64 | DEVELOPMENT ICONIQ Group: 43 Roebuck Road T T Karen Phelps Committed to helping communities The three-level, walk-up apartment complex in Roebuck Road represents a new era of housing for the Gisborne area. As regions across New Zealand face housing shortages, ICONIQ Group is taking a new approach to medium-density development in Gisborne, bringing metropolitan-style solutions to provincial communities, while fostering local economic growth. “We take a partnership approach and are very transparent. The project always comes first and delivering a great result to our clients,” says managing director of ICONIQ Group Todd Scrafton. “ ICONIQ has grown quickly due to our open, honest approach and commitment to building efficiently and optimising traditional building techniques.” The group’s flagship project is the recently completed 43 Roebuck Road development. The three-level, walk-up apartment complex, comprising eight two-bedroom and two three-bedroom apartments, represents a new era of housing for the area, says Todd. “To date we are the only company to successfully deliver projects like this in Gisborne.” Since its formation in 2018, ICONIQ has grown from a construction company into a comprehensive development group, currently overseeing 84 units under construction across the North Island, with another 81 units in the design and consenting stages. The company’s name, a neologism loosely meaning ‘I construct with intelligence’, reflects its innovative approach to addressing housing challenges. Recognising the unique challenges of delivering higher-density housing in regional areas, ICONIQ has taken the innovative step of establishing subsidiary companies to address specific construction needs. Among these is ICONIQ Fire, specialising in fire- rating systems crucial for multi-unit developments, and IQ Clad, which manufactures aluminium cladding products. “The biggest challenge for regional New Zealand is the technical requirements as there is a lot going on with these types of higher-density builds compared with an average residential house,” says Todd. “So rather than bring in outside expertise, we have held training sessions so local businesses understand how to understand more complex drawings and what is required in terms of acoustic requirements, breaks, fire-rating etc. This commitment to upskilling local contractors and Māori-led businesses has become a cornerstone of our operation, ensuring that regional development benefits everyone.” The group’s integrated approach extends to its investment in local workforce development. Through the Young Tairawhiti programme, ICONIQ is helping to build a skilled local labour force by providing apprenticeship opportunities for Māori youth, addressing both housing and employment needs in the region. Established in 2017, ICONIQ Construction began when Todd, who was previously project managing for a tier-one construction company in Auckland, partnered with Nathan Te Miha, who brought existing business experience to the venture. Todd says that ICONIQ’s business model focuses on identifying opportunities where it can leverage its knowledge, skills and company synergies to deliver projects efficiently. “Rather than spreading ourselves thin across all construction sectors we have specialised in the design and construction of terraced houses and walk-up apartments,” he says. With offices in both Auckland and Gisborne, ICONIQ has assembled a diverse team that brings varied perspectives to their work. This diversity, combined with experience and local knowledge, has proven particularly valuable in working with government and iwi clients, who often become repeat customers, says Todd.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=