| 83 Vakalahi Construction BUILDING T T Hugh de Lacy Resilient Tongan team survives twin setbacks Vakalahi Construction’s work was recognised by it making the final of the Pacific Business Trust’s Langa Fonua Award for Excellence in Construction and the Trades. When the Sky City International Convention Centre burned down while still under construction in October 2019, it should have fried the chances of newly formed Vakalahi Construction of surviving its first major project. Vakalahi Construction had a labour-only contract with lead contractor Fletcher Construction to build fire walls and the roof at the convention centre, only to see all the work they’d done go up in an inferno that continued burning for 48 hours. Nor did Vakalahi have much luck on its second big project, building 70 townhouses in Mangere for two companies contracted to Kainga Ora. Well into the project the two lead contractors, Stanley Construction and Tallwood Ltd, suddenly collapsed into liquidation, and Vakalahi and its team of between 30 and 40 workers found themselves out of work. The company, owned by Kelly and Haangana Vakalahi, survived the twin disasters with the bills and workers all paid – though some had to take an unplanned holiday for a couple of weeks – because it was working on a labour-only contract basis. While everyone kept their jobs, Kelley and Haangana were badly out of pocket when their expected profit disappeared down the tubes with the main contractors. “We had no substitute work for our staff and, while we were able to slot some people into other jobs, it was a couple of weeks before we could nail down another project for us all to become involved in,” Kelly says. Haangana had gone into the building industry as a labourer at the age of 17, fresh out of high school. He worked for a number of employers before going out on his own as a sole trader, bringing in extra staff just as he needed them. This resulted in his accumulating as many as 40 people who had worked for him at one stage or another, and were beginning to rely on him to supply regular work. So in late 2018 he and Kelly formed Vakalahi Construction. “It was a time of year when the industry was winding down for Christmas, so not the best time to start up a construction company, but we got through on renovations and repairs until the Sky City job came on in the New Year. “We’d finished our work for Fletchers just in time to see it all go up in smoke,” Kelly says. Undeterred the couple stuck it out while their Maori-Pacific enterprise – Haangana is Tongan - to become a respected player in the wider Auckland market. Residential building continues to be the company’s main activity, and by early this year it had staff working on four different sites. A central part of the company’s current business plan is “to significantly improve health and safety to ensure this becomes a normal part of business, rather than a chore or annoying task,” Kelly says. “The goal is to become Totika Qualified, a supplier H&S pre-qualification. “This will lead to more opportunities to tender for higher valued projects, which then lead to better worker opportunities for all our staff, and the ability to continue growing as individuals. “There is also a flow-on impact, which will mean that we can better give back to our communities by way of better incomes for our staff to provide for their families.” Another key focus of the company is bringing apprentices through the system: last year three of them completed their time, and another two were due to finish theirs in April this year. And last year Vakalahi Construction’s work was recognised by it making the final of the Pacific Business Trust’s Langa Fonua Award for Excellence in Construction and the Trades. Valet Plumbing Proudly supporting Vakalahi Construction Plumbing Maintenance • Bathroom Renovations • Hot-Water Cylinders 0800 806 6020 | www.valetplumbing.co.nz New Builds • Renovations Additions • Alterations Commercial Auckland 0210 255 2538 admin@nmprojects.co.nz NMProjects Ltd Proudly associatedwith Vakalahi Construction. 021 104 8862 | admin@vakalahiconstruction.co.nz Papatoetoe, Auckland | www.vakalahiconstruction.co.nz • Renovations • Extensions • Heritage Work • New Builds • Recladding • Kitchen & Bathrooms VAKALAHI CONSTRUCTION LTD
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