Business North October 2021

80 | DEVELOPMENT Avant Group A neighbourhood oasis in Manukau Karen Phelps Kōtuitui includes landscaped private grounds that extend out to the streetscape and pocket park, places for children to play. M anukau is being transformed into a vibrant, connected and liveable part of Auckland and new urban develop- ment Kōtuitui is part of the change. Created by Te Ākitai Waiohua and Avant Group, Kōtuitui has been masterplanned to be a neigbourhood oasis in Manukau City, says Avant director Mathew Peters. “Manukau has excellent connection to wider Auckland by motorway, bus and train but these same routes and surrounding industrial area hinders any real connection with the local community. Kōtuitui helps bring vibrancy back into Wiri by connecting it with people living in Manukau City,” explains Mathew. The project is unique in that it was devel- oped in partnership with Te Ākitai Waiohua, a mana whenua iwi of Tāmaki Makaurau with strong interests in South Auckland and Ma- nukau City. Nigel Denny of Te Ākitai Waiohua explains that Kōtuitui offered an opportunity for the iwi to maintain an enduring presence in the area as a development partner and, beyond the life of the project, as a kaitiaki of Wiri. Mathew says Kōtuitui being led by mana whenua altered the way the land, urban de- sign and overall development was approached by taking more of a long-term view and focus- ing on place making and community building. He says a good example was the emphasis placed on communication with purchasers who had bought a home off the plans. “Social events were organised so that peo- ple could get to know their neighbours before their homes were completed. This meant when they moved in a neighbourhood had already started to form,” says Matthew.” “It’s about creating a culture and a com- munity and it’s been a hugely successful approach,” he says. Kōtuitui includes landscaped private grounds that extend out to the streetscape and pocket park, places for children to play, as well as ample parking for residents and vis- itors. Careful consideration was given to the roading to create a quiet, safe and peaceful community for residents and their visitors to enjoy. Kōtuitui’s architectural design and dis- Micromall Flooring was established in 2010 to provide Auckland’s trade and general public with the gamut of looring products at a single, easy to access outlet. The company has since grown and now supplies products nationwide from its base on Auckland’s North Shore. “At Micromall Flooring we special- ise in providing a comprehensive range of looring construction supplies,” explains one of the company owners Mike Jin who has more than 15 years of investment experience in China and New Zealand. “We source the best quality products at the best prices.” He says Micromall Flooring has secured exclusive partnerships with major manufacturers in China and across Asia. The product range now encompasses batteries for power tools, a full range of LED lighting solutions and all kinds of looring and accessories including strand-woven bamboo, engineering hard wood, laminate, SPC and engineered wood SPC looring. Mike says that Micromall Flooring is focused on innovation and has a team of more than 10 sta specialis- ing in producing and developing the latest house renovation solutions for clients. One of the latest products is engineered wood SPC looring, which Mike says is the future of hardwood looring. “With many advantages it is an innovative product that will de inite- ly have a big impact on the looring industry,” he says. The top layer of the product is a real wood veneer laid on top of engineered wood SPC. It o ers a wide range of colours and inishes, just like solid wood looring but provides better stability and resist- ance to variations in temperature and moisture as the SPC base material is 100% waterproof, so does not warp and deform easily when it comes into contact with moisture. Solar systems are another increas- ingly popular product line and Micromall Flooring o ers a full range. Over the years Micromall Flooring has developed some close relation- ships with customers it suppliers to such as Chancellor Construction. Micromall Flooring is the exclusive looring supplier to Chancellor Construction and the two compa- nies worked together on stage one of the Kotuitui development. “Chancellor Construction prides itself on the core values of quality and e iciency, professionalism, and customer experience. This sits well with the values of Micromall Floor- ing making us a great team able to deliver to client expectations on projects,” says Mike. He says that the current building boom plus Covid-19 restrictions have seen people spend more time at home and want to renovate. As of 31 December 2020 Micromall Flooring had provided looring products and services for over 10,000 house owners in New Zealand. “Since Micromall Flooring was established, we have been commit- ted to helping to make people's lives more comfortable. We are working hard on assisting people to enjoy the changes of new technology in their homes, commercial spaces and businesses.” Making people’s lives more comfortable YOUR PROFESSIONAL FLOORING SERVICE When you're in need of a dependable Flooring Service, don’t hesitate. Contact Micromall Floor today. MICROMALL FLOOR info@micromall.co.nz | www.micromallfloor.co.nz P 021 162 0358 | 8 Colway Place, Wairau Valley, Auckland SERVICE SECOND TO NONE! Fast, friendly, and fully functional, our professional Flooring Service is well renowned throughout the Auckland area. Our team is up for every job, managing projects with the skill and experience our clients have come to expect. We always stand behind our work, with customer satisfaction being our #1 priority.