Business Central July 2021

| 57 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Hawke’s Bay - Currie Construction Firm thrives on diversity and variety T Sue Russell The company has been involved in restoration and construction of architectural features and monuments. T aking care of all the crucial health, safety, quality and environmental systems and documentation is a busy job for Ruth Shearar who is enjoying working at major Gisborne-based company Currie Construction. The second-generation family, founded by Kim and Debbie Currie, is now led by their two sons Sam and John. While Sam project manages and controls the civil division, John leads the commercial arm of the company. In total the company today employs upward of 80 staff, across these two sectors. The company has gone through a sustained period of growth over the past few years. The commercial construction work began in 1985 and for the last 10 years Currie Construction has expanded their offering to include a Civil division. Seeing a niche opportunity, the company invested in drilling rigs so that anchors could be secured in areas of the country prone to slips and movement, while on the commercial side, long-term relationships as a preferred contractor with the Ministry of Education means that there is always a solid amount of work from this quarter. With its array of services and capabilities the company currently operates along the East Coast as far up as Hicks Bay, for both its commercial and civil contracts work. Ruth says the work they do in schools is really engaging given the creative and vibrant spaces to learn the company builds. “When you see what is being put in place for the children of today who will benefit from what we are doing, they are really lucky to have such wonderful environments to learn in,” she says. Currie Construction is currently undertak- ing work at Tolaga Bay School, Gisborne Girls High School and Mangapapa school where the scope of works includes the replacement of various teachers, blocks, and infrastructure upgrades. The focus for the future within the civil sector, will be to continue to grow its geotech- nical division. Currie Construction’s commercial division works across several sectors, including educa- tion, retail, and industrial settings. Along with new builds the division also undertakes earthquake strengthening, demo- lition and asbestos removal. The civil work extends to construction and refurbishment of small bridges, drilling for tieback anchors, piling, roading, concrete, installation of culverts, retaining walls and landscaping. In public spaces of significance, the compa- ny has also been involved in restoration and construction of architectural features and monuments. “It’s this wide variety of capability that really has secured the company on such a sound footing, with a strong reputation for doing the job once and doing it right,” says Ruth” Asked what it was that drew her to take up this active role in the company Ruth says she was attracted to it because it was a fami- ly-owned business, with a strong team culture. “This role came along and ticked all the boxes for me. “I am a systems person, and it is great to be contributing to improving performance out- comes for our teams working on the ground. “It means you really have to understand how a project is put together and how people work practically to create a user-friendly plan.” Designing Health, Safety, Quality and Environmental management systems that really work practically for those who need to implement them is her priority. We specialise in: Forestry, Civil Road Construction & Maintenance, Aggregate Supply, Log & Aggregate Haulage and Heavy Haulage Transporting. Brooke Richards – Sales rep: 027 238 6432 Safety at work. protrade.net.nz 0800 11 22 39 All safety solutions for residential, industrial and construction requirements. Scaffolding, edge protection, safety nets, shrink wrapping and hiab hire. “Thankful to be supporting Currie Construction” 06 869 0153 226 Stanley Road, Gisborne www.unieng.co.nz Design & Build Structural Steelwork Fabrication Mechanical Machining and Sheetmetal GENERAL ENGINEERING