Business Central ( Issue 3 ) - 2017

Volume 2 | Issue 3 | August 2017

www.waterfordpress.co.nz

Inland Port on track The new Tokoroa Road Rail Terminal will revolutionise freight logistics in the North lsland.

Page | 10

Page | 61

Sweet treats from the Waikato

Historic church ‘resurrected’

Waikato Valley Chocolates is now operating from a new purpose-built facility at Northgate Business Park near Hamilton.

The historic St Mary of the Angels catholic church in Wellington has undergone a $9.5 million seismic strengthening project.

INSIDE »

Business Central

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Page | 21

Page | 10 Chocolate maker eyes exports

Geared for growth

Waikato Valley Chocolates’ new production facility has greatly increased efficiencies and set the company up for future growth.

Latitude Homes is busy building new homes throughout the Wellington region to meet the growing demand.

Page | 44

Page |33 Locked in with Lockwood

Busy in the Bay

Paul Jones Construction has built a new hotel in Manaia, following the fire that destroyed the 110-year-old Waimate Hotel.

Japie Jordaan has been delivering a range of rural contracting services throughout the Bay of Plenty since 2008.

Page |55

Page | 50 High end pools make a splash

Fascinated with feijoas

Business is booming for Napier-based company SG Pools which builds high-end pools throughout Hawke’s Bay.

Growing feijoas is a family affair at the Southern Belle Orchard in Matamata which has 3000 feijoa trees across 14 different varieties.

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Business Central August 2017

DEVELOPMENT » GST Construction - Tokoroa Road Rail Terminal

|3

The Tokoroa Road Rail Terminal is a public private-partnership between RJ Lincoln, South Waikato District Council, KiwiRail, and the New Zealand Transport Agency.

Inland port will smooth freight links Karen Phelps Detailed planning and project management have been the keys to success for Waikato-based GST Construction on the inland port project nearing completion in Tokoroa, says GST Construction owner Grant Tidmarsh.

The company has been involved from the outset of the project, which has spanned several years.

Giving client RJ Lincoln Logistics a detailed budget at the outset was another important aspect of the service his company provided, says Grant.

“We always aim to be involved at the outset of projects as this is when we can offer valuable advice from both an engineering and building perspective as well as detailed budgets.

“This enabled the client to know exactly how much the project would cost before commencement,” he says.

“And we’ve stuck to that budget as well as time frames throughout the project.”

The Road Rail Terminal is a public privatepartnership between RJ Lincoln, South Waikato District Council, KiwiRail, and the New Zealand Transport Agency.

It is expected to handle 5000-8000 containers a year once it is fully running and significantly reduce congestion on nearby roads.

Grant says the central location, with direct links to the Port of Tauranga, north to Auckland through Hamilton, will make transport logistics much more efficient in the North Island.

The project includes over 20,000 square metres of buildings set on 4ha of land allowing containers to be de-vanned under cover then transported to adjacent warehouse facilities.

GST Construction has already completed the headquarters office building and is working on the final 5000 square metres of warehouse buildings on the site.

The terminal is expected to be completed by late August/early September and Grant says it has progressed smoothly despite the large nature of the project.

“If a project is planned correctly there should

“We always aim to be involved at the outset of projects as this is when we can offer valuable advice from both an engineering and building perspective as well as detailed budgets.”

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be no major issues,” says Grant, an engineer by trade, who offers experience in all facets of the concrete and steel construction the company specialises in.

“We’ve had an extremely good team on this project and that has been another vital factor.”

He says this is due to GST Construction’s longevity in the industry and focus on looking after employees and subtrades, something that has stood the company in good stead now that there is huge demand for construction workers nationwide.

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

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

• to page 4

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DEVELOPMENT » GST Construction - Tokoroa Road Rail Terminal

August 2017

Business Central

Inland port will boost transport efficiencies • from page 3 Grant started GST Construction in 2004 to focus on steel and concrete construction for the rural and commercial industries.

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

“Clients want as many square metres for their budget as they can. I know how to achieve maximum bang for buck for the client without compromising quality,” says Grant.

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

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

Grant’s approach is endorsed by Waikato Steel Fabricators (WSF), which worked on the new RJ Lincoln office as part of the Tokoroa project.

WSF’s Petrus Barkowitz says it was a privilege to be involved with GST Construction on the project.

“Grant is meticulous with his planning. He spent many hours in the early stages of the project at our offices in Hamilton going over the whole process from design right through to approved shop drawings,” says Petrus.

Detailed planning and project management have been the keys to success for Waikato-based GST Construction on the Tokoroa inland port project.

“There are so many benefits for all parties later when the structure is erected. The process is streamlined, errors eliminated and the client gets a good product and service.”

Grant says GST Construction takes pride in the fact that it often works with long term clients.

“Time equals money for my clients. Honesty and integrity is important. I treat every project as if it I was building it for myself,” he says.

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

Coming from an engineering background Grant says is a distinct advantage.

“I know how structures work and spend a lot of time with steel fabricators to ensure the steel structure is as accurate as possible so

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unnecessary on site engineering and welding is not required.

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

GST Construction is about to start work on a 7500 square metre warehouse development located near to the inland port project.

• Vision achieved - page 6

Business Central August 2017

DEVELOPMENT » GST Construction - Tokoroa Road Rail Terminal

|5

The Tokoroa Road Rail Terminal includes over 20,000 square metres of buildings set on 4ha of land allowing containers to be de-vanned under cover then transported to adjacent warehouse facilities.

New terminal drives company expansion Just a few years ago RJ Lincoln employed a small team of staff. Today the company employs over 40 people and runs 25 of its own trucks and up to an additional 15 trucks on contract some days.

It’s a sign of the recent development of the Tokoroa Road Rail Terminal, says RJ Lincoln general manager Gavin O’Donoghue.

Due to the rail siding RJ Lincoln has been busy expanding its premises and is currently undertaking an expansion of one of its sheds, which will result in a total of 18,500 square metres of shed space all of which has been completed by GST Construction.

“Land values here are more viable than those located closer to the ports,” says Gavin.

“That means price benefits for our customers wanting to store and move goods. In the case of importers we can offer them a seamless service from when the freight is loaded onto a ship at an overseas port through to the end user.”

Containers come from the port by rail to the siding, are then unloaded in a covered tunnel protected from the elements (with capacity to unload multiple containers at a time) and the goods in the containers are then placed into storage in sheds adjoining the tunnel.

Empty containers are then sent back by rail.

RJ Lincoln then distributes the goods when and where the customer requests North Island wide.

Running a transport company and a logistics company alongside each other allows RJ

Lincoln to offer a very streamlined and cost effective service, says Gavin.

The premises also include a certified weighbridge and top loader capable of handling 20 or 40 foot containers up to 43 tonnes.

“There’s certainly a lot of equipment here you wouldn’t expect to find in a small town,” he says.

RJ Lincoln Limited was started in 1988 by Raymond Lincoln with one around-town truck completing local deliveries.

As requests came for transportation to out of town locations the company steadily grew. RJ Lincoln Logistics Limited was formed in 2012 to meet demand for a full service.

Gavin says that the Tokoroa Road Rail Terminal has enhanced the company’s service and customers have been lining up to use the new facility.

Container movements have grown quickly from 120-240 to 1200-2000 each year and are still rapidly increasing.

“This facility can deliver everything that historically has been done closer to the ports by taking advantage of location and cost benefits.

“We are a one-stop-shop from ship to end user – stock management, stock rotation, MPI clearances and transportation.

“We have total control over the whole process. This means we can really deliver on our promises.

“We have plenty of room to grow and are excited about the future of the business.”

RJ LINCOLN WOULD LIKE TO THANK GRANT AND PAMELA FROM GST CONSTRUCTION FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ALL OUR BUILDINGS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE DESIGN. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE HIGH QUALITY BUILDINGS THAT WE NOW HAVE.

07 886 6060 | gavin@rjlincoln.co.nz

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DEVELOPMENT » GST Construction - Tokoroa Road Rail Terminal

August 2017

Business Central

Tokoroa port a long time in the making Karen Phelps The Tokoroa Road Rail Terminal project has been a long time in the making and has involved the cooperation of a number of players including Council, KiwiRail, NZTA, the Port of Tauranga and Tokoroa-based transport and bulk warehousing company RJ Lincoln.

RJ Lincoln general manager Gavin O’Donoghue says a few years ago the company was regularly experiencing worsening delays at the end of the day when trying to pick up loads from distribution businesses around the Port of Tauranga often meaning trucks were unable to get loaded.

This meant poor truck efficiencies and inability to meet customer expectations. The company started looking for better ways to do things and began moving freight by rail to a rail-siding at Kinleith and bringing the containers into town to devan and distribute North Island wide from there.

Gavin says that this allowed the concept and viability of the option to be tested. Quickly key customers were lining up and from there the idea for the larger hub really got traction.

The aim was to create better efficiencies and deliver customers a better service and the need for a dedicated rail siding in Tokoroa was obvious.

With its central location in the North Island, local business operators and local council saw the opportunity. But with private local funding it was hard to make the figures stack up.

Enter the South Waikato District Council that had identified a focus on economic development to move the district forward, earmarking its capital investment fund for economic and community development.

The Road Rail Terminal project has included developing a rail siding, hardstand, local road connection and a container loading and unloading facility that could be used by existing and new businesses.

Turning the first sod: from left, Ray Lincoln, owner RJ Lincoln, Gavin O'Donoghue - General Manager RJ Lincoln, Neil Sinclair - former South Waikato Mayor (at the time of photo, the Mayor), Jenny Shattock - current South Waikato Mayor (at the time of photo, Deputy Mayor), and Mark Watkins - Project Manager Downer.

The project cost $2.5 million to develop and this was the Council contribution.

It also required significant capital investment from RJ Lincoln including $400,000 (land donation), $500,000 (equipment) and a further $14 million for 14,800sqm of warehousing, site development and site office.

Council leads the way The Tokoroa Road Rail Terminal publicprivate partnership is testament to South Waikato District Council’s commitment towards attracting business investment to the region, says South Waikato District Council chief executive Craig Hobbs.

The project provides a Road Rail Terminal in Tokoroa that allows a direct rail link from the Ports of Tauranga and Auckland ensuring the integration of freight movements between road and rail for existing and new businesses.

Craig admits that it was a bold move to commit significant funding to a public-private venture, however with the future economic gains that would become evident in the project, the council committed both the resource and the funding to bring the project to life.

He says that the council had identified economic development as a key driver to work towards more jobs for their people in its 2012-22 Long Term Plan, due to a higher than national average unemployment rate and poor deprivation index.

The council recognised a Road Rail Terminal would encourage freight and logistics companies to operate from Tokoroa and improve the freight efficiency for farming, forestry and engineering sectors.

“The South Waikato’s central location within the North Island on State Highway 1 and the Kinleith rail line that joins the main rail network at Waharoa provides great access to the Ports of Tauranga and Auckland. It puts the South Waikato in a

unique position to develop Tokoroa as a freight distribution hub using a road rail model,” explains Craig.

He says that it was crucial that the terminal be accessible for all existing and new businesses to use.

RJ Lincoln provided the land and equipment and run the operation under an access and handling contract with council.

Under this contract businesses access and utilise the rail siding at the terminal by delivering and collecting containers from the container loading/unloading area.

The Rail Siding is secure for all customers, he says.

Craig says support for the Terminal will be on-going and the council’s economic development and marketing team will continue to investigate opportunities for the Terminal. He says that the aim is to ensure that any new business is assisted through all regulatory processes in a seamless process with the goal of making setting up business in the South Waikato as easy as possible.

“Our council took a brave stand in leading this project, committing over $2 million in funding, multi-partner facilitation, staff resource and continued involvement,” says Craig.

“This commitment has delivered an initiative that is making a real contribution to economic development in the South Waikato. The development is a futureproofed long term project that will continue to show returns over the coming decades.”

The rail siding development and rail switch point equipment was funded by Council and developed with technical oversight from KiwiRail.

“If Council hadn’t built the rail siding and hard stand, we would not have been able to invest in the construction distribution sheds and loading equipment.

“And this growing logistic and distribution hub would not be happening,” adds Gavin.

South Waikato District Council chief executive Craig Hobbs says improving the efficiency of freight supply chains is a key aim set out in the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding.

• to page 9

Alan Wilson Building Contractors − punching above its’ weight Tokoroa based Alan Wilson Building Contractors is a small town builder that punches well above its weight. The company is not only the largest building company in the South Waikato but has the capabilities to undertake a wide variety of projects in the region, say company directors Alan Wilson and James Munday.

The company was started by Alan a builder by trade and his wife Sandra who has, with her accounting experience, kept the books in order since the company was formed in 1992. Three staff members has now mushroomed to a team of 17. James completed his apprenticeship with the company before becoming co-director. The company is a member of New Zealand Certified Builders and has achieved ACC Tertiary level accreditation.

Based in Tokoroa (the pair are both long term residents) has led Alan Wilson Building Contractors to offer a variety of services and tackle a wide range of projects including residential, light commercial, commercial and rural. Examples of past projects completed by the company give a pretty good picture – repairs to bridge decks for Hancock Forestry, commercial fit outs, insurance work, modifying homes for people with disabilities and new home builds. Alan

says this means the company’s team gets a good grounding in many different aspects of the building trade, which has led to a wealth of in-house experience at the disposal of clients.

Recently the company has been involved in the Tokoroa hub inland port project subcontracting to GST Construction on stage two of the RJ Lincoln premises. The company’s have worked together previously on an extension to a workshop for Blue Pacific Minerals. The fact that Alan and James know the owner of RJ Lincoln personally has made the project especially rewarding.

Alan Wilson Building Contractors completed the preparation work for the concrete foundations to stage two of the extension to the new bulk store. The company also completed the internal fit out to new offices including timber framing, linings to walls, gib stop, painting and the fitting of new custom made office furniture to deliver the finished result.

James and Alan say weather and tight time frames were the biggest challenges on the project. Keeping up with the project schedule was vital as processes such as concrete pours had to be booked in well in advance.

“It really shows that we have the resources to complete large projects. And to do them on time and on budget to a high standard,” says James.

The company completes work for a number of the major insurance companies which include IAG, Vero, FMG and AA. The company has stripped out 40 homes in Edgecumbe and is about to start work on rebuilding 20 of them after the devastation caused by the floods.

“We co-ordinate all the work, including subcontractors, to offer our clients a one stop shop service. They have one point of contact making things really easy for them,” says James.

It is this focus on customer satisfaction and making things as easy as possible that has seen the company gain most of its work by word of mouth referral.

“Having spent 40 years building in Tokoroa myself and having served some clients for decades you get a good reputation for doing a great job,” says Alan.

“We also offer good back up and support.

This gives our clients real confidence when they hire Alan Wilson Building Contractors to do their project.”

Alan Wilson Building Contractors are proud to support GST Construction

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DEVELOPMENT » GST Construction - Tokoroa Road Rail Terminal

August 2017

Business Central

The Tokoroa Road Rail Terminal is expected to handle 5000-8000 containers a year once it is fully running, significantly reducing congestion on nearby roads.

Innovative new look The stunning facade of the new RJ Lincoln headquarters in the Tokoroa freight hub belies the many hours of thought, problem solving and innovation that went into constructing it.

Initially the triangular louvres decorating the front of the building were going to be made from wood.

This changed when Shawn Evans, coowner of Gateway Glass & Aluminium (NuLook Tokoroa) the company contracted for the joinery and glass supply and installation for the project, suggested that there might be a better way.

“Why not make the louvres from aluminium I suggested. I had no idea how we might do that but I was keen to find out,” he says.

Gateway Glass & Aluminium worked with Altus, Waikato Steel Fabricators and GST Construction on the project to produce a long lasting durable window and door system for the client.

Shawn says the size, weight and angles of the structures were challenging. Various measurements for the windows and louvers were trialled on site to get the right look. GST Construction manufactured special stainless steel pedestals to sit the louvers on.

Large double glazed glass panels had to be installed with an accuracy of just millimetres. The end result has made all the hard work worthwhile.

“It looks very cool and really makes the building stand out.

“GST Construction sets very high standards and owner Grant Tidmarsh knows exactly what he wants. It’s great to work with

someone who aims high and the result is awesome. Gateway Glass & Aluminium also completed the external doors on the storage facilities on the freight hub site,” says Shawn.

The work is typical of the company’s can-do Kiwi attitude. Gateway Glass & Aluminium Ltd was formed in February 1996 in Tokoroa by Shawn and business partner Lyn Olliff. The company now also has branches in Thames, Whitianga and Rotorua. The company primarily works in the residential market designing and building quality aluminium joinery and covering a full range of glazing and reglazing of flat glasswork. Just some of the products the company makes and supplies include windows and doors, splash backs, shower doors, fly screens, sliding door closers and auto glazing.

Shawn says that it is the company’s experienced, loyal and dedicated team that makes the difference. A good example is the fact that two staff that worked on the RJ Lincoln project were recognised at the 2017 BCITO Apprentice of the Year competition.

Brendon Shepherd won the architectural aluminium joinery most promising apprentice award and another staff member Shevonne Evans came runner up.

“Our company culture inspires innovation and embraces the New Zealand can-do attitude. This project shows that even though we come from a small town we are up there with the best and can achieve outstanding results. We love what we do and are passionate about providing the best quality and service for our clients.”

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Business Central August 2017

DEVELOPMENT » GST Construction - Tokoroa Road Rail Terminal

|9

Tokoroa port a long time in the making • from page 6 “Freight efficiency is key to ensuring our infrastructure responds to the needs of productive industry, especially those that will grow New Zealand’s exports such as dairy, forestry and engineering,” says Craig.

“The Tokoroa Road Rail Terminal was an ideal solution.”

He says that the benefits of the Tokoroa Road Rail Terminal are multi-faceted: truck movement on the state highways has dramatically reduced and this has lowered congestion, decreased wear and tear on the roading network, improved safety and reduced the need for additional truck drivers that are in short supply.

The social impact of the development includes employment opportunities across a wide skill range from logistics management roles to the much needed labourers for container handling and processing.

Craig says that many of these new employment roles were sourced locally in the South Waikato.

Aligned to this is the desire by local businesses to employ local people, providing for employment and career advancement.

“Developments of this magnitude need forwardthinking, innovative minds to align and that is what happened when RJ Lincoln and Council put their heads together and saw the long-term possibilities,” says Mayor Jenny Shattock.

The hope is that businesses will be attracted

The Tokoroa Road Rail Terminal project has included developing a rail siding, hardstand, local road connection, bulk storage area, and a container loading and unloading facility. to set up shop in Tokoroa and further add to the economic growth of the region.

There are already significant businesses such as Blue Pacific Minerals, Waratah, Carter Holt and Oji Fibre Solutions based in the region.

“If a business wanted to set up here the supply chain is already here and the road rail intermodal

option is already established,” says Gavin.

“In the last six months we have had a lot of enquiry and visits from businesses who would never have considered moving here before but it’s definitely on their radar now.

“The goal is to attract more businesses. The hub is definitely creating jobs.”

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10 |

DEVELOPMENT » Waikato Valley Chocolates

August 2017

Business Central

Waikato Valley Chocolates’ new 3200 square metre facility near Hamilton brings together a food grade factory, offices, warehousing and storage facilities.

Streamlined chocolate production Karen Phelps Waikato Valley Chocolates is now operating from a brand new purpose-built facility at Northgate Business Park in Horotiu near Hamilton city.

Previously operating from a converted cheese factory for nearly 40 years, company director, Hans Vetsch, says the new facility has greatly increased efficiencies and set the company up for future growth.

The new 3200 square metre facility is double the size of the previous company premises and also accommodates all aspects of the business on one site as opposed to various parts of the business being spread out around the city.

Constructed by Apollo Projects, building commenced in March 2016 and Waikato Valley Chocolates has just taken up residence. Made from structural steel with concrete panel and insulated panel, the facility comprises offices, food grade factory, warehousing and storage facilities.

This is a big move for the company that previously had its warehousing and storage

“We are also flexible when it comes to coated products.

We can coat almost anything from jellybeans, popcorn to pretzels and more.” facilities located apart from the factory.

Hans says moving to one site will create many process efficiencies resulting in a more streamlined operation.

Situated exactly 110 kilometres from both the port of Tauranga and the ports of Auckland, Hans says that the location provides good access to the North Island main trunk railway and to the new Waikato Expressway providing the ideal hub from which to conduct business.

Waikato Valley Chocolates had its beginnings in the seventies but was purchased in 1994 by the current group of shareholders. The company employs around 40 staff who work in three shifts five days a week.

Waikato Valley Chocolates supplies a number of key retail customers, along with industrial

customers and tourism operators. The company also imports selected ranges for the retail trade.

The majority of the company’s production capacity is dedicated to The Warehouse and in particular an extensive range of Easter products.

There is also a number of key ranges including chocolate coated products such as scorched almonds, chocolate raisins and chocolate peanuts.

New product development is important to keep up with changing trends and it is the job of Waikato Valley Chocolates to offer new ideas to its clients, says Hans.

“We examine trends and see what we think will work for our customers and enhance their business. Customers can also come to us with their own ideas,” he explains.

For example, chocolate Easter eggs with

popping candy in the centre was one trend. With the move towards healthier eating items that can be shared at Easter time the company has designed ranges which include a number of smaller items for a family to enjoy together. Premium products include dark chocolate strawberries to cater to yet another market segment while old favourites such as hokey pokey clusters are uniquely Kiwi.

Waikato Valley Chocolates also produces a range of hollow products and tablet chocolate products including fruit and nut, forest fruit, coconut rough, hokey pokey and milk chocolate.

“Waikato Valley Chocolates puts the customer first and is proud to have long standing relationships with our key partners to provide the best quality product to our customers. We are also flexible when it comes to coated products. We can coat almost anything from jellybeans, popcorn to pretzels and more. Our customers can come to us with an idea and will coat it for them,” says Hans.

The new facility gives Waikato Valley Chocolates the potential to raise production by at least 20% says Hans, positioning the company well for future growth opportunities with an eye to the export market.

Orora Cartons Auckland Ph: 09 979-3800 Christchurch Ph: 03 983-6800 www.ororagroup.com

Business Central August 2017

DEVELOPMENT » Waikato Valley Chocolates

| 11

Company director Hans Vetsch says the new facility, built by Apollo Projects, gives Waikato Valley Chocolates the potential to lift production by 20 per cent as it eyes the export market.

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DEVELOPMENT » Apollo Projects - Waikato Valley Chocolates

August 2017

Business Central

Experts in controlled environments Karen Phelps Specialists in design and construction for the food and beverage sector, Apollo Projects could offer considerable expertise to Waikato Valley Chocolates for the company’s new facility at Northgate Business Park in Hamilton.

Early contractor involvement, the result of an informal relationship developed with Waikato Valley Chocolates years previously, allowed Apollo Projects to offer considerable value in the concept design phase, says Grant Black, Apollo Projects’ business development manager.

Due to a pre-existing relationship with the developer of Northgate Business Park, Apollo Projects was also able to offer expertise in terms of ensuring the site and overall development would meet the client’s needs in terms of infrastructure requirements. Grant says this is where the detailed approach that Apollo Projects’ takes came to the fore.

“For example the site needed to be oriented to the south so that truck manoeuvring areas and canopies were shaded during the day. Otherwise concrete slabs on the site would have heated up and hindered the flexibility of the client’s operation if boxes were unable to be left on concrete etc,” he explains.

“That’s the kind of detail we get into on a project – really understanding the client’s business and their specific needs. We develop a really close relationship with the client, work through detail, discuss the various options and various scenarios of how things could be configured to work best for them.”

It’s a vital aspect of the project and one which really came to the forefront on this particular job.

Previously Waikato Valley Chocolates had operated from a site that had been developed organically over time and because of this had not been configured correctly to maximise efficiencies.

Grant says the challenge for Apollo Projects was to understand the requirements and then incorporate these effectively into a design so the client could benefit from the efficiencies of a new custom built facility created on a greenfields site.

The resulting facility includes 2000 square metres of production space, 800 square metres of finished goods warehousing and 300 square metres of offices.

The facility had very specific requirements not only in terms of food hygiene but also in terms of temperature – cool for raw product, hot for the melting area, cool for storage areas etc.

“It was a matter of creating these various environments in a very efficient way so there was as little loss of energy during the process as possible,” says Grant.

The construction itself was straightforward, he says, due to the company’s vast experience in the food and beverage sector.

The Waikato Valley Chocolates’ new facility at Northgate Business Park required specific considerations, including temperature and food hygiene. “It was a matter of creating these various environments in a very efficient way so there was as little loss of energy during the process as possible,” says Grant Black, Apollo Projects’ business development manager.

“We really get into each project from an operator point of view ... and this is a good example of that.”

“We really get into each project from an operator point of view and provide a facility that exceeds expectations and this is a good example of that,” he says.

Apollo Projects was started in 2001 and is a turn-key specialist in controlled environments focusing on design and construction management of food and dairy processing facilities, wineries and breweries, cold stores, warehouses and sports and aquatic facilities.

The company has over 40 professional project delivery and support staff spread across New Zealand. As a national operator, this benefits clients with national operations, says Grant. As testament to the company’s success Apollo Projects regularly works with major national companies including Fonterra, Goodman Fielder, George Weston Foods,

Ngai Tahu and Lion Co as well as private owneroperated businesses, sports organisations and Government/Council entities.

“Leveraging our theoretical and practical understanding of project buildability leads to a

more cost-effective design. Over the past 15 years Apollo Projects has evolved and grown, but the core principle has stayed the same – to really focus on optimising each design to suit the specific needs of the client to enhance their business operations.”

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Business Central August 2017

DEVELOPMENT » Ultimate Developments

| 13

Innovative system offers affordability Kelly Deeks Delivering the ultimate in quality and satisfaction, Ultimate Developments has a new subdivision on the southern fringe of Hamilton called Southridge Estate, with a range of modern and high quality duplexes, offering the convenience of city living with a rural outlook.

Ultimate Global Group founder Levin Da Costa says everyone is talking about affordability and getting a product which is affordable and also good quality.

“We’ve decided to come up with a product that’s priced sharply and gives people the ability to get on to the property ladder,” he says.

“Traditionally everyone seems to be doing large homes with large sections, and people didn’t have a choice if they wanted to have a smaller home. We are experimenting and checking out the market, and we feel there is a market for these.”

He says Ultimate Developments has done smaller subdivisions in the past, with smaller homes and 200sqm sections which have had very good success amongst executive couples, couples whose children have left home, and people wanting to downsize and spend some quality time doing other things rather than working in the garden.

The Southridge Estate duplexes are built using the innovative Force 10 building system, to which Ultimate Global Group holds the exclusive rights across New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brazil.

Originally developed by a Mt Maunganui building company in 1973, Force 10 is now one of the most tried and tested building systems and is used in more than 32 countries around the world.

Force 10 is a panelised wall system, a floor bearer and joist system, and a roof truss system, flat-packed and fully integrated for easy erection and maximum on site efficiency.

Wind rated to 300kph, warrantied up to eight

The Southridge Estate duplexes are built using the innovative Force 10 building system - panelised wall system, a floor bearer and joist system, and a roof truss system, flat-packed and fully integrated for easy erection and maximum on site efficiency.

on the Richter scale, and internal and external wall panels with an R-value of 3.2 and filled with fire retardant polyurethane, the Force 10 difference is to be faster, stronger, greener, and smarter.

On site, construction is rapid and requires

a minimum of qualified tradespeople. Only one licensed builder is required to supervise no or low skilled labour standing up Force 10 buildings.

Ultimate Developments has used Force 10 to build a multi million dollar luxury home, single storey and two storey townhouses, four bedroom two bathroom homes, and now duplexes.

The Force 10 system allows Ultimate Developments to provide affordable and sustainable homes with high specifications in their bare bones.

Ultimate Global Group is involved with subdivisions in Hamilton, Tauranga, New Plymouth, and Christchurch, and is building resorts in Malaysia and Indonesia. The company is also using Force 10 to provide an affordable housing product to the Brazilian market.

“The Brazilian government requires thousands and thousands of homes, and we can provide them,” Levin says. “We are playing a proactive role in providing the right solution for affordable but durable homes.”

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14 |

DEVELOPMENT » Friday Homes - Parkway Rise

August 2017

Business Central

Affordable lifestyle in Wainuiomata Sue Russell Lower Hutt residential construction company Friday Homes, founded by Mike Friday over 25 years ago has grown into a team of experienced certified builders, design and project management specialists and tradespeople.

Friday Homes has evolved into a ‘one stop shop’ for clients, offering turn-key building solutions, with its own design, earthworks, and construction divisions, employing 90 plus staff.

More recently the company has shifted its focus away from building individual residences to taking on substantial subdivision work and when Business North Central spoke with Taryn Brouwer, planning advisor for Friday Homes, the company was well into building Stage one of Wainuiomata’s Parkway Rise subdivision, developed by John Walsh, and marketed by ‘The Professionals’.

“While each section in the subdivision is of approximately the same size, each home has been specifically designed for its site.

“There’s nothing uniform about the homes being built and when completed there will be 70 homes in this unique and highly desirable subdivision,” says Taryn.

“The sections and homes are selling like hotcakes.

“I think that’s down to general demand for housing in this area, which offers lots of lifestyle benefits, along with the affordability of the homes which range in price from $470,000,” she says.

When asked what Wainuiomata offered that was so appealing to those from Wellington and beyond Taryn says it’s a village-like community with a focus on community activities.

“The environment is wonderful, surrounded with hills, with a fifteen minute drive down to the coast and only 10 minutes from Lower Hutt with bush and

Work on stage one of Wainuiomata’s Parkway Rise subdivision is well adavanced. Lower Hutt construction company Friday Homes will build 70 homes in the subdivision on sections ranging from 450 square metres to 1390sqm. Over half the properties in stage one have sold. cycle walks through the hills just behind Parkway Rise.”

John Ross, from The Professionals, describes Parkway Rise developer, John Walsh as one-of-akind.

The Octogenarian has spent his whole life developing land but had not until recently ventured into full-scale ‘turn key’ house and land packages.

“John’s a remarkable individual. Developing a subdivision from scratch is a hugely expensive

process and I knew John could do it. I sold him the land and introduced him to Mike Friday and the rest is history.

The developer has worked hard all his life and has a comfortable life but he also wants to offer the opportunity for people to own their own home.

There is an element of altruism in there. “ While the subdivision had to be financially worthwhile for the developer it’s also a project that brings a lot of personal satisfaction by helping people into affordable new homes in this special environment.”

Initial interest to purchase in Parkway Rise came from Wainuiomata residents and John says this was in part to do with the fact that this subdivision offered larger homes than standard.

Over half the properties are sold and John says that in the next four months four homes will be completed each month. Sections range in size from 450sqm to 1390sqm.

“The next release of twelve homes will all be four bedroom houses with double garages. For a brand new home these are the most competitively priced homes in the Wellington region.

“They are all finished to the Friday Homes quality mark and come with a written build guarantee.”

Such is demand from prospective owners that a waiting list for Parkway Rise Stage 3 has been developed, with sales opening in August.

“Ideally we would like to see upward of eight homes completed each month but it is very important to all that the building process remains manageable, given Friday Homes’ and the developer’s commitment to constructing consistently to the highest possible standard so at this stage we’re taking things carefully,” John explains. The subdivision’s website, www.parkwayrise.co.nz offers comprehensive information about Parkway Rise or contact Wayne Barton or Paul Butcher the marketing agents.

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Business Central August 2017

DEVELOPMENT » Friday Homes - Parkway Rise

| 15

Homes in the new Parkway Rise subdivision in Wainuiomata are the most competitively priced in Wellington, says John Ross, from marketing agents the Professionals.

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16 |

DEVELOPMENT » Chalmers Properties

August 2017

Business Central

Te Rapa Gateway sites snapped up Karen Phelps Over 60 per cent of stage one and two of new industrial park Te Rapa Gateway has been sold.

Michael Clark, sales and marketing manager for Chalmers Properties, which is developing the project, confirms that businesses setting up so far include Bidfood, Normans Transport, Hynds Pipe Systems, Viridian Glass and the New Zealand Fire Service.

Michael says that the remaining individual sites still for sale can be combined to create larger or custom sized parcels of land if purchasers require.

Chalmers Properties is also offering leases of a variety of architecturally designed office/warehouse units.

At 680 Arthur Porter Drive there are six two level units of two configurations – a 409sqm warehouse with two level office of 90sqm and a 600sqm warehouse with two level office of 95sqm. Both offer a six metre high stud and are constructed from concrete tilt panel with glass facades.

Chalmers Properties is also offering two larger units at 520 and 560 Arthur Porter Drive.

These are due for completion in March and will offer around 1100sqm of warehouse space with 230sqm of offices and a 9 metre high stud.

Michael says the units will all provide flexibility so that they are suitable for a variety of tenants.

He says there has been strong interest from building related businesses and one of the smaller units has already been leased to an electrical company.

Michael says location is key when it comes to Te Rapa Gateway and a major factor in businesses choosing to locate there.

Located next to State Highway 1 in an area zoned Rotokauri Industrial under the Hamilton City Council’s district plan, Te Rapa Gateway is located within what Michael refers to as “the golden triangle”– within 10 kilometres of Hamilton’s CBD,

Chalmers Properties is also offering leases of a variety of architecturally designed office/warehouse units at Te Rapa Gateway industrial park. an hour and quarter from Auckland and under an hour and a half’s drive from Port of Tauranga.

He says proposed bus and rail links close to the industrial park along with the Rotokauri planned urban area on the opposite side of the expressway, will provide potential future customers as well as a readily accessibly workforce for businesses moving

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to Te Rapa Gateway. With the expressway from Hamilton to Auckland due for completion by 2020 there will be more direct access between these two cities, he says.

Te Rapa Gateway is being developed by Chalmers Properties Ltd’s subsidiary Te Rapa Gateway Limited.

The 60ha subdivision is being developed in five stages with stage one and two, which are already complete, comprising 23ha offering 53 sites.

Michael says that Te Rapa Gateway has been engineered to a high spec and that this means

purchasers can be assured the sites are ready to build on. The development includes ultrafast broadband and 11kV of power along with prepaid Hamilton City Council development contributions up to 30 per cent of the gross floor area.

Michael says there are strong covenants in place to ensure only a good mix of high quality businesses will operate in the park, protecting the value of the property. Although sites can be purchased lease options are also available with Chalmers Properties Ltd working with clients to custom design and build premises.

The 60ha Te Rapa Gateway subdivision is being developed in five stages with stage one and two, which are already complete, comprising 23ha offering 53 sites.

Business Central August 2017

BUILDING » McMillan and Lockwood

| 17

Seismic strengthening requires smart solutions Karen Phelps McMillan and Lockwood PN Ltd’s ability to provide innovative solutions on large seismic strengthening and refurbishment projects has been demonstrated on the company’s recent work at The Plaza shopping centre in Palmerston North.

The challenging project, which included the installation of a new roof structure above live tenancies, was completed on time and budget with all tenants having uninterrupted trading, says McMillan and Lockwood PN Ltd project manager Barry Robin.

The new roof structure comprised heavy structural members supported by braces connected to existing building columns and new exterior reinforced concrete piles of 12 metres depth.

Installation of the major structural components was completed after hours when the tenancies were unoccupied requiring a nightshift to be worked in close proximity to a hotel.

Barry says this is where the company’s organisational and project management skills really came to the fore with strict noise control measures in place. He says the project is also a good example of the company’s ability to add value in the design stage of a project.

Key innovations introduced by McMillan and Lockwood PN Ltd on The Plaza project were the installation of temporary stub columns welded on top of the existing columns to support the new steelwork.

Barry says that this minimised the number of penetrations through the existing roof and accelerated the steelwork installation.

McMillan and Lockwood PN Ltd also instigated the installation of an HDPE liner beneath the skylight void to collect rainwater rather than the traditional method of installing a cover over this area to keep rain out. This resulted in no leaks despite the project being undertaken during the winter period.

The Plaza project was tendered and based on its success McMillan & Lockwood PN Ltd are presently working on constructing two additional negotiated contract seismic strengthening projects onsite: earthquake strengthening of a three storey building and a 38m x 38m building. In 2010 McMillan & Lockwood PN Ltd also completed a major $60m revamp of the existing mall consisting of a new multi-story car park and new retail spaces.

Barry says the success of the recent project indicates the wealth of experience in the McMillan & Lockwood PN Ltd team.

“Our directors and management team have a lot of industry experience. This really helps us to preempt any pressure points on projects and mitigate potential issues ensuring projects run smoothly.

Positive, open relationships with all involved result in successful projects completed on time and within budget,” he says.

McMillan & Lockwood PN Ltd is part of the McMillan & Lockwood group of construction companies, which operate throughout New Zealand.

Barry says a big part of the company’s success over the years can be attributed to its core values of respect, honesty and integrity coupled with its wide and varied construction expertise.

“A point of difference in dealing with McMillan & Lockwood is our preference to work in a partnering environment with clients and consultants in an open and trustworthy manner.”

Seismic strengthening on the Plaza shopping centre in Palmerston North by McMillan and Lockwood PN included the installation of a new roof structure above live tenancies.

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18 |

BUILDING » Bennett Homes - Oakview Lane

August 2017

Business Central

Homes with right scale, quality, price Kelly Deeks Having completed its latest development of six new house and land packages on Oakview Lane at Matamata while company owner Aaron Bennett was out of town, he says its success it testament to both the team working on the project and also the systems Bennett Homes has put in place after completing 10 new house and land packages over the past couple of years.

Aaron says he found the site he was looking for with Oakview Lane. “I look at a property to purchase as if I was driving in from out of town, and I look at the presentation you get of the area,” he says.

“The property is on the town boundary, so these six houses border on to rural land. In the distance are some big oak trees. It’s a beautiful space, so we’ve purposely put three rail timber fencing around the houses to create some space and give the owners a rural outlook.”

He says each home was individually designed for its 580sqm section, and the three to four bedroom homes range from 177sqm to 191sqm.

“Some people want 800sqm to 1000sqm sections, but we’ve been dealing with a lot of outof-towners and semi retired people where 500sqm is perfect. It gives them a bit of a garden with not too much ground to maintain.”

Each home has an ensuite and main bathroom, and two separate living areas with a lounge and media room. Four of the homes were sold off the plans, and the final two to sell were only half built.

Now working on its 13th house and land package, Bennett Homes is starting to make a name for itself in the market.

“People have been watching what we’ve been doing, and they like the product we offer,” Aaron says. “They like the scale and the quality of our homes, and the price.”

He says the idea behind Bennett Homes is to build quality homes, with good quality fixtures and fittings, without going over the top.

“All of these homes on Oakview Lane have a heat pump, and they have tiled bathrooms and tiled floor showers, and good flooring in the lower end range. It’s easy to blow the budget out on those things. We make a quality product without the biggest price tag, and we’re got a formula that works.”

Inside the Oakview Lane homes, the living spaces have a 2.7m ceiling with a curved edge down to the outside of the framing, adding space and character to a new build without blowing the budget. Bennett Homes prides itself on handing

Oakview Lane in Matamata is the latest development from Bennett Homes and features six new homes in the three to four bedroom range from 177 to 191 square metres on a 580sqm section. over its projects on time, and Oakview Lane was no exception. With Aaron in Sydney throughout the 18 month project, he says that was testament to the team from Aaron Bennett Builders building the homes, the contractors, and also the systems Bennett Homes has in place.

“After doing 10 of these in the past couple of years, we’ve got a really good product and we deliver on our promises,” Aaron says. “We won’t try to compete with some of the cheap housing companies – we don’t want to. I’ve seen and heard from people who have bought them and they weren’t stoked. We want to deliver a good job, and we are open to building houses for people. We now have a standard range of about 12 plans, and we’re also open to custom design and build.”

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Business Central August 2017

BUILDING » Bennett Homes - Oakview Lane

| 19

Purpose built post and three-rail timber fences create space and give a rural outlook and feel to the homes in Oakview Lane, Matamata, says Aaron Bennett, owner of Bennett Homes.

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20 |

BUILDING » Austrom Group

August 2017

Business Central

Sleek subdivision of quality homes Karen Phelps New Plymouth based builder Costel Obreja loves his city and building high quality new homes for the people that live there.

His company Austrom Group focuses on undertaking its own subdivisions and then building spec homes on the sites. Costel says this means that he can offer his clients good value for money – both on the land and the build – by undertaking the entire process from start to finish.

Costel, originally from Romania, started Austrom Group in 2014 after many years spent building in Melbourne, largely for his father in law who still undertakes subdivisions across the Tasman. Costel is a Licensed Building Practitioner and member of the Registered Master Builders Association of New Zealand reflecting the focus he places on building a high quality product.

Austrom Group is presently undertaking a seven-lot subdivision in Whalers Gate. Three homes have already been built and sold and the company is about to start on the next three. These new homes will sit on sections ranging in size from 540-1100 square metres. They will be single storey 170-209 square metre homes comprising three to four bedrooms, bathroom and ensuite. A point of difference is that Costel imports his own timber hardwood flooring from Australia and uses this in the homes he builds.

Two homes will be more traditional in style clad in brick while the other will be a more contemporary design featuring a BGC external cladding system.

The homes will be high specification including stone kitchen benchtops and high quality appliances, most likely from Bosch.

Costel says that no matter the project he aims to deliver a home that not only looks good but is also comfortable to live in. The homes will be well insulated and include a central heating system to keep them cosy and warm year round. The homes are located next to Barretts Domain, a green reserve. The homes will be marketed through local real estate agency Town & Country Realty and people can register early interest.

Costel says the market is steady in New Plymouth but has so far avoided the madness of other parts of the country, which is just the way he likes it. He moved from his busy job in Melbourne to enjoy a slower pace of life and enjoy a country environment.

Costel is hands on building each project and is assisted by other contractors as required. It is this approach that allows him to keep a close eye

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Timber hardwood flooring imported from Australia and high spec bathrooms and kitchens are hallmarks of Austrom Homes, owned by New Plymouth based builder Costel Obreja. on quality as each job progresses. As a member of Master Builders Costel plans to enter the next House of the Year competition with one of the homes he built that has just sold in his subdivision.

The split level home is sited to capture the tree top views on a large 1280 square metre section and offers a generous floor plan of 232 square metres, including an approximately 80 square metre double garage basement with good storage. The home includes an open plan kitchen, dining and lounge and four bedrooms, including master with ensuite.

There is a separate main bathroom with shower and separate toilet.

Tasmanian Oak polished timber flooring has been used in the living and kitchen area. The home has central heating, double-glazed windows, and top quality kitchen appliances with engineered stone kitchen bench tops. Costel says the home is finished to a high standard and is a good indication of the type of home that Austrom Group produces.

“I love living in New Plymouth and aim to continue to provide people with good quality homes that represent value for money.”

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Business Central August 2017

BUILDING » Brew Construction - Latitude Homes Wellington

| 21

Latitude Homes Wellington owners Alix and Amanda Brew say they are committed to helping people gain security through home ownership. The franchise offers a range of plans including the Karapiro, which features extensive garaging and storage, four bedrooms and large living spaces.

Franchise geared for Wgtn growth Karen Phelps Latitude Homes is busy building new homes in the Wellington region to meet demand. Since setting up the franchise in 2014, owners Alix and Amanda Brew have been establishing the brand in the area.

The pair brings a great deal of experience – Alix, who hails from the Isle of Mann, had previously built there before arriving in New Zealand over a decade ago. Amanda comes from a banking background bringing expertise in the important financial aspects of the business.

Alix says the Wellington market was quiet up until about 18 months ago when things suddenly took off. It was a blessing in disguise as it gave them the opportunity to establish a solid foundation for the business so they have coped well with the sudden growth and demand.

“We care about what we do. Our customers are never just a number to us.

“They deal directly with the business owners, which means a more personal building experience as well as quicker answers to their questions,” explains Alix citing some of the reasons for the company’s success.

Latitude Homes now offers eight franchises in New Zealand. The symbol for the company is a compass – chosen to represent Latitude Homes’ core values - respect and trustworthiness.

Alix says he sees his role as setting the correct course and providing direction during the process

Latitude’s Ancorage ll design adds a double garage to this compact 153sqm three bedroom home complete with two bathrooms of helping others achieve their dream of building their own home.

“Our principal belief is that everybody should be able to afford their own home and our purpose is to help people gain security through home ownership,” he explains.

Latitude Homes offers a range of plans and also a complete design and build option. In reality most projects in the Wellington region are design and build due to the often tricky nature of the sites, says Alix.

Latitude Homes Wellington is currently in the process of building a new showhome in Wainuiomata, due to open in approximately three months. The home is around 130 square metres and comprises four bedrooms (including master

bedroom with ensuite) and open plan kitchen/living/ dining area. Clad in brick it is a traditional design to appeal to first home buyers. Alix says Wainuiomata represents good opportunities for those looking to buy their first home and sections when available are selling fast. Latitude Homes Wellington is offering three house and land packages in a subdivision on Wise Street. One has already sold.

Alix predicts the property market in Wellington won’t slow any time soon and advises those wishing to build to take advantage of any opportunity they come across that will get them into the market.

Latitude Homes Wellington utilizes the services of a large team of subcontractors and can take on multiple build projects simultaneously. Amanda

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takes care of the important administration side of the business leaving Alix free to focus on taking charge of the builds. Latitude Homes Wellington area extends from Wellington to Levin and across to Masterton.

Due to demand for the company’s services Alix and Amanda plan to establish a showhome in the Wairarapa in the near future.

“We get a real kick out of providing clients with their dream home, built on time, on budget and to a high standard.

“The good thing about Latitude Homes is that it is like a big family and that feeling extends to how we interact with our clients because we believe that it’s very important to treat people how we ourselves want to be treated.”

22 |

BUILDING » Isles Construction

August 2017

Business Central

Dealing with asbestos contamination during the demolition phase and additional earthworks were some of the challenges for Isles Construction when building Te Papaioea Birthing Centre in Palmerston North.

Curve balls part of complex build Karen Phelps Isles Construction is completing work on the new Te Papaioea Birthing Centre in Palmerston North. Company director Cameron Isles says he thinks the project aptly demonstrates the company’s ability to complete complex builds with unexpected challenges.

Completed for client Horizon Resources Limited and designed by Proarch Architects, the purpose-built 12-suite primary birthing centre

with five ground floor tenancies is located at a site in Ruahine Street near the Palmerston North Hospital.

The challenges began when asbestos was discovered during demolition of the previous building and then additional earthworks were needed to provide a stable building platform.

Around 1300 cubic metres of earth needed to be removed from the site and hard fill brought in to stabilise the ground.

A 60 metre section of existing 900mm concrete culvert that cut across the site in an

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unexpected position that differed from drawings threw in additional challenges and had to be moved to make way for the building platform.

Isles Construction has also had to be flexible to accommodate client changes to the building design along the way, says Cameron.

Built from structural steel with precast concrete panels and shopfront glazing on the ground level and a mix of composite aluminium, vertical metal cladding and cedar weatherboard on the second storey, the project is earmarked for completion in late August.

“It’s a stunning looking building completed to a very high standard.

“During the 12 month build we’ve had in excess of 400 instructions and, at its peak, over 50 workers on site,” says Cameron “So it really shows our ability to manage complicated builds,” he says.

Isles Construction is a second-generation family-owned company originally established by Cameron’s parents Bob and Desma.

• to page 24

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Business Central August 2017

BUILDING Âť Isles Construction

| 23

Structural steel, precast concrete panels and a mix of composite aluminium, vertical metal cladding and cedar weatherboard were used on Palmerston North’s new Te Papaioea Birthing Centre.

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24 |

BUILDING » Isles Construction

August 2017

Business Central

Birthing centre one of close to 1000 projects completed • from page 22 They still own Isles Construction today along with Cameron and his sister Tarsha.

The company has now been in business in the Manawatu region for over 40 years and has gained a proven and respected track record for providing consistently high quality workmanship.

Based in Palmerston North Isles Construction focuses on commercial construction and has completed close to 1000 projects in the Manawatu and lower North Island. Because Isles Construction can also undertake site works and excavation in house Cameron says this often gives the company an edge in terms of quality control and time-frames. The company has invested significant resources in this side of the business.

Isles Construction has been the winner of multiple Registered Master Builders awards over the years and recently won a silver award in the 2017 Master Builder Commercial Project awards for the construction of a Green Star rated two-storey office building at 227 Broadway in Palmerston North for client Wallace Development Company Ltd. Cameron says it was a complicated precast panel structure on a structural steel sub frame.

“It took a lot of coordinating to get all the pieces to align perfectly,” he says. “But the project was completed ahead of schedule because we have the ability, knowledge and resources at our fingertips.”

He says the handover date was vital as the construction programme had to align with tenancy time-frames.

Isles Construction also completed tenancy fit outs for Cooper Rapley and the New Zealand Automobile Association as well as fit outs for Columbus Coffee Roasters, People Safe and Wallace Development Company Ltd. Alongside its focus on commercial projects, Isles Construction also completes a number of architectural new home builds and also offers residential home building services through the Jennian Homes Manawatu franchise which was purchased in 2013.

Another family member, sibling Carmen Wineera, heads this.

Cameron says that it is the strong family focus – both in ownership and operational structure – that sets the company apart. It is Tarsha and Cameron who are responsible the day-to-day running of the busy business.

Tarsha oversees all financial and administrative aspects of both the commercial and residential sides of the business.

Qualified builder Cameron heads the commercial construction team of project managers, quantity surveyors, and construction staff and is Past President of the Manawatu Master Builders.

Isles Construction covers the lower North Island. The company set up a branch in Christchurch three years ago and this continues to steadily grow.

“It took a lot of coordinating to get all the pieces to align perfectly. But the project was completed ahead of schedule because we have the ability, knowledge and resources at our fingertips.”

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Business Central August 2017

BUILDING » Isles Construction

| 25

The Te Papaioea Birthing Centre is scheduled for completion in late August.

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26 |

BUILDING » Japac Homes

August 2017

Business Central

Quality homes and finance made easy Karen Phelps Japac Homes aims to make building a new home easy. The company offers clients house and land packages and also makes financing the build simple. A deposit is required then no further payment until the clients move into their new home.

“When people build a new home they are often paying to rent somewhere to live while the build is taking place, they are paying the mortgage on the land and then progress payments to the builder. Our way it is easy and stress free,” says Paul Haydock who owns the company with wife Janine.

He says customers have confidence in building with Japac Homes as their company is the longest established building company in Palmerston North. Japac Homes was started in 2002 by the couple.

Paul, a Licensed Building Practitioner, has three decades of experience in the building industry.

Janine offers her expertise to the process in terms of design and styling of the homes.

Paul says the company has grown rapidly over the years meaning that it is well equipped to deal with the sudden boom of building in the region.

Japac Homes currently has around 25 homes under construction.

Although clients are welcome to come with their own section if they already have one, the majority of the work is house and land packages due to the easy nature of this process. Japac Homes offers a variety of packages all around the city catering to singles, professional couples, families and older clients.

Paul says that because every section is different each comes with a custom designed plan to make the most of the site, aspect, and sun.

He says Japac Homes favours long lasting trusted cladding systems with good support and backup such as James Hardie and Resene.

“With Japac Homes no two homes are ever the same. All our homes are designed with the needs and preferences of the home owner in mind, rather than being limited to a standard range of floor plans,” says Paul.

• to page 28

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Business Central August 2017

BUILDING » Japac Homes

| 27

House and land deals offered by Palmerston North builder Japac Homes include this three bedroom home in Atawhai Heights, Summerhill, which features designer kitchen, fully tiled bathroom with underfloor heating, extensive decking and landscaping.

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28 |

BUILDING » Japac Homes

August 2017

Business Central

With Japac, “no two homes are ever the same” • from page 26 There are presently house and land packages being offered in a subdivision being undertaken by Japac Homes in Atawhai Road with 22 sections ranging from 550-800 square metres and three bedroom homes of around 180sqm right up to five bedroom homes of 260sqm.

Japac Homes also has packages in Kelvin Grove and Summerhill, lifestyle blocks in Hartwell Drive and townhouses dotted around Palmerston North city.

As with many places in New Zealand the market in Palmerston North is extremely busy, says Paul.

Japac Homes employs a team of experienced builders plus gangs of trusted subcontractors that have been hand picked for quality and timely completion of projects.

The company has been successfully operating in the Palmerston North area now for over fifteen years and offers a ten year guarantee on all home builds.

“After having successfully operated in the Palmerston North area now for more than 15 years we have built a solid reputation for reliability, rigorous quality control, and strong, loyal customer

“All our homes are designed with the needs and preferences of the home owner in mind, rather than being limited to a standard range of floor plans,” and supplier relationships. In fact, many of our customers tell us they would build with us again, which we take as a great indication of the success of our build process,” says Paul.

Having been born and bred in Palmerston North the couple takes great pride in the region and delivering high quality homes.

Paul says Palmerston North has a lot going for it – good facilities such as schools, hospitals as well as being extremely easy to get around – which is increasingly attracting people to live there.

Paul and Janine aim to keep growing their busy company without every losing sight of the reason they are there in the first place – their valued customers.

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Business Central August 2017

BUILDING » Latitude Homes - Central

| 29

Big demand for cost-effective homes Kelly Deeks Taranaki born and bred, Graham and Kate Wellington are leading the Latitude Homes Central North Island team into a growing future, providing clients with cost-effective homes which don’t skimp on quality.

Graham has a long and extensive history in the Central region’s construction industry, as a qualified carpenter and Registered Master Builder who previously owned a successful Taranaki construction company, before joining the Latitude Homes group just over a year ago.

Graham and Kate even built their current home, a Latitude Homes design, before joining the company, and Graham was then approached by the previous owner to build all the Latitude Homes in Taranaki.

“Graham’s experience made the decision to join Latitude Homes a lot easier,” says Kate. “It was a big investment for us, and we knew the workload was going to increase significantly. And the fact we bought the business and then had a newborn baby a month later, we knew it was going to be hard work. But we really saw the opportunity to future proof our family, recognising the fact Graham can’t be a builder forever.”

Graham and Kate’s belief in the Latitude Homes product and brand was also key to their decision.

“It’s a great product and we wanted to see it grow, especially in the Taranaki region,” Kate says. “The previous owner lived in the Manawatu and had really pushed Latitude Homes up there – we wanted to push it here. A year later and now everyone is seeing the Latitude Homes sign popping up all over Taranaki.”

She says everything happened so quickly on taking over the franchise, which was a good challenge as the couple really pushed themselves and hit their targets faster than they imagined.

“We’d gone in with a business plan of selling a certain number of homes in the first year, and we doubled it within about the first six months. Latitude Homes was there on the phone or email whenever we needed them.”

Kate and Graham are expecting to continue to grow Latitude Homes Central, and their next step will be to employ a project manager to assist the couple in the office, as well as their two foremen, one in the Manawatu and one in Taranaki.

Latitude Homes Central has ranges of standard and low-cost homes, and also completes an increasing amount of custom design and builds for about 10 per cent of customers.

Kate says Latitude Homes are cost-effective, but

Latitude Homes Central North Island owners Graham and Kate Wellington (inset) are building an increasing number of homes from custom designs, augmenting their range of quality standard and low cost homes.

don’t skimp on quality. “We are targeting first home buyers and young families with our cost-effective homes to allow them to get into the property market,” she says. “We do this by keeping our overheads down. There are only two of us in the office and we don’t manage a lot of staff. As part of a franchise group, we don’t have a lot of advertising overheads, and we have great buying power.”

The Latitude Homes group is celebrating its 10 year anniversary this year.

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30 |

BUILDING » Versatile Homes & Buildings - New Pymouth

August 2017

Business Central

Garages galore on view at new site Karen Phelps Versatile Homes & Buildings New Plymouth has recently moved to a new site allowing customers to view a whole range of brand new products.

Located on the corner of Egmont Road and Hurlstone Drive the 1350 square metre site is home to three display garages and a brand new office based on a Versatile house plan.

Customers can view a double garage with attached 3 metre x 6 metre sleepout with display ensuite, a double garage and a large 15 metre x 8 metre workshop with three metre high stud.

The Versatile Homes & Buildings New Plymouth office is based on the Arrowtown plan and at 110 square metres includes four office spaces. It is clad in Superclad Colorsteel with one side clad in Hardiplank to demonstrate different cladding options and looks, says Maree Gush who owns the franchise with husband Mike.

The display site also includes a colour console to help people mix and match colour combinations, a full range of cladding options and plan books to browse through.

The Versatile New Plymouth franchise has been owned by the couple since 2014 and they have built it up since then.

Mike had previously built numerous spec homes, which has given him a great understanding of the home building process from start to finish, says Maree.

Maree had clocked up over eight years’ experience with the Versatile brand before taking over the franchise and also has a background in administration and business management.

In 2016 Versatile New Plymouth was the proud recipient of the 2016 Franchise Excellence Award indicating the high levels of professionalism with which the couple operates the business.

Although Versatile is well known for its garages, carports, sleepouts, farm and commercial buildings the company is also starting to make a name for itself as a new home builder.

Maree hopes the franchise office, as well as plans to build a new show home in a local

Located on the corner of Egmont Road and Hurlstone Drive the 1350 square metre site is home to three display garages and a brand new office based on a Versatile house plan. subdivision later this year, will really introduce people to Versatile’s home build offering.

She says the advantage the brand has when building new homes is that Versatile can do the whole project for the client – home, garage, carport etc.

This means that the client only has to deal with

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one company for their entire home build making the process even easier.

Versatile Homes & Buildings New Plymouth not only offers the Versatile range of plans but can also build from clients’ plans or undertake a design and build project from scratch.

Of course any modifications necessary to suit the customer’s needs can also be made to Versatile’s existing plan range, says Maree.

The company also takes care of the full consent process and organises and project manages all subcontractors such as plumbers and electricians.

Versatile Homes & Buildings New Plymouth employs its own team of builders as well as a permanent team of labour only contractors.

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of his father, Gerald, Bill Gee took over his garage and home building company in 1976 and through growth and vision, acquired the Versatile brand, which he today runs with wife Gillian.

The Gee’s Spanbild company (of which Versatile is a part) accounts for a significant amount of New Zealand’s total building consents every year. Maree says that every aspect of Versatile’s buildings meets the highest standards, maximizes sustainability and uses New Zealand products where possible.

Versatile Homes & Buildings New Plymouth builds in the entire Taranaki region. Garages still form the mainstay of business but Versatile Homes & Buildings New Plymouth has a growing number of new home builds and aims to keep expanding the business to meet demand in the region.

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Business Central August 2017

BUILDING » Versatile Homes & Buildings - New Plymouth

| 31

The Versatile Homes & Buildings New Plymouth office is based on the Arrowtown plan and at 110 square metres includes four office spaces.

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We are pleased to be associated with Versatile Buildings, installing a Fujitsu heat pump system in the new showroom.

All the best to Mike and Maree in their new building.

32 |

BUILDING » Penny Homes Wellington

August 2017

Business Central

Work getting underway at The Lookout Karen Phelps Around a quarter of the house-and-land packages being offered in The Lookout subdivision in Wellington have now sold.

General manager of Bayleys, Grant Henderson, says that the standard of the subdivision is extremely high and with views of city, Wellington Harbour, Somes Island and Petone, The Lookout represents a good opportunity for buyers.

“Located by native bush it’s a great opportunity for people to secure a flat site with good views and sun to build a brand new home, built to the latest specifications, at a starting price of $795,000,” says Grant.

Developed by Jarden Corporation, the subdivision links Domett Street to Glanmire Road in Newlands. It will offer a total of 48 sites from 380sqm to 1370sqm.

Local building company Penny Homes has the design and build contract for the sites.

Grant says that all the homes in The Lookout have been specifically designed by Penny Homes and JT Design Architecture for Wellington wind zones in terms of glazing and cladding. The design of the homes is contemporary with a mix of gable, mono pitch and low slung hip roof lines to give diversity to the development.

Penny Homes has a showhome at The Lookout.

The 204sqm three bedroom home with study nook is clad in vertical cedar and Linea weatherboard.

Grant says that caveats mean homes built around the outside of the development must be single storey to maintain the views. He says that the mix of one and two level homes will suit different lifestyle needs and budgets. So far homes have sold from $860,000 - $1.5m.

The design of the homes is contemporary with a mix of gable, mono pitch and low slung hip roof lines to give diversity to the development.

The Lookout is situated just ten minutes from Wellington’s CBD with an easy walk to buses, local schools and the recently refurbished shopping centre. The subdivision will feature high-speed fibre underground and LED street lighting.

Jarden Corporation is investing heavily in planting in the subdivision and has also donated a 36ha conservation block next to the subdivision to Wellington City Council. It will be used as a public reserve and Grant says council is seeking to protect and encourage native birdlife and will work with local residents to get behind a planting and pest eradication programme.

Penny Homes is a family-owned and operated company founded in the Central North Island in 1998 by John and Kellie Penny. Today the company has offices in Auckland, Christchurch, Taupo and Wellington.

The company’s services encompass creating unique land and home packages as well as residential design and build, re-development sites, commercial projects and multi-unit developments.

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Business Central August 2017

BUILDING » Paul Jones Construction - Lockwood Taranaki

| 33

Lockwood system brings satisfaction Sue Russell Paul Jones Construction has operated the Lockwood Taranaki franchise for 32 years and in that time has built hundreds of homes using the revolutionary Lockwood system all over the region.

Paul admits that even as a high school student he remembers visiting a Lockwood show home and thinking that its design and feel had a really special quality to it.

“It’s in the design of them, they are simply different from conventional buildings and throughout all the years I’ve been associated with the building system I feel it has retained its edge, its distinction,” Paul says.

Unlike other group building brands Lockwood homes are entirely manufactured in one factory in Rotorua enabling the quality coming out to be carefully monitored. Nothing leaves the factory below the high standards set.

“The level of engineering that goes into the system and the design of each build means that in the last few years Lockwood has been able to obtain its own Code Mark,” says Paul.

The benefit, he explains, of having a unique Code Mark means Councils can process consents much quicker, because the system is documented and well understood by Council engineers.

“When building inspectors come on site, at critical stages of a build, they are aware of the Lockwood construction systems being applied.”

Business has picked up considerably in the last two or three years Paul says, given the provinces economic revitalisation.

Recently the company completed building a brand new hotel in Manaia, following the fire that destroyed the 110-year-old Waimate Hotel, the town’s only hotel in February 2016.

Paul and the team at Lockwood became involved after Paul had read an article about how significantly the loss of the old hotel was felt by the small community.

Having made enquiries with the owners he discovered they were keen to rebuild a completely new and more modern hotel design, one that would future-proof the business for years to come and meet the needs of not only the local patronage but also those travelling through the town.

“The old hotel used to be two stories and was past its use-by date,” says Paul.

“We sat down with the owners and listened to what they wanted to have in the new hotel, including more of a café feel to it.”

“We had specific budgetary constraints given the insurance company insured the old hotel for a lump sum, so it was a case of coming up with a smart, efficient, welcoming design that could be achieved in terms of the budget.”

Paul says one highlight of building the new hotel was how positive residents were when they saw work on the old site getting underway. It felt like a real community project. People would drive buy and toot at us, showing their appreciation.”

Paul Jones Construction has just completed building a brand new hotel in Manaia, following the devastating fire that destroyed the 110-year-old Waimate Hotel.

Alongside Paul is a small team of six builders, a couple of foremen and office personnel.

His role is to concentrate on sales and project management.

“I’m very lucky with my foremen. They have been with me for 12-14 years and love building Lockwoods.”

Along with new builds, given the Lockwood building system is now 60 years old, Paul and the team also undertake renovations and extension to older Lockwoods.

He says this is a very skilled work and has found most other builders shy away from attempting these projects.

Another key issue that has come into its own with the Lockwood building system is the fact that there are no cavities to be filled as the walls are solid timber.

Paul says this gives them a distinct advantage when it comes to weather-proofing.

“It’s just an all-round exceptional building system and our designs stand out as being different from others.

“Lockwood Homes also compare well in terms of price against other brands and building methods.”

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34 |

BUILDING » Nathan Whittle Builders

August 2017

Business Central

A high stud garage to accommodate the client’s motorhome and a sloping site posed challenges for New Plymouth builder Nathan Whittle. Along with the architect, Nathan was able to come up with clever solutions to suit the budget, the site and “get the right result for the client.”

Builder ready to tackle the tricky stuff Karen Phelps Since Nathan Whittle started his New Plymouth based building company, Nathan Whittle Building, nearly two years ago he says he has had a lot of positive feedback from customers.

“I firmly put the customer first and make sure the build is an enjoyable experience for them. I want them to feel free to visit the site and feel a part of the project. It’s about going out of our way to ensure the customer is happy,” he says Nathan, a Licensed Building Practitioner and member of Master Builders, has been building for over 15 years. He was born and bred in New Plymouth and is passionate about building in the local region.

“No job is too small,” he says. “We do anything from easing a window or fixing leaks in a roof to an architectural new home build.”

Customers can come to Nathan Whittle Building with their own plans or Nathan can put them in touch with the right architect. Nathan Whittle Building undertakes full contract or labour only builds. The company employs one full time carpenter and an apprentice.

Nathan says that because he learned a lot of traditional building skills during his apprenticeship – something that can be lacking in today’s building apprenticeships – he can complete many aspects of each build himself. This gives Nathan Whittle Building greater control over the quality of each project and means one point of contact for the client.

Nathan Whittle Building has just completed a new home build in New Plymouth, a 180 square metre open plan home clad in brick and SmartClad timber weatherboard. It has a high stud garage for the client’s motorhome.

Nathan says the build was challenging as it was situated on a sloping site. This meant the home is on concrete foundations and also partly cantilevered out on poles. Nathan says a lot of companies looked at the build and priced it up highly for this reason.

Nathan Whittle Building, along with the architect was able to come up with smart solutions to meet the challenges of the site and the client’s budget, which is where the experience of the team really came to the fore.

“I’m lucky to have such an experienced team so we nutted out the solutions together to get the right result for the client,” says Nathan.

“This project really demonstrates the fact that we can tackle the tricky jobs and come up with solutions to make a potentially difficult project easy for the client.”

Demand for the company’s services is steady.

Next up is a new home build in Waitara.

The 270sqm three-bedroom home will be clad in board and batton with negative detailed ply ceilings and feature cedar at the entranceway.

“I’m really pleased with how well the company is going,” says Nathan proudly.

“The name and reputation continues to grow and we have had really good reviews from clients.

The aim is to continue with this steady growth and delivering top quality houses to the Taranaki region.”

Proud to provide quality products to Nathan Whittle Builders

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Business Central August 2017

BUILDING » Pridex Kitchens

| 35

Personalised service from go to whoa Karen Phelps Wellington based Pridex Kitchens offers its customers a fully personalized service from start to finish, says Margriet Lynch who owns the business with husband Mike.

“Our customers enjoy the continuity of the same person assisting them through the whole process – from initial design to finished kitchen. This means that we can truly assess their unique requirements and needs and deliver a kitchen that meets their expectations and lifestyle,” Margriet says..

“We recognise that every home is unique and therefore every kitchen we produce must be specially designed to suit the particular home.’

Pridex Kitchens has been proudly designing, delivering and installing high quality kitchens in the Wellington region since 1998. In fact the company has now installed well over 2000 kitchens meaning customers benefit from a lot of expertise. Mike, a trained industrial designer, inspects the plans of every kitchen that is designed by the in-house design team and it is this personal attention to detail that makes the difference, says Margriet.

“The process starts with a meeting with the customer to find out what they desire from their kitchen,” says Margriet.

“For example some people may just want a simple kitchen to make a cup of coffee while others want a full entertainer’s kitchen with all the bells and whistles,” she says.

“There may also be other needs – does the customer want a place to hang around with the kids when they come home from school or to hold dinner parties with friends?

“Or perhaps a place to store an entire collection of cookbooks and gadgets? This initial design and consultation process along with a quotation is

“We recognise that every home is unique and therefore every kitchen we produce must be specially designed to suit the particular home.”

Simple trends are popular at Pridex Kitchens – stone bench tops, use of white and stainless steel – giving a modern clean look. offered free of charge. Three dimensional imagery helps customers to visualize how their finished kitchen will look.”

Once the design has been decided Pridex Kitchens then gets the kitchen manufactured in New

Zealand using lazer edge, an innovative adhesivefree laser edging technology, which provides a superior finish. Pridex Kitchens can take care of the whole building project by organising builders and sub-contractors.

The company can also provide the right appliances for the project. Margriet says flexibility is also important so if the customer prefers to organise their own contractors or source their own kitchen appliances they are free to do so.

Located at 105 Thorndon Quay, Pridex Kitchens offers a large showroom displaying four complete kitchens demonstrating a range of products and price ranges of kitchens. There is also a computer display of previous kitchens completed by the company.

Margriet says keeping up with the latest products and technological advances is an important aspect of the business. For example, the company has installed a blue tooth device in a kitchen that, once placed in the cabinetry, turns it into an amplifier.

A vacuum cleaner that is built into the bottom of the cabinetry and at the push of a button sucks up any debris that has been swept within range is another of the latest devices. But it is simpler trends that are currently popular – stone bench tops and use of white and stainless steel – giving a modern, clean look.

The Wellington region is currently buoyant with plenty of projects on the go and Pridex Kitchens aims to continue to deliver designer kitchens that uniquely fit the lifestyle and homes of its customers.

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36 |

HAWKE’S BAY » Hislop Construction

August 2017

Business Central

Hislop team enjoys complex builds Kelly Deeks

“Nothing is left to second chances, everything is done properly, and we put the same high standards into everything we do,” Cam says.

“Our clients keep in contact and we have a good relationship at the end of the project, which for us means everyone is doing what they’re supposed to be doing.”

If there is no architect involved, Hislop Construction has a team of experienced, respected, licensed, and certified builders who will work with their clients to ensure their project is exactly what they want.

MA

“The market has come up, sections are scarce and prices are high, so many people are spending money on doing up their existing homes.”

RT IN

Hislop Construction has been involved with architectural builds for many years.

ING OF RO

Whether building, renovating, or extending homes around Hawke’s Bay, Hislop Construction applies the same high quality workmanship that has become standard as the company has completed an increasing number of high-end, architectural builds over the past 10 years.

Based in Havelock North and building for 24 years, Cam Hislop and Hislop Construction have developed relationships with clients and architects and a reputation for superior construction services which have led to the company gaining a stronghold in the architectural building market.

“The builds are quite a bit more complex than the standard stuff, and there’s only a handful of us around this area who do that,” Cam says.

“Good staff are key, good subtrades, and good project management. You need to get on well with the customers and the architects, and take the time to make sure everything has a high-end finish.”

Hislop Construction is currently working on an architecturally designed home behind the Tukituki River. The 400sqm home is just coming to completion after more than a year on site.

“There are many architectural features in this house. It has multi-pitched roofs, cast concrete fireplaces, native timber flooring, and exotic timbers.”

There have been many challenges to work through but Cam says the highlights on such a long term project are seeing every stage come together.

“When you see the end result it’s really rewarding,” he says.

Hislop Construction has a tight-knit team of five builders including Cam, and the company generally runs two major projects at a time.

Hislop Construction sticks to its core team of subtrades, keeping an eye on prices while enjoying working with those known to be reliable and trustworthy.

“The timing on construction projects can be crucial, so we need to take that stress away from our clients by having everyone on site when needed,” Cam says.

“The tradespeople we choose to work with are qualified, loyal, and have their own successful businesses. We know what we’re going to get from them, and together we provide a good product.”

Hislop Construction has been involved with architectural builds for a good 10 years, and is also completing general building projects as well.

“We do whatever is asked of us,” Cam says.

There are quite a lot of big alterations and additions going on in Hawke’s Bay. The market has come up, sections are scarce and prices are high, so many people are spending money on doing up their existing homes.”

Whether it’s a $10,000 job or a $1.5 million new home, for Hislop Construction, it’s all about the workmanship.

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Business Central August 2017

HAWKE’S BAY » Christie Builders and Joiners

| 37

Joinery expertise bonus for firm Kelly Deeks Providing the Hawke’s Bay with professional building services which stand out from the pack, Christie Builders and Joiners has a proud reputation for quality workmanship and professional service which extends over four generations of builders.

Peter Christie has followed the footsteps of his grandfather Davey and his dad Ben into the building trade, and likewise his own son Mike has now joined the industry having completed his building apprenticeship following his initial career choice as a plumber, gas fitter, and drain layer.

Peter says running a full joinery workshop as well as a construction team allows Christie Builders and Joiners to successfully deliver the whole job from start to finish, along with a good team of subcontractors who have worked on Christie projects for a number of years.

“Having our own joinery shop makes it easy for us to manage the type of work that links both of these disciplines,” he says. “We specialise in a lot of renovations to old houses, so whenever we’ve got something special like a rolled verandah on an old villa where we’ve got to make a whole lot of curved rafters, our joinery shop takes care of that, in conjunction with our construction team.

We can complete all of the joinery requirements for new builds as well, in terms of kitchens, stairs, and anything else which is required.”

Peter and Ben both trained during a time when apprentices could qualify in both carpentry and joinery at the same time, and the joinery shop now boasts something like 300 different moulding samples, collected by Peter and Ben over the years, and some of which were used in the region’s earliest buildings.

Peter now runs a tight knit team of hardworking builders, joiners, and apprentices who are dedicated

“Having our own joinery shop makes it easy for us to manage the type of work that links both of these disciplines.” to maximising their efficiency so their clients can enjoy their new build, renovation, or repair in the shortest timeframe possible.

As builders with a difference, Christie Builders and Joiners is regularly sought out by clients who want something different, and know the company is capable of meeting their wishes.

One such recent project was the build of an off the grid farmhouse near Eskdale in Hawke’s Bay. “It had old relics form the farm, like a rifle and bits and pieces of old farm machinery which we laid into the concrete floor, and we made a kitchen using a lot of timber from around the farm, including old 350 by 350 totara bridge beams,” Peter says.

“They had a shed full of macrocarpa timber which we made all of the interior doors and door frames out of in our joinery shop. In the bathroom, to separate the shower off we used two great big 1.8m high limestone rocks that were down a bank off the farm. We cast them into a strengthened concrete floor and you walk between these two rocks and into the shower.”

With Mike’s skills and experience now bolstering the Christie Builders and Joiners team, more synergies were found on another recent new build where he provided all of the plumbing and drainage work.

Hand crafted kitchen joinery, villa renovations, stairs and new builds are all catered for by Hawke’s Bay company Christie Builders and Joiners

SIZE Edward Gibbon is NZ’s largest independently owned Plumbing, Bathroom and Drainage supplies merchant and is proud to support Christie Builders & Joiners 79 Austin Street, ONEKAWA | Ph 06 843 0100 | Fax 06 843 3101 | Email shownpr@edwardgibbon.co.nz w w w . e d w a r d g i b b o n . c o . n z

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38 |

HAWKE’S BAY  Thomson Homes

August 2017

Business Central

Showhome that goes the extra mile Karen Phelps Keeping most processes in-house enables Hawkes Bay based Thomson Homes to maintain complete control of each new home the company builds, says company director Adam Thomson. From design to completion Adam oversees every aspect of the build keeping quality levels high and ensuring things are completed on time and on budget.

Adam started Thomson Homes around a decade ago straight out of his apprenticeship. Initially employing a single apprentice, the company has now grown to employ a team of five builders.

Thomson Homes offers a full design and build service. It has a range of plans but these are largely used for inspiration as each build is personalized to suit the client’s specific requirements and site, says Adam. Thomson Homes also builds from the client’s own plans if these have already been drafted.

Although in the past the company completed renovation projects, Adam says the decision has been made to focus on new home builds as this is an area of building he feels needs full dedication to offer clients the best possible service.

Thomson Homes builds throughout Hawke’s Bay from Waipukurau across to Napier. Fixed price contracts mean no hidden surprises. Adam is also a NZ Certified Builder, and as such offers the Association’s Halo 10 Year Residential Guarantee with each new home build for additional peace of mind.

A new show home has just been completed in Matariki Avenue, Frimley, Hastings. The 185 square metre home includes three bedrooms, separate living area, open plan kitchen/dining/family area, bathroom, ensuite and double garage.

Set on a 540sqm site it also has outdoor concrete terraces to provide outside living space.

The home includes upgraded insulation of 3.2 in the ceilings and 2.6 in the walls. Even the garage door is insulated and the windows in the garage are double glazed indicating the company’s level of attention to detail and the high quality specifications

Adam Thomson Homes has just completed a new show home in Frimley, Hastings. The 185sqm home includes three bedrooms separate living area, open plan designers kitchen/dining/family area, bathroom, ensuite and double garage. of the home. RibRaft foundations are used in every build – Adam says it is not only an efficient product to install but provides a very good foundation.

The traditional style show home, clad in Linea weatherboard, is open for viewing by appointment.

Thomson Homes will soon be offering a range of house and land packages in Frimley in the Lyndhurst subdivision. Adam says Frimley is where

most of the sections are coming onto the market and the area will be busy with new builds over coming years.

Thomson Homes also has a lot of work booked ahead and says the region is busy and in some parts finding available land for builds is becoming challenging. “We tend to sell right off the plans before it even

precision landscaping & earthworks

hits the market,� he says of his company’s design and build offering.

Thomson Homes has a number of large home builds about to star t in Havelock as well as a number of small projects in subdivisions underway.

Adam aims to continue to grow his company to meet demand for new housing in the region in the coming years.

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Business Central August 2017

HAWKE’S BAY » Thomson Homes / Morris and Bailey

| 39

Company well-equipped to handle variety of work Sue Russell Since establishing in 1969, Manawatu business Morris and Bailey has specialised in civil, residential, commercial and bridge construction projects.

Based in Dannevirke, the company mainly services the lower North Island.

General Manager Greg Veale has overseen the operation of the company since 2013 and describes the company as in a phase of further development, which is currently seeing more opportunities in residential work.

“We have always concentrated on our three core markets; civil, commercial and residential, however as the company evolved we ended up doing a lot more work in both civil and commercial arenas.

“However new and existing clients are now approaching us to undertake residential projects,” Greg says.

When Business North Central spoke with Greg work had nearly finished on a $500,000 upgrade and extension at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Tamaki Nui-A-Rua, a composite Year 1 – 15 school on Makirikiri Road, Dannevirke.

The project involved adding on two extensions, creating two more open, user-friendly learning centres.

Having had a long history working on education sites Greg says the company is well-equipped to employ systems that allow construction to take place while the school is open for instruction.

“It certainly adds to the challenges however we have evolved really strong processes to ensure students, staff and our own builders can all work on the site at the same time.”

Given the nature of the build and the need for students to still be able to use certain areas work was carefully staged.

• to page 40

Sitting on a superior RibRaft foundation, the Adam Thomson show home in Frimley includes upgraded insulation of 3.2 in the ceilings and 2.6 in the walls, insulated garage door and windows and is clad in classic Linea weatherboard.

The Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Tamaki Nui-A-Rua project involved adding on two extensions, creating two more open, user-friendly learning centres.

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40 |

HAWKE’S BAY » Morris and Bailey

August 2017

Business Central

Company handles a wide variety of work • from page 39 A tight time-frame of just 24 weeks to complete all the work and juggling multiple trades has added to the challenges, however Greg says nothing really occurred to deviate from the set building plan.

Along with extending classroom spaces a separate project to upgrade the school’s kitchen has evolved, adding time and costs above the original tendered figure.

Greg says work on the kitchen will be completed during the school holidays, ready to hand over when students return.

Morris and Bailey currently employs a team of 18 across separate disciplines, specialising in commercial, bridge building and concreting.

The company has recently concluded work on strengthening the Ngahere Bridge for the Palmerston North City Council, along with a three residential flat complex in Dannevirke.

Morris and Bailey has recently started the reroofing and strengthening of Dannevirke’s St Johns Church for the Waiapu Board of Diocesan, which is particularly complicated due to the pitch of the existing roof.

“We have a history of undertaking seismic strengthening work but this one is special given the iconic nature of the historical church.

“The whole structure has had to be shrinkwrapped before removing the old roof.”

The company is well-regarded in the construction sector for its attention to detail, adherence to the highest possible standards and for developing strong open and engaging relationships with its clients.

As for the future, operating in the Manawatu, Tararua and Hawke’s Bay areas, which are experiencing strong growth both in the commercial and residential sectors Greg says the company wants to become more involved in residential work.

“We think we have a lot of skills and experience to offer our residential clients and intend to grow this arm of the company in the future.”

Morris and Bailey has just finished an upgrade and extension at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Tamaki Nui-A-Rua, a composite Year 1 – 15 school in Dannevirke.

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Business Central August 2017

HAWKE’S BAY » Barker Contractors

| 41

Emulsion chip spraying niche market Sue Russell Since returning from five years working in Australia in 1980 Michael Barker, of Hawke’s Bay-based Barker Contractors has evolved and devolved his busy contracting business, seizing opportunities as they presented over a 35-plus year career.

The journey has seen the very much handson and busy entrepreneur grow, then reduce his company from nearly 30 staff to the 10 he now has on his books, and Michael says he’s now happy with the niche service his company delivers around the region.

“At one time we were involved in a wide range of operations, from forestry roading, agricultural contracting, general earthmoving, fibre, drainage, council and roading work, quarry ownership and it just felt like it was getting out of hand.

“It doesn’t take much to trip you up when you’re running several operations under the one business so early last year I employed a general manager who had recently retired from a corporate situation.

It was the best thing I could have done,” Michael explains.

Just having the ability to talk through what was and wasn’t working so well in terms of business provided Michael with the information he needed to make the decision to reduce to a small core of services he now offers.

“We retained the building platform work we have always done and got rid of forestry, the bulldozers, transporters, some truck and trailers, ‘the big diesel items’, reduced the quarries down to

Road maintenance (top) and irrigation trenching are just two services provided by Hawke’s Bay-based company Barker Contracting. Other specialised areas include aggregate crushing, screening and cartage, emulsion chip spraying, farm conversions, concrete preparation and house foundations. just one and looked toward delivering specialised chip sealing service, servicing a market that the larger roading companies weren’t interested in, and using emulsion chip surfacing technology that is becoming very fashionable. It has the Clean Green tick.

Barker Contractors use a product called CRS-2, supplied to them by Higgins, to seal over the highgrade aggregates we produce from our own quarry.

The CRS-2 is heated in a unique 6000 litre stainless

steel spray tanker Barkers had built.

Unlike traditional Bitumen, which is heated to around 170 and 180 degrees celcius, before spraying, Barker Contractors uses a totally different technology.

Another point of difference is the power supply they installed for heating the CRS-2. Rather than the traditional butane flame methods used on Bitumen tankers for heating, a 30Kva generator was fitted which not only heats the CRS-2 but also

powers all the tankers operations.

The process is known as emulsion spraying and Michael says, as far he is aware, his company is the first in New Zealand to build a tanker unit to use a generator of this size to provide energy to all the operating systems.

Another huge plus Michael says relates to Health and Safety for the public and those working on the sealing operation. Because the CRS-2 only needs to be heated to 75 degrees celcius risks of being burnt are eliminated.

The quality of finish, ease of application and providing a service that was thought of as being unaffordable to the home owner has been very rewarding. In days gone by, concrete, asphalt or gravel finishes were really the only options.

Since building the emulsion spraying unit all expectations have been exceeded.

“We knew there was a niche market because the bigger roading companies just weren’t interested in taking on smaller jobs like sealing driveways and the like and so far, since starting this operation last year, we’ve been very busy, and certainly getting more and more enquiry.”

The potential to use Emulsion Spraying in subdivision projects they currently work on is the next evolution Michael is looking toward.

Outside of work, Barkers Contractors is committed to helping young sports people achieve their goals in the sporting world. Barkers have been sponsoring the Central Hawke’s Bay Rugby Club Senior grades for some years now, along with helping individual players achieve their goals, like Lucy Owen, a young Waipukurau girl, who is playing golf with an American University.

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42 |

CIVIL CONSTRUCTION » Spartan Construction

August 2017

Business Central

Hamilton based Spartan Construction is the head contractor on the construction of four steel potable water reservoirs, part of the Waikato District Reservoir project.

Water project a multi-site challenge Karen Phelps Work is progressing on the Waikato District Reservoir project, which will see the completion of four steel potable water reservoirs at Huntly, Hopuhopu, Pokeno and Ngaruawahia.

Each of the reservoirs will be plumbed into the adjacent existing water networks, with a booster pump station to be constructed at the Central Districts site at Ngaruawahia.

Head contractor Spartan Construction has been working on the project, which is estimated to take around a year to complete.

Spartan Construction project manager Jonathan Chandler says working across four sites simultaneously has required high levels of project management and flexibility to work in with the client’s requirements and weather, which at times has been challenging due to a wet summer.

He says Spartan’s strength is the reputation and experience it has in-house from both directors and its team of staff, which offers clients a great deal of engineering and construction knowledge. He says that this enables the company to look at different and more innovative ways of doing things often providing a more robust and more cost effective solution.

For example, on this project variable ground conditions has been the biggest challenge and substantial work has been required to provide a suitable platform for the massive tanks which weigh up to four thousand tonnes when full of water. On two of the sites this involved having to dig into the area which the tanks will sit on top of, remove unsuitable subgrade material and then replace

it. Jonathan says that instead of bringing in new backfill material Spartan recommended re-using the material that was removed then re-compacting it to provide the correct platform for the tank to sit on.

This saved the client considerable time and money, he says.

Spartan has between 10-20 staff and contractors working on the project at any one time and Spartan site supervisor, Karl Kavanagh, has been instrumental in the smooth flow of the project. Jonathan also cites good relations with key subcontractors, such as Reliant Solutions, which is installing the tanks, as being a key aspect of the success of the project.

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“We haven’t worked with them previously but have found the relationship has developed quickly as we have been able to rely on them, which has been really important, especially working across a number of sites,” he says.

The project is due for completion at the end of October and is indicative of the importance the company places on establishing good relationships with all those involved in a project, says Jonathan.

“We work to our clients’ requirements and specifications, aiming to be flexible to meet their needs. In this case we mobilized to sites as required, working in as part of the greater team to lead the project to a successful result.”

Proudly supporting Spartan Construction Ph - (09) 233 6066 Email - admin@mcrobbiebros.co.nz

Based in Hamilton Spartan Construction was started over ten years ago to undertake difficult civil construction project, in particular those that are multidisciplinary by nature. The company has since developed a reputation for relentless and continuous improvement alongside developing strong relationships based on integrity, performance and win-win outcomes.

“Spartan adopts a collaborative approach to contracting where there is a free flow of communication between the parties in a no-blame culture. Stakeholders are encouraged to make best for project decisions and serious disputes are avoided through a ‘fix the problem’ approach versus ‘fix the blame’. This approach has stood the company in good stead securing a steady flow of work.”

He says this is complemented by the Spartan company culture, which he defines as a learning culture within which quality systems form a strong base.

“Our employees are trained in quality techniques at both office and site level so as to provide a seamless communication of design and construction objectives and provide essential feedback for review and continuous improvement of systems,” he says.

Other projects recently completed by Spartan Construction include the civil works for stage one of the Templeview redevelopment for client the Church of the Latter-day Saints; Mt Misery Reservoir project for the Matamata-Piako District Council; Mapara water supply pumping station and pipeline upgrade for Taupo District Council and civil works for stage 1b of Northgate Business Park development..

CONTRACTING » Kay Contracting

Business Central August 2017

| 43

Family firm with a farming heritage Sue Russell “When we first started the business, we had a farming background but knew nothing about running a contracting business,” says Judith Kay, who along with husband Geoff and their sons Joseph, Lance and Chad, own and operate Kay Contracting Ltd in Morrinsville.

Looking through the impressive array of New Holland tractors and associated contracting gear at the businesses headquarters in Canada Street, a stone’s throw away from Morrinsville’s main thoroughfare, one gets the immediate impression that this is a successful, well-organised and efficiently tuned contracting company Kay Contracting was established in 2006, an existing business which the family purchased so their three sons could work in, have a share of ownership in and eventually take over.

Since starting the team has doubled, with two local seasonal employees and an oversees employee.

“We started with four tractors and two balers.

These days with the demand for our services growing we now have nine tractors and four balers, loader wagon for grass silage and various other implements, along with a truck and trailer.”

Business has grown to the point where the company has outgrown its premises so the decision has been made to soon build their own shed on the edge of Morrinsville township.

This season Judith says has been the hardest they have ever known. Very up and down weatherwise.

“It was either wet or dry and made my job extremely hard to organise. We are very lucky to have such understanding clients that made a very challenging time manageable.”

In a good season the bale count would be upward of 25,000 bales.

“For a time we weren’t doing undersowing but one of our loyal customers said he would use us if we had the gear so we went ahead and bought a seed drill. We also added the truck and trailer to the fleet.”

The business covers a 25km radius from Morrinsville and though there are other contractors in the area Judith says there is sufficient work to maintain the business at the level it has grown to.

“We are really pleased with where we have got to since establishing.

“It’s a busy and demanding industry to operate in and it is really nice that our children are so involved, doing what they most enjoy.”

From small beginnings, Morrinsville based Kay Contracting now runs a fleet of nine tractors, four balers, a loader wagon and truck and trailer unit.

Judith says the philosophy of supporting locally made product is an important one and one way this commitment is demonstrated is by purchasing locally made plastic wrap used for baling.

“As you can imagine the quality of wrap is very important. We buy our wrap from the only company in New Zealand who manufacture it, Auckland-based Integrated Packaging. They make wrap best suited for New Zealand conditions,” Judith explains.

While the boys are out servicing their rural clients’ needs, Judith takes care of the bookings and maintaining the company’s financial processes, as well as taking things out to the field if anything is needed and dinner at night. It is policy that at any time when the seasonal workers come on board one of the sons is always working alongside them.

Health and Safety is taken very seriously.

“Our fleet is valued at well over $1million and one of the reasons why we have been able to flourish is that we look after our drivers and maintain the gear to a high standard.”

During the quietier time Judith says she and Geoff are very lucky that they can have a break, leaving the business in the hands of their sons.

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“We are really pleased with where we have got to since establishing. It’s a busy and demanding industry to operate in and it is really nice that our children are so involved, doing what they most enjoy.”

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44 |

CONTRACTING » Jordaan Contracting Ltd

August 2017

Business Central

Contractor has the bases covered Sue Russell Japie Jordaan has been delivering rural contracting services in the Bay of Plenty since 2008. Initially his plan was to concentrate mainly on baleage and cultivation however Japie soon discovered that farmers prefer dealing with just one contractor who can supply a complete range of services.

“If you are only able to supply some of the services required in a season, a much larger base of clients is necessary to remain viable.

“I soon found opportunities existed to expand what I offered but to do that meant buying more gear” Japie says Jordaan Contracting Ltd (JCL) is based in Paengaroa, near Te Puke and covers a catchment stretching from Rotorua, Whakatane, to the Kaimai Ranges and reaches up to Katikati however the company’s main focus are the dairy farms around the Te Puke area.

The season normally gets underway in September with spraying out blocks to plant Maize.

Work continues through baling grass silage to harvesting of the Maize and re-grassing the crop paddocks in April / May. When the season provides surplus grass, it is baled and offered for sale during any lean times.

“The season just ended presented us with many challenges. Cold and wet was followed by a very dry spell and flooding thereafter.

“The harvesting was exceptionally challenging with heavy rain hampering the end part of the season.

“Along with this, farmers have tightened their belts after low-pay out seasons restricting their contracting work to the absolute necessities.”

In the peak of the season Japie employs up to 12 drivers along with a mechanic to keep the fleet up to scratch and office staff so the admin stays up to date.

Five drivers are permanent with most of the seasonal drivers needed to carry the busy time being sourced from overseas, mainly Europe.

For the past three years, JCL has offered farmers the option of storing maize silage using an Ag-Bag system. Instead of silage being stacked in an ordinary stack or bunker the Ag-Bag acts like a large sausage into which the silage is packed and stored.

Over 20 years of research in Europe has proven that storing chopped silage and wet

In the peak of the season Bay of Plenty contractor Japie Jordaan Japie employs up to 12 drivers along with a mechanic to keep the fleet up to scratch.

feed in long, horizontal oxygen-deficient tubes until feed-out, will significantly reduce spoilage losses. It also produces an easily digestible highly nutritious feed that livestock prefer, which in turn contributes to cow productivity without expensive feed supplements.

The Ag-Bag system is the dairy farmer’s ultimate, efficient harvesting and feed-out solution.

There is no time wasted with sight preparation, rolling a stack, doing coverings with tyres or oxygen face spoilage including valuable nutrients seeping away.

Silage retains all it nutrients and is environmentally friendly as there is no leaching into the surrounds.

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When harvesting, the bagged silage-pressing machine compacts and covers silage crop all at the same time. The airtight environment prevents growth of aerobic bacteria, molds and insect damage.

Farmers that have used the Ag-Bag system are very pleased with it and would not return to the old way of doing things.

During the winter months, the company is kept busy repairing races and roadways, clearing drains and culverts, along with some digger work.

“We have some earth moving contracts to carry on with too. There is a large amount of maintenance work that is carried out to ready the equipment for the new season,” says Japie.

“We strive to have the most up to date equipment and a willing attitude to work together with farmers to get what is needed done.”

As for the future Japie says his main concern is to ensure that we continue to offer our clients top quality service and we will do everything possible to achieve this.

“We strive to have the most up to date equipment and a willing attitude to work together with farmers to get what is needed done.”

CONTRACTING » Jordaan Contracting Ltd

Business Central August 2017

| 45

Maize harvesting is a major part of the business for Te-Puke based Jordaan Contracting Ltd.

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46 |

CONTRACTING » GB Contracting

August 2017

Business Central

Expanding business reflects demand Sue Russell Greg Burnand has been in the business of supplying agricultural contracting services for 30 years but has stepped that side of his busy life up several notches in the last 10 to 12 years.

Based at Alton, 10 kilometres or so north of Patea, in the South Taranaki district, GB Contracting initially concentrated on doing round bales, cultivation and drilling, however as demand for services grew the business has stepped up several notches in the last 10-12 years.

These days GB Contracting has a fleet of 10 tractors, two round balers, one Combi baler wrapper, two loader wagons for pit silage, three swathers, two tedders, two bale wrappers, plough, two sets of discs – a Disc drill and a 6.3 metre roller drill – powerharrow and a self- designed 7m set of Dutch Harrows.

Latest purchases include a Claas 850 tractor with a strip till and cultivator three metres wide which makes for one pass cultivation, and plant suitable for maize and fodder beet.

Another tractor, a Claas Xerion with a 9.3 metre mower which is rather unique for this area as the cab lifts up and turns 180 degrees.

“I’ve been very pleased with how the company has evolved over three decades.

“It’s a competitive business and requires a massive capital investment,” Greg says.

He puts his success largely down to taking good care of the fleet.

“I am running three 20 year old tractors that are still 100%.

“We do as much maintenance as we can but we also have a very good independent guy who does our tractor and machinery repair based at Hawera.”

When Business North spoke with Greg the busy contracting programme was more or less over for the season, giving him time to concentrate on his dairy unit.

“One full time driver assists on the dairy unit when it is the contracting quiet time, supplementing this, Greg employs 7 or 8 seasonal drivers, three of them highly competent women operators.

“Anyone wanting to work in this sort of job must have had some previous experience on tractors.”

To be a successful, Greg says a contractor

A Claas above: A Claas Xerion tractor, with a cab that rotates 180 degrees is part of Greg Burnand’s fleet of 10 tractors. His company, G B Contracting, supplies a wide range of agricultural services to the South Taranaki area. needs a sound philosophy to approach the work from and a very good knowledge of what each job requires.

For Greg, having the farm brings a balance.

He describes contracting as ‘the other side of farming and the two go hand-in-hand’, though

acknowledges being a farmer and a contractor is not really a good mix.

“As a contractor bale numbers pay the bills but as a farmer that has to feed out what we bale I would rather feed out 800kg plus bales than have to feed out extra at a smaller/lighter size.

“People often ask me how many bales we do annually, but honestly I have no idea as I stipulate to my staff that it is quality of the bales not quantity.”

Greg started making wrapped bales long before bale wrap was available.

“We used to put them in black plastic tubes and always thought we were on to something good.

You are doing your work to the best of your ability and there’s real satisfaction gained from seeing a crop doing well and take interest in how our silage bales and bulk turn out.

“We tend to concentrate on a reasonably small area, north to Hawera, 25 kilometres away, south up to about 15km south and the farming strip between the bush and the coast, so a lot of the time we are driving past work we have done.”

Greg also runs a dairy unit with his partner Janine. Greg helps with the morning milking while Janine milks the 220 cows on her own in the afternoon if Greg is busy with contracting.

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Business Central August 2017

CONTRACTING » Richmond Contractors

| 47

Making hay on the Kapiti Coast Richard Loader Making hay while the sun shines is what Kapiti Coast agricultural contractor Tom Richmond loves to do.

It gets in your blood—like you’re injected with diesel or a certain colour tractor when you’re born.

“You either love it or you don’t,” says Tom. “Our main focus is hay and baleage.

“We’ve got a 10 tonne digger and do the odd driveway, building sites and little bit of forestry track maintenance. We also do a bit of truck transport.”

Trading as Richmond Contractors Te Horo Ltd, Tom’s been contracting for twenty years now, just shy of half his life.

He’s noticed a lot of changes over the years, particularly in the general profile of his typical customer base.

The rate of change has been accelerated over the last five years with the ongoing development of motorways and freeways making the commute from Wellington quicker and easier.

Reduced travel time to and from the city has meant that rural living has become an attractive alternative to the more expensive city living.

With demand comes supply and many larger farms in Te Horo have been broken up into lifestyle blocks.

The ratio between larger farm holdings and smaller lifestyle units 20 years ago might have been 60/40; whiles it’s now somewhere around 20/80.

With a different customer base comes challenges and something of a logistical nightmare for contractors, particularly when haymaking is very much at the mercy of unpredictable weather gods.

“Once upon a time it would have been normal to have spent all day mowing the grass and making hay for a single farmer.

“These days it’s nothing to attend to 13 - 20 10-acre blocks all on the same road and all on the same day,” explains Tom. He says that in the early days when the

Hay and baleage is the main focus for Richmond Contractors.

lifestylers first moved in they had an expectation that you could just turn up.

“A lot of people just didn’t understand that they had to wait until we were in the area to make it viable for me and cost effective to them to have their grass processed.”

Tom explains that in today’s value he has to

move about a million dollars worth of machinery by the time each process goes through the paddock just to get 40 bales of square baleage from a small holding.

He says that the investment in the gear is a critical success factor that ensures customers get a good job done efficiently and that they get the

product they want without the gear breaking down in the paddock and spilling oil everywhere.

“I appreciate people’s concern for their product. And I care that people get their product how they want it,” says Tom. “Word of mouth within the lifestyle block community is the best way to retain customers.”

“Once upon a time it would have been normal to have spent all day mowing the grass and making hay for a single farmer.”

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48 |

CONTRACTING » Langsford N & G Contracting

August 2017

Business Central

A growing reputation and client base Karen Phelps Cambridge based Langsford N & G Contracting has continued to grow since owners Nick Russo and Georgie Barnett took over the business in 2013. Part of the success is due to the company’s long history.

Nick and Georgie were operating their own rural contracting company, N & G Contracting, when they amalgamated it with Langsford Contracting, a company that had been in operation for over three decades. Georgie says this has meant that Langsford N & G Contracting has become a trusted name in the region as it completes work for many long-standing clients.

The highly experienced team is another point in the company’s favour.

Langsford N & G Contracting employs around 22 full time staff plus trusted and experienced operators in the high season.

Nick says this means a wealth of knowledge – one staff member has been with the company for over 20 years.

Based in Cambridge, Langsford N & G Contracting offers a wide range of services to both rural clients and other contractors. The company’s agricultural services encompass groundwork such as aerating, seed sowing, discing, power harrowing, rotary hoeing and deep ripping. They have a roll seeder, drill seeders and an air seeder attachment on the power harrow.

The company also offers a range of round baling services including mowing and turning of hay or silage, with four stand-alone balers and three stand-alone wrappers.

Two McHale Fusion 3 integrated bale wrappers purchased within the past two years can turn out round bales wrapped in plastic in one smooth process.

During the silage/hay season the company buys standing grass, also offering a 50/50 deal with clients where the company mows, turns and bales the grass for no charge but then keeps 50 per cent. November through to June/July they sell silage, hay and conventional bales.

Langsford N & G Contracting also offer conventional baling and one thing that sets the company apart is its Arcusin stacker, which picks up bales stacking them in lots of 10, 12 or 14. The couple say that this is vastly superior to picking up the bales individually by hand and means one labour unit can do the job.

Langsford N & G Contracting, based in Cambridge offers a range of baling services, including conventional baling, using its Arcusin stacker, which picks up bales and stacks them in lots of 10, 12, or 14.

The company offers a unique service aimed at asparagus growers where Langsford N & G Contracting has a specialised plough that pulls asparagus rows.

A team of experienced fencers can also meet the needs of the rural, residential and commercial sector.

Langsford N & G Contracting also offers trucking services and has a fleet of six wheel tip trucks, tipping trailers and flat deck trailers to supply and cart materials such as bales, sand, metal, rock, palm kernel, maize and topsoil for customers.

Both Nick and Georgie are involved in the

day to day running of the business along with two office staff members ensuring all jobs run smoothly. Langsford N & G Contracting is a member of Rural Contractors NZ.

The couple aim to keep growing the company’s well-established customer base and good reputation throughout the region by offering reliable and excellent service to their customers.

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Business Central August 2017

CONTRACTING » Langsford N & G Contracting

| 49

Two McHale Fusion 3 integrated bale wrappers purchased recently by Langsford N & G Contracting can turn out round bales wrapped in plastic in one smooth process.

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50 |

CONTRACTING » Paremata Pools / SG Pools

August 2017

Business Central

High-end pools a growing market Sue Russell

Paremata Swimming Pool Builders installs on-site, custom built fibreglass swimming pools, servicing Wellington, the Kapiti Coast and Palmerston North.

Pools with watertight reputation Richard Loader With 45 years in the business of keeping its customers cool, Paremata Swimming Pool Builders has established a watertight reputation as the ‘go-to’ people for on-site custom built fibreglass swimming pools.

With a staff of three, including two qualified builders and a qualified fibreglass applicator, no job is too big or too small and customers include private owners, motels, hotels, commercial premises and schools.

In addition to new installations, pool renovation work such as the re-glassing and re-colouring of aging or damaged pools, including old concrete, vinyl or fibreglass pools, forms a large part of Paremata Swimming Pools core operation.

Based in the heart of Paremata, the business services the Wellington and Kapiti Coast regions and, more recently, Palmerston North.

At the helm of the business is managing director Jeff Cochrane.

A qualified builder by trade, Jeff liked the look of swimming pools so much when he was building that he jumped at the opportunity to purchase a Mayfair Pool Agency in 1976.

Mayfair Pools are a fibreglass product custom built onsite according to the customer’s preferences by trained designers, constructors and fibreglass applicators.

“Mayfair is a well established business based in Hawke’s Bay that’s been around for 45 years,” says Jeff.

“They provide high quality resins and gelcoats to make the fibreglass and require a qualified builder to construct the framing of the pool before it’s fibre glassed on site.”

Jeff explains that with every pool installation he personally meets with the client to establish their needs and what they want from a pool experience, establishing important details like where the sunsets in the afternoon.

Because Jeff is still a licensed builder, he and his team can also build decking around the pool and pump sheds.

Landscaping, fencing, paving and project management can be built into the scope of works if need be.

A strong advocate for pool covers to ensure temperature retention, whether for an inside or outside pool, Jeff developed a system for hiding the cover under the decking at the end of the pool.

“I hate seeing photos of houses for sale with a horrible cover sitting at the end on a roller. There is nothing worse than seeing the cover.”

Jeff cautions pool owners about the risk of hydrostatic pressure causing damage to their pool when being emptied for cleaning or maintenance.

“Hydrostatic damage is caused by the water pressure in the ground. When you empty the pool, if there’s ground water pressure it can pop the pool out of the hole. These days many insurance companies exclude damage resulting from hydrostatic damage.”

Mayfair pools are typically installed with hydrostatic valves for when the pool is being emptied but Jeff says the pool should still be emptied under expert supervision.

Since forming SG Pools nearly a year ago Brendon Sims co-director of the Napier based company says business has been very positive.

Concentrating on building high-end pools throughout Hawke’s Bay Brendon and Clint Godber have secured a growing niche and currently have work on their books to carry them well through the winter months.

“I’ve been involved with building pools for more than three decades and when I decided to go out on my own I had good reasons to feel that I could offer our customers a great service,” Brendon says.

With Clint in the role of project managing Brendon concentrates on running the company, quoting and designing new pool builds, and advising customers on various pool treatment options.

SG Pools offers a complete service, from digging the hole, through to fencing and landscaping and Brendon says one of the key reasons the company has established itself well in such a short space of time is that this capability appeals to clients.

“Customers don’t want to have to deal with too many people and they want to know there is one person responsible for the entire build and this is exactly what we offer.”

These days overwhelmingly fibreglass is the material of choice for pools. Apart from its long-wearing performance pools built using fibreglass are capable of withstanding the odd earth-rumbles Hawke’s Bay is noted for.

“Concrete is rigid in nature and doesn’t have the ability to flex the way fibreglass can.

“It’s (fibreglass) also so much easier to maintain in top condition for years after a pool has been built.”

The company only uses premium fibreglass resins and products proven to perform well.

More and more as business settles in Brendon says SG Pools is aiming at the top end of the market.

There are other reasons why SG Pools is performing well against its competition in the Bay as Brendon explains.

“Customers don’t want to have to deal with too many people and they want to know there is one person responsible for the entire build and that is exactly what we offer.”

“Unlike other fibreglass pools, SG Pools are custom-built to the owners’ plans so depth, step placement and shape can be anything you dream up. We’ve also deliberately kept away from the pool servicing side and don’t have a shop to manage so we keep our overheads low, instead concentrating on designing and building great pools to fit any size section and can focus our efforts on our clients needs without other distractions.”

Most of the pools the company has so far built have been in the Havelock North, Taradale and Westshore areas.

One factor Brendon says customers really appreciate is the flexibility the company offers in terms of the overall end outcome of a project.

“Sometimes it is difficult for people to visualise exactly how they want the pools’ surrounding space to be and often plans change during the building process. We don’t have things set in stone in terms of landscaping and with our years of experience are able to offer good advice along the way.”

When Business North Central spoke with Brendon work on a new pool in Clive, by the river had just got underway.

“We pride ourselves on the quality of our finish. We only use qualified professionals and our building systems are scientifically based. I’d be the first to say our pools aren’t the cheapest around but we have found our clients have come to us by word of mouth, knowing that we will deliver a beautiful pool that will maintain its condition very well.”

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Business Central August 2017

CONTRACTING » SG Pools

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| 51

52 |

FORESTRY » Stubbs Contractors

August 2017

Business Central

Machines take over high-risk tasks Kelly Deeks As the logging industry continues to track a significant innovation curve in mechanisation, developing machinery to get workers out of high risk situations, East Coast logging contractor Stubbs Contractors is developing its own business alongside new innovations and new equipment.

Company founder Robert Stubbs has been in the logging industry for 20 years, and during that time has seen huge changes around health and safety and technology.

“And it will continue to change,” he says.

“We’ll get to a point where operators will be sitting in a container driving their machines in front of a screen.”

He says the industry has been in a bad space during the past few years with workplace injuries and deaths, and is now making a huge push to try to reform high risk tasks.

“Tree falling and breaking out, which is gathering the logs and hauling them out of the forest, are the most dangerous jobs in the logging industry,” he says.

“So the big push within New Zealand is on designing innovative equipment to do those high risk tasks with machines.”

One example is the steep slope harvester, a huge step forward towards achieving safety on the slopes. Robert says three New Zealand companies have developed their own steep slope harvesters, and these are now starting to be exported around the world.

Robert is playing his part in the industry safety drive, as the local board member for the Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA) and a member of the operational advisory group for the Forest Industry Safety Council (FISC).

“FISC was set up three years ago to address the safety concerns of the industry in the workplace,” he says.

Improvements in technology and health and safety in the logging industry are aimed at reforming high-risk tasks and reducing workplace injuries and deaths.

“That safety council and the operational advisory group are doing a lot of work in these areas of high risk tasks.”

FISC is now setting up new tree faller certification and contractor certification in a bid to get employers and employees thinking about a new safety culture environment and changing the safety culture within their companies for the better.

“We all have to take responsibility for our own actions within the workplace,” says Robert.

“These new initiatives from FISC will help to make sure all the systems and support are in place within the working environment and the business you work in, which gives the employee all the support and mechanisation he needs to be safe within his role.”

Stubbs Contractors runs a team of 30 staff

D.J. McIntosh Logging & Earthworks Ltd.

in four crews, three haul crews and one ground based crew.

Robert says that the market is currently very strong, with China’s construction industry still holding its own, export prices extremely good, and the ‘Wall of Wood’ planted in the 1990s now maturing and ready for harvest over the next 10 to 15 years.

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AUTO ELECTRICAL SERVICE, PARTS & BATTERIES Proud of our association with Stubbs Contractors Ltd 159 Carnarvon Street, Gisborne Phone 06 868 8012 (24 Hours) • Mobile 027 481 3593

Business Central August 2017

FORESTRY » Valintine Logging

| 53

Timber deep rooted in Tom’s DNA Karen Phelps There was never any other career choice for Tom Valintine – his grandfather and father had both worked in the timber industry and so it was no surprise when Tom left school he decided to join his father’s sawmilling business.

Now nearly 50 years later his own son has joined Tom in the business he started as an offshoot of his father’s company – Valintine Logging.

“Dad started his sawmilling company – Valintine Sawmilling – in 1946. At peak it employed over 30 staff,” says Tom. “When he retired and sold the business I carried on the logging side of things and started Valintine Logging in 1994,” he says.

Today Tom is joined by wife Marian and son Chris in the business.

Based at Inglewood, Valintine Logging buys and sells woodlots – either direct or through a log broker.

The company takes care of the whole process for clients, who are mainly farmers, from harvest to sale.

Tom also manages numerous forestry blocks where farmers supply the land, Valintines plants, prunes and harvests the trees then shares the profits.

It can be challenging work as plantations ideally take 25 years to mature, which can see farms change ownership or be carved up for sale.

Valintine Logging also weathers the ups and downs of the market over these periods and Tom says that favourable timber prices as well as the increased interest in the aesthetics of farms and environmental concerns has seen interest in forestry blocks pick up.

Valintine Logging can assist farmers with registering the forestry block for carbon credits.

The company covers the Taranaki region and further afield depending on the job or opportunity.

Tom says it is the company’s longevity in the industry and the experience that brings that makes the difference. It employs a small, talented team with a lot of industry experience totalling well over 100 years.

Valintine Logging also takes a hard line on safety and Tom says it is about keeping communication lines open, taking the appropriate measures and

A chip off the old block: Like his grandfather and father before him, Tom Valintine left school to work in the timber industry. He started Valentine Logging in 1994. The Inglewood company buys and sells woodlots, taking care of the process from harvest to sale. Valintine Logging also manages forest blocks, where farmers supply the land and Valintines plants, prunes and harvests the trees then shares the profits. time to do each part of the job properly and address any concerns.

Everything is meticulously planned and training is key so that everyone knows the expectations, says Tom. The company has had no accidents in 23 years.

Valintine Logging harvests and prepares the logs on site with a range of equipment including excavators, a static de-limber for removing limbs from trees and a four-axle forwarder to transport logs to a waiting truck. It works in with companies such as McCarthy Transport.

Work is steady for the business.

Tom is on the job working alongside the crew

“It’s always an interesting job and you are constantly meeting new people. We have served several generations of the same family and that’s a great feeling.” while Marian takes care of the administrative aspects of the business.

The couple’s other son Blair runs his own logging company called Valintine Contracting and the two companies have been known to work together on larger contracts.

Tom reflects that working in the timber industry has been a good life.

“It’s always an interesting job and you are constantly meeting new people.

“We have served several generations of the same family and that’s a great feeling.”

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54 |

HORTICULTURE » Motts Premium Produce

August 2017

Business Central

DIY harvester boon for parsnip grower Sue Russell Growing veges is certainly in the blood for Jeremy Mott, who operates Motts Premium Produce at Karioi, off SH 49 between Ohakune and Waiouru.

While just up the road his aunt and uncle grow carrots Jeremy’s passion lies with growing swedes and parsnips.

“We have always been here. Our washer shed was built 33 years ago and the area we grow in is perfect for swedes and parsnips,” Jeremy says.

These days all up about 55 hectares of these crops are grown, supplemented by a small amount of barley at times. In terms of volumes 500 tonne of parsnips are harvested for market each year along with 250 tonne of swedes. The focus, Jeremy explains, is on growing premium grade parsnips, however a range of grades of parsnips are harvested each season with badly marked or twisted ones destined for stock feed.

“Since taking over six years ago our tonnage has increased. Before I started we hand-picked and it was very labour intensive so I set about designing and building a harvester in 2013 in our workshop, based on principles similar to the way carrots are harvested.”

When Jeremy’s father Craig decided he wanted to concentrate on farming the family’s 150 hectare sheep and beef farming operations on two separate blocks, Jeremy assumed control of the day to day operation of the market garden.

Having the harvester has meant that parsnip wastage has been drastically reduced. It also meant a complete change in the way the staff worked. Instead of spending time harvesting then time washing and grading, the bulk of time is now spent indoors assessing and grading the vegetables; a much more efficient and effective way to produce maximum yield.

“We supply quite a few different markets but our biggest and long-term customer is Foodstuffs Fresh North Island. Most goes to Auckland from where it is distributed to the Foodstuffs’ chain of supermarkets.

When asked about the cycle of growing, tending

Vegetable grower Jeremy Mott, of Motts Premium Produce, says the company harvests about 500 tonne of parsnips and 250 tonne of swedes annually.

Their biggest customer is Foodstuffs Fresh North Island. for, harvesting and marketing their crops Jeremy says he doesn’t get much down-time though in March there is the opportunity to slow down a little.

Planting begins in September, working the ground up the previous month, then from September through November crops are planted with some additional swedes also planted in December. Harvesting begins mid to late February.

January and February cyclones didn’t help with parsnips tops battered and fungal diseases affecting the roots.

Mum Kandy describes the parsnip as a sexy vege, experiencing growing interest from the hospitality industries towards its use in fine cuisine,

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while swedes have gone largely under the radar.

This is changing though, with more TV chefs and food magazines reminding people of the versatility of the swede for summer and winter dishes.

“We add value for the consumer by providing recipes on our packaging and our website, after all, if people don’t know how to eat them, how can we expect people to buy them.”

Overall Motts Premium Produce plants over a 200 hectare area, using land it leases, to support healthy crop rotation and soil fertility.

“We try to keep the ground clean and not allow bugs to grow,” says Jeremy.

Helping Jeremy are three other full-time workers.

Henry Te Huia has been with the business 25 years and manages the pack house staff, while Jeremy focuses on filling orders. On top of this a further eight to 10 seasonal workers assist from March through September.

Two years ago the company began supplying Nelson based healthy food processing company Proper Crisps. Parsnips are sent directly to the processing plant in Nelson where they are turned into delicious and healthy Parsnip Crisps.

“For those who don’t think they like parsnips, I can only say try these crisps, sold in supermarkets and independent stores all over the country in 100 gm bags. They are absolutely delicious.”

Business Central August 2017

HORTICULTURE » Southern Belle Orchard

| 55

Feijoas a family affair at Matamata orchard Sue Russell Life at Southern Belle Orchard in Hinuera, near Matamata, is full of variety for the de Jong family Frans and Tineke de Jong moved to New Zealand from their home in Holland in 2003 tempted and intrigued by the taste of our feijoas.

Carrying a chemistry background and having run a successful testing laboratory for many years in Holland, Frans, along with Tineke – who had practiced as a florist and enjoyed gardening – were drawn to this less crowded country.

By combining their skills and passion the couple found their niche and calling using biological methods on their 5.05 ha orchard.

Track forward to 2013 and their son Talbert joined the family business bringing his partner Emily into the mix.

“My job is to do the marketing. We have a very successful B & B on the orchard and along with the produce we grow we also offer the opportunity for visitors interested in our fully biological approach to see our operation in action,” Emily says.

Building relationships with organic produce shops and marketers has also been a focus for Emily, along with maintaining Southern Belle Orchard’s engaging website and facebook page.

“I recently became an editor of a global Feijoa face-book fan page and it has been a really exciting way to promote the fruit around the world.”

Southern Belle Orchard not only has 3000 feijoa trees across 14 varieties but has an extensive greenhouse with a unique heating system, developed by Frans, where capsicums and chillies are grown. Instead of using sprays biological methods and beneficial insects are used to control pests and diseases and to feed the growing plants.

“Capsicums are vulnerable to a lot of pests and many growers would be spraying a lot to control these,” says Emily.

“We don’t grow this way. Instead we introduce a lot of predatory insects into our greenhouse and we have a big growing medium incorporating pumice with each plant in its own pot into which we add a lot of beneficial micro-organisms and seaweed to create a well-balanced soil.”

The system is fully recycling so nothing is leached, all nutrient solution that the plants do not use returns to a tank to be re-used.

This return water is analysed every month to ensure the plants are getting the right level of nutrients and micro-nutrients.

A unique heating system in the greenhouse again runs counter to standard practice.

While most greenhouses have hot water pipes along the ground, where a lot of the heat doesn’t get to the plant itself, the de Jongs have created a much more efficient system, as Emily explains.

“My father-in-law invented a polystyrene heating tunnel system underneath the plants. Hot air enters the tunnels via a heat exchanger from a burner that uses recycled, cleaned oil.

“The hot air keeps the roots warm and small holes in the polystyrene under each pot allow warm air to rise up through the plant.”

Talbert came from a dairy farming background to join the family business bringing strong inventive skills with him.

Even the feijoa orchard outside is structured differently from the norm. Instead of growing as individual trees the plants have been trained to run along wires, similar to grape vines, allowing for a lot more trees per hectare to be successfully grown and less labour for picking and pruning.

Come November and December the orchard has an abundance of flowers which are pollinated by birds.

From the end of March to mid-June additional staff are employed for the harvest.

When it is time for pollination of the feijoa trees birds are used rather than relying on bees.

Tineke de Jong (middle), Emily Mees and Albert de Jong share a joke in the feijoa orchard (above), while Emily and Albert grade the fruit in the packing house.

Collaboration between other producers of top quality feijoas has resulted in the establishment of the brand Zeijoa.

Emily says it’s a good way for those striving to promote the fruit overseas and to ensure the quality remains high to pool resources.

“It’s the second season we have exported

through the Zeijoa group and it has gone really well, exporting fruit to Singapore and finding our products on to Australian supermarket shelves.”

You can follow orchard life on their Facebook page and Frans, Tineke, Talbert and Emilly would love to see you at the Hamilton or Tauranga farmers markets.

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56 |

HORTICULTURE » Sunfruit Group

August 2017

Business Central

Packhouse future proofing pipfruit Richard Loader Twelve thousand square metres of pipfruit packhouse and coolstorage being built on Hawke’s Bay’s Irongate industrial precinct for Sunfruit Group will be operating by the start of the 2018 pipfruit season.

The future-proofed development, which will extend to 25,000sqm within three years, will be the first pipfruit packhouse facility built in the Hawke’s Bay for 15 years.

Sunfruit Group is an export and domestic supply focused business comprised of three separate companies: Sunfruit Orchards Ltd, Sunfruit Pack and Cool Ltd and, its export business—Pickme Fruit Company.

Perfectly located for transport, the packhouse will be five minutes south of Hastings, close to orchards and the Hawke’s Bay Expressway to Napier Port.

Family owned and managed, Sunfruit Group owns 15 orchards and one existing packhouse in Hawke’s Bay. It also owns three orchards and a packhouse in Waikato.

With fertile plains and long sunshine hours, Hawke’s Bay has long had a reputation for being the ‘fruit bowl of New Zealand’.

Sunfruit Group’s investment, well in excess of $15m, for the new development, reaffirms Hawke’s Bay’s reputation and Sunfruit Group’s confidence in the pipfruit industry, predicted to grow by 19 per cent in the 2019 season.

Completion of the new packhouse will generate 50 new jobs and this is likely to increase over the next two to three years. The existing packinghouse and coolstore in Hasting will be retained, along with its workers.

Development of the new facility will occur in several stages within the next three years, with stage one being the 12,000sqm building. Further stages will be added as demand for coolstorage increases.

Managing Director of Sunfruit Group, John Altham says that the new packhouse will have a throughput capacity of 100,000 bins of pipfruit.

The company expects to pack between 45,000 and 50,000 bins in the first season.

“The development will enable us to have control of our own fruit,” says Altham. “We have been using other packhouses in Hawke’s Bay and transporting quite a lot to our Hamilton packhouse.

Now, we won’t be trucking to Hamilton and all our fruit will be packed in our own shed.”

Supplying freshly packed fruit to New Zealand supermarkets every day was another key reason for the Group’s decision to build a substantial purpose built packinghouse.

“The new packhouse will enable us to provide top of line food safety and compliance,” Althem says. “No fruit will be graded or packed outside and I have appointed a technical manager to look after

“The new packhouse will enable us to provide top of the line food safety and compliance.” that part of the business. It’s critical for us.”

Modern technology, robotics and automation of some of the more menial tasks will all be part of a turnkey solution when the building is completed in January 2018.

An electronic infrared grading system will sort 44 individual grades of fruit from each bin, maximising the value out of each bin of apples and ensuring each customer gets the right grades of fruit.

“About 2400 fruit a minute go through the scanner and get graded,” explains Altham. “It’s a significant advancement on the old technology currently used in New Zealand” Sunfruit Group is building a new 12,000sqm packhouse and coolstore in Hawke’s Bay to cater for predicted growth in the pipfruit industy. The new packhouse will have a capacity to process 100,000 bins of fruit and it is expected between 45,000 and 50,000 bins will be packed in its first season. At a cost of more than $15 milliion, the facility will be operational for the 2018 season.

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Business Central August 2017

HORTICULTURE » A&W Yung Ltd

| 57

Horticulturalist keeps pace with the times Sue Russell Kapiti Coast horticulturalist Andrew Yung has been in the business of growing veges for 40 years.

Today, looking back on that journey Andrew says he’s seen a lot of change, some of it positive, some of it not so. “I guess my biggest concern is in the overall quality of product finding its way on to supermarket shelves. This has been driven in part by the way veges are marketed, large scale at a fixed price for consumers,” Andrew says.

“Whereas years ago, a consumer could choose from a range of sizes of say, cabbages, to suit their needs, these days the production has been homogenised to ensure that all products pretty much are the same, with the same price,” he says.

“I think it’s taken away something of real value to consumers given the key-driver for supermarkets in particular is to have consistent quantity passing through.”

Andrew’s garden is based in Te Horo, between Waikanae and Otaki, though he started out growing on land in Otaki.

These days that area has been largely overtaken by life-style blocks but at one time, the rich alluvial soils grew a substantial amount of produce destined for Wellington and further afield.

The Te Horo plot has been operating for 33 years now and Andrew has created a niche specialising in growing Florence Fennel, a small amount of Celeriac (also called turnip-rooted celery), and Chinese veges.

The main-stay veges before this were tomatoes, spring onions, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce before concentrating on lettuce and celery alone.

“I’ve looked for crops I can handle. I went from labour intensive crops to crops that grew intensively. I grow upward of 50,000 celery and lettuce plants per hectare to maximise my income from the land.”

Andrew says it became necessary to specialise and the big change came when supermarkets wanted to buy off one or two supply growers.

“Another major change in my lifestyle was that I used to only market our produce in Wellington.

“Our products were always in relatively good demand, enough for me to sustain the business.

“In times of over-supply we basically forced our local competitor growers to market their produce in other regions. However, because we are now growing niche crops, we now need to send produce further afield.”

These days there are not so many growers active in Andrew’s region, with a shift in growers moving to Levin, however he has no regrets about buying and developing the plot of land he is on.

“It is north facing and it is a frost free piece of land. That alone gives me a huge advantage. I have seen frosts to within 200m from my garden.”

When he first dabbled in growing fennel he produced five boxes a week then the explosion in interest came from the restaurant and hospitality sector. “They got interested in us because we could guarantee good quantities of fennel. We produce 52 weeks a year with a 6.5 day working week. My wife and a loyal worker who has been with me for 35 years manage to make this work.”

And a tip for the consumer about keeping celery in top condition in the fridge: “When you have bought it, and its best to buy it whole, wet it and put it in a plastic bag.”

Andrew Yung has created a niche specialising in growing Florence Fennel, a small amount of Celeriac, and Chinese vegetables.

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58 |

PRODUCTION » Settlers Honey

August 2017

Business Central

Next step for flourishing honey firm Karen Phelps Settlers Honey will soon have complete control of its honey from harvest to final product.

The company is in the process of building a packing line at its extraction facility on Makowhai Station at Ngamatapouri.

Company business development manager Bryn Hudson says that the move will create efficiencies for the business in addition to giving it more control over its product.

It will also see the company employ six to ten additional staff. The company also invested in its own extraction facility and is in the process of building a second facility to meet demand.

Settlers Honey was started in 2009 by Henry Matthews, the fourth generation of Matthews and Haddow families to farm at Ngamatapouri.

Traditionally a sheep and beef farming operation, Henry diversified and began a beekeeping enterprise to harvest honey from the regenerating manuka on the farms.

The business now comprises a series of farms but the original farm, Makowhai Station, came into family ownership in when Henry’s great grandfather Joseph George Haddow travelled up the Waitotara River in a canoe. It now comprises 22000 acres of sheep and beef country, native bush and manuka.

Settlers Honey now has 10,000 hives and aims to increase this figure to 15,000 by the end of next season. Not all hives are located on Settlers Honey farms.

Bryn says that Settlers Honey has developed working relationships with land owners around the North Island and hives are shifted to the different locations as the Manuka comes into flower.

Settlers Honey is looking to engage with new landowners and build sustainable relationships for the purpose of honey production in the summer and nurturing bee health in the winter. Importantly each jar of honey can be traced back to the honey site it was sourced from with each hive GPS registered.

Although this is becoming increasingly important for the local market it will also stand the

Settlers Honey now has 10,000 hives and aims to increase this figure to 15,000 by the end of next season. company in good stead as it investigates export opportunities, says Bryn.

In an unregulated market for manuka honey, Settlers Honey manuka honey product is tested to determine quality.

The Molan Gold Standard is a New Zealand government accepted certification mark that

appraises the natural marker methylglyoxal found in Manuka honey and assures purity and quality.

All Settlers Honey manuka honey products have the Molan Gold Standard to give consumers full confidence that what they are purchasing has an accurate, scientifically conducted measurement of the claimed methylglyoxal content, says Bryn.

He welcomes the government’s moves to regulate the industry and define exactly what can be called manuka honey.

Bryn says growing market competition, two poor seasons in terms of weather and issues of overstocking of hives in certain areas are key challenges to the business.

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Business Central August 2017

PRODUCTION » Settlers Honey / Glenmore Farm

Paul and Marie Renton - enjoying their success.

| 59

Photo: Kate Taylor

First time entrants take title Karen Phelps

Settlers Honey has developed working relationships with land owners around the North Island and hives are shifted to the different locations as the Manuka comes into flower Each jar of honey can be traced back to the honey site it was sourced from with each hive GPS registered.

He says the industry is determining what stocking rates are appropriate for a sustainable industry, something that was up for discussion at the recent Apiculture Conference.

The new Settlers Honey packing facility is earmarked to be up and running later this year.

Settlers Honey offers a Makowhai Native Blend

and a range of manuka honey products. A small amount is sold through the company store in Heads Road, Whanganui but the majority is supplied to Masterton based Watson & Son. Bryn says the company is branching out into new products and is set to launch manuka honey lozenges.

First time entrants to the Silver Fern Farms Hawke’s Bay Farmer of the Year competition, Paul and Marie Renton, have been judged the winners of this year’s event. The Rentons say the secret to their success has been attention to detail and in particular focusing on monitoring and recording, matching feed demand and supply, resource management and getting good people around them.

The Rentons farm at Mangatahi, west of Hastings, on Glenmore, a farm that has been in Paul’s family for five generations since 1859. Marie also grew up on a farm in Wairoa.

Paul and Marie took over Glenmore from Paul’s parents, John and Margaret, in 1996 and this is their seventh season as a full finishing property after converting from breeding.

The reason for the shift in their farming operation was to help drought-proof the farm by diversifying their operation. “This gives us more flexibility with our stocking policy as we can match our feed demand and supply,” explains Paul.

The Rentons farming business is comprised of three main parts. Around 2000 mixed-sex lambs are finished over winter-spring and 1500 in summer. The deer operation sees 700-750 weaners bought each year for finishing. The cattle operation comprises 350-400 bulls, bought each year as calves or yearlings, as well as 350-400 R2 bulls.

Another side to their operation is 32ha of forestry providing further diversification.

The climate is their biggest challenge – summer dry and wind prone. The 544ha property (481ha

effective) is half flat-to-rolling paddocks and half rolling-hill paddocks. The altitude ranges from 407 metres above sea level down to 234m with annual rainfall of around 900mm.

The Rentons have been using Farmax for around nine years, which Paul says has given them a good bank of valuable data so they can match feed supply to demand throughout the year.

Pasture management is also big focus. They have a 45ha bull beef techno system and generally favour rotational grazing as opposed to set stocking in their whole farming operation. They say this gives them more control enabling them to keep grass quality high and utilization maximized.

Marie’s passion is planting and designing where the trees will go on the farm. Paul says there is more potential to fence off waterways and for riparian planting. They also have plans for more subdivision, extending laneways, re-grassing and cultivating paddocks.

The Rentons have three children: Elsa, 23, Hugh, 21, and Zana, 16. Despite their diverse and busy farming operation the Rentons overall focus remains constant: striving for excellence in all their physical and environmental operations.

“You can never say you have farming sussed,” says Paul.

“You have to have your finger on the pulse all the time and be proactive and continue to do your best.

This award has shown us we are on the right track but we will keep striving for excellence because there are always things you can do better.

“We want to be successful at what we do and also to give our children the opportunities we had to succeed in life.”

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60 |

COMMUNITY » Taranaki Futures

August 2017

Business Central

Programmes link education to jobs Kelly Deeks Taranaki Futures connects education to employment through a variety of programmes designed to bridge the gap between the constantly evolving worlds and help educators and employers better understand how their worlds can most effectively work together.

Now in its fourth year, Taranaki Futures’ joint venture with Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT) Build a Bach is seeing the confidence of Taranaki construction industry students go up along with the walls of the building.

Since 2014, Build a Bach has provided from nine to 15 WITT students who are ready for work experience the opportunity to build an entire new building on a real life building site with health and safety protocols and timelines and high quality standards.

“This is learning that’s preparing them for an employment environment,” says Taranaki Futures general manager Warwick Foy. “The hardest thing for young people is they can’t find employment because they don’t have experience, and they can’t get experience because no one will let them near a building site.

“Our goal is driving towards employment and we’ve had very good results. Last year, seven out of nine students were employed, while the other two went off to do other things. We always get about eight out of 10 students employed.”

Taranaki Futures has drawn on its connections with community minded firms to help construction students gain that valuable work experience beyond the Build a Bach programme.

The local Carston Construction, Pepper Construction, and Clelands Construction have all become go to companies for Taranaki Futures, and others are now also helping out or showing an interest in helping out.

“These firms get access to skilled young men and women, and they just like to give back to the community,” Warwick says.

The 2017 bach, a 108sqm transportable home, is under construction on the WITT campus, is on the market and will be completed in November.

As well as Build a Bach, Taranaki Futures also provides an Accelerator Mentoring scheme, where this year 95 students spend an hour a day during term two in a workplace, and receive business mentoring and personal coaching around employability.

“They can learn a lot in an hour, and they can form very good relationships with employers who may offer internships or employment,” Warwick says.

“This year we’ve got anything and everything from the medical profession, we’ve got a fireman, builders obviously, a geopoliticist, and a baker who makes pancakes that go all over the world.”

Warwick says Taranaki Futures is now looking to open the lines of communication with educators.

Students work on building a 108sqm relocatable bach as part of scheme to prepare young Taranaki people for an employment environment.

“This is learning that’s preparing them for an employment environment.”

“Even our young people who go off to university are not necessarily work-ready,” he says.

“Employers have to extend their training for the workplace location. It’s not just about employment, but it’s so important, because everybody intends to be employed at the end of it.”

Taranaki Futures is now working with the large, urban, single sex New Plymouth Boys High School and the co-ed rural Opunake High School on the pilot of a financial capability project, with the aim of increasing the pupils’ financial competence.

“What we always come back to is, our kids get jobs.”

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Business Central August 2017

COMMUNITY » St Mary of the Angels

| 61

Parishioners ‘home’ after seismic work Karen Phelps After a $9.5m seismic strengthening project St Mary of the Angels catholic church in Wellington looks pretty much unchanged. It’s testament to a huge amount of effort that has gone into strengthening the historic building to ensure it is safe and preserved for future generations.

During the 2013 Seddon 6.5 earthquake the church was full of parishioners,which really brought home the urgency of ensuring the building was brought up to current earthquake standards, says parish priest Father Barry Scannell.

“We had been working on proposals to strengthen the church for some years but this made us decide to close the church and undertake a detailed engineering assessment,” he says.

Father Barry credits parishioner Brian McGuinness, managing director of construction company LT McGuinness Ltd, as an integral part of the success of the project. After having completed works on the church for decades prior, as well as being an active member, Brian had a unique understanding of both the building and the church and its needs to undertake these extensive building works, says Father Barry.

Prior to its strengthening, engineering consultants assessed the church to meet only 15 to 20 per cent of the New Building Standards. The Church is now close to 100% with the only visible signs of the work that has taken place being a shear wall at the front and back of the church.

The huge project was undertaken in two stages – stage one was the foundation work and shear walls and stage two the portals and roof. New foundation beams were introduced beneath new concrete shear walls and piles tied the beams to bedrock. A new concrete floor slab, with integral tie beams between the existing portal frames, has replaced the existing floor.

Above floor level, concrete shear walls were installed to the front and rear of the nave and also around the side chapel walls. The nave columns to the side chapels have been wrapped in carbon fibre to increase their strength.

At ceiling level the existing portals have been replaced with new concrete portals connected with steel beams running the length of the building.

Above the existing ceiling, cross-bracing has tied the portals together. A new copper roof has

Seismic strengthening has brought St Mary of the Angels catholic church in Wellington to close to 100 per cent of the building code. Work on the Gothic Revival church took over four years to complete at a cost of $9.5 million. replaced the existing roof along with a new gutter and downpipe system.

High degrees of craftsmanship have been required, says Father Barry, including crafting new columns, portals and arches. The whole building was laser scanned and moulds made to perfectly replicate original details.

Located on Boulcott Street, the church was

first opened on 26 March 1922. Designed by well-known architect Frederick de Jersey Clere, a specialist in the Gothic revival style, the church is of particular interest architecturally as it was the first time ferro-concrete was used for a church of Gothic design.

After navigating the difficulties of raising the funds for the project and operating from various

temporary locations for over four years while the works took place the church was re-opened on Holy Thursday prior to Easter.

“I used the metaphor that as we celebrated the resurrection of Easter this has been the resurrection of St Mary of the Angels,” says Father Barry Scannell.

“It’s fantastic that we are back home.”

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62 |

DEVELOPMENT » Incon Automation

August 2017

Business Central

Lack of space inspires development Richard Loader What started off being an exercise in cleaning out their garage and looking for a small warehouse to store company equipment, escalated into a fully blown property development for Hamilton business owners Simon and Stacey Smith.

Simon, managing director of Hamilton based electrical automation company, Incon Automation Ltd, says that he and Stacey initially looked at buying a couple of warehouse units and leasing one unit out.

“We looked for almost a year and couldn’t find anything,” Simon says.

“It’s absolutely crazy in Hamilton in the commercial property sector. So we decided to look for some land to buy.

“We were initially looking at buying 1000sqm but that eventually escalated to 3600sqm of prime commercial real estate in Hamilton.”

While the original plan was to give Incon Automation a bit more storage space, that idea evolved into a long-term family investment project.

Located on 143 Mauri Street and backing onto Te Rapa Straight, the development has 60 metres of prime frontage along SH1, the main arterial route leading into Hamilton city.

With a significant investment in the land, it was critical for Simon and Stacey to maximise the use of the land and the property development to achieve the best long-term returns.

“We sat around for hours with Design House Architects and came up with what we thought was a pretty good design,” says Simon.

“We wanted something that would be nicer than just a tin shed/tilt slab from a development point of view.

“We wanted something that would still look great in 20 years time and add real value to the commercial area it was sited on.”

The designs were shared with four different commercial real estate agents around Hamilton to obtain their feedback in respect to commercial demand and tenant requirement, resulting in a number of enhancements.

The final design encompasses four separate but adjoining warehouse units sited in an L shape on the building site.

The units will vary in size from 350sqm to 600sqm and each will have its own double story

The final design encompasses four separate but adjoining warehouse units sited in an L shape on the building site. high spec office of around 90sqm, depending on warehouse size.

“We are giving these buildings a higher level of design work, specification and finish than the typical concrete warehouse building to meet the needs of tenants looking for superior warehouse accommodation.

“Each office system will have gib ceilings, floor to ceiling glazing, central heating systems, data capability throughout with lots of green walls going in.”

The landscaping design includes carparking for 8 – 10 vehicles for each unit with landscaped frontage allowing for a bit of advertising.

“We wanted something that would still look great in 20 years time and add real value to the commercial area it was sited on.”

With an expected completion target of February/ March 2018 Hamilton based high-end commercial builders Downey Construction have been selected as the lead contractors. While open to the type of business the warehouses might attract, Simon is clear that there needed to be a good fit among the

business operations to ensure there was no conflict of interest.

“Interest in the units has been very high but Incon Automation Ltd will definitely be looking at taking one of the units if all the leases are not taken up,” says Simon.

58 Church Road, PO Box 171, Hamilton 3240.

07 849 9921 hamilton@ckl.co.nz

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Business Central August 2017

INDEX »

A & W Yung....................................57

Isles Construction............................22

Richmond Contracting...........................47

Apollo Projects...............................12

Japac Homes...................................26

Settlers Honey.......................................58

Austrom Group...............................20

Jordaan Contracting Ltd...................44

SG Pools...............................................50

Barker Contractors.........................41

Kay Contracting................................43

Spartan Construction............................42

Bennett Homes...............................18

Langsford N & G Contracting...........48

Southern Belle Orchard.........................55

Brew Construction..........................21

Latitude Homes Central....................29

Stubbs Contractors................................52

Chalmers Properties......................16

McMillan and Lockwood...................17

St Mary’s Church..................................61

Christie Builders and Joiners.........37

Morris & Bailey................................40

Sunfruit Group.......................................56

Friday Homes.................................14

Motts Premium Produce..................54

Taranaki Futures....................................60

GB Contracting................................46

Nathan Whittle Builders...................34

Thomson Homes...................................38

Glenmore Farm..............................59

Paremata Swimming Pools..............50

Ultimate Developments.........................13

GST Contruction................................3

Paul Jones Construction...................33

Valintine Logging...................................53

Hislop Construction........................36

Penny Homes - Wellington...............32

Waikato Valley Chocolates....................10

Incon Automation............................62

Pridex Kitchens................................35

Versatile Buildings - New Plymouth......30

Kamahi keeps growing Dunedin electronic engineering company Kamahi Electronics has grown from strength to strength since its founding by Edwin Nieman.

The ‘silicon valley style’ company specialises in designing and producing complete electronic devices, solutions, schematics, printed circuit boards.

It currently employs 18 engineers passionate about the exciting and continually evolving industry they work in.

“We design and produce bespoke circuitry solutions that are applied across a wide range of end-uses, from the brains that operate common everyday whiteware products to sophisticated one-off projects.

We’re basically a bunch of consultants, a bunch of electronic architects,” Edwin explains.

So specialised and complex is the work the company undertakes that the team literally are from all parts of the world, from China to Chile to South Africa.

The electronics industry in New Zealand and, in fact world-wide is a highly connected community. Word gets out about where the talent is and Edwin says this is evidenced in the case of Kamahi Electronics by the fact that he has only ever advertised for staff twice.

He has an apt way of describing just how technically sophisticated circuit board componentry is these days.

“Every single chip you can look at is a complete city of electronic pathways and connections. There is a massive amount of functionality.”

Kamahi Electronics was approached by a company assisting ASB Bank to create the first cashless money box Worldwide. Initially ASB had tried to configure the design of

the electronic hardware themselves but struggled to create the necessary ease of functionality the ‘Little Yellow Clever Kash Elephant’, a moneybox for children demanded.

“We finished the project about a year ago.

It’s a user-friendly, cashless way for parents to give kids their pocket money. The money box comes in the shape of an elephant with a little screen on its tummy for the children to see. We had to make sure the process was not only simple for parents to use, having downloaded the app but also fun and interactive for the child. It’s a brilliant way for them to see their money grow.”

Edwin describes that project as a great example of electronics capability to produce any outcome sought by a business.

A massive 70% of projects Kamahi Electronics undertakes are for overseas clients but he says the centre of gravity is slowly moving to New Zealand.

“When you consider that the whole population of New Zealand would be considered just a minor town in China it is stunning to think that we have the capability in this company, based in New Zealand’s South Island to be right up there, developing leading-edge ground-breaking solutions for clients. That’s what keeps us passionate about what we do.”

Edwin says the strength of the company lies in delivering clients a fast, fixed price development of complex electronic products.

“Just like architects, who can build any house imagined, within the boundaries of the laws of physics, we can do the same.

“There’s always a solution, a pathway to design and build that will bring create the desired results, so it is a very challenging but equally satisfying industry to work in.”

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64 |

EVENTS » The Seriously Good Food Show

August 2017

Business Central

Show offers up ‘seriously good food’ Kelly Deeks The Seriously Good Food Show is continuing its serious success as the Bay of Plenty’s biggest food event, with this year’s show at the ASB Arena on July 1 and 2 drawing record breaking crowds of visitors, and exhibitors from all across New Zealand.

Attracting a varied mix of more than 140 exhibitors this year, showcasing boutique, unique, and artisan products, The Seriously Good Food Show includes companies which have attended all five shows, making the journey from the far north and down south every year. Others have got on board for the first time, and have enjoyed the different environment Tauranga offers from the big city shows.

The Seriously Good Food Show is the brainchild of Bay Events owners Graeme and Raewyn Martin’s daughter Dana McCurdy, who on joining the team in 2012 felt there was a place in Tauranga for a smaller version of the large city food shows.

“The smaller food show was an unproven thing, and I had to convince a few people it was worthwhile,” she says. “We thought we’d be happy if we got 4500 people, but when we launched in 2013, we got more than 8000 people. It was a huge roaring success!”

She says Tauranga offers exhibitors a personal and one-on-one experience with visitors to the show. “The exhibitors enjoy talking to Tauranga people, who are always friendly and happy to try something new.”

She says Bay Events has tried to create a happy and enjoyable experience for the exhibitors as well.

“We do a lot of online promotion for them which is free of charge, and if they have any issues, we are here to help them.”

And in turn, the exhibitors have helped Bay Events to understand how to better the experience of the show.

“With The Seriously Good Food Show growing bigger year on year, we are walking the talk and putting the ideas of our exhibitors into practice.

Our exhibitors see a lot of things at other shows all across New Zealand, and they are full of really valuable information. We now have parking attendants managing the car park, better signage, and we have taken on board their ideas about the lay out of the show and about who we should have in our Live Cooking Theatre.”

Having now completed its largest Seriously Good Food Show to date, Bay Events knows it is heading in the right direction with the right mix of small businesses with innovative people and unique

Tauranga’s Seriously Good Food Show, launched in 2013 , continues to go from strength to strength with record crowds at this year’s event.

“We though we’d be happy if we got 4500 people, but when we launched in 2013 we got more than 8000.” products. Ninety per cent of visitors said their purchasing decisions would be affected by what they had seen at the show.

Dana says in today’s online world, getting in front of customers is still key to successful business, and therefore shows are standing up against the test of time.

“When you’ve got someone looking you in the eye and tasting your product, you can win them over. That experience is worth more than thousands of dollars worth of print advertising. You’re building relationships with your customers with that one-onone, face-to-face time.”

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