38 | CONTRACTING Peak Civil T T Kelly Deeks Young firmmeeting domestic demand Peak Civil has also carved out a niche in hand-laid asphalt, which few contractors in the region currently offer. Taupō contractor Peak Civil is strengthening its position in the local civil and earthworks markets as demand climbs across residential, commercial and subdivision projects. Managing director Raiden Zillwood says the company’s focus for 2026 is controlled, sustainable growth as it builds capability and expands its workforce. After launching Peak Civil just over two years ago, Raiden has grown the business from two staff to six, with plans to reach eight or nine by late 2026. He says increasing employee numbers will help the company transition away from relying on subcontractors during busy periods. “Our main focus is building up the team to match the growing demand,” Raiden says. “Some weeks we’ve got more work than we can handle, and other times it’s quieter. We want to build a solid in-house crew we can rely on, rather than subcontracting to fill the gaps.” Raiden’s experience working for major contractors Higgins and Downer helped him identify a gap in the Taupō market. As larger corporates shifted their attention towards highway and large-scale infrastructure projects, smaller domestic asphalt, chipseal, and driveway work became underserved. Peak Civil stepped in to fill the space – and the demand has been strong. “It’s worked out exactly how I hoped,” Raiden says. “There’s more than enough domestic work to keep us busy, and because our team has a wide range of skills, we don’t have downtime. If asphalt and chip-seal slow down in winter, we switch to drainage, earthworks, and landscaping.” The company has also carved out a niche in hand-laid asphalt, which few contractors in the region currently offer. While Peak Civil brings in paving machines for larger projects, Raiden says investing in its own machine is part of the company’s longer-term growth strategy. “A paving machine or bitumen sprayer is a six- or seven-hundred-thousand-dollar investment, so we want to grow a bit more first,” he says. “But eventually we want two teams, one team to focus on the domestic work and one team for the bigger jobs, once we can invest in these specialised pieces of machinery.” Taupō’s surge in subdivisions and land development is also fuelling the company’s workload. Recent changes to council subdivision rules have encouraged more landowners to split larger blocks, creating demand for new driveways, chipseal, asphalt, and civil works. Peak Civil also supports larger contractors as a subcontractor on major developments. Domestic clients, Raiden says, increasingly prefer asphalt and chipseal over concrete, due to faster installation times, strong visual appeal, and lower cost. “People like the look of asphalt and chipseal, and they can drive on it straight away,” he says. “They choose it for its aesthetic, so we take real pride in tidy edges and a clean finish.” Despite the growth, challenges remain – particularly weather disruptions and the pressures of running a small, close-knit team. Peak Civil’s staff are all local and all under 30, and while Raiden values the family-like culture, absences can be tough to absorb. “When you’re small, losing one person for a day can really slow you down,” he says. “As we grow, that will get easier.” Peak Civil’s reputation is spreading quickly, supported by strong word of mouth and repeat commercial clients, including monthly work for some. “The biggest thing for us is building good relationships and delivering quality work,” Raiden says. “We want our clients to know that if they need something done urgently, we’ll find a way to make it happen.” Building Better Futures, One Project at a Time Project Management Surveying Civil Design Land Development admin@matangaprojects.co.nz | 027 5570 006 | www.matangaprojects.co.nz PRO DIG TAUPO • EXCAVATIONS • TRUCKING • TRANSPORTS 021 241 7149
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