Volume 31 | Issue 3 | June 2022 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Managing the impact A strong focus on the environment is a key pillar for Blenheim’s M&R Forestland Management. Page 52
2 | Contents 46| Sustainable core Through all of Port Blakely’s forestry operations, sustainability is the common denominator. 66| Team success Teamwork is behind the outstanding success of Silver Fern Farm’s Waitane plant. 111| Bubbling along A Motueka couple have hit the sweet spot with their range of Pete’s Natural carbonated fruit drinks. 66 111 46 These conditions are prescribed for the sake of understanding between the Company and its clients. Advertising is charged for on the basis of space taken up using a standard tabloid page. Actual space may be reduced during the printing process but this will effect all advertisers equally so no credit will be given for any reduction in size due to processing. The Company reserves the right to alter, change or omit entirely any advertisement or article that it considers to be objectionable or which may contravene any law. In the event of a failure on the part of the Company to insert advertising as instructed the Company may publish the advertisement at the first available subsequent reasonable date unless the advertisement features date sensitive material. Every care shall be taken to publish the advertisement in accordance with the advertisers instructions as to page and position but the Company reserves the right for whatever reason to place advertising in a different position and in doing so shall incur no liability whatsoever. Advertisers must advise Business South immediately of any error or omission in advertisements and shall work constructively to remedy the situation which in the first instance shall be a rerun of the corrected advertisement in the next available issue of Business South. Where advertisement proofs have been faxed or mailed to the client 48 hours prior to the nominated printing cutoff time acquiesce shall be taken as confirmation and acceptance. Corrections made by telephone shall be accepted but the Company reserves the right to decide whether a further proof should be faxed or mailed to the client. Accounts for advertising are due for payment within seven days of publication of the newspaper. Accounts not paid within this time may incur a penalty of 3% per month until the account is paid. Any debt collection costs incurred by the Company will be added to the account of the debtor. Views and opinions expressed in Business South are not necessarily those of the editors, Waterford Press Ltd or publisher. Business South welcomes contributions from freelance writers & journalists. All articles published at editors discretion. Business South accepts no responsibilty for loss of photos or manuscripts. #businesssouth #yourstory www.waterfordpress.co.nz Amisfield Restaurant .....................................................03 Dunedin Airport .............................................................06 Mosgiel Pool ...................................................................08 Universal Developments...............................................10 Mike Greer Homes Central Otago ...............................12 Veros Property ...............................................................16 Barrett Homes Cromwell ..............................................20 Signature Homes Queenstown Lakes .........................22 Forbes Residential .........................................................25 Talley’s Group Ashburton .............................................26 Trident Homes Ashburton ............................................32 Des Millar Construction.................................................35 G.J. Gardner Homes West Coast ..................................36 Jennian Homes West Coast...........................................37 Simpson Residential ......................................................38 Westland Farm Services ................................................39 Westco Lumber ..............................................................40 NZFOA .............................................................................42 Rayonier Matariki Forests .............................................43 Port Blakely.....................................................................46 M&R Forestland Management .....................................52 Tasman Pine ...................................................................54 Loburn Sawmill ..............................................................56 Birchfield Energy & Resources .....................................58 GHD Dunedin .................................................................64 Silver Fern Farms Waitane ............................................66 BX Foods .........................................................................70 Tru-Line Civil ...................................................................73 Brooksfield ......................................................................74 Project Control Managemen ........................................76 Infinity Investment Group .............................................78 Versatile Homes & Buildings ........................................81 Next Level Developments .............................................82 Cohesive Construction ..................................................85 Golden Homes Canterbury...........................................88 Irving Builders ................................................................89 Kevler Homes .................................................................90 Murchison Homes .........................................................92 Stroud Homes Queenstown Lakes ..............................94 Ken Anderson Building..................................................97 TGC Homes ....................................................................98 CYB Construction .........................................................101 Ilam Medical Centre ....................................................102 Bidwill Hospital ............................................................104 Olive Estate Lifestyle Village .......................................106 Pete’s Natural ...............................................................111 Rae Line Boats ..............................................................112 OUR PARTNERS: Christchurch Office 112 Wrights Road, Addington, Christchurch Phone 03-983 5500 PO Box 37 346 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Queenstown Office 70 Glenda Drive, Queenstown 9300 PO Box 2581, Wakatipu MANAGING DIRECTOR James Lynch james@waterfordpress.co.nz EDITORIAL Editor Nick Gormack nick@waterfordpress.co.nz Sub-editors Paul Mein, Randall Johnston Journalists Kelly Deeks, Hugh de Lacy, Russell Fredric, Richard Loader, Kim Newth, Sue Russell, Karen Phelps, Virginia Wright RESEARCH & MARKETING James Anderson, Sam Dart, Megan Hawkins, Chris McPhee, Colin Morais, Annie Patrick, Chris Pearce, Danielle Percival, Adam Shirra, Alasdair Thomson, Jane Watson sales@waterfordpress.co.nz PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT General Manager Luke Lynch luke@waterfordpress.co.nz Graphic Artists Connor Gosnell, Anton Gray, Nick King Sophie McCleary, L iki Udam art@waterfordpress.co.nz CONTENT COORDINATORS Alissa Crosby, Ann-Marie Frentz OFFICE AND ACCOUNTS Helen Bourne accounts@waterfordpress.co.nz Jill Holland reception@waterfordpress.co.nz Lyn Barlow lyn@waterfordpress.co.nz
| 3 “I’ve never known a chef that thinks outside the square as Vaughan does, and who doesn’t allow anything to compromise him progressing a dish with that innovation.” Hats off to innovative culinary duo Virginia Wright Top team: Tony Stewart, left , and Vaughan Mabee - helping to define New Zealand cuisine. HOSPITALITY Amisfield Restaurant Invercargill • Te Anau • Queenstown • Central Otago CONTACT Southland Food Services Ltd. 021 777 870 lisa@crispnz.co.nz 66 Industrial Place, Queenstown Proudly supplying Amisfield Restaurant Amisfield serves sparkling mineral water from Queenstown’s landscape Nestled in the beauty of Central Otago, with a menu that reflects the seasons as they change around it, Amisfield Restaurant opened some 20 years ago. The samples of grape varietals planted alongside the restaurant at the same time have matured, as have the more extensive vineyards nearby in the foothills of the Pisa Range which those samples represent. Head chef for the last 11 years Vaughan Mabee was joined two and a half years ago by Tony Stewart, who, with the official title of Food and Beverage Director describes himself as “helping with the direction for the food, and how it links with our wines”. That link between the food served at the restaurant and the wine that accompanies it is at the heart of Amisfield’s story, their combinations an essential part of why their dining experience helps define New Zealand cuisine to the world. Tony closed his own central Auckland award-winning, three-hatted restaurant, Clooney, before joining Vaughan and the Amisfield team in 2019. With obvious parallels to Amisfield the Cuisine Magazine’s website still holds its reference to Clooney as offering, in a nutshell, “Immaculate renditions of the very essence of New Zealand.” The hats (one to three depending) assigned to a restaurant as part of the Cuisine Good Food Awards is their equivalent of France’s Michelin stars. Based on four areas fundamental to any restaurant: food, service, beverage and its service, and ambience, scores to a potential total of 20 are given by anonymous judges. Amisfield is one of only six restaurants out of 135 countrywide in the 2021/2022 awards to achieve three hats with a perfect score of 20, deemed to be the “best of the best”, or at least 19, thus “extraordinary and approaching perfection”. While they’ve been in the running before, this year is Amisfield’s first time as winner of another prestigious award, Cuisine’s Restaurant of the Year Award for 2021/2022. “It’s the only national food award, so we’re obviously excited and delighted to have achieved that,” says Tony. As Head Chef, Vaughan was separately awarded the Ora King Innovation Award. to page 4 “The Innovation Award isn’t new to Vaughan, he’s had that award three years in a row but it’s just amazing that we would achieve both of those in the same year and especially in such difficult times.” After 11 years Vaughan’s cuisine, the showcase for Amisfield’s depth of style, brings Central Otago to your plate and into your glass. With locally sourced ingredients such as their lamb and beef which comes from the Crown Range along with the majority of the vegetables they haven’t grown themselves, seafood from Foveaux Strait, venison from Fiordland; the provenance of anything on your plate is part and parcel of the Amisfield story and Tony will be able to give it to you. The flavours of Fiordland crayfish combined with local sweetbreads, intertwine with their chosen partner Amisfield Fumé Sauvignon Blanc for a reason. “The fumé is oak aged so it shows characteristics of a chardonnay which gives the richness it needs so that the palate weight of the wine, the way it feels in the mouth, complements the richness of the crayfish and sweetbreads, while the acidity of the sauvignon just freshens the two up together,” explains Tony. With 30 or so years in the restaurant business behind him Tony appreciates that Vaughan knows what combinations of flavour will work, and the theatre of presentation,
4 | HOSPITALITY Amisfield Restaurant Innovation the key at Amisfield from page 3 Amisfield was the winner of the prestigious Cuisine Restaurant of the Year Award for 2021/2022. We take care of your linen contact@mylaundry.co.nz www.mylaundry.co.nz We are here to serve your company: restaurants, bars, cafes, cleaning companies, holiday houses, AIRBNB home owners and independent cleaners in general. Our laundry services to our customers own linen is offered in a convenient time-frame and a high quality standard. Hire linen is delivered and collected to all our customers in Queenstown. Our prices are market competitive. but he says it’s the innovation that makes him exceptional and brings the awards. “I’ve never known a chef that thinks outside the square as Vaughan does, and who doesn’t allow anything to compromise him progressing a dish with that innovation.” He gives the example of the finishing dish which, with iwi approval, replicates a pounamu adze. Made from kawakawa with a string made from kumara, “it looks as if it could be worn but everything is edible,” says Tony. Having duck feet on the menu is another example and, while Tony won’t give away Vaughan’s secrets, like everything else they demonstrate “that simplicity with a touch of brilliance that means his dishes eat incredibly well.” Combine that innovation with a style of service which Tony describes as “accurate”, in the sense that all the staff are well trained and knowledgeable about the food and wine they’re serving but, “not to the point of being boorish, they still need to express those things in their own individual ways,” and the recent Restaurant of the Year 2021/22 award makes sense. As Tony says “an award can be seen as a reflection of where the restaurant is currently at, and a progression of where a restaurant is going and maybe we just clicked this year.” Proud Supporter of the Amis eld Team Providing Unique New Ingredients for Exceptional menus UniqueNewZealand Ingredients www.greattastenz.co.nz
| 5 Amisfield presents the best of New Zealand food and wine in beautiful surroundings. HOSPITALITY Amisfield Restaurant What Chef’s Choice Soak Tanks can do for you... Thesebefore anda er photos give youan ideaofwhat Chefs ChoiceSoakTanks cando for you. BEFORE AFTER The Chef’s choice cleaning systemwill dramatically improve commercial kitchen hygiene, instantly. 027 241 9498 2chefschoice@gmail.com www.soaktanks.co.nz Fully biodegradable, non-toxic, and caustic-free. Most people see the advantages straight away when Warren Smith comes calling with his Chef’s Choice Soak Tanks. Having been approached by Amis ield, he took the opportunity when delivering theirs to approach Akarua Winery. They asked for one the same day and Millbrook weren’t far behind. Wherever they go there’s a common theme in the customer feedback: the tanks are saving them TIME and MONEY. In the words of one happy customer, “this tank’s a game changer.” Having a Chef’s Choice Soak Tank in your commercial kitchen is not only good for cleaning all your cooking grills and equipment, it improves the hygiene of your commercial kitchen instantly, and it’s good for the environment. “The Soak Tank saves on labour, on power, and on water. The chemicals are non-toxic, biodegradable, and caustic free,” says Chef’s Choice business owner and tank installer Warren Smith. Chef’s Choice's most popular soak tank is 1m long and 750cm high with other sizes available on request. It needs a power source but no plumbing as it uses the same 180 - 250 litres of water for about a month. Leased on a monthly basis the tanks run themselves once they’re installed, apart from their easy monthly clean. “You let it empty, clean it out with a hose, ill it back up, add the non-toxic, biodegradable chemicals, turn the element back on and it’s ready to decarbonize your cooking grills and equipment. I’ve known chef’s having to use a hammer and chisel to get this stu o , but the tanks do it easily just soaking overnight,” says Warren. “All the sta have to do is put things in before they leave at night and they come out clean in the morning. It works for your ilters too, instead of paying someone to swap them out and take them away to clean, you can do your own. Businesses start o seeing it as a cost but once they do the numbers and realise how many hours of work they're saving they realize it’s an asset. While it’s a well-known product used in Australia, the UK and the US it’s relatively new to New Zealand. “People don’t know what it is,” explains Warren. “But once they’ve got one, they just go “Oh my goodness, I can’t believe we haven’t done this before.” Chef’s Choice Soak Tanks is based in Christchurch but the tanks can be found all over the country, in commercial kitchens and bakeries, supermarkets, resorts, restaurants, pubs, cafés, pizzerias and even a bike shop. Contact Warren today, and see how quickly this product helps your bottom line. A game-changing soak tank
6 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Otago: Business South Well placed for a strong bounce back Karen Phelps Otago has plenty to offer Richard Loader Dunedin Airport 3 Benson Close Otago is about the people, the culture and the environment, with everything on its doorstep for an amazing place to live, work and play. “At its core Otago projects an open friendliness and safe family focused environment for businesses and people to thrive,” says Mike Collins, Chief Executive of the newly formed Business South Inc. “Everyone gives a lot back. The mentoring and support network is really significant, which is a sign that the culture here is really healthy. And there’s also a lot of opportunity with a lot of infrastructure investment going on.” Officially formed in October 2021 Business South is the amalgamation of the Otago Southland Employers Association and the Otago Chamber of Commerce. Mike says the rationale for the merger was that both organisations provided very similar services and there was benefit in strengthening those service offerings as one across the Otago/Southland region. Working in complementary partnership with the Southland Chamber of Commerce, the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce and Wanaka Chamber of Commerce, the new organisation’s purpose is to ensure a thriving business environment for the whole region. “We’re the largest geographically spread region in the country and set our border line from south of the Waitaki River including Oamaru, all the way down to Stewart Island.” Forty-two percent of Otago’s population of 247,000 is based in Dunedin. By comparison, Southland has a population of 102,000, Central Otago 25,000 and Queenstown Lakes is 48,000. Mike points to recent statistics showing Dunedin has the lowest unemployment rate in the country. “When we speak to businesses everyone is desperate for staff. I know one business that could employ sixty staff right now and another that could employ twenty-five staff — all in manufacturing. That demand for staff is prolific across the whole Otago/Southland region. There are great opportunities here and businesses have been putting that out for a while. But now it’s an extremely competitive employment market and employers are going to great lengths to gain staff, even partnering with marketing companies to present themselves strongly as an employer.” With businesses losing good staff through intense bidding around higher salaries and hourly rates Business South is advocating a focus on organisational culture. “To lose an employee is a real cost to the business. We had a breakfast seminar with one of the recruitment companies last week and they talked about the efforts going into retaining people. We’re telling businesses to provide as much professional development as possible to their staff so that they are highly employable, while creating a culture and environment they never want to leave. Employees want to know they are valued and have been invested in by the organisation they work for but that they also work in a positive work Pre Covid-19 Dunedin Airport was under pressure with 1.1 million passenger movements each year. A $14m project was undertaken to accommodate the increased demand, which saw the terminal building undergo a significant expansion adding 1200m2 to the first floor to provide a substantially enlarged security screening area and a new domestic lounge. The project was ready for the public March 2020 and then Covid-19 hit and the airport plunged from 32 flights per day to two flights per week just to ferry essential workers around New Zealand. The silver lining is that with the peak of Omicron and government border restrictions lifting the airport is well placed for strong bounce back, says Dunedin Airport general manager of Business Development Megan Crawford. The airport has had to ride the wave of uncertainty the pandemic has presented, which has seen it pivot to upscale and downscale to meet the changing demands driven by different restrictions. “We have had to constantly reassess the environment and it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster ride,” says Dunedin Airport CEO Richard Roberts. “We’ve never been able to plan too far ahead because we’ve never known what would happen. Now we can feel like we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.” But they are both well aware that the challenges are not quite over yet and Dunedin Airport has been working closely with the city, region and businesses to ensure bounce back happens as quickly and as strongly as possible. The current economic environment is providing some challenges as Dunedin Airport aims to increase the size of its team as more people begin to move through New Zealand. environment with their colleagues. It maybe in a flexible working environment and maybe it’s about family first and maybe it’s outcomes focused rather than inputs focused. If businesses can identify and create that environment they have a better chance to retain staff.” A few years ago Dunedin won the Gigatown Competition, a joint initiative between Chorus and the New Zealand Government to award a New Zealand town the ‘fastest internet in the Southern Hemisphere’, through a social media competition. After winning that award Dunedin’s tech industry blossomed because businesses could offer work in a family friendly city and the attraction of surfing at St Clair Beach during the lunch break, all while running a multinational tech business. “So the tech industry is booming,” says Mike. “We currently have a substantial number of startups in Dunedin and the tech industry is significant. In 2019 the Government provided $11 million to develop a Dunedin based hub called the Centre of Digital Excellence (CODE), which is designed to progress the expansion of New Zealand’s growing video game development industry. ADInstruments is an international company based in Dunedin that produces data acquisition and analysis systems for the life sciences industry. Scott Technology is in Dunedin and is a significant producer of automation and robotics solutions. The Southern DHB is our biggest employer with 5000 staff and the next would be Otago University with a significant academic workforce.” With two world-class education providers, Otago University and Otago Polytechnic, Otago is known for its education sector that draws 30,000 - 40,000 students to Dunedin every year and contributes significantly to the local economy. Dunedin is also about to have largest investment in hospital infrastructure that the country has ever seen. The $1.4 billion infrastructure project is predicted to attract between 900 – 1000 contracting companies over the next ten years. “Business South has partnered with the new Dunedin Hospital Development to help develop a strategy to get workforce ready for that project. Any workers currently in the construction trade sectors are scarce and we have to build capacity.” Looking to Otago’s future Mike says Business South Inc. has received a lot of interest from businesses outside of region looking to relocate and he believes that comes down to the region’s supportive culture. “I see that all the time through the networking that happens here. For startups or organisations wanting to set up in Dunedin it’s quite an open environment to network and get going. Also the costs aren’t quite as significant as they are up north in terms of leases and land prices. So from a capital investment perspective it is quite attractive. Dunedin’s economic strategy really pushes the opportunity for growth and encouraging businesses to the region as a destination. If I talk to businesses that have come into town, they tell me the attraction is a balance between the economic side of things and the lifestyle with central Otago on their doorstep and a safe place to bring up their families.” “We are looking at all opportunities to ensure we can get our schedule back to pre-pandemic levels,” says Megan. “We are working very hard with airlines, businesses, chambers and the region to ensure Dunedin is a destination of choice for both local and international travellers.” Megan says feedback from airlines is positive with bookings starting to increase. High inflation is a challenge and there is still a degree of uncertainty over what the cost of flights will be and whether international low cost carrier will return to the market. “Capacity is starting to pick up as a result of bookings. People are starting to want to fly again and we are seeing our scheduling improving quickly,” she says. Corporates have not been able to have face to face meetings as easily during the pandemic and Megan thinks that this will play a part in the pent up demand as people seek to re-connect. “I know for Dunedin Airport we really value the relationships we have with our airline partners and that face to face contact is hard to beat.” Dunedin Airport is also pleased to offer a number of meeting/conference rooms, executive boardroom and interview rooms capable of accommodating business meetings and conferences of various sizes from small to up to around 50 people. Megan says that because Dunedin Airport commands spectacular views of the Maungatua Range, the Taieri Plains and airport life, the rooms make for a very special place to hold a meeting or conference. “People often fly in from different parts of the country and find that holding their meeting here is easier than having to then travel somewhere else,” explains Megan. “They can fly in, have the meeting and fly out.”
| 7 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Dunedin Airport A $14m project was undertaken to accommodate increased passenger demand at Dunedin Airport in early 2020. Specialists In: Heating • Ventilation • Air-Conditioning • Plumbing & Drainage • Gases • Sheetmetal Fabrication 7 Ward St, Dunedin 9054 P 03 474 0500 W dbcbuildingservices.co.nz Proud to be associated with Dunedin Airport o Fulton Hogan 03 478 8200 PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH Dunedin Airport Propower Electrical Services Family owned and community focused Proud to support DunedinAirport www.propower.co.nz
8 | Dunedin City Council / Cook Brothers Construction: Mosgiel Pool New pool complex set to make a splash Russell Fredric REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT 027 405 9101 blair@jacobsconstruction.co.nz It should come as no surprise if some Mosgiel residents are found walking on water when their new aquatic complex opens early next year. After tolerating a nearly century-old pool that was not heated until 1967, that was open air until 1982 and open for only seven months of the year, the community is counting down the days until the facility is opened, Dunedin City Council parks and recreation manager, Scott MacLean says. “The community are really, really excited about it and looking forward to it. The [old] facility was struggling to cope with the demand.” “One of the really good things is that the pool is going to be open year round, which they haven’t had in Mosgiel before, that’s going to be really great. I have no doubt that it’s going to attract some visitors from over the hill here in Dunedin.” The pool project has been a big undertaking for Mosgiel, which has a population of around 14,700 residents. “Actual and projected population growth supported the need for a new facility and that was outlined in a business case which was developed to support the project.” The aquatic centre is a joint project between the DCC, the Taieri Community Facilities Trust and the Mosgiel community with the trust contributing $4 million towards the $19.2 million total cost. “We’ve worked really closely with the trust and the Mosgiel/Taieri Community Board and there’s been a great deal of community input and fundraising.” The aquatic centre is a great legacy project for Mosgiel, Scott says. “These sorts of developments are intergenerational, they’re here to be enjoyed for plenty of time to come.” The facility will be fully accessible and will include an eight-lane 25-metre pool and hydrotherapy, leisure pool with toddler’s area, learn to swim and spa pools. Other facilities will include family and accessible changing rooms and a meeting/multi-use community space. Its car park will include e-vehicle and e-bike charging stations. DCC has collaborated with Aukaha, a Rūnaka-owned consultancy service, on opportunities to weave cultural elements into the design and look of the building. The DCC’s commitment to the community has included minimising disturbance to surrounding residents and ensuring they receive regular information on how the project is progressing. Cook Bros has a design and build contract which was confirmed in December 2020 with construction starting September last year and the opening forecast about May next year. Despite the challenges faced in the construction industry, Scott has a high degree of confidence of this target being met, especially as Cook Bros had ordered materials well ahead of when needed. “They’ve [also] managed the site really well through the Omicron outbreak, they haven’t had any major labour issues with people getting sick and isolating. At the moment we’re not thinking we are going to overrun. “Everything changes so rapidly, but we are on schedule.” Despite the interest that will likely be generated, Dunedin residents will not be neglected. The city’s long-established Moana Pool is set for some upgrades which includes the replacement of its hydroslides in the next two or three years.
| 9 Dunedin City Council / Cook Brothers Construction: Mosgiel Pool The facility will be fully accessible and will include an eight-lane 25-metre pool and hydrotherapy, leisure pool with toddler’s area, learn to swim and spa pools. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Aotea Electric Southern 03 4551039 aoteaelectric.co.nz In partnership with: Electrical Contractor For TheNewMosgiel Pool Redevelopment
10 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Universal Developments Company extends reach to Dunedin Karen Phelps Longview Lake Hawea, Universal Development’s current flagship project, comprises 500 lots and includes two recreation reserves and five pedestrian reserves plus three hectares of commercial land. “We see Longview as a community so there are real benefits in the majority of owners being fulltime residents.” Universal Developments Ltd is growing, extending into the Dunedin market with its first subdivision projects outside of the Queenstown Lakes district. Due to be released later this year or early next year, the projects will include a massive 500 lot subdivision in Mosgiel and a 100 lot project in Fairfield. Universal Developments director Lane Hocking says the projects are part of its plan to help alleviate New Zealand’s housing shortage by delivering high quality sections to the region. Universal Developments is 100% locally owned and operated by Lane. The company has been involved in property development for over 20 years. Being self-funded is a key point of difference for Universal Developments as it allows the company to create a high quality product without the timing considerations bank lending requirements often necessitate. For example, it can undertake some of its earthworks prior to engaging in pre-sales. This can allow purchasers to get a better feel for what they’re purchasing, says Lane. Combined with all of the subdivision specifications being available on the company website it’s a powerful sales model. The company’s reputation for quality and reliability builds trust so people can purchase with peace of mind, he says. Universal Developments has, until now, undertaken projects in the Queenstown Lakes district. The company’s current flagship project is Longview Lake Hawea. The masterplanned community comprises 500 lots and includes two recreation reserves and five pedestrian reserves plus 3 ha of commercial land. Launched in March 2021, over two thirds of the lots have now sold with first titles due to be issued in July 2022. A key point of difference is that Universal Developments has prioritised selling to first homebuyers and owner-occupiers. Covenants – including not being able to on-sell a section within five years unless it has a house on it – have been put in place to discourage speculation. Not that all sections in Longview aren’t available for those who want long term rentals or investment but Lane says it’s about getting a good balance and those other customers are second tier priority. “We’ve seen what’s happened with other subdivisions in the region where sometimes sections pass through two or three owners before they end up with the ultimate owner-occupier. So we want to get the sections in the hands of the ultimate owner-occupiers first up so they can benefit from the capital gain/equity. We see Longview as a community so there are real benefits in the majority of owners being fulltime residents. It’s a nice feeling when purchasers tell us they had never thought they’d be able to afford a home in this district and that they’re excited about moving into Longview.” Universal is happy to sell direct to purchasers or help introduce them to trusted house and land package building companies. Lane says that Longview has partnered with New Zealand’s leading group homebuilders to ensure there is something for everyone – affordable packages, long-term rentals, and sections to build a dream house or holiday home. For those using Kiwisaver funds for the deposit Universal Developments allows a delayed deposit of several weeks in order to accommodate the Kiwisaver withdrawal administration. For first homebuyers Universal can reduce the deposit to 5% if needed to make that part of the process easier. Of course Longview offers packages at higher prices as well and has something for everyone to result in a good community mix, says Lane. As part of its consent requirements, Universal Developments is also gifting 62 sections valued at over $20m in Longview Lake Hawea to the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust which will provide a range of affordable and secure tenure rental programmes along with its assisted ownership model, the Secure Home programme. Lane says that the objective of Secure Homes is not only to provide decent and affordable housing, but long-term housing stability and security in the same way that home ownership does. Secure Home is based on a leasehold agreement between the Community Housing Trust and the household, which sees the Trust retain full ownership of the property. The household purchases the right to occupy the property at the cost of house construction (excluding land). The household then pays an annual ground rent to the Community Housing Trust for use of the land, which is set well below market value and only ever increases annually with inflation for the period the household remains in the programme. The lease cannot be transferred or on-sold on the open market, but should a household decide to move on, the Trust will purchase the house back at the original purchase price, plus an annual inflation adjustment (provided the house has been well maintained). If the household has made any improvements to the property, which the Trust has approved, then these too will be factored into the resale price. “This initiative helps to build and cement a strong community. We’re happy to be a part of this as it genuinely makes a difference for a lot of people. Julie Scott and her team at the Community Housing Trust do an incredible job and have created a product which is genuinely at the vanguard of modern housing solutions.” Longview will also include 3ha of commercial titles. Lane says that consent is already in place for a childcare centre and for a commercial building containing a café, offices and commercial tenancies. “Over time we expect this to grow into a commercial area servicing local needs and provide a broad range of commercial and community uses,” he says. Other developments completed by Universal Developments in Wanaka include Dungarvon (25 lots), The Heights (161 lots) and Clearview (121 lots). All sections in these developments are sold out. Universal Developments also has a 9ha high-density residential project in Queenstown in the planning phase. People interested in any of Universal Developments’ current and upcoming projects whether in Dunedin or Wanaka, Hawea, and Queenstown can register early interest via Universal Development’s website. Lane says that Universal Developments is actively seeking other opportunities across the South Island and would welcome any approaches.
Quality residential subdivisions Queenstown Wanaka Lake Hawea Launching in Dunedin and Mosgiel 2023 Contact us at www.ud.kiwi
12 | “We’ve got very good people working in the business. Creating trust with our clients is our number one priority, working with them to achieve the home they want.” Demand still strong in Central Otago Karen Phelps Mike Greer Homes Central Otago REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Your locally owned foundation and concrete specialists Queenstown, Wanaka, Central Otago & Southland + On Time and Accurate Slabs + End to End Management by Owners + Same day Quotes for Standard Designs + Marked Slabs to start Standing Frames on 0508 OFC LTD | info@otagofoundations.co.nz Uniquely yours. Trends Kitchens have been leading the way in custom joinery for over 25 years. Proudly New Zealand owned and operated. 03 343 5242 trendskitchens.co.nz NELSON | BLENHEIM | CHRISTCHURCH | CROMWELL | AUCKLAND RABBETTE BRICK & BLOCK BRICK LAYING BLOCK LAYING SCHIST STONE OAMARU STONE GRANITE MARBLE PHONE: 021 990 804 rab.bricky@gmail.com Mike Greer Homes Central Otago is building in a booming area and thanks to savvy local developers there is product steadily coming to market, says Mike Greer Homes Central Otago managing director Mike Millar. “There is a good range of developments taking place around the region,” he says citing Wooing Tree Estate, Hanley’s Farm, Northlake, Longview and Clearview as examples. “With sales consultants based in Wanaka, Queenstown and Cromwell, Mike Greer Homes Central Otago is building in all the major subdivisions and has house and land packages available or due to come on line shortly. to page14 Mike took over his role with Mike Greer Homes Central Otago right before the pandemic hit and says, even though it didn’t feel like it back then, it proved to be good timing. “No one would have ever guessed how things would turn out and the demand for homes in Central Otago has been really strong.” Mike says the greatest shortage of land available to build new homes exists in Queenstown but new developments such as Coneburn, which will offer 600 sections, are coming soon. He says generally local councils are approving consents in a timely manner and that because Mike Greer Homes has its own compliance team, which ensures plans meet local council and development requirements before they are sent for the consent to be approved, this ensures that the build process with Mike Greer Homes Central Otago progresses efficiently. Mike, who had a background working for Carters Building Supplies before joining Mike Greer Homes, knows better than most how supply chain issues work at the coalface. He says that due to Mike Greer Homes’ experience in the market, coupled with his own knowledge of the building supply chain, these factors have also contributed to ensure delays are minimised during the pandemic. “We’ve got very good people working in the business. Creating trust with our clients is our number one priority, working with them to achieve the home they want.” He says Cromwell and Lake Hawea represents good value for money in the region at present and house and land packages in Wooing Tree Estate and Longview have experienced strong demand.
| 13 MIke Greer Homes Central Otago has a stunning range of well-appointed and high spec homes featuring three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Mike Greer Homes Central Otago REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT 027 2233 290 southplastering@yahoo.com www.southplastering.co.nz Proud to support Mike Greer Homes Central Otago Love your new home. 0800BESTWINDOWS info@fairviewconcepts.co.nz www.fairviewconcepts Contact Matt Cook 0276 828 828 www.ecoinsulation.co.nz
14 | Range of high spec homes from page 12 Mike Greer Homes Central Otago will open two show homes at Longview in Lake Hawea. Mike Greer Homes - Central Otago REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Proudly supporting Mike Greer Homes 24 McNulty Rd, Cromwell | Ph. 03 445 1619 73 Tarbert Street Alexandra | Ph. 03 427 2295 Inspiration starts here Proud flooring supplier to Mike Greer Homes For your building sites renovations demolitions or general clean-ups from 7 to 18 cubic meters. AllWaste are committed to recycling building site waste. Call us today to discuss options for recycling! Gib Board, Cardboard, light plastics and pallet wrap and polystyrene from your site. AllWaste are proud to work with Mike Greer Homes across the Central Otago region. “It’s a chance for people to have their own slice of paradise. We have a range of well-appointed and high spec homes featuring three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The open plan design living, kitchen and dining space offers a versatile area well suited to families and for entertaining,” he says. The homes range from approximately 130-150sqm and sit on sections of around 300-500sqm. Mike says the aim has been to deliver affordable options to the region. Mike Greer Homes Central Otago is also building homes on people’s own sites in the subdivision. Later this year Mike Greer Homes Central Otago will open four show homes in the region. In Cromwell, the 225sqm show home in Wooing tree Estate, will feature three bedrooms and two bathrooms and be clad in a mix of cedar, schist and plaster. “Cromwell is just 35 minute’s drive from Queenstown and Wanaka and sits at an attractive price point. Fringed by vines Wooing Tree Estate will retain and celebrate its unique location. “The vineyard and its cellar door will remain a key focus of the development and it will also be supported by carefully selected hospitality and retail businesses that will promote the local wine and tourism industry.” In Wanaka a high spec show home is due to open in July in Clearview. The 215sqm home will offer three bedrooms, two bathrooms, three living areas and a double garage. It will be clad in cedar and schist and sit on a 500sqm section. It will replace the current Clearview show home, which is a home and income plan offering a three bedroom house and an attached one bedroom unit. Mike says these types of home and income packages are very popular in the region and offer a variety of options to purchasers. Mike Greer Homes Central Otago will also open two show homes in Longview at Lake Hawea. Located side by side they each offer three bedrooms and two bathrooms and range from 136sqm to 165sqm. Mike says there is also a subdivision in Clyde called Sunderland Park and Mike Greer Homes Central Otago will also be releasing a range of house and land packages there in 2023.
| 15 Mike Greer Homes - Central Otago REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT In Cromwell, the 225sqm show home in Wooing tree Estate will feature three bedrooms and two bathrooms and be clad in a mix of cedar, schist and plaster. From kitchen design to installation, Misco Joinery offer the complete package including a free quote to help you create your dream kitchen. PROUDLY SUPPORTING MIKE GREER HOMES 62 Williams Street, Kaiapoi 7630 | P: 03 383 4384 | W: www.misco.co.nz Bespoke Kitchens Since 1988 High End Plumbing • Drainage Gas Work • Heating & Maintenance 03 441 8071 reception@queenstownplumbing.co.nz www.queenstownplumbing.co.nz 2/7 Bush Creek Rd, Arrowtown We've been making bathrooms beautiful for more than 100 years. 03 445 0008 12 Hughes Cres, Cromwell www.oakleysplumbing.co.nz Proud to support Mike Greer Homes LARGE & SMALL DIGGERS + ALL SITE EXCAVATION (03) 443 5489 www.mtirontrenching.co.nz (027) 443 5400 mngarrick@xtra.co.nz
16 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Veros Property - Wooing Tree Estate Regional NZ becoming hot property Karen Phelps Kiwis are leaving high density metropolitan areas to relocate in places such as Wooing Tree Estate in Cromwell. The supply-demand balance has been out of kilter in New Zealand for some time and Veros development managers Sean Haynes and Stephen Cornwall says it will take some time to resolve. “The needle hasn’t really moved all that much in terms of meeting demand but supply is starting to make some gains,” says Sean who says this is partly due to government policy changes, which are encouraging investment in new housing, and higher density developments. One trend that has been noticed at Veros is the shift in interest from metropolitan areas to the regions. He points to Cromwell, where Veros is currently working on the Wooing Tree Estate development, as a good example. “It’s the amenity and lifestyle on offer in places like Cromwell with the cycle trails, lake and wineries that is attracting people to relocate to Cromwell,” says Sean. “This is the same across New Zealand regions, which are experiencing growth and increasing demand.” This has meant councils will need to provide a regulatory environment coupled with investing in infrastructure to support that growth, he says. Sean says this has been challenging for smaller regions, which haven’t traditionally been used to huge growth in short spaces of time. Part of the solution will be building up rather than out, thinks Stephen. “Metropolitan areas – Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, Wellington, haven’t been able to keep up with demand for new housing and are bursting at the seams. “Investment in infrastructure to open up greenfields areas is expensive and not always viable. The alternative is to invest in existing infrastructure and build up.” He points to Tauranga as a good example where greenfields areas are faced with substantial infrastructure and regulatory hurdles to overcome, which will take years to resolve. Roads don’t get built overnight for example, says Stephen, making the rapid delivery of the houses New Zealand needs problematic. One thing both agree on is that resolving New Zealand’s housing issues is complex. “It’s challenging as there are a large number of factors that go into delivering homes, which need improvement including cost, speed of delivery of projects, funding, material supply chain and sufficient skilled workers,” says Sean. “There’s no silver bullet; if it was that easy the problem would have been solved already.” But they say that the services Veros offers are part of the solution of delivering projects more quickly. “Inexperienced developers can struggle to get projects off the ground but at Veros we’ve got a lot of experience in delivering developments. By bringing our expertise to projects we can optimise them and de-risk them,” says Sean. For example on the Wooing Tree Estate project Veros added significant value from the outset by facilitating the partnership creation and funding for the project. Veros was then engaged as development managers to manage the delivery by providing services throughout different stages of the project life cycle including project programming, consultant team procurement, design management, cost management, risk management, contract management, contractor procurement and sales strategy. The pandemic threw challenges into the mix but this was where Veros’ value was clear, says Sean. “For example cost escalation just means we have to be very organised and work closely with our contractors to identify risk areas, for example where we might need to pre-order, and build in contingency strategies.” Stephen says that the ability of Veros to “It’s the amenity and lifestyle on offer in places like Cromwell with the cycle trails, lake and wineries that is attracting people to relocate to Cromwell. This is the same across New Zealand regions, which are experiencing growth and increasing demand.”
| 17 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Veros Property - Wooing Tree Estate Wooing Tree Estate stage one and two has sold out with the first homeowners in stage one moved in. Stage two is under construction and stage three is selling now. Photos: Will Nelson identify clear pathways to the end goal has meant faster and more efficient results. “Through better knowledge, experience and systems we guide projects to save our clients time and money in the development process and position their property to maximise their investment value.” Stephen says that the Veros team has a reputation for delivering high quality, fit-forpurpose successful projects. “This is because we understand our clients’ needs and ensure their interests are at the forefront of every aspect of the project,” he explains. They both say that the proven track record of Veros and its sound understanding of the whole process from concept to completion result in successful outcomes: “Our technical knowledge, local connections and broad market experience allow us to deliver specialised services across the entire property life cycle,” says Stephen. Wooing Tree Estate stage one and two has sold out with the first homeowners in stage one moved in. Stage two is under construction and stage three is selling now. Veros is also managing the tourism and hospitality precinct of the project including the new Wooing Tree Cellar Door. It has resource consent for the cellar door and construction is due to start later this year and opening in 2023.
Golden Homes in the Southern Lakes is building show homes in a number of key developments in the region as the company continues to grow. “At Golden Homes we work hard to stay one step ahead of the game,” says Golden Homes in the Southern Lakes director Ethan Smith. “We were the first home builders to offer double glazing, before it was required by law, and steel framing as standard features of our homes, and later we were the first again to make thermally broken windows standard too. Our homes are some of the most affordable in New Zealand - but it doesn't come at the expense of quality.” Ethan established Golden Homes in the Southern Lakes in 2018 and it currently has homes under construction in Alexandra, Kingston, Glenorchy, Lake Hāwea, Queenstown and Wānaka. He says that since Golden Homes opened its doors in 1990 the company has focused on building better homes, offering clients the best possible products at the most affordable price. This extends from design through to the trusted materials and building methods resulting in homes built to the highest specifications available in the market, he says. For example, for over a decade Golden Homes has used steel framing in all its builds after recognising the clear benefits including durability, strength, earthquake performance and environmental sustainability, says Ethan. Golden Homes uses New Zealand-made ZOG®steel framing and Ethan says that every home built by Golden Homes comes with a 50 year durability statement on the framing issued by New Zealand Steel. Using steel has proved particularly advantageous during the pandemic, which has seen timber in short supply. It is just one factor in Golden Homes’ Gold Standard Building System, which also includes RibRaft concrete floor, a method where foundations sit directly on the ground. Ethan says that these types of foundations are quicker to construct than traditional methods, and they perform better in earthquakes too. Golden Homes® use long run roofs because they are ideally suited to New Zealand weather conditions being lightweight and easy to maintain, and All Seasons thermally broken double glazed windows and doors. Homes are also thermally broken with the use of James Hardie HomeRAB as a rigid air barrier behind the cladding.Golden Homes in the Southern Lakes team of expert design and sales staff can create bespoke designs for clients, or customise pre-designed plans to suit the client’s lifestyle and section. Golden Homes in the Southern Lakes has a range of house and land packages available in Universal Development’s Longview Lake Hawea, where it is also building two show homes, both of which will be sold on a leaseback arrangement. Longview is a master planned community incorporating 480 residential lots, a 3.5ha township service centre and two spectacular recreation reserves. House and land packages range from 400-500sqm sections. All come with house designs, which clients can use or make changes to or instead opt for a full design and build. First titles are due in June 2022. Ethan says the subdivision is popular as it includes large playgrounds, reserve spaces and commercial properties to cater to residents. The 170sqm show home comprises three bedrooms, two bathrooms and open plan living/dining/kitchen with walk-in pantry. The design includes raking ceilings and skylights. The home will be clad in plaster and cedar and Ethan says it is targeted at a range of needs including first homebuyers, families and downsizers. The second show home will be a 211sqm home and income property, which Ethan says are popular in the region as they enable people to rent out part of the home to pay down their mortgage faster. The main home will comprise three bedrooms and there will be a one bedroom fully self-contained unit. Golden Homes Southern Lakes also has a new home and income show home opening at Hanley’s Farm in Queenstown in early 2023. The 260sqm house will offer four bedrooms with an attached two-bedroom unit. The highly specified home will include pitched ceilings, timber cladding, VELUX skylights to capture the mountain views, designer kitchen, timber floors and feature joinery. Ethan says that Golden Homes Southern Lakes currently has around 45 projects under construction in Hanley’s Farm and more in the design stages. “It’s certainly very busy at the moment.” Golden Homes in the Southern Lakes to Expand Golden Homes in the Southern Lakes is set to expand into the booming Dunedin market. It will work with the reputable developer Universal Developments on a 113-lot project in Green Island and a 600-lot project in Mosgiel. Both projects are still in development but Golden Homes in the Southern Lakes plans to build a show home in the region in the coming years. “We see great potential in the Dunedin market. The population is growing and there is a need for good quality housing to cater to this growth,” says Golden Homes in the Southern Lakes director Ethan Smith. Golden Homes in the Southern Lakes is also looking for opportunities to expand its reach further south to Invercargill and Southland. “We've been growing a lot during the pandemic and the building industry in general hasn't really slowed down, demand has been high. Consents are up 25% year on year in New Zealand and at Golden Homes we want to be a big contributor to that trend to help provide the houses that Kiwis need.” Staying one step ahead of the game with Golden Homes New Longview showhomes (above & below)
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