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BUILDING » Johnson Bros
Business North
Company builds on proud history Kelly Deeks Originally established in 1913 to build homes for the early pioneers, Featherston’s Johnson Bros is now in the hands of the fourth generation of Johnson family builders, with great grandson Wayne Johnson and his wife Deb purchasing the business from his father in 2002. The business was initially known as Watson and Johnson, a partnership between Reg Watson and Bill Johnson. Their early residential work soon paved the way for the partners to enter the commercial and rural building industries, and commercial buildings such as wool sheds and dairy sheds becoming a major part of the company’s turnover. In 1933, Watson moved to the Hawke’s Bay and the company became W Johnson Builders, with Bill’s two sons, Jim and Bill Jnr, joining their father. The sons took over the business in 1944, and the company became Johnson Bros Featherston. Jim’s two sons Jim Jnr and Bob joined the business in the late 1950s, then Jim’s son Wayne joined in 1981. Today, Johnson Bros still completes a lot of work for the dairy industry, but is also active in all other types of building from renovations to new builds in the residential and commercial sectors. Johnson Bros is an award winning business and during Wayne Johnson’s tenure has twice
been named gold reserve finalist in the Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition for new homes built in Tawa and Ngauranga Gorge. Johnson Bros also won the Wairarapa Commercial Build of the Year for its work on Greytown School’s new library. Wayne Johnson says the company’s rural work has taken a bit of a hit in 2015 due to the low milk pay out. “We’ve still got a large client base of dairy farmers but the dairy shed work has really slowed down.” As such, Johnson Bros has spent the past two years becoming more involved in commercial maintenance work in Wellington, with existing clients and contacts happy to refer commercial work Johnson’s way. “It’s really interesting work,” Wayne says. “We’re capable of handling any light commercial projects and we’ve been doing a lot of earthquake strengthening work. The work in Wellington is on our doorstep and we can be in the middle of town in an hour.” Johnson Bros’ bread and butter jobs are renovations and alterations, both design and build, and a specialisation in re-roofing. “We’re very good at doing alterations and additions, making sure they look right and are economical,” Johnson says. “We always make sure we’re working to a reasonable budget, whether the project is large or small.” Wayne’s father, Jim, still works in the business today, aged 76.
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“He’s had 55 years of experience, both of building and of Johnson Bros in particular,” Wayne says. “He’s got a huge interest in the business and in its viability, and he’s got a great rapport with our clients.” Joining Jim and Wayne is a team of 14 staff, including three apprentices.
“I’ve always trained apprentices and as a company we’re very proud of our record,” Johnson says. “It’s important to the future of the building industry, and it’s great to be able to get these young guys working the way you want them to. “You can’t call yourself a trade if you don’t have a tradesman.”
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153 Ngaumutawa Road, Masterton Phone 06 378 2990 Fax 06 378 2950 Email fisher@winz.co.nz
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Proud to be associated with Johnson Brothers www.stratco.co.nz 06 370 9146 021 442 952