Volume 10| Issue 6 | December 2025 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Golden era… Napier’s Art Deco Trust is playing a key role in promoting and protecting the city’s unique architectural history… Page 03
2 | 10 | Central haven The reopening of Wellington’s Central library is drawing closer following a massive four-year restoration. 58| Performance design Napier’s Profile Boats has built a reputation for safety, quality and clever design. 94| Hockey heaven Palmerston North company OBO is the global leader in hockey goalkeeping protective equipment. 58 94 10 Napier Art Trust ���������������������������������������������������� 03 MCLStead ���������������������������������������������������������������� 04 North Taranaki Visitors’ Centre ���������������������������� 06 LT McGuinness ������������������������������������������������������ 10 Stead Construction ������������������������������������������������ 16 TW Construction ���������������������������������������������������� 17 Tararua Construction Management �������������������� 18 Horowhenua District Council ������������������������������� 20 Tū Mai Rā Developments �������������������������������������� 21 Todd Energy ������������������������������������������������������������ 24 Garage Project �������������������������������������������������������� 26 A and R Logging ������������������������������������������������������ 28 Cosana NZ ��������������������������������������������������������������� 29 Humphries Construction �������������������������������������� 30 Bhupesh Suri ���������������������������������������������������������� 32 Urban Company ����������������������������������������������������� 33 Boulcott Hospital ��������������������������������������������������� 34 Amtech Medical ������������������������������������������������������ 37 Wellington Electricity ��������������������������������������������� 40 NZTA - Fulton Hogan: �������������������������������������������� 41 Downer - Manawatu ���������������������������������������������� 42 TW Civil & Infrastructure ��������������������������������������� 45 Bryce O’Sullivan Contracting �������������������������������� 46 Manawatū District Council ������������������������������������ 50 Sierra Delta Civil ����������������������������������������������������� 52 Mills Albert �������������������������������������������������������������� 53 Excel Switchgear ���������������������������������������������������� 54 Eastbridge ��������������������������������������������������������������� 55 Lakeland Steel �������������������������������������������������������� 56 NZ Structural and Engineering ����������������������������� 57 Profile Boats ��������������������������������������������������������� 58 Buzz Electrics ������������������������������������������������������������ 60 JWL Drainage ������������������������������������������������������������ 61 HW Cavanagh Aggregates ��������������������������������������� 62 Rapid Wire Electrical ������������������������������������������������ 62 NDP Fencing & Earthworks ������������������������������������� 63 Sole Landscapes ������������������������������������������������������� 64 Kapiti Coast Towing ������������������������������������������������� 65 team dh ��������������������������������������������������������������������� 66 Chapple Architecture ����������������������������������������������� 67 Architects 44 ������������������������������������������������������������� 68 Creatus Group ���������������������������������������������������������� 70 Kate Whittaker Design ��������������������������������������������� 71 Dunning Thornton ��������������������������������������������������� 72 Landmark Homes Hawke’s Bay ������������������������������ 74 Hardy Construction ������������������������������������������������� 76 PCB New Zealand ����������������������������������������������������� 77 Rhys Finlay Contractors ������������������������������������������ 78 InHouse Construction ��������������������������������������������� 80 M Jones Construction ���������������������������������������������� 81 Affordable Sheds Wairarapa ���������������������������������� 82 Pepper Construction ����������������������������������������������� 84 Slate ��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 84 Hawera Kitchens ������������������������������������������������������ 86 Manage My Rental ��������������������������������������������������� 88 Summerset Group Holdings ����������������������������������� 89 Johnson Preschool ��������������������������������������������������� 90 Wellington City Mission ������������������������������������������� 91 BAPS Hindu Temple ������������������������������������������������� 92 Taupo District Council ��������������������������������������������� 93 OBO ��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 94 Sky Stadium �������������������������������������������������������������� 95 OUR PARTNERS: Christchurch Office 112 Wrights Road, Addington, Christchurch Phone 03-983 5500 PO Box 37 346 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Queenstown Office 70 Glenda Drive, Queenstown 9300 MANAGING DIRECTOR James Lynch james@waterfordpress.co.nz BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Chris Pearce chris.pearce@waterfordpress.co.nz EDITORIAL Editor Nick Gormack nick@waterfordpress.co.nz Sub-editors Christine Defelice, Margaret Landauer, Randall Johnston WRITERS Alexia Anderson, Anne Boswell, Kim Bowden, Kelly Deeks, Hugh de Lacy, Russell Fredric, Kim Newth, Sue Russell, Karen Phelps, Rosa Watson, Aimee Wilson, Virginia Wright RESEARCH & MARKETING James Anderson, Sam Dart, Chris Graves, Megan Hawkins, Annie Patrick, Chris Pearce, Danielle Percival, Adam Shirra, Leo Smith, Alasdair Thomson, Jane Watson sales@waterfordpress.co.nz PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT General Manager Luke Lynch luke@waterfordpress.co.nz Graphic Artists Anton Gray, Francesca Hildawa, Sophie McCleary, Liki Udam art@waterfordpress.co.nz CONTENT COORDINATORS Alissa Crosby, Ann-Marie Frentz, Michelle Phelan, Josie Villa OFFICE AND ACCOUNTS Lyn Barlow lyn@waterfordpress.co.nz #businesscentral #yourstory www.waterfordpress.co.nz T&C’s: These conditions are prescribed for the sake of understanding between the Waterford Press Ltd and its clients. 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| 3 Napier - treasuring its golden era The annual Napier Art Deco Festival draws visitors from New Zealand and around the world. Napier Art Deco Trust REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Jeremy Smith, Napier Art Deco Trust’s heritage manager says the organisation has helped drive a renaissance of interest in the city’s unique architectural history, culminating in a number of very popular events, enjoyed by thousands of visitors to the region annually. He’s been in his role for five years and says the origin of the Trust, which was constituted in 1985, stems back to a group of citizens, T T to page 4 concerned at the potential demolishing of many art-deco styled buildings that were constructed following Napier’s devastating earthquake of 1931. “For decades no-one really noticed these wonderful buildings,” Jeremy says. “Generations in the city had grown up with these forms and hardly noticed just how unique they were to a golden era in architecture, popular from the 1920’s to the 40’s,” he says. The Napier CBD has one of the most intact collections of art-deco buildings in the world and the Trust has worked hard to secure their future glory. Central to the Trust’s ongoing work is the Napier Art Deco Festival, which celebrates the town’s unique character. Held over 4-days in February each year, the festival now draws thousands of visitors from New Zealand and around the world. Heritage, History, Archaeology & Research Specialists • 1860’s Well • Kainga and Pā • Buried Pou Elizabeth Pishief PhD - Principal Consultant | Heritage & Museum Studies 021 140 8718 elizabeth.pishief@heritageservices.nz SUPPORTING Embracing vintage cars, fashion and sensibilities of the era, the festival and associated events, such as walking tours, are a source of pride for locals. One major focus of the Trust in recent years has been the restoration of the city’s Women’s Rest, a WW1 memorial, erected opposite the cenotaph, in Memorial Square, to commemorate the sacrifices made by those in the district who served in the war.
4 | MCLStead: Napier Civic Precinct REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Napier’s golden era A major focus of the Trust in recent years has been the restoration of the city’s Women’s Rest, a WW1 memorial, erected opposite the cenotaph, in Memorial Square. T T from page 3 Napier Art Deco Trust New life for Napier City Centre T T Virginia Wright The multi-million-dollar Napier Civic Project known as Te Kete is designed to bring the heart back into Napier’s City Centre. It provides its residents with a community library hub, a new public meeting space that doubles as a Council Chamber, and a redeveloped office tower for all council administration staff, explains the Strategic Programmes Manager for Napier City Council, Darran Gillies. “It brings the delivery of key services back into the heart of the city, along with 300 council workers, for the first time since 2017, which is when the old buildings were deemed unsafe.” The old Council Chambers were demolished, and a new one will soon be under construction; the former Library Tower is being earthquake strengthened, refurbished and converted into a full office tower, while a new state-of-the-art library designed with community access in mind is being built right next to it. “We’ve worked in partnership with mana whenua to co-design the new library and its surroundings and cultural narratives were developed in partnership with them. The narratives are referenced in the architecture of all three buildings,” says Darran. The new library is a mass timber building which contributes to its five-star rating as it’s an eco-friendly building material made with multiple layers of laminated New Zealand grown radiata produced using renewable power. Its build, along with the others, is under the collaborative leadership of MCLStead Construction thanks to a conversation in 2022 between the Managing Directors of Stead Construction and MCL Construction, Jeremy Stead and Philip Mitchell. Their decision to collaborate for future jobs that might be too big for either company to take on individually led to their successful tender for the Civic Precinct Project in 2024, keeping the project in local hands thanks to their combined credibility, experience, skills and $2.6 billion worth of successfully delivered local projects. “We’ve a real passion for the communities of Hawke’s Bay and are excited about the opportunity Te Kete brings for partnering with Napier City Council and stakeholders to deliver a long-lasting asset for future generations,” says Phil Mitchell, Director of MCLStead. Working as a single team they’ve done the excavations for the new library foundations ready for the first major concrete pour of 110 cubic metres and completed removing the heavy concrete façade from the five-storey office tower ready for its new lightweight glass and aluminum replacement facade. All three of the buildings work to enhance community opportunities in the centre of town. The new library is full of spaces not just for books but designed to give community access to a range of activities from woodwork to digital recording. 300 council staff coming back into their refurbished office block promises a major increase in pedestrian traffic, and the new Council Chambers will be available to be used for community activities, from yoga to children’s birthday parties for the 70% of the time that it’s not needed by the council. It’s a project designed for locals being built by locals who are committed to using local sub-contractors whenever they can. In the heart of Napier, Te Kete is in safe hands as everyone works towards delivering this cornerstone of community connection and its environment designed to foster learning, creativity, civic participation and community connection for years to come. The Rest was designed by renowned New Zealand architect J A Louis Hay, who designed many new Art Deco buildings in Napier following the earthquake that had destroyed much of the town. “We like to think that while the cenotaph is a memorial to those who fell during WW1, the Women’s Rest is a memorial to the living.” Officially opened on ANZAC Day 1926 following the 1931 earthquake, temporary shops and offices were built around the Rest, with short term repairs made to the building itself. Hay’s design approach was influenced by the work of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright and the Prairie Style, elements still visible in the building despite changes that were subsequently made. Originally designed in the shape of a crucifix, the building has a low profile, deep verandahs, bands of horizontal windows, a tiled roof and is constructed of solid brick. When seismic issues became evident, the Women’s Rest was closed in 2013, providing the opportunity and challenge for the Trust and its supporters to work on raising the necessary funds for a major restoration and eventual re-opening. “We started the conversation in 2022. It stemmed from talk within the Trust about sustainability and our role in advocating for the restoration of key buildings. Since the Women’s Rest had closed, it sat basically empty, so we approached Council suggesting we partner with them and begin fundraising and thinking about how the restoration would happen.” WYNANDS MASONRY2015 LTD PO Box 5135, Greenmeadows, Napier 4145 www.wynandsmasonry.com Main Office 021 450 732 P: 06 843 5773 F: 06 843 3945 E: wynandsmasonry@gmail.com · Bricklaying · Blocklaying · Stone Masonry · Tiling · Solid Plastering 15 Niven Street, Onekawa, NAPIER 215 Wilson Road, Woolwich, HASTINGS 06 280 5071 Proudly Supporting The Napier Civic Precinct Project Fortunately, some funding had been set aside by Council, giving impetus for the Trust to apply for grants to secure the project on the Category 1 Heritage Building owned by Council. “Work started in August 2024 and was completed by July 2025. The Trust moved in toward the end of July.” Part of the project involved demolishing additions made to the original building in the 1980’s which, Jeremy says, never sat well with the original design. “The way the restoration has happened is that we’ve essentially allowed the building to tell its own story. “A couple of pieces of the original coloured plaster have been left intact, along with the footings for walls demolished in the 1950’s.” As the anchor tenant, The Art Deco Trust, conducts its activities from the (former) Women’s Rest. “We’ve also been hosting a variety of community groups, AGMs, and networking events. Every day I receive enquiries from individuals and groups wishing to hire the two halls; it’s very exciting to see it come to life.” And there’s much to look forward to, Jeremy says. In particular Historic Places Aotearoa and ICOMOS NZ – the International Council on Monuments and Sites – will be using the (former) Women’s Rest for their joint conference and AGMs in early October. “We’re also currently planning our next big Art Deco Festival for February 2026. It’s always a wonderful event and celebration of what makes Napier so special.”
| 5 MCLStead Construction: Te Kete - Napier Civic Precinct Te Kete will be a cornerstone of community connection - designed to foster learning, creativity, civic participation and community connection for years to come. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT ‘SCAFFOLDING WITH SAFETY, STRENGTH AND INTEGRITY THE KAHU WAY’ SCAFFOLDING AND ACCESS SOLUTIONS ACROSS HAWKE’S BAY Kahu Sca olding is a locally owned and sca olding company formed from years of sca olding experience, combined together to bring the best sca olding and access solutions in Hawke’s Bay. SCAFFOLDING | SHRINKWRAP | EDGE PROTECTION NETTING | PROPPING | STAIR ACCESS COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL • INDUSTRIAL m 0800 222 234 k K
6 | T T Virginia Wright New centre a tribute to iconic Maunga Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa Trust - North Taranaki Visitors’ Centre REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Located on the slopes of Taranaki Maunga within Te Papakura o Taranaki, the North Taranaki Visitors’ Centre is set to become a defining feature of the region’s tourism and community infrastructure. Formerly Egmont National Park, the name Te Papakura o Taranaki means ‘The highly regarded and treasured lands of Taranaki’, and the new build is designed to be a fitting tribute to the maunga, while meeting the growing demand for high-quality visitor experiences, and supporting local economic development. T T to page 8 The multi-million-dollar project is being led by Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa Trust. The previous Visitors’ Centre was built in 1972, and although it provided good service, it was built in a different era and was far from the new, multi-functional facility which has been designed by TOA Architecture and being built by local Taranaki company Clelands Construction. A product of its time, the old centre resembled “a closed-in box”, explains Te Atiawa chief executive Dion Tuuta. “In one of the most beautiful places in the world, when you were in that building you couldn’t see out, you could have been anywhere, so one of our aspirations is to open it up so that when you’re in the building, you can still be a part of what’s happening outside,” says Dion. After years of planning, the first foundations for the new centre were recently poured by Clelands, with the new building designed to sit within the footprint of the original one. “We’ve been careful not to expand the footprint or increase the impact on Te Papakura o Taranaki,” says Dion. Te Atiawa chairperson Liana Poutu, says the project is a redevelopment initiative that originated fromTe Tapuwae Roa. MEMBER OF ROOFING ASSOCIATION NZ 06 758 1445 farnsworthroofing.co.nz COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL All types of Domestic, Commercial & Industrial Designs & Installations • Full Electrical Designs & Installations • Electrical Inspections, Network Designs, Connections & ICP creations • General Electrical Servicing & Repairs • Full Solar Designs, Quotations & Installations, Servicing & Repairs • Phone & Data Installations, Servicing & Repairs • Electronic Services & Repairs • Full TV Aerial, Dish & Freeview Installations, Servicing & Repairs • Testing & Tagging, On & Off SIte • Full Heat pump & Deducted Systems Installation, Servicing & Repairs P: 06 757 5707 M: 027 531 6386 E: peter@tel.org.nz www.tel.org.co.nz PROUDLY SUPPORTING TE KOTAHITANGA O TE ATIAWA TRUST & PROUD TO OFFER OUR SERVICES NATIONWIDE “This was upported early on through the Taranaki Crossing and the Provincial Growth Fund, and administered by Kānoa, the Regional Economic Developmentand Investment Unit within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE),” she says. “It’s now a partnership between Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa Trust, DOC, and MBIE, with governance shared by Te Kotahitanga, DOC, and Kānoa.
| 7 Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa Trust - North Taranaki Visitors’ Centre The North Taranaki Visitors’ Centre is set to become a defining feature of the region’s tourism and community infrastructure. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Fresh paint since 1956 Decades of experience, with the highest level of workmanship makes Grays Painting Contractors the company for your next project. 0800 127 246 | admin.hawera@graypainters.co.nz | www.graypainters.co.nz 137 Molesworth St, New Plymouth 93 Camberwell Road, Hawera Commercial | Industrial | Residential Sharp Sheet Metal offers high quality, custom engineering, stainless steel and the rest. Contact us for all your engineering needs Ash Cottam - 022 078 9863 Kelly O’Donnell - 027 324 5558 ash@sharpsheetmetal.co.nz
8 | Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa Trust - North Taranaki Visitors’ Centre REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT A tribute to iconic maunga The building is sited at the end of one of the three roads that lead into the maunga, each with their own visitor facility, and each providing its own experience. T T from page 6 “It’s built for an alpine environment so it has to be robust, but we don’t want it to stand out on the side of the maunga, so it’s designed to integrate into the existing landscape.” FOR ALL YOUR REINFORCING NEEDS Supply, Cut, Bend & Install Residential • Commercial • Industrial MOB: 021 999 375 14B Constance St, Waiwhakaiho N.P. www.taranakireinforcing.co.nz 06 753 0023 office@arikiplumbing.co.nz We are a passionate team of quality Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers based in New Plymouth, servicing Taranaki wide. arikiplumbing.co.nz Give us a call today “Te Kotahitanga is leading the project management, co-funding alongside Kānoa, and TOI Foundation is a major funding partner, due to the project’s broad community benefit,” she says. “The project is an excellent example of partnership between iwi, the community (as represented by the Toi Foundation) and the Crown, “ explains Dion. “We’re working together to provide a safe facility for the community to connect with Taranaki Maunga, and in a way that shares all of our stories about the maunga and the peoples of the maunga.” The building is sited at the end of one of the three roads that lead into the maunga, each with their own visitor facility, and each providing its own experience. At an elevation of 945 metres above sea level, this particular site at the end of Egmont Road, 30 minutes’ drive from New Plymouth, is a key gateway, not only to the summit climb, but also to tracks ranging from easy through to difficult. At its heart, the new centre will continue to deliver essential visitor services, including public restrooms open 24/7, and interpretive displays, ensuring that tourists and locals alike have access to welcoming, informative amenities. Given the centre’s position on the mountain, that information will include weather and track information, encouraging everyone to be prepared for the cold, icy conditions that can arrive seemingly out of the blue. Accessibility features large in the single-level, 614sqm building, which is designed to allow everyone to enjoy what it has to offer. Protective environmental work for the existing flora and fauna, including kiwi fencing to protect the local population, was dictated by extensive research and planning. Staying within the former site, while significantly improving the necessary systems for waste, storm, and drinking water, also works to minimise any environmental impact, including visual impact, explains Liana. “It’s built for an alpine environment so it has to be robust, but we don’t want it to stand out on the side of the maunga, so it’s designed to integrate into the existing landscape.” Dion adds: “The side you see looking up the maunga is clad in a dark grey, almost black, colour similar to the andesite rock seen on the maunga, to blend in, but if you’re above looking down, it’s green to blend in with the forest canopy. The building is a curved shape so it embraces the mountain and it hugs its natural contours.” After years of planning, this modern, iconic structure will include the DOC information centre with traditional visitor centre functions, and a public café complete with a commercial kitchen. which can also serve the conference area, a flexible community space. With its spectacular alpine setting, it’s designed to accommodate a wide range of events from business meetings and community gatherings to educational workshops and cultural presentations. School groups can visit, with the ability to spend the night in a marae-style setting and when, as happened recently, there’s a major search and rescue operation, this space can serve as the command centre. If there’s an adverse weather event and people can’t get down from the maunga, it’s a safe space for them to wait until it passes. As construction progresses on what promises to become a key piece of world-class regional infrastructure, the project stands as testament to what can be achieved when regional vision, cultural leadership, and government investment align. At the same time, it provides an avenue for local hapū and iwi to celebrate the maunga and recognise their connection to their maunga, which in turn impacts the entire region it presides over, and it’s all made possible by the collective settlement arrived at by consensus among Taranaki’s eight iwi, explains Dion. “The settlement doesn’t come to the iwi as such, it’s for the mountain, which means it’s for everyone here. Everything that came with that settlement is about protecting the health and wellbeing of the maunga.” “The arrangements are a new way of engaging with our maunga and the visitors’ centre is too. “You’ll be able to go in and see out through all the glass to look back over North Taranaki all the way to the coast,” says Liana. And it’s so far so good as the build gets underway, and Clelands stay on track to deliver this deceptively sophisticated structure: unobtrusive, durable, elegant, and deeply connected to the land.
Kalós Windows & Doors are an aluminium joinery company and service the construction industry throughout the Lower and Central North Island, in both residential & commercial projects. Kalós is a derivative of the Greek word kallos meaning everything beautiful and good. “At Kalós we build beautiful aluminium doors & windows to the highest quality, and our team is focused on delivering outstanding service to our customers,” says Director David Fretias. We’ve installed the best systems to enable us to manufacture on time and within budget, and we have invested hugely in technology to enhance our productivity. We’re future proo ng our production capacity & performance and our customers bene t from our investment with more automated technology improving our quality, timelines and service o erings.” In February 2024 Kalós opened a new residential factory in Palmerston North while keeping their existing factory dedicated to commercial/architectural projects and in addition to their Levin factory. While all three factories are equipped with computerised twin saws and CNC machines the new factory has one of only two Quadra machines in New Zealand. This fully automated machine carries out cutting, milling, drilling, and notching of aluminium pro les with high speed and accuracy, signi cantly streamlining their fabrication process. Beyond machinery, they’ve embedded technology into their core operations through a comprehensive ERP system which manages every stage of a project, from initial planning through to procurement, scheduling, and production. They’re using automation to increase productivity and growing their team at the same time. Kalós Windows & Doors pro-actively invests in their people along with the technology, explains David. “Our investment in technology and people are the strengths in our business that make us di erent from our competitors. In an industry that typically relies on experienced labour we took a di erent approach by launching a structured apprenticeship development programme in partnership with BCITO and it’s been a game changer. It provides us with a sustainable talent pipeline, increases sta engagement, and supports long-term succession planning. The programme also fosters loyalty and pride, which positively impacts our culture and the quality of our customer service.” Teamwork sits alongside Customer Focus and Accountability as a core Kalós value and people are at the forefront of their business whether they’re customers or sta . Having a presence in two locations & three factories, with an overall team of 56 ensures orders are delivered as scheduled to a customer base that continues to grow, thanks to a team focused on delivering exceptional service to their customers. As David says, “technology and people have been core to our success”. No doubt that’s why they were awarded Highly Commended in both Large Business and Trade Services at the Manawatu Business Awards in 2024, and in 2025 were nalists in the Manufacturing, Production & Processing category of the Kapiti/Horowhenua Electra Business & Innovation Awards. Manawatu’s Leaders in Windows, Doors & Glass Solutions Your Trusted Choice In Windows & Doors We build beautiful aluminium doors and windows of the highest quality; we have put in place the best systems to enable us to manufacture on time and within budget, and our team is focused on delivering outstanding service to our customers throughout the central and lower North Island. Ranges | Doors | Windows | Hardware | Colours | Glass 06 353 3651 sales@kalos.co.nz www.kalos.co.nz
10 | LT McGuinness Ltd - Wellington: Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui T T Kim Newth Challenging project brings library back The original 1990s’ designer of Te Matapihi, Athfield Architects, worked alongside Tihei Limited on the design theme. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT T T to page 12 The long wait is almost over for Wellingtonians, who have been without their central library since it closed in March 2019 after being assessed as a seismic risk. Following a four-year restoration and full re-strengthening, Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui (The Window to the Wider World) has entered the fit-out phase ahead of the official reopening on March 14, 2026. Te Matapihi will be a modern, uniquely Wellington library that celebrates the history of Pōneke. Redesigned in partnership with mana whenua, the restored building will house the library’s books and special collections, Nōku te Ao Capital E (supporting young people’s creativity), Wellington City Archives, and a large ground-floor café linking to Te Ngākau Civic Square. The original 1990s’ designer of Te Matapihi, Athfield Architects, worked alongside Tihei Limited on the design theme inspired by ‘te taiao’ (the natural environment) and referencing the forest flora and fauna that flourished for centuries along the waterfront. The iconic Te Matapihi Nikau palms return in the new design, with distinct colour palettes helping people navigate the space. With a new atrium staircase and extra windows, the building will be lovely and light inside. Wellington’s community ‘living room’, as it has become known, has been strengthened to move as a single structure supported by a re-formed ground-floor platform in the event of an earthquake. C O M M E R C I A L Proudly associated with LT McGuinness Ltd Wellington (04) 472 5858 | Christchurch (03) 344 6458 | Auckland (09) 307 5851 | Bay of Plenty (07) 571 1650 | Email: info@swpcommercial.co.nz | www.swpcommercial.co.nz athfieldarchitects.co.nz Athfield Architects are proud to have been involved in the Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui project and other library & civic projects across Aotearoa
| 11 LT McGuinness Ltd - Wellington: Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui The iconic Te Matapihi Nikau palms return in the new design, with distinct colour palettes helping people navigate the space. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CRAFTING PREMIUM METALWORK FOR TE MATAPIHI Alchemy Engineering & Design and LT McGuinness collaborate on the rebirth of Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui, Wellington’s Central Library. Alchemy Engineering & Design is proud to play a key role in the library’s transformation, delivering high-quality metal prefabrication solutions in partnership with LT McGuinness. Since its closure in March 2019 due to seismic risk, the landmark building has undergone a full modernisation and strengthening programme. The interior fit-out is now well underway ahead of the library’s reopening in March 2026. “We began work last June, once the interior was ready for measurement,” says Shawn Lai, owner of Alchemy Engineering & Design. “Our job was to prefabricate and install stainless steel handrails and balustrades inside the building and along the main stairway. As the fit-out advanced, we were also called in to assist with a range of cosmetic finishing touches.” Established in 1981, Alchemy operates from a specialist workshop in Ngauranga and employs a skilled local team serving the wider Wellington region. Despite tight deadlines, Shawn says his team remained positive and motivated throughout. “We’ve worked long hours, but the energy on site has been great - everyone recognises the significance of this project,” he says. “I used to study at the library while at Victoria University and later brought my son to the children’s area. Many Wellingtonians share special memories of this space, which makes being part of its restoration especially rewarding.” Alchemy’s relationship with LT McGuinness stretches back to 2021, when the company supplied balustrades and handrails for the Victoria Lane Apartments. Te Matapihi represents their latest successful collaboration built on trust, professionalism and shared values. “LT McGuinness has been outstanding to work with. We’re particularly grateful to Michael Paulin, Project Site Manager, whose communication and support made coordination seamless. The LT McGuinness team know we’ll deliver on our promises – if something’s needed quickly, we’ll try to make it happen, often within a week or two. That’s a rapid turnaround in metal fabrication, but we take pride in going the extra mile.” On site, Alchemy’s lead installers Thomas Augustine, Leng Shuai and Frankie Chen demonstrated meticulous craftmanship and quick problem-solving, with minimal defects identified during quality inspections of the completed balustrade work. Alchemy specialises in crafting bespoke, cost-effective solutions in aluminium, steel and iron, complemented by in-house painting services. Building on its Wellington legacy, the company has recently expanded north, opening a new branch and workshop in Auckland. “It has been a privilege to contribute to one of Wellington’s most treasured public buildings. We’re deeply thankful to LT McGuinness for their collaboration and trust – it has been a true team effort bringing Te Matapihi back to life.”
12 | Challenging project brings library back New window systems replacing existing precast concrete panels brighten interior spaces. T T from page 10 “We’re hugely proud of everyone involved in this project. It has been a challenging job, but we did it on time and on budget.” LT McGuinness Ltd - Wellington: Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT T T to page 14 The foundation system has been re-strengthened with the addition of 49 new piles that go down up to 18 metres, and 24 new plinths to transfer seismic loads through lead rubber bearings. Te Matapihi is now restored to more than 100% of the new building standard. A seismic gap, called a rattle zone, has been created around the building so that in an earthquake the building – separated from the ground on new base isolators – will have a space to move into. Levels 3 and 4 have been extended as part of the restoration, and there are four new entries linking the building with Te Ngākau Civic Square and the city. New window systems that have replaced existing precast concrete panels brighten interior spaces, while new cladding systems have been carefully integrated within the building’s existing façade. Reaching practical completion in August 2025 was a memorable milestone for the main construction contractor LT McGuinness (LTM) and the whole project team. “Wellington has gone through a tough patch over the past few years with roads and buildings closed and nowhere to gather, but soon the people of this city will have a lovely big civic space to enjoy again,” says Stu Hercus, LTM’s project site manager. “We’re hugely proud of everyone involved in this project. It has been a challenging job, but we did it on time and on budget.” When first engaged on an early contractor involvement (ECI) basis for Te Matapihi, LTM was still in the throes of finishing Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre. The company won a Gold Award (Built Tourism and Leisure) at the 2024 NZ Commercial Project Awards for their work on Tākina. LTM is a market leader in the ECI process, bringing a strong voice to the table in the pre-construction phase. Their ECI engagement on Te Matapihi proved crucial in enabling the refinement of a smart, well-coordinated construction approach. “We collaborated very closely with consulting engineers Aurecon, and temporary works’ structural engineers Dunning Thornton, to come up with ways to support the building while the new foundations and base isolation works were installed,” says Stu. He says the existing building had many irregularities. Structural loadings varied from one part to another, each requiring a different approach. “It meant there were lots of conditions around how we approached each phase. Careful sequencing was required, as well as detailed planning around staging of temporary works.” Leading structural steel fabricators MJH Engineering was another key project partner. “They were massive. It was the biggest steel job, by weight, that they’d ever done.” Contact the team: roofing@aquaheat.nz Cl Classic Metal – Roofing & Cladding Specialists assic Metal, the specialist roofing and cladding division of Aquaheat New Zealand, delivers high-performance solutions for projects of every size and complexity. Our team brings proven expertise in designing and installing roofing and façade systems built to last. At Te Matapihi Central Library, Classic Metal fabricated and installed the distinctive dark panels framing the building’s entrances, a detail that blends durability with architectural impact. Specialists in Painting and Plastering Commercial Master Painter of the Year 2025 Phone: +64 27 866 6666 | Email: info@jnsconstruction.co.nz | Visit us at: www.jnsconstruction.co.nz
| 13 The foundation system has been re-strengthened with the addition of 49 new piles that go down up to 18m, and 24 new plinths to transfer seismic loads through lead rubber bearings. LT McGuinness Ltd - Wellington: Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT MJH Engineering, structural steel specialists, worked safely and with care and precision, alongside LT McGuinness Ltd, to seismically strengthen and refurbish Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui Wellington’s Central Library. Their fabrication and installation expertise has been critical in achieving one of New Zealand’s most complex seismic retro its. Te Matapihi closed in 2019 after it was assessed as a seismic risk. More than 1,000 tonnes of structural steel has since gone into the building, with the now earthquake-resilient structure resting on 80 base isolators. The internal it-out is currently in full swing. “E ectively, this is a brand-new building in an existing envelope - the sheer amount of steel required has been signi icant,” says Jeremy Mikoz, HR & Operations Manager, MJH Engineering. “For our team, it’s an amazing feeling to know we have been resurrecting a longstanding building that spans multiple generations. We’ve done many buildings that make up the Wellington skyline, but this one is really special.” Reaching practical completion in August on this memorable project marked the culmination of a three and a half year journey for MJH Engineering. New foundations have been tied into base-isolated steel braced frames, levels 3 and 4 have been extended, and a new 600mm raised loor has been added along with new facades. Key steel elements installed in the seismic upgrade include custom K-frames fabricated with millimetre accuracy, concentric braced frames and encasements to existing columns. At this busy CBD site, careful sequencing and innovation was required. Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) along with prefabrication and just-in-time deliveries supported a smooth delivery process with minimal disruption. Jeremy says MJH Project Manager Mace Harlen and Site Manager Anton Tracey ensured the project had the dedication and horsepower needed to inish in time. “Mace’s meticulous attention to detail ensured nothing was missed, and Anton’s ability to keep the team driving hard while maintaining a positive work culture made a huge di erence.” MJH Engineering has worked with LT McGuinness on numerous large-scale projects over the past 30 years, including the recently completed Heke Rua Archives, Wellington’s national archives building. MJH Engineering was a inalist in last year’s SCNZ Excellence in Steel Awards for this project. Established in 1982, MJH Engineering was founded by MalcolmHammond, who continues to lead the company today as Managing Director. Under his guidance, MJH has grown from a small local fabrication workshop into a proven frontrunner in the Wellington region, with an unparalleled depth of experience in structural steel delivery. Over four decades later, Malcolm’s commitment to precision, safety, and innovation continues to shape every project the team undertakes. Last year, the company’s excellence in health, safety, and wellbeing innovation was recognised with an award at the 2 Degrees Wellington Regional Business Excellence Awards. “We’re fully capable to undertake anything from single-storey new buildings to large-scale tower builds – we welcome enquiries on new projects.” CONTACT MJH Engineering 04 568 2050 www.mjh.co.nz Resurrecting a Wellington icon with structural steel precision From landmark projects like Te Matapihi Wellington Central Library re-strengthening to complex commercial builds across New Zealand, our team delivers with precision and pride. We don’t just build with steel – we make it work smarter. • Structural steel fabrication & Installation • Seismic re-strengthening • Cranage & heavy lifting • Large-scale project delivery • SCNZ Steel Fabricator Certified (SFC) Category 3 • AS/NZS ISO3834 • Toitu Enviromark Bronze • Sitewise Gold • Sustainable steel certification gold • SFC Certified Fabricator and Erector Accreditations What we do best: When the build is complex, when timing is critical, when quality can’t be compromised – that’s when MJH Engineering stands out. MJH Engineering – We Build Structures to Support Your Vision. Contact Us 04 568 2050 www.mjh.co.nz
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