NORTHLANDCONSTRUCTION 2025
220peoplegatheredtocelebratethe2025CCNZNorthlandConstruction AwardsatSemenoffStadiuminWhangareionFriday,6thJune.
It’sbeenachallengingyearfor contractors,withalimitedpipeline ofnewprojectsandanoticeable slowdowninconstructionactivity. Despitethesehurdles,thisyear’s awardssawanimpressivenumberof entries.Thequalityofworksubmitted wasexceptionalacrosstheboard, showcasingthededicationandskill withintheindustry.
Theawardseveningcelebratedthe mostoutstandingcivilconstruction projectscompletedinNorthlandover thepastfinancialyear.Thisyear,the entrycriteriaforthelargeraward categorieswereupdatedtobetter alignwiththestandardsoftheCCNZ NationalAwards,ensuringconsistency andrecognitionatbothregionaland nationallevels.
Theawardsalsorecognisedthe outstandingcontributionsofindividuals withinthecivilconstructionindustry. KylieBourke,thefirstfemaleChairperson oftheCCNZNorthlandBranch,was aprominentpresencethroughout
theevening.Awell-deservedService toIndustryAwardwaspresentedto CameronLornie,honoringhismorethan adecadeofdedicatedservicetoboth theindustryandthebranch.
TheAGMsawseveralCommittee memberswhohadreachedtheendof their2-yeartermstandforanotherstint andbeaccepted.JohnBalcombe,from Downer,waselectedasanadditional memberoftheexecutiveteam.
Showingtheirsupportfortheindustry, wesawthereturnofourdedicated sponsorsfrompreviousyearsincluding Hirepool,Hynds,Firth,Humes,Whangarei DistrictCouncil,YovichAdvisory, Promains,TePukenga-Connexisand GPIL.Withonenewadditionthisyear, SimpsonShaw.
Thisyear’seventfeaturedDion McCrackenasthenewMC,whokept theaudiencebothinformedand entertainedthroughouttheevening.A highlightofthenightwasguestspeaker CameronLeslie,whodeliveredan
inspiringaddressabouthisjourneyto becomingaParalympian,andlifetoday withhiswifeandthreeyoungchildren. HealsobroughtalonghisParalympic medals,whichwerepassedaround thetables,addingapersonaland memorabletouchtotheevening.
CCNZNorthlandBranchChairpersonKylie Bourkeaddressesguests
CameronLeslie–GuestSpeaker
CivilContractorsNZPresidentDavidHoward
CustomMadeTrophiesbyNextEditionKitchens
HyndsConstructionProjects
$500,000-$2,000,000
ShaneSirettfromHynds(right),withproudwinnersfromRobinsonAsphaltsKeelan FenwickandTomTaylor
Judges’Comments
Thisoutstandingprojectwasdeliveredtoanexceptionallyhigh standard.
Itwasparticularlyencouragingtoseeknowledgesharedacross theteam,withastrongfocusoncreatingopportunitiesfor individualgrowthandcareerdevelopment.
CELEBRATING8YEARS
RobinsonAsphalts(Robinsons) isextremelyproudtobe recognisedattherecent CCNZNorthlandAwardsfor therecentlycompletedBupaTotara ParklandsRetirementVillagestages G&H.Robinsonswasawardedthe HyndsConstructionAwardforprojects between$500,000-$2,000,000,and werealsohighlycommendedforthe SimpsonShawInnovationAwardfor deliveringtheTakahiwaiMulti-Court Upgrade.Thisyearsawarecordnumber ofawardsubmissions,makingfortough competitionandachallengingjobfor thejudges.ThisyearmarksRobinsons’ eightconsecutiveyearofawardwinningprojectsattheCCNZNorthland Awards.
RobinsonswouldliketothankCCNZ, thejudges,sponsorsandorganisersfor anothergreatevent,andcongratulate
NORTHLANDCONSTRUCTION 2025
alloftheotherentrantsandwinnerson thenight.
TheBupaRetirementVillageCiviland LandscapePackage)wasacomplex, high-qualitycivilandlandscaping projectcompletedbyRobinsonsfor ArcoBuildersandBupa.Spanningover twoandahalfyears,thescopeincluded detailedlandscaping,drainage, retainingstructures,bespokeoutdoor furniture,pergolas,paving,artificial turf,andstonework.Despitedesign complexities,materialshortages,and coordinationchallenges,Robinsons successfullydeliveredtheprojecton timeandunderbudget,workingclosely withothercontractorsandtheclient, focusingonexceptionalattentionto quality.
Theprojectwasanexcellentshowcase ofRobinsonsversatilityandabilityto
deliveracomplexpackageofworksas a“one-stop-shop”contractor.Over93% oftheworkwasdeliveredinhouseby Robinsonshighlyskilledanddedicated team,includingmanycomplextimber andlandscapeelements.Robinsons wouldliketothankthemainbuilder ArcoGroup,theclientBupa,andallof theconsultants,subcontractorsand suppliersinvolvedintheproject.
RobinsonsdeliveryofTakahiwai Multi-CourtUpgradewasalsohighly commendedintheInnovationAward category,upagainsttoughcompetition asitisselectedfromallproject submissionsacrossthecategories. Throughseveralinnovativedesign changesrelatingtolevels,subgrade, drainageandedgingRobinsonsworked collaborativelywiththeclientand designerstoaddvalueandreducerisk, whilestilldeliveringtheproject6%under
budget.Theseinnovationsessentially createdafloatingfoundationabovea softpeatlayer,completewithfencing, edgebeams,drainageandfuture proofingforlighting.Theworkshadto largelybeconstructedusinglightweight equipmenttoreducerisk,including afullyhandlaidasphaltsurfacetoa gradeof1%.
Firstestablishedin1972,Robinsonsis nowathird-generationlocallyowned business,theseprojectscontinue Robinsonsproudlegacyofdelivering firstclassprojectsacrosstheNorthland regionforover50years.Robinsons enjoythechallengeofthesecomplex projectsandbeingabletocontribute towardenhancingWhangāreiandthe widerNorthlandregionforthelocal communityandvisitorsalike.
TaylorfromRobinsonAsphalts
PromainsWomenin ContractingAward
Judges’Comments
Likemany,Taniaendedupinthisindustryby chanceandhastakeneveryopportunityto growandhelpdevelopothers.
Atestamenttoherpassionanddriveisto moveintostrategicleadershiptoinfluence people’sdevelopmentandprojectsuccess.
Judges’Comments
Doughasprovenmany timesoverthatit’sallabout thepeople;it’sclearhehas investedmanyhoursin givingbacktotheindustry, makingthefuturepeopleof theindustryaspassionate andskilledasheis.
Judges’Comments
Thiswasahighlycomplexanddemandingproject,involvingnumerous high-riskoperationscarriedoutsimultaneouslywithinatightlyconstrained environment.
Theprojectwasexecutedwithexceptionalprecisionandprofessionalismby
SimpsonShawInnovation Award
Judges’Comments
Acomplexsitewithendlesschallengesneedingsolutions,FultonHoganand theirteamofsubcontractorshadtobeinnovativetoachievethedesired outcomeofgettingtheroadopenandsafeforthepublic.
FromhavingExcavatorsheldinplacewithBulldozerwinches,tousing Helicopterstofuelmachinesandusingremotecontrolledbulldozerfor unsafeslopes.Ajobwelldone.
Judges’Comments
Aprojectwithover200,000hrsworkedwith noLTI’sorMTI’s,aphenomenalstatistic fortheprojectteam,especiallygiventhe environmenttheywereworkingin.
MarkShaw,directorofSimpsonShawpresentedtheawardtoMarkBond andMelanieNorrisfromFultonHogan
LtoR:MarkBond,MelanieNorris&MarkShaw
I’maWhangāreilocal,bornandbred–apartfromacoupleofyearsoffonmy bigOE.Istartedoutasacoachbuilder, workingonmotorhomes,truckbodies, andminibuses.Afterfinishingmy apprenticeship,Iswitchedtobuilding,and I’vebeeninthetradeeversince–over 30yearsnow.I’verunmyownbuilding companydoingeverythingfromnew buildsandrenostolightcommercialjobs andspechomes.
Afewyearsback,though,thebody startedcomplaining.Afteralifetimeof liftingandbending,Iwashardlyableto standupright,IendedupatthePhysio. Hepoked,pulled,andtriedtostretch meout,thensaid,“Nathan,yourbody’s buggered.Youneedtoslowdownand findsomethingelsetodothatiseasieron yourbody.”
Easiersaidthandonewhenyou’vebeen self-employedyourwholelife.Theideaof
NORTHLANDCONSTRUCTION 2025
clockinginforsomeoneelsedidn’tsitwell withme,soIstartedthinkingaboutwhatI coulddonext. Whilevisitingmydaughterandson-in-law inAustralia,theyhadmedoingafewjobs aroundtheplacetokeepmebusy.One waslayingasmall3mx1mconcretepad.I wroteupalistofmaterials–pegs,boxing, bagsofpremix–butthenmyson-in-law said,hewouldsortouttheconcreteand bookedtheconcretetaxi.
I’dneverseenorheardofthisbefore–thistruckpulledup,mixedexactlywhat weneeded,andthatwasthat.Nomess, nowaste.Noleftoverwheelbarrowfullof concreteyouendupdumpingbehindthe shed.Justenoughtogetthejobdone, rightthereonsite.
noonehadheardofanythinglikeitinNew Zealand.So,Istartedplanning.
TheAustraliancompanythatmadethe originaltruckswouldn’tsellmetheplans ortheconcretemixingunitso,Ilookedinto thepatentsituationhereandwasadvised thatithadnotbeenregisteredinNew Zealand,soIcopyrightedandregistered thetruckandlogohereandgotstraight towork.
Iteamedupwithanengineerandbuilt theunitwithhim,andIwastheapprentice onthejob!Mythinkingwas:ifIhelpbuildit, I’llknowhowtofixitwhensomethinggoes wrong.
loadsatatime–withnowaste,makingit apracticalandenvironmentallyfriendly option.
We’renotcompetingwiththebig concretetrucks–thisisforthesmaller stuff:retainingwalls,gardenpaths,shed slabs,heatpumppads,footings,fence postsanddeckpilesetc.Westayon-site untilthejob’sdoneandonlymixwhatyou need.Nopressure,norush,andnoleftover messtodealwith.It’sevenavailablesix daysaweek24hrsaday.
It’sagame-changerandsmart solutionforTradespeopleand DIYersdoingsmallerjobs.Andbest ofall–it’seasieronmyback. Whangārei’s Game-Changerfor
Ontheflighthome,theideahitme–couldIdothisinWhangārei?Ilooked intoit,askedaroundsomeofthe TradespeopleIknowinbiggercities,and
TheConcreteCourierisacustom-built bodyonaHino500.Itholdsabout2–2.5 cubicmetresofbuildersmix,30bags ofcement,and450litresofwater.The machinemixesconcreteon-siteinsmall batches–aroundthreewheelbarrow
HumesAssetMaintenance Award
Anexcellentsubmission—clear,well-structured,andsupportedwithstrong examplesandevidence.
Theteamdemonstratedimpressiveperformancewhileoperatinginthecomplex environmentoftheFarNorthDistrict,consistentlymeetingandexceedingclient
Theircommitmenttosupportinglocalsubcontractorsandengaging stakeholderswasevidentthroughouttheproject.
GPILEnvironmentalAward
Judges’Comments
Althoughthisstartedoutasaprojectthatrequired relativelyminorconcreterepairs,itrequireda collaborativeeffortbetweenSteveBowlingContractors, WSPConsultantsandtheFarNorthDistrictCouncil. Buildingatemporarybridgeoveratidalstream, demolishinganexistingbridgesdeckandinstalling anewoneandleavingthesiteseeming‘untouched, requiredastrongenvironmentalfocus.ThelocalIwi/ Hapuconsideredthelocationculturallysignificantand wereinvolvedthroughouttheprojectwithnoissuesof concernsraised.
ABOVE:ChrisBrocklissfromGeoSynthetic PartnersInternationalLtdpresentingtheawardto DeanCollinsonfromSteveBowlingContracting
LEFT:ChrisBrocklissandDeanCollinsonfrom SteveBowlingContracting
HyndsConstructionProjects$500,000$2MAward
•SteveBowlingContractorsLtd–Hihi RoadBridgeDeckReplacement
SimpsonShawInnovationAward
•RobinsonAsphalt–TakahiwaiMulticourt Upgrade
GPILEnvironmentalAward
•SteveBowlingContractingLtd–PukehuiaOmanaBridges
WDCHealth&SafetyAward
•ClementsContractorsLtd–Northpower TowerT29aAccess
WarrenDrakeMemorial–TraineeoftheYearAward
Judges’Comments
Startingintheindustrywithzeroexperience,Liamhaspushed himselftoobtainhisLevel3andLevel4Civilqualifications,with anoldschoolworkethicanddrivetopursueexcellence.
UnitedCivilConstructionhadthe pleasureofattendingtheCCNZ NorthlandAwardsonFriday, 6thJune,inWhangārei.United CivilConstructionisproudtosharethat TaniaTipene,picturedleft(inthephoto topright),wasnamedtheWomen inContractingAwardwinner—an outstandingachievementamongafield ofhighlyaccomplishednomineesfrom acrosstheindustry.
NORTHLANDCONSTRUCTION 2025
Taniasharedherinspiringjourney, whichbeganover18yearsagowhen shewalkedintoalocaljobseminar throughMSDandwasgiventhe opportunitytostartwithUnitedCivilasa labourer.Sincethen,throughdedication, resilience,andcontinuousgrowth,she hasworkedherwayuptohercurrent roleasNorthlandOperationsManager, havingpreviouslyservedasaProject Managerleadingmultiplesites.
Inheracceptancespeech,Tania acknowledgedthosewhosupportedher journey,especiallyourowners/directors, AndrewandPaul.
Tania’sdeepunderstandingofUnited CivilConstruction,gainedfromworking acrossmultipleroles,makesherahighly valuedleaderandanintegralmember oftheteam.
Congratulations,Tania! We’reincrediblyproudofyouand gratefultohaveyouaspartofthe UnitedCivilConstructionfamily.
NatashaMcRoberts,TammyWhite,LiamTaylor,VanessaVeart-Smith