Business Central February 2026

Volume 11| Issue 1 | February 2026 www.waterfordpress.co.nz A statement in wool Boutique bag maker Honest Wolf is turning strong wool from its Hunterville farm into a stunning range of bags and accessories…  Page 08

2 | 04| Reflecting identity The extension of Wellington’s parliamentary precinct has a strong New Zealand focus. 24| Winning ways Manawatu’s Loaders Civil has once again proven its strength in the civil construction sector. 86| College transformation The redevelopment of Porirua’s Mana College is creating a modern, sustainable, culturally grounded learning space. 24 86 04 Waimarie Co �� 03 Future Accommodation Project �� 04 Lake Haven - Taupo Hotel Refurbishment �� 06 Govett Quilliam �� 07 Honest Wolf �� 08 New Plymouth Airport �� 09 Manawatu Cold Storage �� 10 Fulton Hogan Manawatu �� 12 Jones Group �� 15 Kiwi Lumber Holdings �� 16 Entec �� 18 GCW Engineering �� 22 Hawk Group �� 23 Loaders Civil �� 24 Lattey Group �� 26 EcoReef - HEX-LOC �� 28 Infill �� 31 Brian Martin Contracting �� 32 Corridor Solutions �� 33 Max Tarr Group �� 34 ATI Engineering �� 35 Total Stockcrates �� 36 Rivercity Building and Aluminium �� 37 Peak Civil �� 38 Exceed Windows and Doors �� 40 Aktis Scaffolding �� 41 Francis Water and Drainage �� 42 ARC Removal and Demolition �� 44 O’Briens Plumbing �� 46 Tip Top Roofing �� 47 Mamaku Blue �� 48 Moffetts Orchard �� 49 Eastern Truck & Marine �� 50 MPT Concrete �� 51 FAST Harvesting �� 52 408 Developments �� 54 Carrus Corporation �� 55 Peacock Glades �� 56 Fairfield Estate �� 57 Anderson Park �� 58 TW Property �� 59 Summerset Group Holding �� 60 Mayfair Pools NZ �� 62 Moore Design �� 64 Devani Architecture �� 65 Vector Architecture �� 66 Callidus Architects �� 68 Complete Architecture �� 69 VOID �� 70 Hansens �� 71 FH Group �� 72 Jennian Homes Taupō �� 74 Landmark Homes Taupō �� 76 New Construction Taupō �� 77 DWL Homes �� 78 Slate & Rouxel Construction �� 80 Jambuilt Construction �� 81 Niche Modular �� 82 Ngati Mutunga �� 84 Mana College �� 86 Robertson Golf �� 87 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 Emma Bailey, Kim Bowden, Kelly Deeks, Hugh de Lacy, Russell Fredric, Kim Newth, Sue Russell, Karen Phelps, Rosa Watson, 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 “We’re asking our community to acknowledge the significance and importance of the vessel and to help us keep her in a condition where she can keep operating on the river as a passenger service vehicle.” T T Virginia Wright Heritage steamer needs more love The Waimarie Paddle Steamer was relaunched on the Whanganui River in 2000 after a massive restoration effort. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Waimarie Co Over 100 years ago the Whanganui River, also known as Te Awa Tupua, was a water highway for steamers carrying mail and goods up and down the river. Rail and road have long since replaced the river as a travel and trade route, but the local riverboat industry was brought back to life in 2000. The Waimarie Paddle Steamer had lain in the mud for 40 years having sunk at the moorings where she’d been retired after 49 years on the river. She was salvaged from the river bottom, restored to her former glory, and relaunched at the centenary of her original launching exactly 100 years to the day, New Zealand’s only authentic coal-fired paddle steamer in operation. That was 25 years ago. Every five years since, the Waimarie has been brought out of the river for ongoing repairs and refurbishment. This time when she comes out the amount of work required has led to a multi-pronged fundraising initiative, under the guidance of the original Whanganui Riverboat Restoration and Navigation Trust which owns her, to raise the money needed. “It was a huge community effort back in the 90s to get her back on the river and relaunched in 2000 and it was only made possible by the community wrapping around the project to get her restored. Twenty-five years down the track we’re hoping for the same support again because she’s such a fantastic asset to our community and to the country,” says Trust Chair Marion Johnson. “She’s a unique part of our colonial history and as a Trust we only hold ownership on behalf of the community. We’re asking our community to acknowledge the significance and importance of the vessel and to help us keep her in a condition where she can keep operating on the river as a passenger service vehicle.” As plans for the restoration advanced, the structure supporting the Waimarie was refined. The Whanganui Riverboat Restoration & Navigation Trust remains the standalone owner of the vessel and its assets, and it is the Trust that is leading and funding the upcoming deck replacement. To take over daily operations, a new charitable company, Waimarie Co. was created to operate all commercial and visitor-facing activities on behalf of the Trust. The Trust is the sole shareholder of Waimarie Co. which is responsible for running the paddle steamer day-to-day, caring for the Riverboat Centre and Museum and managing the ongoing maintenance and operational needs that keep the Waimarie in service. Leaky decks have allowed water to get in over the years resulting in damage to the boat’s steel hull and the rapid deterioration of the decks themselves was noted in the previous mandatory survey with notice given that they must be replaced this time round, explains Jenna Britton, General Manager of Waimarie Co and interim Manager of the fundraising effort and the works it will pay for. “They’re made of kahikatea salvaged out of the Whanganui Opera House in the 90s but they’re at the end of their life and we’ve got until the boat comes out in mid-June 2026 to raise just shy of $600,000 to take care of that and all the other works that need to be done including any that we don’t yet know because we can’t see under the deck until then.” The Whanganui Riverboat Restoration and Navigation Trust are hoping it’ll be all hands on deck when it comes to once again bringing the Waimarie Paddle Steamer up to modern standards while adhering to the original designs. They’re setting up a wide range of sponsorship opportunities to give any and everyone in the community, and in particular a new generation of river goers, a chance to be part of restoring this beautiful remnant of Whanganui’s history. For all your Structural Needs WATERJET CUTTING • MACHINE SHOP • STAINLESS STEEL • SHEET-METAL WORK • CERTIFIED WELDING (STRUCTURAL & PIPE) PH: 06 344 4108 | 437 Heads Rd E: mike@eliteengineering.co.nz

4 | Future Accommodation Project T T Kelly Deeks Precinct extension ‘reflects identity’ The six-storey mass-timber Museum Street building is one of Wellington’s most ambitious timber engineering projects, designed to meet the city’s demanding seismic conditions while significantly reducing embodied carbon. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Major construction is now well underway behind the Beehive as the Future Accommodation Strategy (FAS) enters its busiest phase, transforming what has been a carpark into a modern, resilient, and distinctly New Zealand extension of the parliamentary precinct. With LT McGuiness leading the build, and reinforcing steel supplied by ReoFab, they have successfully delivered the structural foundations. Parliamentary Service Future Accommodation Strategy project director, David Wills, says the scale and significance of the activity unfolding onsite marks a once-in-a-generation redevelopment for Parliament. After an earlier design phase paused in 2016, the project restarted with a complete rethink. When David inherited the programme, he says it was clear the design needed to evolve to better reflect New Zealand’s identity, sustainability expectations, and long-term operational requirements. “What we see today is vastly improved from the original concept,” he says. “It has a much stronger New Zealand focus, it’s more sustainable, and we’ve prioritised local suppliers wherever possible. New Zealand wool, New Zealand timber, New Zealand fabrication — that has been important to us from the start.” That commitment is visible throughout the Museum Street building, the flagship structure of the development. The six-storey mass-timber building is one of Wellington’s most ambitious timber engineering projects, designed to meet the city’s demanding seismic conditions while significantly reducing embodied carbon. All timber has been sourced domestically, with Red Stag/ TimberLab, and Nelson Pine supplying fully certified, delamination-resistant products straight out of Rotorua, Auckland, and Nelson. Supporting the timber superstructure is a substantial concrete base delivered by LT McGuiness and their team of suppliers and subcontractors working closely together to sequence the project’s complex structural stages. “There is a fair amount of concrete in the lower structure before the timber goes on top,” David says. “All suppliers and contractors involved in constructing the complex foundations have been outstanding, set up to succeed by ReoFab’s precise detailing and supply of reinforcing steel. LT McGuiness is leading the whole project with the kind of attention to detail this precinct deserves.” The project also champions New Zealand’s strong wool sector, with wool insulation used throughout the building and further woolbased products under assessment. For David, who watches the structure rise each day from his office window near Parliament House, the progress feels deeply meaningful. “This building speaks to who we are,” he says. “It’s very modern, but it’s grounded in New Zealand materials and New Zealand stories.” The redevelopment addresses long-standing accommodation pressures across Parliament, where ministers, MPs, and staff have been spread across multiple offices since Bowen House was vacated for earthquake strengthening. A defining feature of the project is its seismic performance. Engineered to Importance Level 4, the building incorporates base isolators and viscous dampers — the only imported element in the structure — to limit movement during a major event. “The Beehive was excellent for its time, but engineering has moved on,” David says. “In a big Wellington earthquake, the new building will keep operating. It’s essentially an island, with generators, water storage, and wastewater holding tanks. People could shelter there for weeks while emergency operations get underway.” The internal layout is designed for flexibility, using modular Xframe New Zealand partition systems that allow spaces to be reconfigured quickly following each election. Cultural design has been a central component from the beginning, with mana whenua working alongside the project team to embed Te Ara Tupua — the narrative of Ngake and Whātaitai and the formation of Wellington Harbour — into the building’s exterior. A protective metal screen, niho taniwha motifs, and other symbolic elements give architectural expression to the history and identity of the site. “One of the things I’m most proud of is the co-design approach,” David says. “The building reflects the whenua and the stories that belong to this place.”

| 5 Future Accommodation Project The redevelopment addresses long-standing accommodation pressures across Parliament, where ministers, MPs, and staff have been spread across multiple offices. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT 021 778 829 | tonysullivan@outlook.com Capacity and experience 4PlusFive is playing a key role in the Government’s Future Accommodation project in Wellington, delivering large-scale excavation and civil works that underpin one of the capital’s most signi cant new builds. Managing director Tony Sullivan says the project has provided the Upper Hutt–based civil construction rm with the opportunity to showcase both its technical capability and its trademark straight-up, professional approach. Tony, a senior civil engineering professional with more than 35 years’ industry experience, says 4PlusFive was contracted by LT McGuinness to complete all excavation and civil work for the new development. The scope included extensive bulk earthworks and placement of base course, with the team to return later in the build to prepare for paving and walkways. “This has been a really good project for us because of the volume of material involved,” Tony says. “We moved about 35,000 cubic metres to form the basement. It’s a large structure with drive-in parking, so we were digging out right to the piles.” 4PlusFive has a long-standing relationship with LT McGuinness, and Tony says working under a main contractor known for its professionalism and reliability is a major advantage. “We’ve worked together on a lot of projects. They run signi cant and innovative builds, they’re great to deal with, and they always pay on time. When you’re working with an established company like that, you look after them, and they keep you involved in good projects.” While the Future Accommodation project has progressed well overall, weather created predictable complications. Excavation occurred through one of the wettest Octobers Tony has seen, with the basement hole repeatedly lling with up to a metre of water. “We were constantly dealing with water ingress. You’ve got strict testing criteria for compacting material and when you’re working in rain, you just have to keep going until the material meets those limits. It took a bit longer, but it stayed on programme which is always good.” Tony says the nished building will be an iconic wooden structure of six levels, and the team is proud to contribute to its foundations. Crews worked weekends when required, maintaining the company’s strong reputation for effort, loyalty, and straight talking. 4PlusFive was founded in 2012 by two couples, taking a small team and a single truck and digger into business after a previous company closed. The name re ects the four original shareholders and their ve children, symbolising the family culture that remains central to the business. The company now operates nine diggers, a eet of trucks, rollers and graders, and two depots in Upper Hutt, where it also stores materials from its demolition projects. Current work includes signi cant site-works for Te Papa’s new purpose-built Upper Hutt laboratory, another LT McGuinness project that Tony says re ects the same level of innovation and national importance as the Future Accommodation build. He says securing repeat work from major contractors is a direct result of 4PlusFive’s honesty- rst approach and the consistency of its team.

6 | Makeover for busy Taupō hotel Recent infrastructure improvements have enhanced Taupō’s appeal as a tourism destination. Lake Haven - Taupō Hotel Refurbishment T T Karen Phelps “We are boutique, and are offering something different to the market.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT A million-dollar-plus renovation project is nearing completion in the heart of Taupō, with the Lake Haven boutique hotel preparing to open its doors in November following a comprehensive two-year transformation of a 1957 building. Commercial investor Murray Jones, who purchased the Tongariro Street property six years ago, has overseen the complete gutting and reimagining of the former backpacker accommodation into 30 high-end apartments that he believes will set new standards for the tourism hotspot. “We’ve created the most compliant accommodation place in Taupō,” says Murray. “Everything is up to the latest building code. We’ve put double Gib on every wall, installed fire-rated windows, and implemented the latest fire-rating systems throughout.” The project has exceeded original budgets by $1million, but Murray believes the investment reflects the quality of finish that distinguishes Lake Haven from other accommodation options in the region. “It’s a very modern offering for Taupo, very distinct,” he explains. “We are boutique, and are offering something different to the market. It’s quite an accomplishment to complete it.” The Lake Haven business is owned by Murray and three other investors. The 850sqm hotel occupies the second storey of the building, which spans both Tongariro St and Tūwharetoa St in Taupō’s main hospitality district. Each of the 30 rooms measures approximately 25sqm and features contemporary décor, fully marble-tiled bathroom, a 65-inch television and writing desk. “Every room has ensuites, tea and coffee making facilities and king beds. Some rooms have beds that can be split into two singles,” says Murray. “Some of our larger rooms offer both double and single bed configurations and several provide either lake views or overlook the Tongariro Domain.”\ The hotel’s modern approach extends to its operations, with no traditional front desk. Instead guests will book and pay online before using state-of-the-art kiosks to access their rooms via pin codes. The hotel benefits from lift access and rear car parking. Murray, who has been investing in Taupō for three decades and now calls it home, sees the project as part of the town’s broader transformation into a premier North Island destination. “It’s the Queenstown of the North Island,” he says. “It’s a really nice place. It’s like waking up every day in a holiday resort.” Murray says because Lake Haven is right in the heart of Taupo’s hospitality area and extremely close to the lake, people simply have to walk out the door to enjoy all the town offers. Murray’s investment in the area extends beyond Lake Haven. He previously developed the Rebel Sport and Supercheap Auto complex with eight apartments, and built what is now ProDrive Golf, demonstrating his longterm commitment to the region’s commercial development. He says recent infrastructure improvements have enhanced Taupō’s appeal as a tourism destination. The council has refurbished main streets and increased car parking capacity, while nearby hydroelectric power stations and a solar farm have brought additional economic activity to the area. “The central location in the North Island means you’re not far from anything.” Proud to be associated with Lake Haven Grant Fisher Phone 027 492 6895 TE KUITI 07 878 5169 TAUPO 07 378 8545 OTOROHANGA 07 873 6385 LEADERS IN THE INDUSTRY PROUDLY SUPPORTING LAKE HAVEN actionelectrical.co.nz Do you need design & architectural solutions? LSA offers a complimentary one-hour on-site consultation for locals. Call us on 021 264 8559 to secure a booking “Totally Dependable” Proud to support Lake Haven - Taupo Residential | Commercial | Maintenance & Servicing Central Heating | Waste Water Treatment Laser Plumbing Taupo 3/41 Runanga Street, Taupo taupo@laserplumbing.co.nz www.taupo.laserplumbing.co.nz 07 377 3023

| 7 T T Karen Phelps Committed to serving community The firm combines national level expertise with regional heart, providing clients with practical, tailored solutions for complex matters. Govett Quilliam REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Following its double win at the 2025 Taranaki Business Excellence Awards, Govett Quilliam (GQ) is looking forward to 2026, says CEO André Nobbs. The firm was recognised with both the Service Excellence Award and the Large Business Excellence Award, a testament to GQ’s commitment to outstanding legal services, innovation and community engagement. “It shows the firm has a culture that goes beyond just delivering exceptional legal services, while also being a positive contributor across the community. The awards are a really valuable and meaningful validation of the great work that our team does on a regular basis,” says André. Founded nearly 150 years ago, GQ offers a comprehensive range of legal services across Taranaki and throughout New Zealand specialising in corporate and commercial, family, rural, property, resource management, environment and planning, local government, employment, health, dispute resolution and more. André says the firm combines national level expertise with regional heart, providing clients with practical, tailored solutions for complex matters. He says the 2025 awards reflect a period of significant growth and transformation for the firm, which has undertaken a full review of its operations, streamlining systems, processes and technology. “We’ve made significant changes to enhance how we operate, including shifting our practice management system to create efficiencies and benefits for our clients and team members,” he explains. Central to the firm’s success is its client-focused approach and ongoing commitment to accessibility, transparency and exceptional service. “Our team focuses not only on positive legal outcomes, but also on building authentic relationships based on trust and transparency,” André says. “It’s a real testament to our people that so many clients continue to use and refer our services for generations.” People development is another cornerstone of GQ’s strategy. The firm’s emerging talent has been recognised nationally with three associates – Annie Prosser, Bayley Sprott and Pryiaanka Khatri – named NZ Lawyer’s Future Legal Leaders. GQ’s partners have also achieved national accolades and leadership roles, including recognition as Elite Women in Law and appointments to key positions in professional associations. Most recently, partner Lauren Wallace was appointed president of the Resource Management Law Association. “National recognition like this highlights the strength of our entire organisation,” says André. “When our people are supported, they perform at their best, and our clients reap the rewards.” Beyond its legal work, GQ actively contributes to the Taranaki community. Many staff volunteer their expertise to local charities, organisations and boards, living the firm’s value of serving with purpose. “Strong communities are vital to regional growth and prosperity and GQ seeks to provide more than just legal guidance by investing time, resources and knowledge in the areas where it operates,” he explains. André says this year the firm remains focused on progress. “We see this momentum as a challenge to keep improving,” he says. “Our people live and work here; we help local families and businesses, and we celebrate in their successes along the way. We see amazing opportunities for the region and how we can support our clients, our team and community over the coming years.”

8 | Woollen bags make a statement Honest Wolf turns strong wool from their 3300ha hill-country Papanui Station near Hunterville into a range of hand, travel and work bags. Honest Wolf T T Hugh de Lacy “Those plastic bags being banned got us wondering whether we couldn’t replace them with beautiful woollen ones.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT An Honest Wolf in sheep’s clothing has bagged the Deloitte Fast 50 2025 award for the fastest-growing retail company in the lower North Island. Honest Wolf is Sophie and Sam Hurley’s woollen bag and accessories company, which turns strong wool from their 3300ha hill-country Papanui Station near Hunterville into a range of hand, travel and work bags. Launched in 2020, Honest Wolf has its 35-micron wool scoured, then shipped to Delhi, India, where it’s turned into beautifully crafted all-wool bags – most of them about the size of the now banned supermarket plastic bags that sowed the idea in the Hurleys’ minds in the first place. “Those plastic bags being banned got us wondering whether we couldn’t replace them with beautiful woollen ones,” Sophie says. “We got various samples made in India because we couldn’t find the right sort of machinery here, and in 2022 launched Honest Wolf with a website and a retail and distribution shop in Hunterville. “Most of our sales are generated by the website – we’ve got customers all over the world – but besides our own Honest Wolf shop in Hunterville, which caters to passing traffic, our products are sold in Untouched World’s four stores, at Ballantynes department store in Christchurch, among others.” Of the Deloitte Fast 50 award, Sophie says: “We thought it was pretty cool to land that, to get that sort of growth in a tough retail market.” And the name says it all. “The ‘Honest’ part of our product line showcases the use of our own wool, and also the reality of running a business in rural New Zealand while raising three young children. The ‘Wolf’ reflects us wanting to be a leader in finding new ways to use wool.” Sophie grew up on a sheep farm near Mayfield in Mid-Canterbury, and in 2016 joined Sam on the family farm they run in partnership with Sam’s father Andy, and brother Jack. The Hurley flock of Romney-Kelso-cross sheep produces wool that’s generally too thick for all but the heartiest of clothing, and would normally otherwise end up as carpet. Wanting to get their wool revenue up above the farmgate price – the market’s firmed $1/ kg to about $4.50/kg over the past year – was what drove the Hurleys to find an alternative use for their strong wool. “We pay above-market rates for our wool, a price that we believe the farmer deserves, as we want to raise both the production standards and the farmgate wool price for all farmers across New Zealand, not just Papanui,” Sophie says. Honest Wolf is currently sending one or two 10,000kg container consignments of their wool to Delhi a year and, with each bag consuming about a kilogram of wool, that volume can only rise. Driving demand in the domestic market is Honest Wolf’s range of corporate gifting bags which are embroidered with the host company’s logo. “We get orders for client and staff gifting for Christmas, and through collaborations such as the NZ Supporters Team range for the 2024 Olympics, and Glendfiddich’s nationwide Fathers Day campaign.” www.gvi.co.nz • Import / Export Air & Ocean • Customs Brokerage • Third Party Logistics (3PL) • Perishable Logistics • Event Logistics • Project Logistics Proudly Supporting Honest Wolf

| 9 T T Kim Newth Airport continues its winning ways The opening of the Mātairangi lookout at New Plymouth Airport. The project, which grew out of a partnership between the council, airport company and Puketapu hapū won a Community Engagement Award at the 2025 NZ Airports Awards in October. Te Hono - New Plymouth Airport REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Te Hono, New Plymouth Airport has another award to add to a growing line-up of accolades won since the 2020 opening of its new terminal building. Named one of the world’s most beautiful airports in 2023 by Prix Versailles, the airport has also won multiple national awards for its standout terminal over recent years. The latest recognition is for Mātairangi, a new lookout – and cultural landmark – at New Plymouth Airport, which won a Community Engagement Award at the 2025 NZ Airports Awards in October. Featuring an elevated viewing platform and four pou (pillars) that tell the stories of the Puketapu hapū, Mātairangi provides visitors with panoramic views from Taranaki Maunga to the coastline, and is sited on the Te Pae o Te Rangi Walkway extension. (Once complete, the extension will almost double the length of New Plymouth’s award-winning coastal walkway.) “Mātairangi helps acknowledge the presence and importance of our hapū here – we’re delighted with the outcome and incredibly proud of being recognised for what we have done,” says airport chief executive David Scott. The airport’s ongoing evolution and success over recent years owes much to its strong partnerships in the Taranaki region. The transformative airport terminal redevelopment involved New Plymouth District Council, Puketapu hapū, Papa Rerangi I Puketapu (the airport company) and the designers all working together to create a modern gateway that is unique to the Taranaki region, rich in meaning and cultural significance. Similarly, the award-winning Mātairangi project grew out of a partnership between the council, airport company and Puketapu hapū. It opened in February, a few days before the national kapa haka festival in Taranaki. “Not only is this an important cultural landmark, it’s arguably also one of the best viewing platforms in the district,” says David. “On a clear day, you can see right over to Mount Ruapehu and up and down the coast – it’s just sensational. If you’re flying into New Plymouth, it’s easy to find – you can’t miss it. We’re seeing a good steady flow of people heading up there.” New Plymouth Airport is currently having input into the walkway extension project, as it will pass through the airport precinct. “That’s almost finished now. Once that cycle and walkway has been extended, it will be an incredible asset to the region,” David notes. Another exciting milestone for the airport this year has been the opening of Te Matakupenga, the airport’s new 15-hectare solar farm. It features 14,400 solar panels that will generate up to 14,700 megawatt hours of electricity each year and, in the process, prevent more than 1500 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere annually. It has made New Plymouth Airport self-sufficient in energy, while also generating income through the sale of surplus energy. The solar farm site is still in use as productive grazing land. “This has been another collaborative partnership and it ticks so many boxes: it provides a diversified income stream, which as an airport is massively helpful, and is a core part of our comprehensive sustainability strategy that also includes battery storage and EV charging infrastructure.” David says the solar farm has been fully funded by borrowing – at no cost to ratepayers, with future profits earmarked to go back to the community. Congratulations New Plymouth Airport on winning the community engagement award for Mātairangi www.unlimit.co.nz PROUD PARTNER OF NEW PLYMOUTH AIRPORT 116 Rifle Range Road, Waiwhakaiho, New Plymouth 4312 P: 06) 758 7755 E: oce@npe-tech.co.nz W: www.npe-tech.co.nz

10 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Manawatu Cold Storage T T Virginia Wright Cold storage – an essential link Mancold’s new storage facility has increased its storage space for frozen product from 4400sqms to 7000sqms, and their blast freezers from three to nine. Manawatu Cold Storage (Mancold) is headquartered in Feilding and its team includes some of the most experienced people in the cold storage, freight and export industries in the country. Brent Cawthray’s worked there for 36 years and he’s been running the company for the last fifteen. “It was a family-owned business for years with those values which we’ve maintained, which are all about the customer, which might sound corny in this day and age, but for us it’s all about the customer and looking after the inventory,” says Brent. “Clients need to know that when the product comes in it’ll be looked after no matter how big or small they are,” he says. “Even if it’s a couple of pallets, for them that’s big and they deserve the same respect as someone who has a couple of thousand tons. We treat everybody the same.” Manawatu Cold Storage stores product for clients big and small across a diverse range of industries including primary industries such as dairy, beef, lamb, pork and poultry; industries with more specialised needs and strict temperature controls for safety and compliance such as the pharmaceutical sector; fruit, vegetables, pet food and even fresh flowers. Whether it’s food grade or sensitive products they can be relied on for their efficient, industry-specific cold storage solutions which they tailor according to their client’s needs. As Brent puts it, they look after their clients’ stock as if it’s their own and their experienced team handles daily logistical challenges with the ease of long practice. They not only store product for clients, but as a certified transitional facility they can unload containers from overseas, store the product and load it back out domestically. Compared to the big multinationals, Mancold is a relatively small business but they’re still one of the biggest privately-owned cold storage facilities in the country, especially with their recently opened new storage facility which increased its storage space for frozen product from 4400sqms to 7000sqms, and their blast freezers from three to nine. “It was a big expansion which was managed beautifully by Humphries Construction who are the best in Manawatu I reckon,” says Brent. “Their attention to detail and especially their ability to deal with issues as they came up and to accommodate our needs was outstanding.” Mancold’s central location makes them a desirable option for blast-freezing produce such as fresh beef, lamb or chicken, which is an increasing piece of Mancold’s business. That’s why they’ve just taken their blast freezing capacity from the 84 ton they’ve had for the last eight years up to 252 ton to meet their clients’ needs. The newly frozen produce is sorted into its own 1350sqm freezer from where it’s loaded into containers for export around the world, generally within three weeks. keeping kiwis cool since 1997 PROUD TO SUPPORT MANCOLD - MANAWATU COLD STORAGE • Industrial refrigeration specialists • Refrigeration design and installation • Air conditioning design and installation • Project management PROUD TO SUPPORT MANCOLD 1/1 Wiltshire Place, Palmerston North 4412 06 280 2330 021 280 2338 daniel.jordan@activerefrig.co.nz

| 11 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Manawatu Cold Storage Mancold’s central location makes them a desirable option for blast-freezing produce BDOManawatu congratulates Brent and the ManCold teamon its successful expansion We’re proud to support ManCold on their road to success. Talk to us about your growth journey. BDONewZealandLimited,aNewZealandlimitedliabilitycompany,isamemberofBDOInternationalLimited,aUKcompanylimitedbyguarantee,andforms partofthe internationalBDOnetworkof independentmemberfirms.BDONewZealand isanational associationof independentmemberfirms, including BDOManawatu which operate as separate legal entities. HUMPHRIES CONSTRUCTION PROUD TO WORK WITH MANAWATU COLD STORAGE www.humphries.kiwi | 06 952 3584

12 | Fulton Hogan Manawatu T T Virginia Wright Award-winning projects spur growth Fulton Hogan Manawatu has been busy with several major projects since it was established in 2020. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Fulton Hogan’s Manawatu Regional Office and Depot, which extends its reach to Whanganui, was established post Covid in late 2020 to support Fulton Hogan Major Projects after it won both the Manawatu Gorge Replacement Highway project, linking the Manawatu to the Tararua and beyond, and the Air Surveillance Maritime Patrol (ASMP) contract at Ohakea Airbase for the Ministry of Defence. The Royal New Zealand Airforce’s replacement of the P-3K2 Orion fleet for ASMP with the heavier P-8A Poseidon aircraft meant all the horizontal infrastructure needed replacing to handle the additional weight. T T to page 14 This included but was not limited to hard stands in front of the new hangars, aprons, stubs or the new taxi-way extension. It all involved earthworks, drainage, pavement construction, premium quality concrete and asphalting, and that was only a fraction of what would be needed to build the new highway over the Ruahine’s to replace the Manawatu Gorge Road state highway which was closed in 2017. Manawatu Regional Manager, Victor Maggs, has been with Fulton Hogan for 37 years. Over his career he has been involved in a range of management roles across the North Island, adding to his engineering qualifications with a post-graduate diploma in Business Management, and taking up his current position when the Regional Office was established in 2021. Until then the Manawatu area was a branch that sat under the Wellington Region but following the success of winning the two large projects in the region, the Fulton Hogan board approved the establishment of a standalone regional business with the main office in Palmerston North. It was initially established to act as an internal supplier for Fulton Hogan Major Projects. “We purchased a new state of the art Marini asphalt plant that came into the region to supply the asphalt required for the two major projects,” says Victor. “We then quickly established our own paving crew and our growth in both asphalt Project Manager Michael Hoggard 06 350 1006 | enquiries@maxtarr.co.nz | www.maxtarr.co.nz ELECTRICAL • INDUSTRIAL • AUTOMATION · Industrial electrical · Airfield lighting · Traffic Signals · Street lighting · Mechanical engineering · Automation · HVAC electrical production and laying has been significant, along with our skills and capability in all other facets of civil construction,” he says. They won the Palmerston North City Council roading maintenance contract, and further down the track the Manawatu District Council roading maintenance contract, both substantial contracts in their own rights. “Then we started winning infrastructure projects independently of Major Projects including a significant pavement and drainage project at Ohakea, the design and build for a parallel taxiway at the Whanganui Airport, and we also negotiated the runway overlay for that airport as well.”

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