98 | Frontier Pools Kelly Deeks Ensuring that Neil’s legacy lives on Frontier Pools builds concrete pools for their durability, versatility, and integrity. “We have some wonderful people on the team and they have really stepped up and gone above and beyond in this really difficult time. Neil’s passing has made our team stronger, and it’s a beautiful thing to see.” LANDSCAPING THORBURN CONSULTANTS (NZ) LTD www.thorburn.co.nz With over 40 years of experience in designing and refining the structure for concrete pools we are proud to have worked with Frontier Pools on these features projects. STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS Proud supporter of Frontier Pools High-end concrete pool construction company Frontier Pools is set to continue its solutions-focused operation with the customer at the centre, despite the untimely passing of its long-standing owner Neil Runciman earlier this year. Neil and Julie Runciman have owned Frontier Pools since 2006, although Neil started working there in 1996. Neil loved waterskiing and was a former national champion and coach. His work at Frontier Pools kept him busy throughout each New Zealand summer, then he would head off for more waterskiing overseas in the winters. At Frontier Pools, Neil’s focus was construction, and he ramped up this side of the business while he worked for the company’s previous owner Neville Partridge. “He did everything from plumbing to electrics, to steel and concrete placing to finishing work and tiling along with the costing, quoting and sales piece” says Neil’s best friend Daryl Smith. “He did an apprenticeship without doing an apprenticeship. He’s always been a hands-on guy that likes the technological aspects of a project.” Neil always provided the best for his customers. “Everyone who dealt with him said he was a genuine and generous guy who would fight tooth and nail to make sure the customers were getting the best end result.” Neil was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer in March this year and died on April 29. With little time to get his affairs in order, he asked his best friend to make sure his business would continue. “He really wanted to keep the business going, and that maybe one of his three boys could get into it eventually. And if they didn’t want to, he would be happy that they were happy doing what they wanted to do. He was an amazing father and did everything for his boys. He squeezed everything he could out of life and his boys are so enriched because of what he put into them.” Daryl, who has years of experience within the construction industry, stepped in as acting general manager to support the business through this difficult time to ensure that Neil’s wishes were fulfilled, and that his professional legacy continues with Frontier Pools producing high quality concrete pools in the years to come. Frontier Pools has taken this opportunity to promote from within, from its established team of long-serving staff. Frontier Pools continues to be about passionate people delivering quality pools for their clients. With an experienced and professional team, there is a shared responsibility to continue the company’s vision. “We have some wonderful people on the team and they have really stepped up and gone above and beyond in this really difficult time. Neil’s passing has made our team stronger, and it’s a beautiful thing to see.” And that’s not the only beautiful thing coming out of Frontier Pools today, as the premium pool builder continues to add the wow factor to backyards across Auckland. Frontier Pools builds concrete pools for their durability, versatility, and integrity. With builders and specialist trades all employed directly by Frontier Pools, this model allows the majority of the works to be completed in-house so that projects are well managed within expected timeframes and produce a high-end quality result. “It also means we can complete the challenging projects that other companies don’t dare to take on. We have built pools in challenging locations such as narrow access sites and properties that require cantilever solutions due to the steep nature of the site.” One of Frontier Pools’ most recent projects has brought a new level of opulence and luxury not usually seen in Auckland backyards. A massive 20m x 7.4m pool with built in spa, ponds, and adjoining stepping platforms designed by leading landscape architecture company Shafer Design, presented the type of engineering challenges that Neil thrived on solving. “He would always go in and create ways to overcome challenges and find solutions alongside the designer and client.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=