Business North September 2026

Hong Kong connection Fostering strong connections between New Zealand and Hong Kong is a key focus for Auckland legal expert Claudia Shan.... T T Page 06 www.waterfordpress.co.nz businessnorth Volume 25 | Issue 6 | September 2026 north

2 | Contents businessnorth 10|Top teamwork The upgrade of Auckland’s Old Choral Hall was a shining exemplar of teamwork at its best. 48| Flying high Waikato-based Heli A1 has invested in a new hangar and larger office facility at its Otorohanga base. 82| New chapter Piper Architects transformed the former Birkenhead Post Office building into a contemporary wellness centre. 46 82 04 #businessnorth #yourstory www.waterfordpress.co.nz   Cook Brothers Construction �� 03 Aspec Construction �� 04 Avancier Legal �� 06 Dawsons Lawyers �� 08 Wilson Mckay �� 08 Optiplumb �� 10 Just Laptops �� 13 Downer Northland �� 14 Naylor Love �� 16 NZ Steel �� 18 Kalmar Construction �� 20 Village Rentals & Property Management � 21 Cedar Pacific �� 22 Industry Growth Partners �� 23 JD Construction �� 24 Gibson Construction �� 25 BDX Group �� 26 Active Refrigeration Northland �� 27 Culham Engineering �� 28 Nulook Northland �� 30 OTC Projects �� 32 Boaz Developments �� 34 Trine Kel �� 35 Whangarei DC �� 36 Hauraki DC �� 37 Kaipara DC �� 38 Pokeno Gardens �� 40 Ngati Haua Iwi Trust �� 41 Apex Water �� 42 Terra Firma Mining �� 44 OceanaGold �� 45 Heli A1 �� 46 Hopper Construction �� 48 City Contractors �� 49 Schick Civil Construction �� 50 Draintech �� 52 McPherson Contractors �� 53 Air MC �� 54 Armitage Group �� 56 Bellcon �� 57 Coreflow �� 58 Hydrex �� 59 Henderson Demolition �� 60 Tu Meke Concrete Pumping �� 61 The Plumbing Collective �� 62 Plumbing Works �� 62 Southern Cross Plumbing �� 64 Reemoon NZ �� 65 Crestline Furniture Systems �� 66 Hayes International �� 67 Transport Mechanical Services �� 68 Bell Mechanical �� 69 RICADO Group �� 70 Longveld �� 71 Arcwell Engineering �� 72 Engineering Pipe & Tube �� 73 Cheshire Architects �� 74 Studio John Irving �� 76 Arcline Architecture �� 78 35 Below Architectural Design �� 80 Piper Architects �� 82 Kamermans Architects �� 83 OUR PARTNERS: T&C’s: These conditions are prescribed for the sake of understanding between the Waterford Press Ltd and its clients. 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| 3 T T Karen Phelps School project a worthy winner Cook Brothers Construction won the under $7.5m category at the 2026 Building People Awards for the Target Road School project. REGIONAL Cook Brothers Construction Auckland Cook Brothers Construction was proud to be recognised for its work at Target Road School in Tāmaki, Auckland with the project winning at the 2026 Building People Awards in the under $7.5 million category. The Ministry of Education expansion project was delivered under a design and build model, creating additional teaching spaces and upgraded facilities to respond to significant roll growth and improve the learning environment for future students, including those with special needs. Cook Brothers Construction project director Peter Lalin says the project’s success came from finding practical solutions to significant changes in its brief. “The project was particularly complex because we inherited a scheme that had already been fully designed and consented, only for the Ministry to reset its cost-per-square-metre expectations,” he says. Originally tendered at approximately $10million and later renegotiated to $9.5million the project was subsequently paused during the Ministry’s temporary capital spending freeze. When funding resumed Target Road School was prioritised putting pressure on the team to recover time and redesign the project to meet revised cost targets. Peter says Cook Brothers Construction managed to strip the design back to its fundamentals and maintain the Ministry Design Quality Learning requirements, acoustic and accessibility standards and the school’s expectations. A big part of achieving challenging timelines was designing a staged delivery approach. “This allowed civil works and in-ground services to begin under the original consent while the revised building design and consenting process progressed in parallel. This recovered valuable programme time and avoided an estimated three-month delay.” He says technical coordination also played an important role. “Early clash detection enabled building services to be coordinated through the structural steel, with penetrations pre-drilled during fabrication. “This reduced rework on site and improved programme certainty,” says Peter. Other project challenges were tackled early on to ensure the budget and project timelines were met. For example, the team also worked with the Ministry and consultants to find a practical solution for a mechanical system that exceeded the acoustic requirement by one decibel “The project was particularly complex because we inherited a scheme that had already been fully designed and consented, only for the Ministry to reset its costper-square-metre expectations.” at start-up only. Dispensation was secured, avoiding a more expensive redesign while maintaining compliant operating performance. Peter says collaboration was the key to the project’s success. “We did not simply issue a programme and expect everyone else to follow it. We brought the project team, trade partners and client into the planning process so there was shared ownership of what we were trying to achieve,” he says. Innovation also played a part. Target Road School was also the pilot site for Cook Brothers Construction’s use of Touchplan, a digital lean planning tool that improved visibility of constraints and encouraged accountability across the project. He says health and safety and wellbeing were always priorities. Strict separation from the live school environment was always maintained and the building was shrink-wrapped after the steel was erected to provide a clean, dry environment for the team and allowing work to continue in adverse weather. The site also hosted Mates in Construction. Sustainability was incorporated through natural ventilation, durable low-maintenance products and the reuse of site materials and stockpiled topsoil in garden-to-table planting beds. Completed approximately 10 weeks early Peter says the project exceeded client and end-user expectations and has become a benchmark for Cook Brothers Construction’s Auckland operations. “This project shows what can happen when people work together, challenge the obvious solution and take ownership of the outcome.” Cook Brothers Construction was also named a finalist at the 2026 awards in the categories of innovation, digital technology, collaboration under $20m projects, and health, safety and wellbeing. Aluminium Partitions | Suspended Ceilings | Acoustic Systems Commercial Interiors Specialist 021 024 838 01 info@idealfitouts.co.nz idealfitouts.co.nz

4 | Aspec Construction - Auckland: Choral Hall Upgrades T TKim Newth ‘A masterclass in collaboration’ REGIONAL It almost goes without saying that project success requires good teamwork, but the complex upgrade and refurbishment of Auckland’s Old Choral Hall has produced a shining exemplar of true teamwork at its best. Old Choral Hall stands at the heart of the University of Auckland campus. The project to safeguard its future involved structural strengthening, careful conservation and adaptive reuse as well as work to bring the significant heritage building into line with modern use needs. Adding to the challenge was that the 1872 building had been substantially expanded and modified through the years. Aspec Construction delivered the major seismic strengthening, structural upgrade and heritage refurbishment, working closely with a wider project team to complete the restoration. Their collective effort was recently recognised at Building Institute Aotearoa’s 2026 Building People Awards, where the team won the Collaboration over $20 million Project Award. The award winning team members were Jeff Robertson (Aspec Project Manager/ Director), Margaret Waller (University of Auckland), Jared Williams (Architectus), Andy O’Neill (Archifact), Jack Southee (Beca) and Christine Wang (RCP). The award citation praised the team for demonstrating collaboration at the highest level and for fostering a culture of openness, trust and shared ownership in the face of heritage constraints, technical uncertainty and unforeseen challenges. That unified approach paved the way to an exceptional outcome and was described as setting a benchmark for collaborative project delivery in New Zealand. Aspec Construction’s lead team – Jeff Robertson, Lucian Iacob (Project Coordinator) and Evan Forde (Senior Site Manager – Interiors) - was also honoured with the $50 million-$100 million Project Award for their work on the Old Choral Hall. They were lauded for delivering ‘a masterclass in leadership, innovation and collaboration’ by uniting stakeholders behind a best-for-project approach. This project has restored Old Choral Hall to its rightful place as a heritage centrepiece with integrated contemporary services, seismic strengthening and sustainable building systems. Receiving top honours at the 2026 Building People Awards was a memorable experience for Aspec, whose full project team attended along with fellow project partners and consultants. “It was really good for us to be able to celebrate and get everyone involved up on stage, especially for the collaboration award,” says project manager Jeff Robertson. “This was a three-year project and everyone put in so much effort. For all involved, this recognition has been so rewarding. “We were really pleased with the collaboration award as it’s the essence of what we did – working together every day to achieve the best end result. We were not just builders. We were out there asking questions and helping to solve them. The consultants didn‘t stay in their lane either. They had to get involved and help find solutions as we went along too. Everyone parked their egos and came together to hit common goals and get it done.” To complete the restoration, unsympathetic alterations were carefully removed while heritage fabric was restored. For example, the original Symonds Street portico, which was removed after the 1931 Napier earthquake, is now back in place again. Bricks from multiple eras were cleaned and reinstated, and original timbers re-profiled for re-use. Many historic discoveries were uncovered and integrated into the restoration as it evolved, from plaster cornices to a long-lost plaque from the adjacent Albert Barracks Wall and an old well predating the building. Jeff says the university’s Margaret Waller helped set the tone for the project with her hands on approach and strong yet empathetic leadership style. “For all of us, receiving this industry recognition has been a real honour.” Old Choral Hall stands at the heart of the University of Auckland campus. Making Buildings Work For People BTL is a technology company. We design, install and maintain responsive, intelligent and cooperative building management systems that care for your occupants’ safety and comfort and readily adapt to change over your building’s lifetime. P (09) 579 0246 E service@btlnz.co.nz W www.btlnz.co.nz Building Integration Building Automation Integration Solutions HVAC Products Lighting Automation Energy Products Building Performance Data Analytics Planned Maintenance Energy Management BMS Alarm Management Internal Training Information Centralisation Building Smarts Intelligent Buildings Internet of Things (IoT) Big Data Technology BTL is a long-standing partner of the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC), with ‘Green Star’ accreditation

| 5 Aspec Construction - Auckland: Choral Hall Upgrades The project to safeguard the Old Choral Hall’s future involved structural strengthening, careful conservation and adaptive reuse as well as work to bring the significant heritage building into line with modern use needs. REGIONAL Designing innovative solutions just for you. In today's technology landscape, the integration of computer and communication systems is paramount. Trust OSL to safeguard your systems with cutting-edge, future-proof solutions tailored just for you. Get In Touch Structured cabling • Fibre optics • CCTV/MATV • Telephony osldata.co.nz 09 634 5106 enquiry@osldata.co.nz data & communications Limited Ph 09 479 8901 | www.alliedexteriors.co.nz | 19A Triton Drive, Albany Allied Exteriors Ltd Auckland wide •Exterior Plaster and Painting Specialists •All Work Guaranteed Proud to be supporting Aspec Construction - Auckland University of Auckland - Old Choral Hall Aspec Construction Licensed Building Practitioners (LBP)

6 | T T Karen Phelps Strengthening NZ-Hong Kong connections Claudia Shan is a finalist at the 2026 Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association Business Awards, acknowledging her contribution to strengthening business and professional connections between New Zealand and Hong Kong. Avancier Legal “For me the most important part of this work has always been the relationships and the trust that underpin successful cross-border advice.” REGIONAL Avancier Legal has been strengthening its position in the market since January this year, reflecting growing demand for advice around inbound investment, family relocation, trust structures, succession planning and international structuring. Founder, Claudia Shan, was also recognised as a finalist at the 2026 Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association Business Awards, acknowledging her contribution to strengthening business and professional connections between New Zealand and Hong Kong. “It is a real privilege to be recognised alongside businesses and individuals contributing to the relationship between New Zealand and Hong Kong,” says Claudia. “For me the most important part of this work has always been the relationships and the trust that underpin successful cross-border advice.” The Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association, which was founded in 1988, has played a longstanding role in fostering business links between the two markets. The Business Awards recognise business excellence and innovation across diverse sectors, with the aim of encouraging continuous improvement, collaboration and meaningful connections among business leaders. Claudia’s finalist recognition comes against a background of more than 15 years’ experience advising international families, trustees, financial institutions and private clients across multiple jurisdictions. While she is a practising New Zealand solicitor, she is also qualified as a solicitor of the Courts of England and Wales. Before founding Avancier, Claudia worked with leading global offshore law firms in the Channel Islands, Guernsey, one of the world’s foremost international finance centres. Her practice focused on trusts, private wealth, fiduciary structures, succession planning, estate administration, tax and commercial structuring, regulatory compliance and complex cross-border matters. She advised high-net-worth families, trustees, private banks and global financial institutions on the establishment, administration, restructuring and succession of asset-holding structures, including trusts, companies, partnerships and pension arrangements.= Her experience includes advising on both contentious and non-contentious trust matters, and working closely with fiduciary businesses serving internationally mobile families and privately held enterprises. “Hong Kong has been an important part of my professional life for many years,” says Claudia. “Working across different jurisdictions has taught me how important it is to understand not just the law, but the commercial, cultural and family considerations behind a client’s decisions.” Claudia founded Avancier with senior lawyer Ziyad Matti in June 2024, creating a boutique practice focused on complex private client and cross-border matters. The firm advises on international trusts, succession planning, tax residency, immigration and family office structures, working closely with professional advisers and families across multiple jurisdictions. “The boutique model allows us to have a much more direct relationship with clients and their advisers,” says Claudia. “That is particularly important when dealing with family wealth, succession and international matters.” Avancier takes a long-term approach to helping clients navigate legal, tax, financial and immigration considerations, coordinating trusted advisers where required. “We focus on practical, compliant solutions that support our clients’ long-term goals,” Claudia says. That philosophy is reflected in Avancier’s emphasis on accountability and follow-through, with the firm aiming to provide clients with confidence and peace of mind while they focus on their families, businesses and wider priorities. “Through the twists and turns of life, as our clients’ circumstances, wealth and needs evolve, we come alongside them to find the right legal solutions,” says Claudia. “We forge long-lasting connections with our clients through listening deeply and understanding precisely what is needed. We also adopt a holistic approach that encompasses their family, businesses, and all dimensions of personal and professional endeavours. “We are building a business that is deliberately international, but firmly based in New Zealand. Being recognised through these awards is meaningful because it reflects the kind of cross-border relationships and longterm work that we are committed to.” PROUD TO BE FEATURED St Pierre’s Sushi is proud to appear alongside Avancier Legal. Devoted to sushi since 1993. stpierres.co.nz st pierres sushi

In July, Real Asset Management (RAM®) announced a partnership with Oxbury Agricultural Finance to provide $200 million of funding for New Zealand farmers to purchase and manage livestock, strengthen cash ow, and invest with greater con dence. The capital is being deployed through the RAM NZ Credit Fund, a private credit fund that invests in New Zealand asset-backed credit investments. It is also an acceptable managed fund for the Growth category of the New Zealand Government's Active Investor Plus (AIP) Visa programme. "The transaction demonstrates how international investment can support productive enterprises, strengthen regional communities, and deliver tangible bene ts for New Zealand," says Scott Wehl, Director of RAM NZ. In August, RAM celebrated the opening of its new Auckland o ce at 1 Albert Street, after more than a decade in the New Zealand market. Norbert Bojarski, Executive Director and Chair of RAM NZ, spoke to the opportunity for private capital to support economic growth across the country. "New Zealand needs more investment in productive assets and better access to capital. RAM is committed to bringing capital into the market and putting it to work, helping businesses and projects access the funding they need to grow." The new o ce re ects RAM's continued expansion in New Zealand and its con dence in the local market. Deep New Zealand credit expertise Investment decisions are informed by senior New Zealand credit specialists, including leaders who have managed some of the country's largest companies. The RAM NZ Credit Fund's investment committee includes Norbert, a director of more than two decades' standing who has served on the boards of Kiwi Group Holdings, parent of Kiwibank, Kiwi Wealth, and Kiwi Insurance, and Neil Simons, who brings 20 years in senior legal, compliance, and governance roles supporting some of New Zealand's largest non-bank lenders. They are joined by Wayne Percival, former chief executive of UDC Finance, and Mark Spring, chair of Limelight Group and independent chair of Alexander Corporation, each with 30 years in New Zealand nancial services. Together they bring deep local market experience, supported by strong governance, disciplined credit underwriting, and a robust risk framework. This approach underpins RAM's focus on capital preservation, downside protection, and the delivery of stable, income-focused investment outcomes across market cycles. RAM was founded in 2010 and has a pan-Asia presence of 7 o ces in Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Manila. RAM provides more than 25 investment strategies and has a team of over 250 nance professionals managing over $11.2bn in assets. RAM is registered as a nancial services provider in New Zealand (FSP1011247). We also provide a global set of investment solutions through our group companies licensed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (AFSL 484263), and the Securities & Futures Commission of Hong Kong (CE BGL803). RAM®: putting capital to work in New Zealand To learn more about the RAM NZ Credit Fund, visit: https://ramgroup.co.nz/ramnz-credit-fund/ Norbert Bojarski, Executive Director and Chair of RAM NZ From left to right: Norbert Bojarski, Scott Wehl, Mark Spring and Neil Simons

8 | Dawsons Lawyers REGIONAL Wilson McKay Award an inspiration Dawsons Lawyers was thrilled to wion the Business and Professional Services category at the 2026 Ōrākei Business Awards. T T Anne Boswell Trust underpins law firm’s longevity T T Anne Boswell Winning the Business and Professional Services category at the 2026 Ōrākei Local Board Business Awards has reinforced Dawsons Lawyers’ position as a valued member of the local community – and inspired the firm to become even more involved. Dawsons Lawyers director, Claire Endean, says the team was delighted to receive the award, particularly given the strength of the other businesses represented. “We were thrilled to receive the award,” she says. “It was a wonderful event to be part of. The awards evening was very special, and it was great to be able to see the achievements of all the other entrants and finalists.” She says the win was also something of a surprise for the practice, which has not entered many awards previously; the result reflected a combination of public voting, the firm’s submission and the judges’ assessment. For Dawsons Lawyers, the recognition is particularly meaningful because of the strong connections it has built in east Auckland over the past 60 years. While the original iteration of the business was established in the 1960s in Howick, Dawsons continued to build its presence across east Auckland by opening its Kohimarama After almost 70 years in business, Auckland law firm Wilson McKay believes its longevity comes down to one key component: trust. Maintaining that trust, however, means continually adapting to changing clients, technology and the legal profession - an approach that has helped Wilson McKay earn recognition as a finalist in the 2026 Ōrākei Local Board Business Awards. The firm was first established in the 1950s as Kendall Wilson, operating from Queen Street in Auckland’s CBD in 1981. It was rebranded as Wilson McKay in 1995 before moving to Remuera. “Since then, we’ve established ourselves as a boutique property, trust and commercial law firm with a strong family focus,” Senior Associate James McKay says. That family focus is demonstrated in the firm’s long-standing relationships with its clients, reflecting a strong reputation and tradition for acting for successive generations of families, with a significant number of family trusts in its care. Colin McKay and Tina Wilson have been senior partners for some years, while Jay Shen became a partner in 2025, bringing another generation into the firm’s leadership. While the firm has deep roots in Remuera and the surrounding community, it also has clients throughout New Zealand and globally. “With our many decades of experience, we have proven legal skills and offer comprehensive advice,” James says. “Our professionalism, integrity and expertise are such that we ensure each client office in 2021, and strengthening its connection with the wider eastern suburbs. “The business has a long legacy that continues to grow,” Claire says. Property and conveyancing make up around half of Dawsons Lawyers’ work, from firsthome buyers through to more complex transactions. The rest spans estate planning, family trusts, relationship property and commercial matters, giving clients a genuine full-service firm on their doorstep. Strong communication is central to the ‘human first’ philosophy. Rather than relying on legal jargon, the team explains matters in plain language, recognising that clients may be navigating unfamiliar territory. “We understand that this might be the first time they’ve experienced the legal system, whereas we do it every day,” Claire says. “Empathy, communication, integrity and honesty are at the core of how we work with clients.” “Since winning the award, we have had a greater appreciation of our value in the community and have made it our mission to support even more community events. That includes involvement with The Bays Kids’ Market, and sponsoring an education talk regarding the use of digital technology in Kohimarama School. receives superior confidential advice. We pride ourselves on building and maintaining long-lasting relationships by ensuring that we take the time to understand our clients’ individual and business needs.” That commitment to relationships was particularly fitting recognition when Wilson McKay was named a finalist in this year’s Ōrākei Local Board Business Awards. Held on June 9, the awards attracted 59 entries across nine categories, celebrating businesses making a contribution to the local area. “We were very proud to be named as a finalist,” James says. “Although this is the first year we have been involved in the awards, we are deeply ingrained in the community here. “It was fantastic to see some of our neighbouring businesses perform well in the awards, too; they are strong businesses and we want to make sure we are aligned with them. “It will be interesting to see the feedback from judges and look at the breakdown of how we can improve and get to the top of that table.” For James, the nomination also reinforces the importance of maintaining the personal connection at the heart of the firm’s approach. “In the legal profession, the trust factor is vital,” he says. “Although this is the first year we have been involved in the awards, we are deeply ingrained in the community here.” YOUR LOCAL LAND SURVEYING SPECIALISTS Services include Topographic Surveys, Setouts, Height to Boundaries, Subdivisions and Asbuilts Phone 09 265 2277 | Mobile 022 544 0500 duncan@stewartsurveying.co.nz 12B Amera Place, Botany www.stewartsurveying.co.nz COMMERCIAL | DOMESTIC | FINANCIAL | LIFE & MORE

| 9 Wilson McKay REGIONAl Wilson McKay was named a finalist in this year’s Ōrākei Local Board Business Awards. Below, James McKay, left, and Colin McKay. Opposite page Tina Wilson. “We want clients to feel as though they are part of a personal relationship. We also want to continually improve the client experience: our responsiveness to their needs and ensuring they are happy with the level of service we provide.” That focus on continual improvement is something James brought with him from his previous career in aviation, where reviewing processes and looking for better ways of doing things was part of the job. “In aviation we were always looking at how we could improve performance and efficiency, reduce risk and accurately update procedures,” he says. “It is the same with the legal industry; it is always changing, as culture is changing, especially with the introduction of fast-paced technology such as AI, and we need to keep evolving and meeting clients’ needs.” Expert Mortgage Advice you can trust. First Home Buyers | Refinances | Investors Development Finance | Business & Commercial Finance Adam Day Mortgage Advisor 027 534 7824 adam@personalisedmortgages.co.nz Your insurance, personalised. We provide clear, trusted advice to help you protect your family and your business at every stage of life. Let’s Start the Conversation personalisedinsurances.co.nz 09 3566 999 info@personalisedinsurances.co.nz Bryan Screen

10 | REGIONAL Optiplumb T T Kelly Deeks Outstanding service brings top award Duncan Leask of Optiplumb - the firm has built its name by prioritising communication, educating customers, and ensuring every interaction reflects the standards the business wants associated with the plumbing profession. T T to page 12 Five years after launching from a Hamilton home garage with little more than a ute, a toolbox, and a vision for doing things differently, Optiplumb has already reached the top of New Zealand’s plumbing industry. The Waikato business has been named the 2026 New Zealand Master Plumber of the Year, taking out the premier award at the New Zealand Plumbing Awards held on June 26. The accolade recognises outstanding achievement across workmanship, business performance, customer service, and leadership within the plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying sectors. For founder, Duncan Leask, the recognition is a significant milestone for a business built from the ground up around professionalism, quality, and respect. He says the award reflects the company’s unwavering focus on service, which has become a defining feature of Optiplumb’s reputation. “Service is the hardest part of the business because it changes all the time,” he says. “Expectations change, the landscape changes, and we work hard at adapting.” Optiplumb has built its name by prioritising communication, educating customers, and ensuring every interaction reflects the standards the business wants associated with the plumbing profession. Duncan says tradespeople are not always given the respect they deserve, but believes the industry has an opportunity to change that perception by setting higher standards. “If we want to be respected, we have to be respectful ourselves,” he says. 24 HOUR SERVICE | www.soel.co.nz Do It Once, Do It Right Your guarantee of excellence We do the same as all electricians, For electrical services you can trust and availability around the clock, Switched On Electrical is here to help! We are your 24/7 electricians dedicated to the highest standards of workmanship and safety in the greater Waikato area. 0800 DO IT ALL 36 48 255 ProudlysupportingOptiplumbLtd except we are better!! Waikato office: 07 834 6800 www.bakertillysr.nz Congratulations to Duncan and the team at Optiplumb on winning Master Plumber of the Year! A fantastic achievement and well-deserved recognition of expertise, hard work and commitment to excellence that has made Optiplumb’s service stand out above the rest. We’ve loved seeing Optiplumb grow, and we can’t wait to see what’s next. We’re here to help our clients achieve their ambitions. Council-Approved Wastewater Treatment, Engineered in NZ Our system is Kiwi ingenuity at its best. From residential homes and upgrades to custom commercial and rural plants, Ecocycle designs and manufactures wastewater treatment systems that are quiet, and built to meet council consent requirements — trusted by businesses and communities throughout New Zealand. NZ-owned and manufactured | 17 years in wastewater treatment

| 11 REGIONAL Optiplumb Optiplumb employs 17 people across plumbing, gasfitting, drainlaying, operations, estimating, project management, and administration, servicing customers throughout the Waikato. Renew Construction provides building services within Hamilton and the Waikato region, specialising in renovations, new builds, concrete, decks and more.

12 | Outstanding service brings top award Optiplumb has also continued to invest in technology and systems to improve efficiency. T T from page 10 REGIONAL Optiplumb “It is about communication, being polite, understanding presentation, and even personal hygiene. Those things matter when you are working in people’s homes.” “We want people to appreciate the value we bring and understand what goes into doing the job properly.” That approach has helped Optiplumb develop strong customer relationships and earn numerous five star reviews, while the company has grown rapidly since being established in 2021. Duncan quickly expanded the team after launching as a one-man business, growing first through lockdown challenges and then into a larger operation supported by skilled tradespeople and dedicated support staff. Today, Optiplumb employs 17 people across plumbing, gasfitting, drainlaying, operations, estimating, project management, and administration, servicing customers throughout the Waikato. A major focus for Duncan has been investing in people and creating a stronger pathway for future tradespeople. With more than 20 apprentices trained throughout his career, he believes the role of a modern trades company extends beyond technical skills. “Training is not just about teaching someone how to plumb,” he says. “It is about communication, being polite, understanding presentation, and even personal hygiene. Those things matter when you are working in people’s homes.” Building a positive workplace culture has also been central to Optiplumb’s success. Duncan says construction can be a challenging industry, making it important to create an environment where people feel supported and valued. Optiplumb has also continued to invest in technology and systems to improve efficiency, while maintaining the personal service that helped establish the company’s reputation. Alongside running his own business, Duncan is vice president of Master Plumbers Waikato, where he advocates for stronger support, collaboration, and standards across the sector. “Master Plumbers does a great job of advocating for the industry, and the more we can work together, the better everyone becomes.” While the construction market remains unpredictable, Duncan says Optiplumb is continuing to see steady demand and is focused on sustainable growth. The Master Plumber of the Year award represents a major achievement for the company, but Duncan says the goal remains simple: building a great team that delivers outstanding service while creating opportunities for its people. “We want to keep improving, look after our customers, and make sure our staff can look after their families too,” he says. “That is what success looks like for us.” Giving old spaces new life. Experienced, dependable home renovations tailored for families and homeowners in the Waikato. GET IN TOUCH mcleanrenovations.co.nz kellie@mcleanrenovations.co.nz 0274 285 192

| 13 T T Kelly Deeks Newbuilding taking shape - at last The Auckland technology business is seeing its long-awaited new building take shape. REGIONAL Just Laptops A six-year development saga has tested the patience and the finances of Just Laptops director, Forrest Tan, but the uckland technology business is finally seeing its long-awaited new building take shape. The project began when Forrest purchased the property, including an existing building, in 2018. Resource consent was secured in 2020 for a new, four-level development, combining space for his businesses with a home for his family. Construction, however, could not begin because scaffolding from the neighbouring property extended about 1.5 metres across the boundary. Forrest says the scaffolding remained in place for the next five years, while the building’s owner tried to fight Council’s direction to demolish the building, which included unconsented works. The scaffolding was finally removed last year, allowing for demolition of Forrest’s building. Construction was to begin in March this year. By then, however, construction costs had risen substantially, forcing Forrest to redesign his plans and resubmit both resource and building consent applications. The four-level design was reduced to three levels, with the first and second floors retained largely as planned for Just Laptops’ operations. The upper level will now provide a home for Forrest and his family. He estimates the delays and redesign have lost him about $1 million, including consultants’ fees, engineering work, contractor deposits, legal costs, and other costs associated with a design that ultimately had to be abandoned. He has sold the family holiday home to help fund the project. There were also two serious incidents during the neighbouring building’s problems, including one in which steel bars fell into Forrest’s building and damaged several vehicles on the road. While the disputes tribunal awarded Forrest $30,000 on two occasions, the awards were never paid. The neighbouring property was owned by a Hong Kong company, and he says the owners have somehow disappeared. Forrest says the experience has reinforced the importance of following the rules and doing everything properly, although he does not believe there was anything he could have done differently to prevent what happened. “You can say be more careful, but these types of things don’t normally happen,” he says. “If I had a time machine, I would probably do the same thing again. I would get my building consent and my resource consent.” Just Laptops has been operating since Forrest sold his first laptop on Trade Me in 2002. The business has grown by specialising in laptops and related technology, rather than trying to compete as a general electronics retailer. Specialist knowledge remains one of Just Laptop’s key strengths, with staff focused on understanding products and providing technical support. The new building will give Just Laptops a new retail store and office, while allowing Forrest and his family to live above his workplace. He says the location’s hill, which some may see as a disadvantage, creates opportunities for second-floor parking and multiple retail spaces. Just Laptops now serves more than 700,000 small businesses and home users, alongside larger clients including councils, universities, and retailers. After 24 years in business, Forrest says the new building represents both a reward for persistence and a foundation for the next stage of growth. “I really love the building. I love the land. It’s not the space I originally planned, but it is the best space I could get for my budget.” “If I had a time machine, I would probably do the same thing again....” 021 365 665 | ling@meng.co.nz | meng.co.nz | 11 Morgan Street, Newmarket, Auckland Building Services Engineering Consultants Electrical Engineering | Mechnical Engineering | Hydraulic Engineering • Power distribution system • General lighting • Emergency lighting and exit sign • Lightning protection and earthing • Structural cabling system • Security and access control system • Natural light assessment (NZBC G7) • Heating, ventilation and air conditioing (HVAC) • Building management systems • Ventilation design (NZBC G4) • Energy efficiency assessment (NZBC H1) • Hot and cold-water supply • Potable and non-potable water • Stormwater and rainwater collection recycling system • Sanitary drainage systems • Gas services

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