62 | Watts & Hughes Construction Big projects handled with finesse T T Virginia Wright Founded in Auckland in 1984 Watts & Hughes Ltd. offer their construction management services throughout New Zealand with offices in both islands providing their expertise across the breadth of the construction sector. The Tauranga office was established by Mark Gutry one of the four directors in 2005 and anchors much of the North Island with projects as far afield as Whangarei and Wellington. Project Manager Mark Page has been working for them for the last 16 years. He started as a working foreman and worked his way up through the company including going back to Polytech and doing his Advanced Trade Certificate and Diploma of Construction Management. While a Project Manager in his own right Mark does what’s required to get the job done. “I’ve just finished a new Awapuni Countdown in Palmerston North; it’s taken several years to get to this point. “The site was purchased by Progressive Enterprises in 2013, but the final construction design was only approved in February 2020 after years of contention. “The supermarket is part of a $16 million retail complex of 14 to 21 commercial and retail spaces. Before this project our team constructed another Countdown and MSD building in Wainuiomata in Wellington. I was part of the team who constructed the 15-storey apartment block Antipodean on Beach Road in Auckland. I oversaw the interior fitout for 161 apartments.” It’s up to the in-house quantity surveyors and project managers to work out the detailed price structure and planning calendar needed to predictably bring jobs to completion according to the estimate which sits behind any successful tender. For the newly completed Countdown a full-time Site Manager worked alongside Mark on-site on the Pioneer Highway, and their Quantity Surveyor came down for regular meetings and support. Not surprising given the millions of dollars in play and Watts & Hughes meticulous attention to detail which is part of ensuring their projects come in on time and within budget. “It was 3500sqm which included offices, online shopping, a pharmacist and created up to 80 new jobs. It had a large drive-through truck dock as well so the trucks drive in, shut the doors and unload, then drive out. It also had two 90 m² tenancies joined onto it, one for a café and another one waiting to be tenanted. “ Watts and Hughes have an ongoing relationship with Countdown and Mark has now managed three new builds and several refurbishes. Countdown has an in-house design team and in the last three or four years the builds have moved into higher specs, as part of a change to what they call New Generation Countdowns, characterized by polished concrete floors, higher level ceilings, tiles on the walls in the delis and bakeries, and a New Zealand made decorative timber product called Imondi around the noticeboards and checkouts. As a construction management company Watts & Hughes sub-contract everything out. Typically, the Countdown builds are allocated approximately 180 days for construction time although the most recent one took longer thanks to Covid. Good relationships with their sub-contractors are essential. “Planning, programming, and good communication with the sub-contractors are the key in this business,” says Mark. “We’ve hired some good ones over the years, especially with the Countdowns, and we’ve just stuck with them. We work in an industry full of talented people who manage to deliver great outcomes, overcoming daily challenges and obstacles, but more importantly are able to remain “real”.” Mark says it’s all about the finished product. Completing to a high standard of quality, building relationships, and making sure the client gets what they want and require. “It’s the rapport I have with the clients that I enjoy,” he says. “We did a Hindu Temple in Hamilton a couple of years back and now they have asked for us to build another one in Wellington. “We built the heads offices and main workshop for JJ Richards Rubbish Company in Wiri Auckland, and then a smaller version in Wellington; and we are about to start a petfood factory and office block in Napier for repeat clients and they’ve specifically asked for me so that’s a good feeling,” says Mark. CONSTRUCTION Your Business, Your Industry, Your News. Volume 6 | Issue 2 | April 2021 www.waterfordpress.co.nz ‘Excellence in Energy’ Taranaki’s Todd Energy will have a key role to play as New Zealand moves toward a low emissions economy. Page 8 Waikato farmers Dean & Ang Finnerty have expanded their dairy cow operation into a successful goat milking enterprise as well PAGE 10 Turning challenge into opportunity AUTUMN 2022 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Volume 6 | Issue 3 | July 2021 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Making waves Back on track New Zealand hydrofoil maker Armstrong is generating interest around the world with its high performance products. Work on the ambitious NZCIS facility in Upper Hutt is progressing well after Covid disruptions. PAGE 70 PAGE 10 Healthy delivery A new elective surgery facility in Hastings will provide a big boost to the region’s operating capacity. PAGE 52 Volume 6 | Issue 5 | December 2021 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Cheers Boys! 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