| 65 We Construct Ltd BUILDING Sue Russell $ordable KoXsing witK toXcK oI ȵair The townhouse complex is made up of two and three bedroom units. Construction You Can Count On Building Auckland One Day At A Time 0800 266 733 | info@weconstruct.co.nz | www.weconstruct.co.nz When Business North spoke with Tristan Sanders of Auckland’s We Construct in March he was awaiting Code of Compliance on a 20 townhouse development in Te Atatu Road for Nest Living. This is the third project Tristan and the team from We Construct have undertaken for Nest Living which focusses on architecturally designed, aordable homes that enable those seeking a foothold on the property ladder a good start. Tristan says the year-long build went well, despite significant delays in delivery of frames and trusses, an experience shared by many building companies through the CO9ΖD era. The townhouse complex is made up of two and three bedroom units extending over three ȵoors. “There are plenty of options and we see these units as being desirable for first-home owners as well as investors.ȋ Tristan says while pitched at the aordable housing market, the units are generally larger than one might expect for the cost. We Construct is a family owned and operated business, with Tristan’s wife Michelle working hard in it, enabling Tristan to concentrate on site work and supporting the building teams. “Procuring work and building relationships with developers is also an ongoing responsibility. Since establishing in 01 we’ve grown to about 65 people working for us, a mix of employees and contractors. We need that number to keep the work ȵowing on these large proMects.ȋ Supporting Tristan and Michelle is Construction Manager, Aaron Goddard and two experienced Project Managers, Wayde Baxter and George Tilson. Each townhouses on the Te Atutu Road project has its own garaging, with larger living areas than might be expected. Along with undertaking builds for clients, We Construct also takes on a small amount of labour-only work in the commercial sector. “We will also take on single dwellings and renovations.ȋ Tristan is a great believer of the BCΖTO apprenticeship pathway. +e says the way the learning has evolved to everything now on-line is a positive. ȊΖt’s quite handy that our apprentices can access this learning from their devices. Ζt’s a learning style many young ones are very com- “There are plenty of options and we see these units as being desirable for first home owners as well as investors.” fortable with and it enables ȵexibility.ȋ We Construct has a number of apprentices on their books and Tristan’s attitude to those considering an apprenticeship is that its really worthwhile. ȊΖf you’re going to be working on a building site, you may as well be an apprentice and come out with meaningful qualifications.ȋ Such is his support for the organisation that Tristan has spoken at BCΖTO forums encouraging the gaining of qualifications that provide a young person with the ability, in time, to set up their own business and make a real career from construction. Tristan says linking with organisations such as ‘Mana Within’, for those who identify as Māori or Pacifika, is a positive thing. “They get in behind these young people, and their families, so there is real support from whanau for a person to gain building skills and qualification. They realise that family support is really important.ȋ And while undertaking projects for other developers, Tristan says he and Michelle have also established their own development arm together with Rob Teina from Supreme Plumbing commencing with a 14 townhouse proMect in New Lynn. “Seven townhouses are three storey and seven two storey with seven also having garages.ȋ The plan, he says, is to get into more and more of their own development work. Commenting too that not every experienced and qualified builder is necessarily a good teacher, Tristan says BCΖTO has an important part to play. While its evident from his enthusiasm for the sector that Tristan has ambitions, he also points out that the company’s success is very much the result of the team eort. “I really subscribe to the belief that with building, you can’t be a successful builder by yourself. “ You need like-minded people around you to develop a building business well and to create opportunities to evolve.ȋ
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