116 | Helping improve lives Maple Build is passionate about building high-performance and energy-efficient homes. BUILDFING Maple Build T T Hugh de Lacy Lifestyle Building & Construction New facility a boost for rugby in the ’Naki T T Kelly Deeks From the restoration of a stately old villa to the construction of a new house made to look like an old farm cottage, both in Martinborough, through to building high-performance new homes as showcased on Grand Designs NZ, Featherston-based Maple Build mixes a versatile repertoire with a “people first” company ethic. Zac Prestidge, the founder and owner of Maple Build, is driven by the notion of houses needing “above all to enable people to thrive, and that means being of the highest quality in terms of material and workmanship, in a sound structure that gains and retains warmth and air quality for better comfort and health outcomes”. “As we all know, the building code sets the minimum standard that dictates the design and practice for building a new home, but that should only be seen as the bare basics for a livable space,” Zac says. “To put it another way, the code sets the standard for the worst house you can legally build in New Zealand. “Here at Maple Build we are passionate about building high-performance and energy-efficient homes that enable good physical and mental health, are easier on the planet, and are more sustainable to run into the Lifestyle Building & Construction, a trusted name in Taranaki’s construction industry, is bringing its signature problem-solving expertise to a project close to the heart of managing director Scott Siffleet – a purpose-built training facility for Taranaki Rugby. Work is now underway on the much-anticipated Te Whare Pūngao o Ngā-motu (The Energy House of New Plymouth), a 525sqm training base at Stadium Taranaki that will, for the first time in seven years, provide Taranaki Rugby with on-site training infrastructure. “This project is a real passion project for me,” Scott says. “I’ve been involved with rugby for years. From coaching, managing, chairman and allround volunteer, and it’s great to finally see this happening after years of planning.” Scott’s company, Lifestyle Building & Construction, was awarded the design-and-build contract for the facility, with in-house design by Scott’s wife Tash Siffleet of InScale Design. Scott, a former gym owner himself, has been involved with the project since 2021, collaborating closely with Taranaki Rugby’s head coach and management team to ensure the space will meet the specialist needs of training for rugby, and a range of other sporting codes. “A lot of thought has gone into the design, from layout to functionality,” Scott says. “We needed a minimum 5.8-metre internal height so the players can practise line-out lifting, and a 30-metre straight run for fitness testing. There’s also provision for ply-lined walls for ball work, physio rooms, showers, and toilets.” Fully funded by Taranaki Rugby and supported by a range of community funders, the gym will sit alongside the Sport Taranaki building and Field 3. Construction was delayed by the lengthy permitting process, and the company worked closely with iwi, due to the site’s sensitive location. Earthworks were completed over summer, and on-site construction work began in June. future, and so we build above those minimum standards as much as is possible on each project.” Zac grew up in a building environment. His father, Andy Prestidge, is a carpenter still working in Taranaki, but Zac initially pivoted towards design through Massey University. “I got into carpentry full-time after studying design, and once I decided to jump into it properly I really fell in love with it – the physical work, the creative outlet, the people,” he says. Zac gives credit to his father, Andy, for teaching him to care well for people and to build with integrity and humility, values he has incorporated in his company’s operation. It was these foundational values that motivated Zac to start Maple Build in 2014, with his sights set on building high-performance, energy-efficient homes as a way of improving the lives of others. Wastewater infrastructure issues have created barriers to building new houses within the towns of Martinborough and Greytown, and as a result Zac has seen an increase in lifestyle projects, particularly with off-grid or self-sufficiency built in. Maple Build has also noticed an increase in large-scale renovation and restoration projects, which included the restoration of the 19th-century villa in Martinborough. Founded in 2010, Lifestyle Building & Construction has grown from a two-man residential building company to one of Taranaki’s goto contractors for both high-end homes and complex commercial projects. The company has developed a niche for taking on challenging builds that require a high level of design and construction problem-solving, a capability well suited to the gym project. “We seem to get a lot of the awkward jobs that other builders shy away from,” Scott says. “Having an in-house design team really helps. Tash has a knack for coming up with solutions when a project looks like it’s been blown to bits.” The company’s expertise in precast concrete construction has also helped position it for larger commercial work. Lifestyle Building & Construction now manages and installs precast concrete for projects from New Plymouth to Taupō, including specialist jobs like the Taupō thermal power station build. Alongside the gym project, Lifestyle Building & Construction continues delivering million-dollar-plus homes, large commercial fitouts, and complex renovation projects across the region. “We like to say we do it once and do it right,” Scott says. “Every project, whether it’s a bespoke home, a commercial site, or a gym for our local rugby team, gets the same level of care and attention.” Lifestyle Building & Construction expects the new Taranaki Rugby gym to be completed later in 2025, providing a long-overdue training base for the region’s top athletes. “Having an in-house design team really helps. Tash has a knack for coming up with solutions when a project looks like it’s been blown to bits.” PROUDLY SUPPORTING MAPLE BUILD LTD 027 525 4004 @adamspaintingcontractors www.adamspaintingcontractors.com NEW AND RE-ROOF SPECIALISTS • FREE QUOTES • 027 287 6633 • WWW.ATROOFING.CO.NZ • ADMIN@ATROOFING.CO.NZ PROUD TO SUPPORT MAPLE BUILD 027 202 9099 shannon@taranakiinteriors.co.nz Taranaki Interiors Proudly supporting Lifestyle Building & Construction For all your interior decorating needs in the Taranaki region, get in touch with us today!
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