| 65 CONSTRUCTION Morden T T Karen Phelps From start-up to significant player Morden has quickly established itself as a trusted partner across a range of complex construction projects throughout New Zealand. Proud supporters of Morden Ltd www.trademarkconstuction.nz New Zealand Certified Builders Association CB Wellington-based construction consultancy, Morden, is marking a keymilestone this year celebrating five years in business, which has seen it grow from a start-up in a garage into a nationally recognised organisation. “Reaching five years, particularly in the current construction market, reflects the strength of the team and the consistency of what we deliver,” says managing director Dave Morris. Founded by Dave after a long career as a main contractor, the business was born out of a clear gap in the market. “I was an ex main contractor, and I could see a gap in the market for a project management company with real hands-on experience of building,” he says. “It just started from there.” From those modest beginnings, Morden has quickly established itself as a trusted partner across a range of complex construction projects throughout New Zealand. One of its earliest major engagements came via a government organisation, where the firm was brought in as a complex delivery adviser on a large-scale redevelopment. The project involved 20 separate construction works running simultaneously across a 10-hectare site, with construction packages ranging from $10,000 to $21 million and a total programme value of $100 million over five years. Coordinating such a vast and active site showcased Morden’s planning and scheduling capabilities, says Dave. “We provided advice on construction methodologies, Health & Safety, and supported project managers while mentoring younger team members.” The firm also played a key role in navigating the challenges posed by post- pandemic conditions, including supply chain disruptions and labour shortages. “One of the biggest challenges was finding suitable resources in the marketplace capable of performing the kind of works involved in this project,” says Dave. “By working through the knowledge that we had, we were able to guide the team to choose the right main contractors.” Since then, Morden has continued to build a strong portfolio and reputation, securing places on major frameworks, including the Ministry of Education’s (Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga) project management panel across four key regions, and KiwiRail’s national framework for project management and quantity surveying. Repeat clients now include Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora alongside a growing number of main contractors, who engage the consultancy to strengthen their internal teams. “We don’t just work for client-side principals or developers, and that’s another point of difference,” says Dave. “We also support main contractors, which gives us a practical, delivery-focused perspective that many consultancies don’t have.” Recent and current projects highlight the breadth of its expertise from quantity surveying work on the Ava Bridge footpath replacement, to project management and engineer to contract roles on the 275 Cuba Street redevelopment in Wellington. The latter includes a seismic upgrade, and will house the Dorothy Spotswood Charity Hospital at ground level. It is also acting as independent certifier on the Sir Mark Dunajtschik Hutt Mental Health Centre and contributing to a government project in Whanganui. After relocating from Petone, the company is now based in Hutt Central, which Dave says signifies growth. “We are entering a new phase of growth, building on a strong client base and a reputation for delivering certainty on complex projects,” he says.
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