52 | Firm scoops top honours in Hawke’s Bay awards Brittin Builders has construction, joinery and painting all under one umbrella, Brittin Builders T T Aimee Wilson “Everything has to be on time in this industry, and you do have to be really, really organised.” BUILDING How many New Zealand building businesses offer three specialised services all under one roof? Brittin Builders has construction, joinery and painting all under one umbrella, and in 2025 they took out the Business Excellence award in the Pan Pac Hawke’s Bay Business Awards. The business also made the top four in 2024 as finalists, but last year Brittin Builders finally won the big award. Well-known and respected in the Hawke’s Bay construction industry since the 1960s, the company has earned a reputation as being one of the country’s leading heritage home renovation experts. Together with Parkhill Joinery and Brittin Painting, Brittin Builders now employs a team of over 20 skilled professionals. Jason Brittin took over the family business from his father Roger, who passed away several years ago, aged 78. Along with his wife, Emily, the chief executive, the couple has five boys — the youngest two are twins, but amongst them there is a good chance the Brittin name will continue in business eventually. “We’ve always told them. Go and see the world and learn other things,” Emily said. And then there are the five unicorns that work in the business, as Emily likes to call them. As well as Jason and Emily running the business, there is Ryan in charge of operations, Mike the project manager and Michelle the business services manager. They all make the company tick along efficiently, and ensure customers are super happy and that there are no budget overruns. Emily said that’s another of the company’s points of difference. They give customers a fixed price, even when it ends up costing them more. “Every variation is accepted and quoted,” she said. The last few years have been tough, starting with Covid-19 and then a lack of materials worldwide, but in construction you learn how to survive. For Brittin Builders, it’s building those relationships with key suppliers and subcontractors, and ensuring communication is strong with clients. “Everything has to be on time in this industry, and you do have to be really, really organised.” Brittin Builders is renowned for being able to manage large-scale heritage projects, and tackling complex builds, because they have the joinery aspect to the business as well. They can add the finishing touches to historic ceilings, and replicate heritage buildings to look like they had always been there — pool houses, out houses, any kind of house. “We’re building buildings that are in keeping with what’s already there.” After Cyclone Gabrielle, Brittin Builders was able to add a linkway and a triple garage to a family home affected by the storm, to replicate and enhance the original footprint. Emily said finding and retaining good staff is always a challenge, as there has been a whole generation of young people who were encouraged to attend tertiary colleges, before trades were popular. She said Brittin Builders has always invested in the youth with training opportunities and those that are willing to learn properly will be paid well. PH. 0-6-835 6240, CELL 027-240 5970 30 SIMLA TERRACE, NAPIER 4110 EMAIL: gwrobinson@xtra.co.nz CONGRATULATIONS TO BRITTIN BUILDERS LTD EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS FINALISTS Building & renovating Hawke's Bay's most exceptional homes for more than half a century. 475 St Georges Road, Havelock North 06 877 7623 | brittinbuilders.co.nz
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