cut corners in regards to quality and

workmanship. We always strive to do the very best we can and to meet customers’ needs,” he says.

Based in Christchurch, Hagley Kitchens designs, manufactures and installs custom made kitchens, laundries and wardrobes. The company can source any brand or product the customer requires, says Moore. Brands Hagley Kitchens commonly supplies include Blum, Laminex, Prime Panels, The Granite Benchtop Company, Benchtop Concepts and O’Briens Benchtops.

Hagley Kitchens grew out of sister company Hagley Building Products, both owned and operated

by Geoff Ball. The companies have steadily grown from their beginnings in 1983 as Hagley Aluminium to providing domestic and commercial aluminium joinery, kitchens, solid timber joinery and wardrobe systems primarily to the South Island market. The company is now the largest and most respected supplier of residential aluminium and kitchens in the South Island, says Moore.

Nathan says that Hagley Kitchens has achieved marked leadership by providing quality products together with a commitment to customer satisfaction.

“Geoff Ball’s commitment to customer satisfaction came from his own frustration with suppliers from his days as a builder. With such a background, Geoff is especially concerned that his team do whatever they can to achieve the best results for our clients,” says Moore.

Hagley Kitchens will shortly move to a larger showroom and factory within the same premises to give the company greater capacity and increase efficiencies to meet demand. The larger showroom will allow the company to display more kitchens and the latest products, says Moore.

The company has also recently purchased two new Biesse CNC line machines and a Biesse edgebender to improve quality and efficiencies as well as giving more options to customers.

Ryan’s Kitchens and Joinery has won the Best Kitchen $15,000 – $30,000 Award at the annual Master Joiner Awards 2015 which were held recently in Wellington.

The award-winning kitchen was built for the home of architect Robert Weir, of Weir Walker Architecture, from his own design.

The client brief was for no separate end panels, handles to be mitred around joinery and no overhang on bench tops, says Ryan Butler, owner of Ryan’s Kitchens and Joinery who built the award-winning kitchen himself.

The design also included a rangehood in a fully enclosed box and fully integrated fridge. The judges commented on the clean bold lines of the kitchen and the dramatic use of light shining from the bottom of the units to the floor.

Ryan says the main challenge from a construction perspective was to ensure everything lined up precisely due to the linear handle running horizontally across the entire unit and end panels.

“We had to be very exact and make sure everything was constructed absolutely perfectly,” he says.

It is the third time the company has entered the awards and Butler says the win has boosted the morale of the team at Ryan’s Kitchens and Joinery.

“We all work really hard here and wins like this make it all worthwhile. We may be a small company but we are up there with the best,” he says.

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Based in Christchurch, Ryan’s Kitchen and Joinery was started by Ryan in 2008 and since then has doubled in size each year.

Ryan hails from a building background and previously ran his own construction company for 15 years. Ryan’s Kitchens and Joinery offers customers high-quality, custom-built kitchens at competitive prices.

The company also specialises in custom-made joinery, wardrobes, laundries and cabinetry, as well as bespoke items. The company focuses on the mid to high-end residential market and a lot of work is by word of mouth referral.

He says a key point of difference in maintaining high levels of quality is the fact it is a family owned and operated business. Father Bill, sisters Katrina and Leanne and wife Kate also work for the company. “Everyone here, including staff, is very passionate about what we do.”

Customers can come to the company with their own plans or Ryan’s Kitchens and Joinery employs its own professional kitchen designers who can advise on the latest ideas and trends.

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Business South November 2015

JOINERY » Ryan’s Kitchens and Joinery

| 47

Ryan’s Kitchens and Joinery built this awardwinning kitchen for architect Robert Weir which has a rangehood in a fully enclosed box and a fully integrated fridge.

Located at Unit 3, 50 Dakota Crescent, Sockburn, the factory provides plenty of room for customers to view their completed kitchen prior to delivery.

The company has just launched a new selection of ideas for kitchens, wardrobes and laundries at its showroom including a designer kitchen showing the latest in kitchen trends, appliances, componentry and accessories.

The main suppliers the company deals with are Hafele, Blum, Melteca and Bestwood.

Ryan’s Kitchens and Joinery is a member of Master Joiners and the National Kitchen and Bathroom Association NZ. Ryan says his aim is to continue to grow the business while still retaining the personal touch only a family owned business can bring.

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YOUR LOCAL CARRIER • General Cartage • Parcels • Storage • Crane Truck Hire • Furniture Removals Proud to support Ryans Kitchens 158 Waterloo Road PO Box 11-174, Christchurch Phone 344 0061 Fax 344 3016 www.pftransport.co.nz

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- Doug Allock, Director

48 |

ENGINEERING » Betterweld Engineering

November 2015 Business South

Specialist welders boost business Karen Phelps Betterweld is a company offering customers some of most certified specialist welders based in one business in the top of the South Island, says Betterweld managing director Steve Fry. The company boasts a total of eight certified welders out of its total staff of 15. Betterweld primarily focuses on certified pipe and plate welding in stainless and mild steel to ASME IX standard. Fry says achieving the ASME IX standard also has a spin off effect throughout the whole business.

“We have to achieve very high levels of excellence in all areas of the business to achieve this certification standard,” he explains.

Based in Nelson, Betterweld Engineering Limited has been servicing the fishing, fruit, food and fuel industries for 26 years.

Fry and wife Leanne started the company when Fry was contracting his services as a certified pipe welder and noticed there were no companies offering this service based in the Nelson region. He started as a one-man band then just two years later began hiring staff.

Betterweld specialises in pipe work, refrigeration, steam and fuel. The company also welds aluminum pipe, plate and all extrusions, copper pipes and cast steel, aluminium and iron castings. Capabilities extend to alterations, repairs, testing and certification. The company is mobile and can work anywhere in New Zealand depending on the job, says Steve.

Just some of the projects the company completes include dairy tube welding, stainless steel canopies for boats, fabricating barge sections, boiler installations, LPG pipework installations, fuel bunker lines, hull plating of boats and ships

Betterweld, based in Nelson, specialises in pipework, refrigeration, steam and fuel, and is certified to weld to ASME IX standard. and ammonia and freon refrigeration installations, alterations, upgrades, repairs and design.

Safety is a major focus for the company, says Steve, and something clients are increasingly

concerned about when awarding contracts. Staff are constantly training and up-skilling in this area, he says.

Betterweld is supported by sister company Betterclad, which completes the insulation of pipework and vessels. Fry says this means together the companies can offer clients a complete service.

A recent project completed by Betterweld was subcontracting to install pipework to pipe up a new kiln for a local timber processing company.

The project took one month with up to five welders on site. All welding work was completed to ASME IX standards. Betterclad insulated the installed pipework with fibreglass and clad it in aluminium to complete the contract.

“We had to complete this project as the timber processing took place around us, dealing also with weather conditions and builders constructing the kiln with walls going up and roofs on etc,” says Steve.

“I think it shows we can complete any project to a high standard on time with no accidents,

no incidents and no leaks despite challenging circumstances.”

Further demonstrating the company’s versatility and flexibility, earlier this year Betterweld completed a project welding an oil rig to the deck of a transport ship.

The company has completed earthquake structural repairs on buildings to bring them up to the new standards AS NZS 1554:1.

Betterweld has also installed the steam and condensate to two new auto claves (pressure chambers used to sterilize equipment subjecting it to high-pressure unsaturated steam) for a hospital theatre. The project also involved piping the steam, condensate and all the valving controls to the autoclave.

All welding had to be completed to ASME IX standards then checked by designers and inspectors.

Steve says the project is yet another example of the high standards and attention to detail that permeates all facets of the business.

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MANUFACTURING » F1 Innovations

Business South November 2015

| 49

An industy leader in not just fibreglass Kim Newth Combine a spacious workshop equipped with the latest composite and resin infusion technology and a team of specialist engineers trained to think outside the box and the result is cutting-edge Invercargill-based firm FI Innovations.

The company’s core business has always been fibreglass but it has recently rebranded to reflect the increasingly diverse range of solutions it is offering clients with problems to solve.

When it comes to fibreglass, FI Innovations is an industry leader in the application of resin infusion.

Few other companies would be as experienced in its use.

“We are doing a lot of carbon fibre resin infusion work,” says the company’s managing director Gareth Dykes.

“For example, we have made seat and pod units for Shotover Jet. The reason why we work with carbon fibre is that it is so strong and lightweight.

The fuel savings alone for a company like that are phenomenal. We also made flexible heated handrails for the jet boats, designed to keep passengers’ hands warm while also acting as shock absorbers.”

Resin infusion technology has also been used by the team to build the award-winning 1600 Fisher carbon fibre cabin for Stabicraft Marine, as well

as seat and pod units for Dart River Safaris. Other applications include flat panels for transport trucks, pipes for water treatment and fibreglass replica shells to transform old or damaged architectural features.

“Resin infusion is a superior process to conventional fibreglass methods as it can be used to make any kind of lightweight strong structure so it covers all markets. If somebody comes to us with their idea, we can take it from concept to reality.”

There is strong demand for the company’s fibreglass repair services for the marine, transport and agricultural sectors and for industrial fibreglass from pipework to industrial linings and coatings.

Aside from fibreglass, FI Innovations is an industry leader in flooring. The company has a wide range of products and different composites it can use to meet clients’ demand for decorative yet functional flooring. Its contracts have included industrial flooring for wet areas in dairy factories, floors for amenity blocks and decorative anti-slip flooring at Invercargill’s Splash Palace complex.

“Most of the time we are working with quartz chip. The end result is durable, hardwearing and looks good.”

FI Innovations is a fast adopter of new technology with practical applications. For example, a new $50,000 machine is enabling the company to foam-fill boat hulls for added buoyancy and noise reduction.

The award-winning 1600 Fisher carbon fibre cabin built for Stabicraft Marine was made by FI Innovations, which is based in Invercargill.

Gareth is the fourth generation at the helm of this long-established family firm. After returning to Southland in 2002 with his wife Melissa, he took over the firm with a vision to grow the company and diversify its activities.

“When I started here, it was just me and one other guy. Now we have a staff of twelve, including two apprentices – we have had a lot of growth.”

Most of the company’s staff is fully qualified, having undergone four year apprenticeships in composites.

Recently, FI Innovations acquired land and buildings adjoining its workshop so as to expand its yard space and add another workshop. FI Innovations is dedicated to quality, service, safety and innovation from the floor up.

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50 |

MANUFACTURING » Woodsman, Harris Home Fires

November 2015 Business South

The wood burner going high tech Kim Newth One of Christchurch’s oldest family businesses – Woodsman, Harris Home Fires - is also one of its most nimble, in terms of finding new and ever-more efficient ways to warm Kiwi homes.

First established in Christchurch in 1887 by William Henry Harris, the business is now run by the fourth and fifth generations of the Harris family. Its current owners are Evan and Peter Harris and their sons Richard and Mark Harris are now also involved in the business.

The company’s longevity reflects its proud record of innovation. It has been manufacturing fires since the 1960s and continues to lead the market with its Woodsman range of wood, multifuel and diesel fires.

There are plenty of options in the popular wood burner range, including the mighty Tarras.

This is the company’s biggest wood stove and is renowned for its rugged construction.

“It is a legend around the country,” says the company’s managing director Richard Harris.

“It has some great features and people just love it. It is a big fire to heat big spaces so it is ideal for larger homes or older heritage buildings that need that type of power. It is a big piece of steel.”

At the other end of the spectrum is the new smart Corsair burner that incorporates convection fan technology to deliver even heat and comfort. It is an ideal fit for new homes and has the added appeal of changeable colour side panels and a handy USB portal for recharging mobile devices.

Recently, the company invested $1m in a new CNC laser and additional machinery to further update its modern manufacturing processes.

It is currently investing in the design and build of new ultra-low emission burners that are set to become the norm under new regulations coming in from 2019.

“We are exploring lots of interesting technologies. It is not just regulation driving these changes; customers want fires that are more efficient, too. Ultimately it does create better products for the environment and the end user.”

Woodsman, Harris Home Fires has a proud tradition of innovation and continues to lead the market with its Woodsman range of fires.

Wood burners remain a popular choice in the local home heating market and Richard says they offer plenty of advantages in terms of being clean and efficient.

“Renewable wood is still an attractively affordable option for heating,” he says.

“Many of our customers from throughout the South Island choose wood burners with a cook top.

“There is that sense of security that comes with a cook top wood burner.

“You know that if the electricity goes, you can still stay warm and have hot food.”

Some enjoy the traditional square black style of wood burner while others prefer contemporary curves and a choice of colours.

Harris Home Fires caters to a variety of aesthetic preferences.

“Every house is different. Every décor is different. We try to have a broad range of

products in different styles so customers can walk into our showroom and be drawn to something they like.”

The company makes insert burners to replace existing fireplaces, as well as zero clearance burners that can be framed up in timber, and free-standing models.

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MANUFACTURING » Prometal Industries

Business South November 2015

| 51

Prometal enjoys opening its doors Jo Bailey Christchurch sheetmetal specialist Prometal Industries is opening its doors to existing and potential new customers through a series of open days.

Sales manager Kevin Lyall says around 40 people attended the first event in August, enjoying morning tea with the Prometal team and taking a tour of the firm’s impressive 4000sqm purposebuilt facilities in Harewood.

“The open day was well received and as a result we are already planning future events.”

A recent restructuring of the business, focusing on process flow and continuous improvement, has created a “big hungry beast”.

Kevin says the open days are one way of reconnecting with past and present customers and introducing the firm’s capabilities to potential new clients.

Prometal also exhibited at SouthMACH for the first time this year, to display its full capabilities to the market.

The 28-year-old company lost its two original buildings in Bromley following the earthquakes.

Kevin says its directors and founding partners Mike Owens and John East decided to support the Canterbury rebuild and reinvest in the purposebuilt facility in Harewood.

The new face of Prometal opened its doors in January, 2013.

“Our new building has allowed us to optimise equipment layout, which combined with our improved systems has have given us capacity

for significant growth. Another benefit is that our on-time deliveries are now at 99 per cent when the industry standard is typically around 70 per cent.”

Prometal’s capabilities have also been increased through a recent investment in new equipment that complements the company’s existing already extensive range of CNC machinery.

“We have increased our folding capacity and added a surface finishing machine that reduces the manual finishing of laser cut and turret punched parts,” says Kevin.

The company’s extensive skill base sees it produce a vast range of products, across many market sectors including telecommunications, electronics, transportation, agriculture and engineering “to name a few,” says Kevin.

“We offer a full range of precision sheet metal services including; laser cutting, turret punching, folding, fabrication, ring rolling, powder coating and assembly, and have made just about anything you can think of in steel, stainless and aluminium.”

He says the firm has been doing some interesting work for the Christchurch rebuild including decorative, punched and laser cut panels for major works. “We also contributed to artist Neil Dawson’s stunning Spire sculpture in Latimer Square.”

Prometal also assists its clients to solve product design and manufacturing issues, and has in-house design and CAD capability.

The firm has Telarc Q Base Certification to give its customers the peace of mind that Prometal has the systems in place to consistently deliver quality work on budget and on time.

Christchurch sheet metal specialist Prometal offers a full range of precision sheet metal services including laser cutting, turret punching, folding, fabrication and ring rolling.

Kevin says the business has come a long way since Mike Owens and John East founded it as a two-man operation in 1987. “Prometal now has more than 40 loyal staff, many with 20 years or more service with the firm.”

He says the team is excited by the firm’s “active growth phase” and the opportunities this presents to increase its already substantial customer base.

“Although production work and corporate clients are our main target market, we haven’t turned our backs on small jobbing clients, and we will continue to provide them with the same high standard of work and service,” says Kevin “Whatever the project, our mission remains to be the first choice for superior quality sheetmetal, delivered in full, on time and on budget.”

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52 |

CONTRACTING » Refrigeration Supplies

November 2015 Business South

Generations of exceptional service Karen Phelps Invercargill-based company Refrigeration Supplies Ltd is a true family owned and operated business.

It is now being run by the third generation since refrigeration engineer Fred Sutherland started the company. Three years ago, grandson Hayden, a qualified electrician, took over the family business from his father Wayne. He says his aim is simple – to carry on giving customers the exceptional service the company has established its reputation on for generations.

Refrigeration Supplies Ltd specialises in the supply, installation and servicing of commercial refrigeration equipment, air conditioning and ventilation systems and heat pumps.

With so many options on the market, Sutherland says that it can be difficult for customers to select the right heating or cooling equipment for their requirements.

Refrigeration Supplies Ltd offers to perform a heat load calculation, working out the cubic metres of the space to be heated or cooled, and taking into account factors such as insulation or heat load coming from equipment to give an accurate calculation. The company then recommends the best product to suit the customer’s requirements. Equipment can be installed in new builds or retrofitted into existing buildings.

Qualified engineers install all of the company’s products. Sutherland says that having highly qualified staff is essential to offer customers the best advice. The company employs a total of nine staff including qualified refrigeration engineers and heating and ventilation engineers. The company also employs three apprentices and Sutherland says it will look to take on more.

“There are not enough qualified tradespeople in our field so we need to train new people up to meet demand,” he says.

Refrigeration Supplies Ltd is an approved Daikin air conditioning dealer for Southland and has been for two decades. Sutherland says the company has chosen this brand for its superior performance in cold conditions.

“Heat pump air conditioning should not be treated as just another appliance. Its purpose is to deliver superior comfort by controlling the temperature, airflow and air quality in a broad range of environments. Installing heat pump air conditioning also requires specialist

Refrigeration Supplies Ltd specialises in the supply, installation and servicing of commercial refrigeration equipment, air conditioning and ventilation systems and heat pumps.

knowledge. We ensure our customers get the right advice, quality installation and the system that’s right for them,” explains Sutherland.

One of the latest Daikin units is the Nexura floor mounted unit, which he says offers a sleek design and flowing lines to easily integrate with modern interiors. The unit has a radiant front panel and also blows heat out of the top.

As it features state-of-the-art heating technology the unit is extremely quiet and discrete, says Sutherland, who considers that the unit demonstrates some of the most modern features available in indoor heating today.

Refrigeration Supplies Ltd is also the manufacturer of DUCK (which stands for Dairy Unit Cooling Kit) dairy farm refrigeration

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“Installing heat pump air conditioning also requires specialist knowledge. We ensure our customers get the right advice, quality installation and the system that’s right for them.” equipment. The system cools milk as it enters the vat and was specially designed by Refrigeration Supplies Ltd. It can be fitted with hot water heat reclaim and data logging if required.

Other types of industries the company works for include supermarkets, hotels and hospitality, hospitals and marine.

Some examples of the types of projects the company undertakes include coolstores, display

cabinets, water chilling equipment, hot water heat pumps for underfloor heating and refrigeration systems on fishing vessels.

At its company premises, Refrigeration Supplies Ltd has a workshop for building refrigeration units and a dedicated showroom, which is under development and will soon be equipped with the latest Daikin products for people to view.

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CONTRACTING » Refrigeration Supplies

Business South November 2015

| 53

Hayden Sutherland, left, says Refrigeration Supplies Ltd, an approved Daikin air conditioning dealer, has chosen the Daikin brand because of its superior performance in cold conditions.

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54 |

CONTRACTING » Rowan Dron Electrical

November 2015 Business South

Smart technology making life easy Kim Newth In the 1950s, people imagined a future where push button technology and automation would transform their daily lives.

Sixty years later, the 1950s dream has been achieved and surpassed with ever more smart and energy efficient solutions changing how we live and work.

Nelson-based company Rowan Dron Electrical is at the forefront of New Zealand companies installing smart technology to conserve power and make life easier and more comfortable.

It is one of only a few in the country working as an agent for cutting-edge system KNX. This automation system enables all applications – such as heating, lighting and ventilation - in a home or commercial building to be controlled via a single touch panel. All household appliances can also be remotely controlled.

“It means you can link everything together and by doing so conserve energy,” says Rowan.

“Sensors can track the sun around a house and open and close blinds or adjust lighting accordingly,” he says.

“We’re doing a high-end residential home right now that would have incurred a substantially higher monthly power bill had the homeowner settled for normal control systems. Energy efficiency is driving it,” he says.

As well as installing KNX in homes throughout the South island, the company is putting it into some commercial premises.

“For example, we have recently done a café in Nelson so the lights will automatically dim up or down in response to how much natural light is coming into the building.”

Rowan also sees big potential for the application KNX in the office environment where lights are so often left on all day regardless of natural light levels and how many people are working inside. Potential energy savings are substantial.

Nelson-based company Rowan Dron Electrical is at the forefront of New Zealand companies installing smart technology to conserve power and make life easier and more comfortable. From left, Sam Knight, Rowan Dron, Alex Tyson and Mitchell Lockhead.

KNX technology is continually evolving through an open certification process that is not tied to any particular manufacturer.

“Having this open protocol makes a big difference because it brings more freedom and doesn’t lock everything down to a set suite of products and components.”

Rowan Dron Electrical is also a specialist in the area of solar power, whether off-grid, on-grid or a hybrid of the two, and can advise on how to make best use of solar to maximise returns.

“We are currently putting in a lot of lithium-ion batteries for off-grid solar storage to replace the big old banks of lead-acid batteries that had to be topped up all the time with water. ‘“These days you can run a whole house off two batteries for twenty years.”

Demand is not just from the domestic housing market. or example, the company recently installed

solar panels on covered walkways at a shopping mall car park and has also completed an offshore contract to install solar panels at an orphanage in Zimbabwe.

Rowan started out as a sole trade operator six years ago, but the company has since grown to a staff of seven covering the full range of residential and commercial electrical work.

The company is also a local agent for the SmartVent home ventilation system.

Only experienced certified electricians are employed for electrical contracts.

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CONTRACTING » Wilson Contractors

Business South November 2015

| 55

Lateral thinking helps reap rewards Jo Bailey

W FRE AT E ER

A unique project that required some gravity-defying thinking saw Wilson Contractors win Category A (projects under $100,000) at the annual Hynds Construction Awards.

The firm designed and constructed a stock water system for Southland farming business, Flagstaff Station, with the judges commending Wilsons for its “innovative design that delivered outstanding value for the client”.

A stock water system might sound like a simple enough project, however Wilson Contractors’ site engineer Isaac Harrison, who managed the works, says it threw up several challenges.

“The system had to operate across relatively steep hill country, with the new stock water troughs located well above a spring, which was the main water source. We spent quite a bit of time evaluating sites on the Station with the client Arthur Innes to figure out how we could come up with a completely gravity fed system in this challenging location.”

The project team attempted to find an alternative water source, however, the spring proved to be the only reliable year-round option.

After looking at electric and solar-powered pump options, the Wilson Contractors’ team decided that ram pump technology was the best and most costeffective solution.

This “clean, green machine” uses the energy in the drive pipe to power the ram, with no electricity or fuel required, says Isaac.

“With a ram pump we were able to move the water from the spring to specially designed storage tanks 90m up the hill. From here the new stock troughs installed further down the hillside could be gravity fed.”

The property’s steep terrain made construction from May to September 2014 just as challenging as the design process, says Isaac.

“It was very wet and slippery during the winter months, and we spent quite a bit of time working in the snow. The early works also had to be staged around the Station’s winter grazing programme.”

Safe working platforms were set up on the steepest areas of the site, and there were no health and safety incidents at all during the construction process.

Isaac says the ram pump technology was new to Wilson Contractors, but the support from Ngaruwahia-based manufacturers Kevin Smith Steelworkers made the installation process seamless.

“It was great to be able to give them a call from halfway up a mountain in Southland and talk through any details. The backup was phenomenal.”

The project’s specially designed storage tanks were flown into place by helicopter, but otherwise, a high degree of heavy manual labour was required to complete the job, says Isaac.

“It was great to get my hands dirty again alongside the guys.”

Isaac says the stock water system at Flagstaff continues to operate well with the pump having a 30 to 50 year lifespan.

Wilson Contractors continues to offer a wide range of services from its Queenstown and

A stock water system on steep terrain for a Southland farming business provided a challenge for Wilson Contractors.

“We’re also working on a couple of subdivisions and are doing lots of cycle and walking track work with local councils and the Queenstown Trails Trust.”

Invercargill branches such as earthmoving, siteworks, roading and drainage.

One of its teams has been working on the large-scale Five Mile commercial development in Queenstown for around two years.

“We’re also working on a couple of subdivisions and are doing lots of cycle and walking track work with local councils and the Queenstown Trails Trust.”

Isaac says the Flagstaff Station stock water system was definitely challenging and something outside the norm for Wilson Contractors.

“However, it was great to have a crack at it, and we were proud to end up with such a successful, award-winning project.”

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56 |

CONTRACTING » Crane Association ENERGY » Powerhouse Wind November 2015 Business South

Boutique turbine offers renewable energy solution Jo Bailey

Sir Gordon Tietjens addresses the 2015 annual Crane Association conference.

Crane conference ‘one of best’ Karen Phelps The 2015 annual conference of the Crane Association of New Zealand, held at Trinity Wharf, Tauranga in July was “one of our best”, says chief executive Rod Auton.

“We had a lift in delegate numbers, a rise in sponsors and exhibitors, an excellent programme and great venue. The turnout was an indicator of the confidence our members have in the association as a strong voice for the industry.”

Rod says the success of the conference is also a reflection of the “healthy state” of the industry, piggybacking on the residential building boom in Auckland and the Christchurch rebuild.

“Even out in the regions, business is starting to pick up and go strong.”

A “good range of talks” at the conference covered members’ day-to-day concerns, including how to run their businesses more effectively and productively, he says.

“We also covered topics such as succession planning and how members can get the best price if they are selling their business. This was particularly interesting to our members in the middle-aged plus bracket.”

As always there was a strong focus on health and safety, with contributions from Worksafe NZ, CVIU and NZTA, and a briefing from the Australian president of CICA. Rod says the association is planning to “progress into the digital arena” within the next 12 months with the release of some new smart phone apps that will help operators to better manage health and safety.

“One of the apps we’re looking at has a function for reporting everything from incidents and near misses, to good practices happening on the work site. This will enable us to look at trends across the industry and see if there are areas we can target in relation to training, manufacturing and maintenance on cranes.”

The association’s new Crane Safety Manual has proved a “big success”, and is probably the only one of its kind in the world, he says.

“As a sector we have a strong international reputation for health and safety, and plan to build on that profile by converting the manual to a Kindle book and selling it worldwide.”

“As a sector we have a strong international reputation for health and safety, and plan to build on that profile by converting the manual to a Kindle book and selling it worldwide.”

The late Gifford Linder, who was instrumental in the development of the Crane Safety manual, won the prestigious Weighload Trophy for his contribution and outstanding service to the association.

Other awards presented at the Conference Awards Dinner were the UDC Project of the Year won by Fulton Hogan for the Onehunga Foreshore Restoration project; the UDC Lift of the Year won

by Smith Crane and Construction for the assembly of a 5T tower crane at Waitaki Hydro Dam; Skills Trainer of the Year, Alan Collins of Digital Training and Assessment; Skills Trainee of the Year, Nikola Thompson of NZ Aluminium Smelters; and Skills Crane Lead of the Year, Malcolm McWhannell from Brian Perry Civil.

Malcolm McWhannell and Gordon Stone, of Titan Cranes, were also inducted as new life members of the Association.

A new council was also elected, as well as a new president, Scott McLeod.

Tribute was paid to outgoing president Grant Moffat who led the Association through some challenging times, and under whose watch the new Crane Safety manual, association’s new website and online shop were developed.

Rod says other highlights of the conference programme were a visit to Port of Tauranga, and the speech by inspirational keynote speaker, Sir Gordon Tietjens, who gave one of many interesting talks at the event.

“Overall, we are very happy with the conference, and are proud to represent an industry full of welltrained, competent, reliable and safety conscious people.”

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“We raised $550,000 so were very happy with this outcome. Our focus is on engaging with our market, smoothing our supplier and manufacturing processes towards full production, and putting a customer support team in place,” says director Bill Currie.

The company’s Thinair turbine is a boutique product used in a single application for domestic or small-scale commercial use, generating power to buildings or applications within 300 metres of its location.

Bill says the turbine is ideal for powering homes and businesses both on and off the grid, and can be used in conjunction with photovoltaic solar panels.

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such as powering cell phone and radio towers on hills that are too far away to connect to a power supply.

“We’re already getting good interest in the technology from the Pacific Islands and less developed countries where there are habitations quite a long way from normal grid services.”

Bill says the unique single blade design of the Thinair turbine cuts down on operating noise levels, improves reliability and power generation in turbulent wind conditions and is aesthetically pleasing in a residential setting.

“It is also a surprisingly affordable product that can be fully installed for around $23,000 to $24,000.”

The Powerhouse Wind team recently attended the Auckland Home Show where they spoke to around 700 potential customers, many from lifestyle blocks.

“People building on lifestyle blocks can face a cost of around $30,000 to $40,000 to connect to the grid, which is prompting many to think about different power generation options. With their own renewable power system there is a one off set up cost but no power bills from then on which is very attractive.”

Bill says the team behind Powerhouse Wind has spent around 15 years developing the turbine, with the company formed in 2007.

Powerhouse Wind currently has 14 turbines operating in New Zealand, which have been rigorously tested and are performing well.

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Business South November 2015

| 57

The unique single blade design of the Thinair turbine cuts down on operating noise levels, improves reliability and power generation in turbulent wind conditions and is aesthetically pleasing in a residential setting.

the pilot stage to the next level, which is full production.”

He anticipates “fairly conservative” first year production of around 15 to 20 turbines, progressing to hopefully around 70 in the second year.

“Beyond that we hope to establish connections in export markets and start manufacturing into the hundreds each year after that.”

There is already interest from Australia and Chile, in addition to the Pacific Islands, and

Bill expects strong interest from the domestic market. “We might even take a trip to India to investigate possibilities in that market, as they are making great strides with renewable energy systems and there is a large population there without access to the grid.”

Bill says the firm plans to keep its manufacturing base in Dunedin, and believes the product has “amazing potential”.

“We are very keen to continue to optimise the system and make it an attractive renewable energy solution for people all over the world.”

“We’re already getting good interest in the technology from the Pacific Islands and less developed countries where there are habitations quite a long way from normal grid services.”

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November 2015 Business South

ENERGY » Windflow Technology

58 |

Windflow in it for the long haul Jo Bailey It has been another difficult year for renewable energy firm Windflow Technology, however chief executive Geoff Henderson says the Christchurch firm is starting to “get a few runs on the board”.

“I do believe things will come right. Our wind turbines are technically successful with the best power to weight ratio in the industry. This means we use less materials for a given input which is important commercially when in volume manufacturing.”

A general slowing in the UK market due to a range of factors has made trading difficult, with the firm’s Directors’ Annual Review revealing a $3.1 million loss.

Windflow also laid off six of its local staff earlier this year in a bid to reduce costs.

“We still expect to confirm some further single wind turbine projects in Britain in the near term, and then progress some small to medium wind farm projects in Britain next year, although this is uncertain given the delays and the fact planning permission for onshore wind turbines continues to be highly politicised, particularly in England and Wales.”

He says the UK government has “lurched away” from wind power in favour of fracking and nuclear power.

However, there are still many people in Britain who disagree with this stance, and support a healthy renewables industry.

“There are much bigger players than us fighting the good fight which will hopefully make a difference.”

One of the positives revealed in Windflow’s Directors Annual Review to June 30 was the installation and commissioning of five W33-500 turbines in Scotland, two of which were sold to third parties.

All six of Windflow’s turbines in Scotland continue to operate reliably and profitably, says Geoff.

A new Class 2 45-500 prototype was also completed and commissioned with General Dynamics in Texas.

However, Windflow suffered another big setback last year when General Dynamic SATCOM terminated its licensing agreement with the company in order to exit the wind industry.

A general slowing in the UK market over the past year due to a range of factors has made trading difficult for Christchurch company, Windflow Technology.

“This created a gap in our revenue expectations, and has led to us working to progress new licensing prospects. We see huge potential in North America and Asia, particularly India and China, which is the global epicentre of the wind industry now, with many times the installation rate of the USA.” The New Zealand market continues to be stagnant because of an oversupply of power.

Geoff says while there are some signs of a revival, it is too early to factor any New Zealand projects into Windflow’s planning.

“Low wholesale power prices are likely to persist for a few years yet and are well below the threshold needed for long term viability of wind projects. This is why we’ll continue to focus overseas, as we require a volume market.”

Geoff and Windflow’s licensing manager Chris Holsonback went to India in September as part

of a NZ Trade and Enterprise Cleantech mission to promote the technology to potential Indian manufacturers.

“We are hoping our low weight design and resultant economies of scale during production will give us a competitive edge over other turbine manufacturers.”

“We are hoping our low weight design and resultant economies of scale during production will give us a competitive edge over other turbine manufacturers.”

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Windflow has not given up hope of the company making an impact in the renewables sector, despite fracking and the continued use of fossil fuels still favoured by many countries.

The company’s key shareholder, New York based ex-pat, David Iles now has a 43 per cent stake in the company, after Windflow opted to convert preference shares in the company into ordinary shares, before the maturity date for the preference shares.

“David has given us magnificent support and has kept us going over the years. He is effectively our banker as well as a shareholder and has been lending money for the UK projects. He is kept well informed of where things are at but prefers not to be involved with the company’s day-to-day decision making.”

Geoff says once the company gets its next batch of turbines “across the line” in the UK, these will be largely funded under the existing loan facility to David Iles.

Windflow also expects to seek further capital to fund any new UK projects.“It won’t be this year,

but we would hope to have more capital in place by mid-2016.”

The firm has struggled to “keep its head above water” in the years following the Global Financial Crisis and is yet to return a profit.

However, Geoff has not given up hope of the company making an impact in the renewables sector, despite fracking and the continued use of fossil fuels still favoured by many countries.

“Climate change provides a policy context that argues for major progress in renewable energy.

There is an expectation that renewed impetus will come from the major UN conference in Paris this December, although it will take some time for this to translate into a durable carbon-pricing system.”

Wind power is a long-term game Geoff says.

“We can’t make money out of the industry in the short term, but hopefully we’ll pick up a bit of a tail wind again in the next couple of years.”

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ENERGY » Windflow Technology

| 59

60 |

November 2015 Business South

CENTRAL LAKES » Pioneer Generation - Flat Hill Wind Farm

Response to wind farm ‘fantastic’ Jo Bailey Flat Hill Wind Farm, one of the most southern wind farms in the world, was officlally opened on August 31, by Invercargill MP Sarah Dowie.

Fraser Jonker, chief executive of Pioneer Generation Ltd, which developed the project, says its 460 hectare site on private farmland around 3km from Bluff was chosen for its optimal wind conditions.

“The wind farm’s eight, 44m high turbines are expected to generate around 26GWhs of electricity annually, enough to power around 2600 Southland homes.”

Pioneer Generation is a community owned renewable energy company based in Central Otago which specialises in developing, owning and operating electricity generation and cleaner energy solutions.

Once the company completed the development and seven month construction works at Flat Hill, ownership of the wind farm was transferred to renewable energy partnership Southern Generation Ltd, made up of Pioneer Generation, The Power Company Ltd and Electricity Invercargill.

Electricity generated from the wind farm is embedded into the local network, connecting directly to the Bluff substation on The Power Company network.

Jonker says with eight turbines, the wind farm is a relatively small project when compared to some other New Zealand wind farm developments, but it is the smaller scale that makes Flat Hill and similar developments attractive to the Southern Generation partnership.

“By building smaller wind farms and connecting to local networks we can utilise a local renewable resource and reduce future

“We are a 100% owned New Zealand business and we pride ourselves in developing and customising energy solutions.”

Sited 3km from Bluff, the Flat Hill Wind Farm is sone of the most southern wind farms in the world.

transmission costs of the national grid – this makes for a great community outcome with enhanced local benefits.”

Flat Hill is the second wind investment for the partnership which also owns the nine turbine Mt Stuart Wind Farm, south west of Milton.

“The partnership recognises the great potential Otago and Southland provides for renewable energy and comes at a time when there is rising competitiveness in wind energy technology and a growing demand for environmentally friendly electricity.”

Southern Generation also provides a lowrisk opportunity into electricity production for Electricity Invercargill and The Power Company.

The official opening of Flat Hill Wind Farm was attended by local mayors, Tim Shadbolt, Tracy Hicks and Gary Tong, along with a strong contingent of stakeholders, contractors and members of the community, including local school children.

Fraser Jonker says the response from the Southland community to the new wind farm has been “fantastic”.

“They have really got behind the project.”

For Pioneer, the Flat Hill project is the latest in a growing number of successful local and regionally based partnerships which it is involved in nationwide.

Pioneer generates energy from water, wind and waste; it provides renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions; and develops, owns and operates innovative clean energy and operational energy plant for some of New Zealand’s leading businesses, councils, hospitals and tertiary institutions.

“We are a 100 percent owned New Zealand business and we pride ourselves in developing and customising energy solutions; reducing energy costs and usage, lowering operating costs for our customers and diversifying their fuel risks.”

He says the company and its partners in Southern Generation are now turning their attention to other sites in Southland and Otago which may be suitable for smaller wind energy projects.

“The partnership is strongly positioned to establish a diversified portfolio of renewable generation growth opportunities.

“By leveraging our combined experience and expertise we can continue to develop and grow more opportunities, where they are commercially viable and can benefit local communities.”

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Business South November 2015

CENTRAL LAKES » Central Lakes Trust

| 61

Over the last 15 years, the Central Lakes Trust has contributed towards hundreds of projects, including community halls, recreational facilities and tertiary education scholarships.

Charitable trust enhancing lives Jo Bailey Central Lakes Trust has provided more than $70 million of grants towards charitable projects since its establishment, helping to enhance the lives of people of all ages in the region.

The trust’s chief executive Paul Allison says the organisation is the “common thread” that binds together the progressive, vibrant and tightknit Central Lakes community.

“As a charitable organisation we strive to enhance assets, enrich lives and make the community a better place to live.”

He says the trust makes things happen through its initiatives, innovations and an actively managed investment portfolio, which has been in place since 2000, when the Otago Central Electric Power Board Trust bestowed it with assets valued at $155 million.

At the time, the power company’s generation assets were retained and renamed Pioneer Generation Limited.

“The trust’s 100 per cent share-holding of Pioneer Generation Limited forms an integral component of its investments, as most of the profits are returned to the trust in the form of dividends,” he says.

Over the last 15 years the trust has contributed towards hundreds of projects, including community halls, recreational facilities, tertiary education scholarships, social service organisations and community programmes, as well as providing shade sails, toys and equipment.

It supports everything from community health, education and social services, to heritage, the environment, and local sport and recreation.

One of trust’s significant investments has been helping to save children’s lives through the establishment of a “Swim Skills” programme.

This was implemented in 2009 to ensure the majority of Central Otago children can swim 200 metres confidently and be competent in river

The Central Lakes Trust’s 100 per cent share-holding of Pioneer Generation Limited forms an integral component of its investments.

survival skills before leaving primary school.

“This free learn-to-swim programme is a great example of the sorts of projects the trust is keen to support. “Another was the purchase of a CT scanner for use by local residents.”

The trust also connects with communities by working in partnerships with schools, territorial authorities and lead agencies to help identify and address local needs.

It has supported 15 grants of $1 million or more - one of these being the development of the 110km Queenstown Trail.

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Another was the $1.7 million grant made to the Wakatipu Wilding Conifer Control Group to address one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the region - the eradication of wilding pines.

Paul says the trust has set an ambitious target of increasing both its annual income and grants budget in line with CPI and population growth - a particularly challenging target considering the region’s population has grown almost 4 per cent per annum since the start of the millennium.

“This challenge has been met by taking

a proactive, not reactive approach to our investments and grants programme.

“Our income streams enable the trust to assist people in the region from the cradle to the grave, across all sectors of the community.”

Paul says the trust’s management team and elected trustees are all passionate about supporting the local communities they live in.

“The impact of Central Lakes Trust pulses through the heart of every community throughout the region, many which would struggle to survive, let along prosper, without the trust’s support.”

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November 2015 Business South

CENTRAL LAKES » Brydone Hotel

A proud treasure of the Victorian era Kim Newth In a town renowned for its well-preserved civic centre, Oamaru’s Brydone Hotel is an outstanding Victorian-era treasure.

Built in 1881, this beautiful limestone building has long attracted travellers seeking fine accommodation in the town centre. The hotel’s gracious interior of grand chandeliers, a soaring staircase and ornate plasterwork echoes an earlier age.

Yet it also has all the modern comforts one would expect of a hotel that boasts exceptional service. Guests can choose from a range of wellequipped suites and superior plus rooms.

The hotel’s T-bar restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, is known for its friendly service and delicious cuisine.

There is a guest laundry on site and dry cleaning by arrangement.

Location is so important in the tourism accommodation market. Brydone Hotel is on a prime corner site in Oamaru’s town centre, opposite the Opera House and within easy walking distance of the Victorian Precinct.

The Oamaru Licensing Trust has reported that Brydone is performing strongly in the local market with “stellar growth” in 2014/15, in part driven by rising international visitor numbers.

Manager Justin Ludlow, who has been managing the hotel for the past two years, says Brydone is also an increasingly popular choice as a venue for conferences and corporate events.

Justin is also general manager of the Oamaru Licensing Trust, which operates the Brydone Hotel and other sites within Oamaru.

He says growing awareness of the hotel’s excellent conference facilities is reflected in booking rates. There are five stylish function rooms, the largest of which can accommodate up to 200 people. Modern conference equipment is available.

The Brydone Hotel is also a popular venue for weddings, offering onsite catering, accommodation and reception space.

The hotel’s experienced events team can help plan, prepare and produce special occasions from private family celebrations to formal corporate functions.

Oamaru is one of the best places in New Zealand for viewing penguins. The hotel makes it easy for guests to do so through its special penguin package tours.

The tour bus stops right in front of the hotel.

Each tour starts with an insightful sightseeing trip around Oamaru and guests are then taken to a viewing platform to see yellow-eyed penguins as they arrive on shore. Seals may often be seen relaxing on the beach.

At sunset, guests are escorted to the Oamaru

The Brydone Hotel is on a prime corner site in Oamaru’s town centre, opposite the Opera House and within easy walking distance of the Victorian Precinct.

Blue Penguin Colony where penguins may be observed coming to shore for the night.

Penguins are just part of the magic for visitors staying at the hotel. They can also explore the town’s Steampunk character, the Victorian Precinct and the harbour or simply spend time soaking up the hotel’s heritage ambience.

After a day’s sightseeing, the T-bar is a good place to relax over a drink or a bite to eat.

One of brasserie bar’s striking architectural features is a characterful stained glass ceiling.

The Brydone Hotel offers other attractive packages to its guests, such as special upgrade deals and golf packages for guests wishing to tee off at the Lower Waitaki golf course.

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Business South November 2015

CENTRAL LAKES » Central Wormworx

| 63

Worms answer to dairy farm waste Jo Bailey Cromwell couple Robbie and Rosanna Dick reckon they might have the answer to the environmentally friendly disposal of dairy farm waste.

For the past two years their company, Central Wormworx Ltd, has been bringing in waste from Southland dairy farm wintering sheds to feed their hungry tiger worms, which convert the waste to usable soil conditioner.

They have just held an open day on their farm demonstrating to farmers, regional councils and representatives from DairyNZ how rapidly worms can convert waste to a valuable soil conditioner.

“We have to show people what we are doing because seeing is believing,” says Robbie Dick.

The couple started their business after Robbie, who was working as a shepherd at an abbattoir, noticed the amount of paunch grass from the stomachs of the animals was getting dumped and considered what might be a better use for the waste material.

He started investigating worm farms and they started Central Wormworx in 1999 with a contract to remove paunch waste from the abbattoir site.

A contract to supply Global Worms with 192 kilograms of live worms each week was also significant in the early days but a year later the contract suddenly terminated and with quarter of a million dollars invested in the business, the couple had to find alternatives so converted their focus to waste management alongside worm farming.

“We really had to pioneer parts of the business because nobody had done this in New Zealand before,” explains Robbie.

Today, Central Wormworx takes waste from the local supermarket, orchards, vineyards and dairy farms. The business now operates 14 windrows of worms, each 60 metres long. Each row gets fed two tonnes of waste material fortnightly. Millions of worms are able to eat through 28 tonnes of waste in 10 days.

It is dairy farms where the couple see real potential for the business.

Instead of pumping the effluent straight onto paddocks, which can result in leachate in waterways, Robbie says that worms can turn this waste into dry material which can be ground or air spread on paddocks.

The worm castings have been used as soil conditioner in growth trials and with a water retention of 54.5 per cent this presented a huge advantage in drought-prone farming areas, says Robbie.

The system works when wintering sheds are cleaned daily. The resulting effluent goes to a sump and is pumped through a de-watering plant. Liquids are spread on paddocks and solids head to Central Wormworx.

The couple say that they are struggling to keep up with demand for their product which is sold mainly to gardeners and also through selected Mitre10 stores.

They have had to supplement the material produced by the worms with compost and peat to stretch out the product and provide three options to customers: Peat worm castings, compost and worm castings, worm castings and live worms.

They sell around 350 tonnes of product per year and live worms have even been sent offshore to Tahiti. Sales of worms so people can start their own worm farms is where they see the real growth.

Central Wormworx uses worms to turn waste material from the local supermarket, orchards, vineyards and dairy farms into nutrient-rich soil conditioner.

Rather than produce more products, Robbie says he would prefer to start focusing on offering consultation services and he thinks there is potential for people, including dairy farmers, to start their own worm farms.

Central Wormworx Ltd Working for a cleaner, greener solution Robbie & Rosanna Dick - 4 Pioneer Court, Cromwell, NZ P: 03 445 0263 M: 021 132 2964 E: rdick@xtra.co.nz

“Dairy farms, for example, spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on fertiliser each year. The worms return 40 per cent of what we feed them as soil conditioner. There’s hundreds of tonnes of waste out there.

“For example, a survey by Southland Council indicated that 71 per cent of the waste in the wheelie bins worms could eat. This means huge potential in terms of reducing waste and turning it into a useful product.”

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64 |

CENTRAL LAKES » Makarora Tourist Centre

November 2015 Business South

Getting back to nature at Makarora Karen Phelps When the Osmers moved to Makarora, a town 65km north of Wanaka and 80km south of Haast, it was not on the radar of tourists.

Now decades later, the family has helped to put Makarora on the map after starting a number of tourism related businesses in the area over the years.

“We love it here,” says Rhondda Osmers.

“There’s so much nature. There are tuis singing outside my office right now.”

It was Rhondda’s entrepreneurial late husband Dave who first saw the tourism potential in the area.

A sheep musterer, he sold everything he owned – a car, nine sheep dogs, radio and saddle – to purchase the original 8ha block of land where the Makarora Tourist Centre now stands.

Over the years Dave started a jet boat company, was involved in the establishment of an aircraft company and bought the Makarora Homestead before turning it into a commercial venture then on-selling it. The only business he kept was the Makarora Tourist Centre.

When Dave bought that first block of land the area was pretty undeveloped, says Rhondda – a dirt road full of pot holes, no fences, no power and no bridges. It is partly these things that attracted Dave to the area and it is an ethos Rhondda continues to run Makarora Tourist Centre by.

“There are no televisions, radios, telephones or internet in our units, although we do offer these things in our café, shop and bar area. It’s about getting away from it all and back to nature,” she says.

Today, Makarora Tourist Centre includes camping, chalet accommodation, a café, bar and shop, sales of petrol and diesel, jet boat trips and scenic flights. The business borders the Mt Aspiring World Heritage National Park and the Makarora River meanders its way to the head of Lake Wanaka. It’s no surprise the Osmers wanted to live here and had to find a business to support their lifestyle.

Over the years, the nature of the tourism industry in the area has changed and Rhondda says they had to adapt to maintain a viable business.

For example, the backpacker market was originally significant. After several tourism operators in the area folded or changed ownership, the backpacker trade dried up. Rhondda admits at times its been a struggle for Makarora Tourist Centre but says by adapting to the times and promoting the business

The Makarora Tourist Centre borders the Mt Aspiring World Heritage National Park and the Makarora River meanders nearby. on the internet it continues to attract a good mix of clients. Two new tour groups have just started utilising the venue for their customers, which Rhondda says should signify better times ahead for the business.

She also has plans to promote one of the two lodges on the property (the other is used for campers with kitchen and bathroom facilities) as a venue for wedding receptions and functions.

“Because we have all the accommodation here as well it’s perfect – people don’t need to drink and drive,” she says.

Makarora Tourist Centre employs 11 full time staff. Rhondda, 70, is the company director and

“There are no televisions, radios, telephones or internet in our units, although we do offer these things in our café, shop and bar area. It’s about getting away from it all and back to nature.”

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says the time is approaching to move on and sell the business. She predicts the coming season will be a positive one for the business after a period of consolidation: “There has been a notable increase in Asian

visitors from countries such as China, Thailand and Korea. Because we have so many different facets to the business it helps us to adapt to what the market demands. For visitors Makarora is a holiday destination but for us Makarora is just home.”

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Business South November 2015

LANDSCAPING » Neville Stewart Landscaping

| 65

A simple goal: creating paradise Kim Newth Creating a piece of paradise for every client is the number one goal of Dunedin-based landscape garden designer Neville Stewart.

Of critical importance in successful landscape design is the planting plan, he suggests.

“Plants are of primary importance in creating a vision of beautiful gardens with elements of softness, colour and contrast,” he says.

While effective landscape design requires careful coordination of physical elements, structures, layout, use of space and other key defining features, Neville ranks plants as the essential element.

“Planting is a strong focus of our design,” says Neville Stewart Landscaping’s founder and co-director. “We are trying to create places to love and get people reconnected with the natural environment.”

Neville started his business in 1993 from a background in parks and gardens and is a botanically trained plants man. The early focus of the business was on presenting gardens at their seasonal best and to the designer’s vision.

Demand has grown steadily over the years in response to the company’s commitment to delivering a regular and reliable garden management service. “When I started off I had half a dozen gardens – now we have more than sixty gardens a month.”

As Neville observes, a garden landscape is quite unlike a building in that it will keep changing and evolving over time and will require ongoing management to keep it at its best.

Neville Stewart Landscaping works with clients to ensure gardens are maintained to schedule and managed by qualified people who understand the special pruning requirements of

Plants are an essential element of landscape design, says Neville Stewart, founder and co-director of Dunedin-based Neville Stewart Landscaping.

ornamental and flowering trees and shrubs.

“We prioritise what work needs to be done in a garden, so if we only have four hours a month at a particular garden, the most important jobs will go to the top.”

In 2004, Neville moved from being a sole trader to forming a company with fellow gardener Richard Forbes who had just returned from London after a six year stint working in more

than 100 private gardens.

Today, the company employs nine staff.

“Richard looks after our regular monthly clients, assisted by our staff, who have parks, horticultural and botanical garden training and experience.”

A full-time landscape architect assists Neville with design, creating plans and a vision for clients.

“With landscape design, we’re prepared to look at any area. We can create some ambience or visual impact around a pleasant place to sit in the garden or create bigger park like settings within lifestyle blocks.”

One large-scale project on a high value property in the Mosgiel area involved developing a landscape design over a hillside site.

“It was really challenging with just a bare rock face when we went there. We designed a system of spaces with paths to give access and a circulation pattern with the plants to define and

create garden spaces. We used stone walls to create unique features using the same type of rock that was used on the exterior cladding of the house.”

The company’s unique selling point is its dual focus on regular garden management alongside design and landscape architecture, with a construction team of three.

“We can now offer a full range of landscape, design and regular garden services for new homes and one-off garden clean-ups.”

Commercial projects have included landscaping at the Dunedin Forsyth Barr Stadium, Hope & Son’s Funeral Services and a children’s eco-oasis garden for Arthur Burns Childcare.

“We are always open to new challenges and new ideas. Our clients can expect excellent and personal service to meet their individual requirements and creative work that is suited to their property and lifestyle needs.”

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66 |

PRIMARY INDUSTRY » The Hairy Mussel Company

November 2015 Business South

World-class mussel highly prized Kim Newth Marlborough Sounds mussel farmer Tim Madden, who has clocked up almost 30 years in aquaculture, says the profile of this seafood staple is now much higher than it was when he first started out.

It has taken a long time, but he suggests the New Zealand Greenshell Mussel is finally gaining the recognition it deserves as one of the country’s most tasty and nutritious morsels to have come from beneath the waves.

Along with Helen Johnston, Tim owns The Hairy Mussel Co which sells around 500 tonnes of the shellfish to appreciative customers throughout the South Island and lower North Island.

Their commitment to delivering top-quality, fresh mussels to market has helped shift perceptions surrounding this once underrated industry.

As a teenager, back in the 1980s, Tim got his first job on a mussel farm at a time when everything was still done manually.

Tim says the end product was not treated with much respect in the local market in those days.

“But we have been doing our bit through Hairy Mussel over the past decade or so to improve the perception of mussels,” Tim says.

“They are a truly world class seafood, grown in a sustainable manner – and that word ‘sustainable’ is a word I don’t use lightly.

“They are grown in a sustainable manner with minimal impact on the environment.”

Tim got his start in the industry through aquaculture pioneer Jim Jenkins, who literally tossed a coin one day to decide whether he’d give a job to Tim or his best mate.

Once he’d dipped his toe in the water, Tim says he was hooked.

These days, his farmed mussels make up the bulk of Hairy Mussel’s core stock, which also draws from other independent suppliers and Sanford Ltd.

“They are a truly world class seafood, grown in a sustainable manner – and that word ‘sustainable’ is a word I don’t use lightly. They are grown in a sustainable manner with minimal impact on the environment.”

Hairy Mussel’s pack house is at Havelock port, where mussels are chilled overnight after harvesting before being packed and sent out to market.

The whole process is controlled to ensure only top quality mussels arrive at their final destination, fresh and ready to eat.

While supermarket supply is a big part of the business, Hairy Mussel also supplies direct to the customer’s door.

“So if you have a family dinner party going on, you can order mussels from us online. It is very easy.”

As well as bulk fresh mussels, Hairy Mussel’s online store offers marinated and smoked mussels, gift baskets, specialty sauces and associated merchandise.

The store includes social club specials offering mussels at discounted rates.

Helen says their smoked mussels are “a really good product” too, with barely any added oil. Hairy Mussel Wild Smoked Mussels and Marinated Mussels have been independently tested and awarded the Heart Foundation Tick.

The New Zealand Greenshell Mussel scores top marks for nutrition, being high in protein and iron, and containing plenty of healthy Omega 3, as well as being low in fat, cholesterol and calories.

The whole process is controlled to ensure only top quality mussels arrive at their final destination.

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Business South November 2015

PRIMARY INDUSTRY » NZ Clearwater Crayfish

| 67

Exciting times for crayfish pioneers Jo Bailey From humble beginnings, New Zealand Clearwater Crayfish (Koura) Ltd (NZCC) is now New Zealand’s largest and most advanced freshwater crayfish farm, marketing its gourmet product to individuals and “up-market” hotels, lodges and restaurants throughout the country.

The business has come a long way since it was set up by Pieter Wilhelmus and business partner David Smythe in the mid 1990s.

David says the NZCC story is one of “kiwi curiosity, determination and pioneering spirit”.

It began in 1994 after Pieter and Coreen Wilhelmus established their freshwater salmon farm under the banner of Ormond Aquaculture Ltd in the Wairau Valley, 35km south of Blenheim.

“I had helped them with the resource consents and discussion on koura arose, leading to a partnership and the formation of NZCC Ltd,” says David.

The farm began with seven small tanks experimenting with koura from the salmon farm head race and ponds, and has now grown to about 1300 metres of races and ponds.

“Koura are naturally brown–black to dark green-light tan colouring which turns pink-red when cooked. The tail meat is delicate, crisp and sweet. It is a genuine gourmet product,” he says.

For about seven years, the whole freshwater aquaculture complex was certified organic and was the only multi-species organic freshwater aquaculture complex in the Southern Hemisphere.

After the koura food proprietary diet developed

by Wilhelmus with help from a nutritionist was introduced, organic status could not be kept for the koura farm, but NZCC continues to manage the farm on sound environmental principles, trying to replicate nature and as close as is feasible to organic management.

Direct sales have grown steadily with Diane Appleton, of Equagold Ltd, providing successful marketing in Auckland and much of the North Island.

David says the most exciting development over the last three years has been the chance finding of a few red coloured juveniles and nursing them to adults.

Now, with ongoing selective breeding a pure red coloured variant of the species – Paranephrops planifrons – has been successfully established.

“This little critter is so spectacular that the

The New Zealand Clearwater Crayfish farm in the Wairau Valley, near Blenhiem, began with seven small tanks experimenting with koura from the salmon farm head race and ponds, and has now grown to about 1300 metres of races and ponds. name Red Glory has been trademarked.”

“Pieter’s expertise in freshwater aquaculture management, husbandry, innovation, and on site experimentation and research is extraordinarily successful,” says David.

Red Glory is unique in New Zealand and throughout the rest of the world.

David says the introduction of Red Glory to the New Zealand aquarium market has added another dimension to NZCC, with future prospects for the product only limited by the difficulties to gain approval to export.

“We continue to try and find the right channels to get access to the Asian markets. Steve Pullan, of MPI in Auckland, has been of huge help with timely advice and assistance.”

Another new development at the complex is

Ormond Aquaculture Ltd being contracted by NZ Fish and Game to rear salmon and trout for its annual release programme with Fish and Game renting the salmon ponds.

“This is further confirmation of Pieter’s exceptional talent in this field. It is also planned to set up a fish-out pond where children can be introduced to trout fishing.”

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“Pieter’s expertise in freshwater aquaculture management, husbandry, innovation, and on site experimentation and research is extraordinarily successful.”

“transition towards retirement” within the next two years, Pieter Wilhelmus says they would eventually like to find someone to take over the business.

“I’d like to see us get Red Glory into export markets before we retire, then hand the business over to someone keen to continue the exciting growth and development of this unique complex we have developed.”

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68 |

PRIMARY INDUSTRY » Mt Cook Alpine Salmon

November 2015 Business South

Freshwater salmon sought after Jo Bailey Refined palates around the world have come to appreciate the refreshing taste and texture of Freshwater King Salmon produced by Mt Cook Alpine Salmon, says chief executive David Cole.

“Our salmon is sought after by high-end restaurants and retailers around the globe, including the Fat Duck in Australia, among the most expensive and upmarket in the world.”

One senior executive from a renowned, high-end retailer in New York which recently switched from Scottish salmon to Mt Cook, made the comment after visiting the factory and farms last month; “It is clear to see why you have the finest tasting salmon in the world. It’s because you have the best salmon team in the world.”

“He was inspired by the passion and knowledge of our staff,” says David.

Mt Cook Alpine Salmon produces Freshwater King Salmon, a very different tasting product to a sea-farmed salmon.

The company operates in a unique environment, with its three farms and a hatchery located on the hydro canals between Tekapo and Twizel.

“Here the cold glacial melt flows from the Southern Alps through our farms and is arguably the purist water on the planet. Low densities and fast flowing water - our salmon couldn’t be happier, swimming the equivalent of halfway around the world in their lifetime.”

“In is this glistening, disease-free wilderness we raise a leaner, less oily fish with a more delicate taste which is chosen by the most discerning buyers around the world. But we take nothing for granted. We regularly conduct blind taste tests in our markets and invariably our salmon is preferred every time.”

The salmon are fed with mammalian free diet

Mt Cook Alpine Salmon’s Freshwater King Salmon is sought after by high-end restaurants and retailers around the globe. supplied by one of the globally recognised quality specialist suppliers.

“Increasingly our customers ask about our feed and preserving ocean fish stocks is an important consideration in our feed composition.”

In February this year, Mt Cook Alpine Salmon was awarded a score of 8.6 out of 10 for its fish

husbandry practices and sustainability by Seafood Watch, the official consumer watchdog based in North America.

“We were delighted with their assessment.

It was the highest Seafood Watch ranking ever awarded to any salmon producer anywhere.”

The company harvests salmon every day for processing at its purpose-built plant in Timaru which opened two years ago.

“We have about 40 staff in the processing plant, another 40 on our farms, and a small corporate head office in Queenstown.”

Most of the Company’s production of around 1200 tonnes is for export, to places including Australia, UAE, Singapore, China, and the USA. “We are seeing increasing demand for our boutique product in the competitive markets of America and Australia, and have also developed niche business in Singapore and China.”

David says Mt Cook Alpine Salmon intends to continue to focus on its high-end markets and has no desire to become a commodity producer.

“We could never compete with the Europeans

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or Norwegians when it comes to volumes and will continue to differentiate ourselves in other ways.

We are looking to produce more value-added products, and already have some at pre-feasibility stage.”

Mt Cook Alpine Salmon is also sold in New Zealand through prestigious retail outlets and the better restaurants, with the public also able to access the product online or from the company’s retail store at Lake Pukaki.

David says the Timaru factory was designed to process a capacity of 2500 tonnes, so there is the still potential to grow production further.

Mt Cook Alpine Salmon has been operating for more than 20 years, and has around 65 shareholders, with a board presided over by former Prime Minister, the RT Hon Jim Bolger who sums up the company’s progress.

“We continue to evolve and improve and are proud of the international reputation we are building for our unmatched ecosystems, clean, green sustainable approach, and the unique quality of our salmon.”

03 544 5090 Fax: 03 544 4864 Email: info@hmp.co.nz www.hmp.co.nz Tel:

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Business South November 2015

PRIMARY INDUSTRY » Mt Cook Alpine Salmon

| 69

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November 2015 Business South

ENVIRONMENT » Apex Environmental

Cutting-edge treatment solutions Jo Bailey The tremendous growth of the dairy industry in New Zealand has increased expectations on dairy companies to improve their environmental performance particularly around the treatment of wastewater.

This has led to Timaru-based environmental engineering firm Apex Environmental developing a strong niche market in the sector, supporting it to meet these requirements.

The company has designed and built several cutting-edge industrial wastewater treatment plants for some of New Zealand’s leading dairy companies, and has recently secured two separate projects for Westland Milk Products, the South Island’s largest independent co-op milk producer.

Director Dr Matt Savage, who founded the company seven years ago with Dr Steve Kroening, says Apex will provide wastewater treatment technology to Westland Milk’s new milk dryer at its Hokitika site, and a UHT milk packaging line at its Rolleston processing facility.

“Westland Milk Products was determined to reduced its overall environmental impact at its Hokitika site, along with the addition of extra processing capacity.

“With this mandate, we designed an integrated environmental system that identified what water from the factory most needed to be treated, optimised the existing wastewater treatment plant, and repurposed other existing infrastructure to create a new biological treatment system.”

He says that the aim was to reduce pressure on existing systems to allow for maximum efficiencies and better quality effluent at the final discharge.

At Westland’s Rolleston site, a solution was required to remove the high strength components of the wastewater in order to make it suitable for discharge into the local sewage system without overloading the council’s sewage treatment plant.

“We were able to offer two of our Aerofloat DAF (Dissolved Air Flotation) modular floatation systems that use compressed air to separate the fat and proteins from the water prior to discharge,” says Matt.

The removal of the fats prevents blockages in the local sewer network and reduces the amount of discharge sent to the sewage treatment plant by around half.”

Matt says the beauty of the Aerofloat system is that it does all this in an enclosed chamber, minimising odour, with the cost of treatment “a fraction” of the cost of traditional flotation technology.

Apex Environmental designs and builds cutting-edge industrial wastewater treatment plants for some of New Zealand’s leading dairy companies.

This system is a smaller version of the DAF technology used by Apex for large industrial applications, and meets the need for smaller industrial sites and communities which couldn’t previously afford to achieve this level of environmental performance.

“With the new technologies now becoming available and proven, it is becoming economically feasible and even attractive for communities to look at treating their wastewater to a level where it can be beneficially reused,” says Matt.

The technology has been in used in Australia for several years, and while new to New Zealand, has rapidly taken off, finding applications in bakeries, meat processing plants and dairy factories.

Apex is the New Zealand agent for the technology and is already applying it to several projects, including the Tip Top Bakery factory, and an abbatoir operation in Southland.

“We recently completed a three week trial at the abbatoir with superb results.”

The company are also specialists in membrane bioreactor (MBR) wastewater treatment technology, which combines membrane separation and a conventional activated sludge process, removing the need for secondary sedimentation. This greatly

Its philosophy centres around being able to offer a turnkey package that is usually split between multiple consultants, construction companies and engineers, says Matt “With industries growing so fast, wastewater continues to be a huge issue. Our hands-on experience and expertise, combined with in-house knowledge enables us to provide leading edge solutions we can stand behind, and that deliver guaranteed environmental performance to our clients.”

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Business South November 2015

HOSPITALITY » Aspiring Catering

| 71

Fresh focus fuels success Kim Newth From its inception in May 2010, Aspiring Catering has experienced “continuous growth” in demand for its services in the Queenstown and Wanaka area.

Chef Lucy Weatherall, formerly executive chef at The Hills Golf Club, credits the success of the business to its focus on using fresh quality product from Central Otago and having a personalised professional approach to every event. “Many of our clients are foodies too and share our passion for food,” says Lucy.

“They appreciate how we pay attention to detail. We can tailor the menu to any occasion.

Our waitresses are always knowledgeable about what they are serving, for example, why they are serving a particular wine and the story behind it.

“Our mobile kitchen has been wonderful. We can take it anywhere.

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“It has been to Tekapo, Middlemarch, Twizel, Oamaru and Otematata. We can cater for corporate events or weddings at any location of choice, including wilderness locations.”

The company’s new season menu includes a mouth-watering line-up of canapes incorporating Central Otago rabbit, West Coast whitebait and Canter Valley duck.

Summer style shared platters are also proving very popular, along with the delicious petit four desserts selection to finish.

“Everything is made from scratch. It is all handcrafted and we are also very accommodating to people’s dietary needs, such as gluten free.”

Aspiring Catering also assists with event planning and coordination, including themes and layout.

The Aspiring Catering team will do the hands on work of setting up tables, chairs and pressing of linen, as well as supplying equipment and essentials such as European cutlery.

“We are almost a one-stop shop, so our clients do not need to worry about how many teaspoons, napkins or plates they will need.”

Food traceability is of increasing interest to consumers who want to know where their food has come from. Aspiring Catering has happily embraced this food trend.

“We link our menus to the product source. It just makes the whole experience much more real and exciting.”

Clients include international tour groups coming to New Zealand for exclusive heli ski holidays. “It is great to be able to showcase New Zealand and the products we have here locally.”

Winter weddings are another fast growing area, with strong forward bookings for winter 2016.

Aspiring Catering employs front of house manager Jen Brown to set up the day before each event, liaise with the contact person and run the event on the day.

Human resource manager Maxine Blair handles staff recruitment/contracts. All Aspiring Catering staff are carefully chosen from around the Wanaka and Queenstown area for their exceptional hospitality skills. All staff undergo training that includes wine tastings at Rippon Hall to maintain local wine knowledge and high standards.

Aspiring Catering’s new season menu includes a mouth-watering line-up of canapes.

TWO ESTABLISHED CONVEYOR BELT BRANDS JOIN FORCES

Viking Conveyor has acquired Paykel Engineering Services Conveyor and Componentry business. The acquisition sees two businesses join forces to keep goods on the move, from mining sites to food processing plants.

Total Conveyor Limited have long been a Viking Conveyor distributor, and are now available to meet all Paykel’s customers conveyor needs in the lower South Island. Total Conveyor Limited are the professional choice when it comes to the manufacture, supply and servicing of all types of conveyor belts.

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72 |

HOSPITALITY » Little Blackwood

November 2015 Business South

Bar the perfect place to unwind Jo Bailey With its classic but hip and friendly vibe, new Queenstown bar Little Blackwood is the perfect place to unwind after a day on the slopes or exploring the resort town, says site manager Bradley Iles.

“People are really enjoying our intimate environment, with an open fire, sharing food and extensive drink menus, attentive service and jawdropping lakeside views from our heated outdoor deck.

“We’ve managed to build a lot of confidence in our offering over winter and are very excited to move into summer”.

Little Blackwood opened on June 13 in the popular Steamer Wharf and is the result of the complete rebranding and refurbishment of former late-night spot, The Boiler Room.

Little Blackwood takes its name from the highquality, bespoke furniture designed and handcrafted for the project in Raglan by Will Worsp of W&W, says Bradley.

“Will worked closely with Future Bar’s co-owner and creative director Jason Whalley on the furniture, which utilises New Zealand blackwood in the tables, bar and shelving. It is a key component of the bar’s classic, clean aesthetic.”

The look has been further enhanced through a mix of contemporary materials such as timber paneling, white subway tiles, cast concrete, and commissioned artwork by local talent Rebecca Hembrow.

Bradley says all aspects of the operation, from the food and drinks offerings, to the levels of service and communication provided by its staff have been a real focal point during the redevelopment.

“We’ve taken inspiration from leading hospitality hosts, such as Melbourne in Australia, and Britomart in Auckland, where people expect a high quality, social experience, delivered with personality.

Little Blackwood is classic but contemporary, and has a relaxed atmosphere with staff in casual striped tees and jeans. Every day we focus on service and guest experiences.”

Little Blackwood has an extensive range of hand-craft cocktails, local beers and wines, and a food menu designed to “graze, nibble and share”, which includes pizza, sharing plates and the bar’s signature cheese and meat boards, showcasing local artisan made cheeses and cured meats.

“The platters have really taken off. People love being able to choose their own combination of cheese from Gibbston Valley Cheese, and meats from Zamora Meats.”

Live Music and bespoke DJs help to maintain the easy going environment at Little Blackwood, playing an eclectic mix from Mowtown to Chilled House.

“In the summer it will be great to open up the big French windows at the front of the bar and glass doors at the back to make the most of our fantastic location on the water’s edge.

“We have some exciting plans, with Sunday sessions or a DJ playing background music in the outdoor courtyard.”

If TripAdvisor reviews are anything to go by, the Little Blackwood team has achieved their brief.

Comments say the bar is, “sophisticated without being snobbish”, and “classy without being stuffy”.

“This is exactly the sort of approachable, unpretentious feel we’ve wanted to create. Our catchphrase is ‘Meet me here’ and we look forward to lots more people doing just that in the months to come.”

Little Blackwood is the second refurbishment undertaken by owners Future Bars Ltd, which last year reimagined its Cow Lane bar Debajo into the now popular Rhino’s Ski Shack.

A few months ago the company also celebrated the 10th anniversary of its high-profile Minus 5° Ice Bar located in Steamer Wharf.

Future Bars latest project is on Ponsonby Road in Auckland.

Little Blackwood has an extensive range of hand-craft cocktails, local beers and wines, and a food menu designed to “graze, nibble and share”.

“We’ve taken inspiration from leading hospitality hosts, such as Melbourne in Australia, and Britomart in Auckland, where people expect a high quality, social experience, delivered with personality.”

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Mike Duthie

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0275260802

Manager

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4 Thames Street, Arrowtown

Ph: (03) 409 2977 Cell: 027 443 9302 E: mike@shotoverelectrix.co.nz W: www.shotoverelectrix.co.nz

027 274 3385

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