Business South March 2024

Volume 33 | Issue 1 | March 2024 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Winning Wines New Zealand Wineries is celebrating their recent success at the 2023 International Bulk Wine Competition, held in Amsterdam.  Page 09

2 | Contents 68| Forest future Dunedin is reaping the environmental benefits of forest planting done 120 years ago. 21| Winning project Downer has been recognised for its work on Invercargill’s landmark central city streetscapes project. 117| Design style Maria Pomeroy Interiors scooped two top awards at the 2023 National Kitchen and Bathroom Association Excellence in Design Awards. 21 117 68 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   ROKI Collection Queenstown �� 03 Meridian Energy �� 04 New Zealand Wineries �� 06 Robinson Construction �� 10 Onus Projects �� 12 Smart Alliances �� 14 JV Properties �� 15 Noble �� 16 Houston Motor Group �� 18 Motueka Nets �� 19 Southland CCNZ �� 20 Downer Southland �� 21 Wilson Contractors �� 24 Invision Project Consulting �� 25 Richard Affleck Building �� 26 James Hargest College �� 29 Adam Newton Homes �� 30 AJ Design and Project Consultancy �� 32 Lochiel Engineering �� 33 Sudima Hotels �� 34 Smart Project Management �� 36 Bascik Transport Dunedin �� 38 North Otago Irrigation Co �� 40 Brocorp �� 42 Liam Horne Developments �� 45 Dunweavin 2020 �� 46 Lake Hood Properties �� 48 Kersey Park �� 49 Vale Properties �� 50 Kevler Homes �� 52 Welding & Engineering �� 56 Slade Engineering �� 57 Fabrum Solutions �� 58 CLL Solutions �� 59 Dawson Electrical �� 60 Cowley Electrical Dairy & Pumps �� 60 Letton Kerb and Channel �� 62 Titus Waterproofing �� 63 Egypt Civil Construction �� 64 Wanaka Civil �� 65 Diverse Works �� 66 Black Contracting ��67 City Forests ��68 Tasman Pine Forests ��70 PF Olsen ��71 Onlandscapes ��72 Goom Landscapes ��73 Staple Architecture ��74 Bespoke Architecture ��76 Jade Architecture ��77 MAS Architecture ��78 SE Design ��80 MC Architecture Studio ��81 KLT Architects ��82 CA Architecture ��83 Semester Studio ��84 Alexcraft Engineering ��85 Mayfair Pools & Spas Cromwell ��86 Recreation Construction ��88 Amalgamated Builders ��90 Troy Dunnage Builders ��92 Adam & Milne Building and Roofing ��92 Peter Ray Homes Nelson ��94 Silver Creek Construction ��96 Niche Design & Construction ��97 DBC Building Services ��98 Stroud Homes Central Otago ��101 Totalspan - Nelson ��102 Energy Efficient Homes ��104 Trident Homes - Dunedin ��106 David Pope Builder ��109 Archi Build ��110 Latitude Homes Central Otago ��111 MW Builders ��112 Fiordland Homes ��113 Aurum on Clutha ��114 Maria Pomeroy Design ��117 The Croft ��118 The Fork and Tap ��120 Visit Fiordland ��122 Edgewater lake Wanaka ��124 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 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Chris Pearce chris.pearce@waterfordpress.co.nz EDITORIAL Editor Nick Gormack nick@waterfordpress.co.nz Sub-editors Paul Mein, Randall Johnston Journalists Alexia Anderson, Bernadette Cooney, Ange Davidson, Kelly Deeks, Hugh de Lacy, Russell Fredric, Richard Loader, Kim Newth, Sue Russell, Karen Phelps, Rosa Watson, Virginia Wright RESEARCH & MARKETING James Anderson, Sam Dart, Chris Graves, Megan Hawkins, Annie Patrick, Chris Pearce, Danielle Percival, Adam Shirra, Leo Smith, Alasdair Thomson sales@waterfordpress.co.nz PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT General Manager Luke Lynch luke@waterfordpress.co.nz Graphic Artists Connor Gosnell, Anton Gray, Francesca Hildawa, Sophie McCleary, Liki Udam art@waterfordpress.co.nz CONTENT COORDINATORS Alissa Crosby, Ann-Marie Frentz, Josie Villa OFFICE AND ACCOUNTS Helen Bourne accounts@waterfordpress.co.nz Jill Holland reception@waterfordpress.co.nz Lyn Barlow lyn@waterfordpress.co.nz

| 3 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT ROKI Collection Queenstown & Cook Brothers T T Kim Newth Latest in luxury on the QT lakefront Luxurious spa and wellness facilities on the second floor will include a 20-metre lap pool, a full gym, a Roman-style atrium and top international spa facilities. Suppliers & Installers of: • Tray roofing • Corrugate / 5 Rib • True Oak • Rooflogic System • TPO & Torch on membrane roofing • Metrotile • Windsor Garage Doors • Premier Insulation • Scaffolding P: 03 445 0553 • ( LQIR#H[WUHPHURR´QJ FR Q] Experience, Knowledge & Expertise. DRIVEN PILE • BORED PILE • SCREW PILE • ANCHORS WWW.MOORECONSTRUCTION.CO.NZ Taking shape on a prime site by Lake Wakatipu, ROKI Collection Queenstown is an exclusive boutique hotel designed to bring a whole new level of luxury to the lakefront. Providing an intimate country retreat experience at an unparalleled urban location in central Queenstown, the new five storey hotel with basement carpark is on track to be finished in the final quarter of 2024. “We want to take things slow initially, so we will be starting with a closed-door invite-only soft opening from December 2024 before inviting reservations from March or April 2025,” says general manager Stephen McAteer, who has attended international travel events in North America and Europe over recent months to promote this new offering. “There’s significant interest in Queenstown from these markets as well as Australia and Asia. Queenstown is known as the adventure capital of the world and is on the map for golf tourism and fine wine. In the luxury travel market, people are wanting something a bit more special and more meaningful and Otago is definitely moving further up international guests’ must-do-and-see lists.” Future guests will be able to book a full range of local activities through ROKI Collection Queenstown including an exclusive helicopter flight and lunch package to Rees Valley. ROKI is a te reo Māori word that means ‘tranquil’. This is the essence of what the offering is all about: a peaceful sanctuary with fabulous views of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables, offering 15 luxury suites and boutique-style service and amenities. Suites range from one- to four-bedrooms and include several two-bedroom family suites. “There is a lot of demand from families in the luxury travel market - our two-bedroom family suites will provide exactly what they want. We also have an incredible 550sqm four-bedroom suite that will take up the whole fourth floor. All suites will be very well appointed and very generous inside. There will be plenty of exclusive private space.” Next level hotel amenities include a 40seat fine dining room serving the best New Zealand cuisine where guests will be able to directly interact with the chef. Casual dining will be well catered for on a 26-seat balcony/ terrace with lakeside views. Luxurious spa and wellness facilities on the second floor will include a 20-metre lap pool, a full gym, a Roman-style atrium and top international spa facilities. Behind this new hotel is an Australian developer and regular visitor to Otago, who has invested heavily in the region. “He loves New Zealand and wanted to build somewhere to show Queenstown to his friends and family.” The A-list design team for the new hotel includes renowned architect Lawrence Sumich of Auckland-based Sumich Chaplin Architects; leading interior designer Virginia Fisher, credited for developing the New Zealand luxury vernacular; and Suzanne Turley, one of NZ’s most sought after landscape architects. Cook Brothers Construction, together with Moore Construction, have been working on site in Queenstown since November 2022, completing extensive excavations involving the removal of 7600m3, drilling 141 retaining piles and pouring foundations. “Cook Brothers have a great team. With the challenging excavation phase now finished, building work is getting into full swing. The project is running on time; we’re thrilled that the schist that came out of the ground is also going to be re-used as a component in construction.” Up to 60 staff will be employed at the hotel and around half of those will also have the option to stay in staff accommodation provided by ROKI. Meanwhile, ROKI Collection plans further expansion in New Zealand and into Australia and the Pacific Islands over the next four to five years.

4 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Meridian Energy T T Karen Phelps Setting the pace in renewable energy Industrial • Commercial • Residential “Quality Solutions delivered on Time” INVERCARGILL QUEENSTOWN DUNEDIN CHRISTCHURCH In the race towards a sustainable future, Meridian is emerging as a frontrunner, aiming to reshape New Zealand’s energy landscape with a series of ambitious renewable energy projects. “By 2030 Meridian will see seven of its own major developments consented, construction underway and several generating electricity,” says Rebecca Knott, Meridian’s Head of Renewable Development. She says Meridian’s visionary approach aligns with Aotearoa’s long-term target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. To contribute significantly to this goal, Aotearoa will need to invest around $30 billion in new renewable generation. Meridian’s deep pipeline of 4.7GW (11.1 TWh) of development options underscores its dedication to this cause. Of this capacity, 1.5GW is already secured, with 3.2GW in advanced prospects, spanning 2.4GW in solar, 2.1GW in wind, and 0.2GW in battery storage. The cornerstone of Meridian’s commitment to renewable energy is the $448 million Harapaki wind farm, currently under construction in Hawke’s Bay. Despite facing the challenges of Cyclone Gabrielle, the project remains on track, with the first power achieved in November 2023. Harapaki is set to become New Zealand’s second-largest wind farm, featuring 41 turbines generating 176 MW of renewable energy. The project is anticipated to power over 70,000 average households by 2024, contributing to the country’s clean energy objectives. As part of the Ruakākā Energy Park development near Whangārei, Meridian has initiated the construction of a grid-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). As part of the Energy Park, Meridian has also lodged consent for a grid-scale solar farm, reinforcing its commitment to a holistic renewable energy approach. The company has also submitted consent applications for the 300GWh Mt Munro wind farm in Wairarapa. The Mt Munro wind farm is poised to consist of up to 20 turbines, generating approximately 300 GWh of renewable energy annually, sufficient to power around 42,000 average homes. Another pivotal project for Meridian is the partnership with NZ Wind Farms to repower and extend the Te Rere Hau wind farm, located near Palmerston North on the Tararua Ranges. The project involves the design, construction, and operation of up to 39 new turbines, with a generation capacity of up to 170 MW. If successful, this initiative will mark New Zealand’s first wind farm repowering project, potentially generating seven times the annual renewable energy production of the existing fleet, says Rebecca. With a long-standing presence in the region, Meridian has owned and operated the Te Āpiti wind farm since 2004, contributing to New Zealand’s overall progress towards a greener energy grid. “Wind and solar are the cheapest and lowest footprint of energy we can build. The challenge is where you locate them and that’s a question people often ask us. “They need to be close to the transmission Phone: 03 983 5500 waterfordpress.co.nz Your Business, Your Industry, Your News. DO OUR READERS KNOW YOU EXIST? grid; otherwise, it’s too expensive to build the transmission lines, and the grid tends to be nearer to population centres.” Renewable energy derives from natural environmental resources such as wind, water, sun, and geothermal elements. For a source to be considered renewable, it must not deplete when utilized—essentially, it is self-sustaining and not prone to running out in the foreseeable future. Rebecca says that Meridian exclusively generates energy from 100% renewable sources, specifically harnessing the power of wind, water, and sun. “In New Zealand, our electricity grid is predominantly powered by renewable energy, with approximately 85% sourced from sustainable means. By way of comparison, our counterparts across the Tasman Sea have achieved a lower renewable energy generation rate, currently standing at around 30%,” says Rebecca. She says that in essence Meridian’s renewable energy projects play a critical part of moving Aotearoa towards a more sustainable energy future.

| 5 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Meridian Energy Harapaki is set to become New Zealand’s second-largest wind farm, featuring 41 turbines generating 176 MW of renewable energy. 123 MERSEY STREET, INVERCARGILL P: +64 3 214 4969 E: W: www.e-type.co.nz Proud supporters of Meridian Energy for more than 20 years. Experts in industrial engineering and fabrication. From design to installation, we lead the way on complex, challenging projects in New Zealand. • Design • Manufacturing Services • Maintenance • Site Services • Project Management • On-site Installation

6 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Tasman: New Zealand Wineries T T Kim Newth Expansion doubles processing capacity T T to page 8 » PLC Pr og r ammi ng and Con f i gu r a t i on » HMI Con t r o l Pane l Concep t s and Des i gn » Au t oma t i on and SCADA Ar ch i t ec t u r e » E l ec t r i ca l Con t r o l Des i gn www . e c a d . c o . n z E . z a k@e c a d . c o . n z 0 2 1 3 3 0 1 4 4 | t r i s t i n@e c a d . c o . n z 0 2 1 4 4 5 3 5 3 | s am@e c a d . c o . n z 0 2 1 3 9 9 7 9 2 Dedicated to contr ibut ing to NZ Winer ies operat ional ef f iciencies. Only two years on from building their new $15 million winery at Kendrick Rd in Marlborough, New Zealand Wineries is in expansion mode with work underway to double the winery’s processing capacity in time for vintage 2024. “We are putting in another processing stream, adding another bin, two more presses and the processing to go with that,” says New Zealand Wineries Chief Operating Officer Alistair McIntosh. “As of vintage 2024, we will be able to double the volume we put through; we will have increased our capacity to 16,000 tonnes.” While their specialist processing equipment is Italian, winery tanks are all manufactured locally as are items like pipework. Engineering and civil construction services are locally sourced too. “Around 75% of the dollar value for this project has gone to local businesses – we’re proud to support the local economy.” From small batch hand pick to large scale continuous flow processing, NZ Wineries caters to a diverse range of wine styles and winemaking philosophies to make ‘your wine, your way’. Their Marlborough winery facilities are fully certified with BRC Food Safety, bio-gro, SWNZ and WSMP. For grape growers of any scale working with New Zealand Wineries to make their wine, it gives peace of mind knowing that the end product will align with international quality standards. Thanks to modern laboratory testing and a Vintrace software system, clients of New Zealand Wineries can also readily track the progress of their wine as it is processed. As well, both vintage and permanent winery staff are extensively trained to ensure equipment and systems run smoothly. In 2023, the company processed around 23,000 tonnes – “the quality was exceptional”. Around half of their wine output is bottled locally – through Wineworks Marlborough or The Bottling Company – while the other half is processed as a bulk product for export. Much of that wine has gone on to win awards for their clients.

| 7 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Tasman: New Zealand Wineries While their specialist processing equipment is Italian, winery tanks are all manufactured locally as are items like pipework.

8 | Winery doubles capacity The Kendrick Rd winery was purpose built to process large volumes of Sauvignon Blanc, quickly and efficiently on behalf of their clients. T T from page 6 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Tasman: New Zealand Wineries • Heat Pumps • System Design • Plant Audits • 24 Hour Service • Preventative Maintenance • Equipment Supply • Air Conditioning • Coolrooms & Freezers • Industrial & Winery Refrigeration ACTIVE REFRIGERATION MARLBOROUGH LTD 37 Kinross Street, Blenheim PHONE: (03) 577 7345 | 3/27 Packham Crescent, Stoke PHONE 035449139 FOR REFRIGERATION & AIR CONDITIONING EMAIL: info@activerefrig.co.nz WEB: www.activerefrigeration.co.nz BRANCHES NATIONWIDE “A lot of what we do goes to the UK for bottling and to a lesser extent the US and Australia. It is often sold as the buyers own brand, for example large supermarket chains will buy in bulk for their own brands.” The Kendrick Rd winery, sited behind the company’s other winery on Liverpool St (capacity 16,000 tonnes), was purpose built to process large volumes of Sauvignon Blanc, quickly and efficiently on behalf of their clients. It has also been engineered and designed to a high level of seismic resilience. Compared to older wineries, an automated modern winery like this consumes very little energy and is extremely cost effective to run. “It is very innovative in terms of energy recovery and energy reduction,” observes Steve Ginders, New Zealand Wineries Maintenance Manager. “I’ve been here four years and, in that time, I’ve seen big improvements in electricity usage and gas usage required to produce wine. A big driver here is to be as efficient as possible because it’s a win for the environment and reduces operational costs too.” Beyond 2024, New Zealand Wineries plans further expansion to lift processing capacity to around 34,000 tonnes. Adding to their capabilities, New Zealand Wineries leases a winery in Waipara that processes around 1500 tonnes a year. Marlborough is New Zealand’s largest wine region, home to more than 160 wineries with New Zealand Wineries one of the larger winery operations in the region. As New Zealand Winegrowers observed in their 2023 annual report, grape growers and wineries are currently looking to the future with renewed certainty and confidence. New Zealand’s wine exports surged to new record levels in 2023, lifting 23% in value to $2.4 billion. Consumer demand for New Zealand wine, particularly Sauvignon Blanc, is strong in key markets such as the US, UK and Australia. New Zealand Wineries is very much moving in step with buoyant demand for tailored winemaking services. “We think there is still a shortage of processing capacity in Marlborough, so we will continue expanding at Kendrick Rd over the next couple of years,” says Alistair. “We’d like to put in more tanks as we get more grapes coming in the door.” Looking ahead to vintage 2024, Alistair says that they have had no difficulty finding the staff needed for the annual harvest. “We have been inundated with requests for employment – there is no shortage of people looking for work.”

| 9 New Zealand Wineries chief winemaker Jed Penkman with the the Grand Gold Medal trophy won at the 2023 International Bulk Wine Competition in Amsterdam. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Tasman: New Zealand Wineries Proud to be associated with NZ Wineries. www.boydwilsonelectrical.co.nz Phone 03 572 7448 for your industrial/commercial electrical work. Proudly supporting NZ Wineries COMPRESSED AIR SALES – SERVICE – HIRE Whangarei – Auckland – Hamilton – Tauranga - New Plymouth Hawkes Bay - Palmerston North – Blenheim - Christchurch BRANCHES NATIONWIDE Compressed Air & Nitrogen Specialists New Zealand Wineries is celebrating their recent success at the 2023 International Bulk Wine Competition, held in Amsterdam, where they won a Grand Gold medal for their bulk wine. “It is the first time that we have entered for many years and we were lucky enough to be one of three winners to receive a Grand Gold Medal,” says New Zealand Wineries Chief Operating Officer Alistair McIntosh. “When we were announced as a winner at the exhibition, we had a lot of people coming to look at the wine and to taste it.” New Zealand Wineries makes bulk wine of its own – around 1200 tonnes a year – primarily to ensure that their winery facilities operate as efficiently as possible by supplementing what they process for others and maximising capacity usage. The accolade comes at the right time. While global demand for bulk wine has been strong over the past four or five years, Alistair says international demand has slowed up in recent months. “It’s a ‘wait and see’ as far the impact of this medal win goes, but we are hopeful that it will translate into sales for us.” Gold success in Amsterdam

10 | Tasman: Robinson Construction - Te Kahu o Waipuna T T Virginia Wright Iconic build an architectural triumph Built on a historic site in the centre of town, Kahu O Waipuna, the Marlborough District Council Library and Art Gallery, is one of Blenheim’s most iconic contemporary architectural builds. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Owned by brothers Phil and Nick Robinson, Robinson Construction is a Blenheim based family business into its second generation, having been established by their late father Ian, in 1963. Phil started working for the company when he was 20 as a qualified Quantity Surveyor, and has since done many years as Managing Director. Nick started his apprenticeship outside the company at the age of 16. Once qualified he did another year outside the company before joining his brother in the family business, and working his way up to Construction Manager, the position he has also held for many years. The company is now led by General Manager Mark Watson, with Nick as Construction Manager/Director, and Phil as Quantity Surveyor/Director Although already well established in the region in those early years; the company went from strength to strength as the Marlborough wine industry took off, and the decision was made to focus on and become specialists in commercial construction. Some of the significant high-profile builds include Blenheim’s Stadium 2000 (2000), Wither HIlls Winery (2006), ASB Theatre (2013), the WK Building (2016) and Lansdowne Sportshub (2022) to name but a few. In 2023 they successfully completed the Marlborough District Council Library and Art Gallery - Te Kahu o Waipuna , a 31-month project, on budget and in time for both the Iwi dawn blessing and the public opening date. Robinson Construction won the tender just as Covid was making its presence felt. “We didn’t know what the future would bring but as a public building for the community we thought it would be a good project to hang our hat on and it was a big enough project that it could keep the whole company going including the three subsidiary businesses; precast concrete, painting and scaffolding. We knew we could do a good job and we knew if we got it that it would help if Covid turned really bad,” says Nick. Having those companies as part of the wider Robinson Group meant that despite Covid, they could theoretically minimise the supply-chain hold-ups that caused so much difficulty in the construction industry across the country. Additionally they could be confident of the quality of their products. While Nick believes they won the tender simply on their price point he puts the overall success of the project down to the relationship they soon established with Architects Warren and Mahoney, Project Managers Abel Properties, and their client the Marlborough District Council. “We had some tough discussions at times but everyone was on the same page wanting to get the project across the line for the client and to a high standard. It was right through that Covid time so the client allowed us to order materials like Gib board six months in advance, so we didn’t get slowed down because we were a few sheets short,” says Nick. Built on a historic site in the centre of town, the end result is one of Blenheim’s most iconic contemporary architectural builds. Statistics like its 3600 sq metre floor area and 9.2 metre height, or its description as a two storey community building with concrete floor, precast panels, structural steel columns, beams and stairs, clad in Ravenshield and perforated profiled iron, don’t do justice to the beauty of the end result. The first floor ceiling in particular was a rewarding challenge for the Robinsons’ team. “The architect gave us end drawings with what the shapes needed to look like and we had to be totally accurate to get there. So if PH 03 578 0850 | 47 Grove Road, Blenheim | www.viridianglass.co.nz • Commercial Glazing • Interior Glazing • Balustrades • Glass Pool Fences • Glass Showers & Mirrors • Glass Windows & Doors - Congratulations to Robinson Construction Ltd, It was a pleasure to work together on this project. INTERIORS Robinson Construction is proud to have been the main contractor on the Marlborough Library and Art Gallery project 03 578 0931 admin@robinsons.co.nz www.robinsonconstruction.co.nz

| 11 Tasman: Robinson Construction - Te Kahu o Waipuna Made of laminated American Oak, coated in a clear lacquer, the impressive ceiling is full of pinholes to absorb the noise drifting up from the library. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT you take a step back there’s 38 columns in this build and they all had to be rotated in exactly the right way, so every column got surveyed at least twice, to make sure that our set-out was correct, because it leads on to the first floor ceiling which is designed to mirror the outline of the Wither Hills.” Made of laminated American Oak, coated in a clear lacquer, full of pinholes to absorb the noise drifting up from the library, the ceiling is as functional as it is beautiful. An impressive feature which balances internally the exterior look of the building with a roofline designed to also mirror the peaks of the Wither Hills behind, one of Blenheim’s defining features. The expansive feature windows are covered in aluminium louvres or screens which work to regulate the building’s temperature while reflecting the contours of the hills. High spec insulation, 3-metre high wall tiles of various materials from brass to timber, kilometres of wiring whether for data or power, all were meticulously installed along with all the other necessities of a high-performance public building, with Robinson Construction able to have full confidence in the workmanship of their subcontractors, many of whom were local. It’s a multi-purpose space housing what are two separate entities, the Art Gallery and the District Library, with numerous meeting rooms, a café, staff areas and a purpose-built children’s space overlooking the firestation which provides plenty of entertainment when the kids look up from their books. Opened in April 2023 Te Kahu o Waipuna – or the protective cloak of Waipuna, otherwise known as the Marlborough Library and Art Gallery has been welcoming visitors ever since. Representing Excellence Master Plumbers PLUMBING ROOFING DRAINLAYING GAS SUPPLIER & FITTER 11 Purkiss St, Blenheim 03 578 0060 info@morganplumbing.co.nz morganplumbing.co.nz PROUD TO WORK WITH ROBINSON CONSTRUCTION LTD STRUCTURAL - GENERAL ENGINEERING ELECTRICAL SOLUTIONS Isaac Caldwell - Director / Electrician 021 081 16327 isaac.caldwell@southtechgroup.co.nz | southtechgroup.co.nz Residential - Commercial - Industrial Electrical Automotive & Marine Electrical Heatpumps & Air-Conditioning Security Cameras & Access Control Sytems Solar Design & Install - Residential, Commercial, Industrial

12 | Tasman: Onus Projects T T Hugh de Lacy A wealth of experience behind group Onus Projects offers a range of construction services for residential, multi-residential, industrial, and commercial projects. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Nelson’s Onus Projects has been successfully delivering capital works projects in the top half of the South Island for the last 13 years. Coupled with long careers in project and construction management work, having trade backgrounds has provided the team a superior holistic view in ensuring projects are organised well including the quality assurance throughout the life cycle of a project. Onus Projects was founded by Peter Chisholm who had come up through the industry from a carpentry apprenticeship in the 1980s, followed by overseas experience in site management with firms in the United Kingdom and Canada. “I’ve been in the construction industry all my working life, and that’s given me a wealth of experience to apply to the work Onus Projects does today” Peter says. With his apprenticeship behind him, Peter got into construction site management with Arrow International in Queenstown in 1995. He moved to Nelson in 2008, initially to help for just four months on an Arrow International project there, “but I never left, got some roots down in Nelson, started my own company there after about three years, and have never looked back” he says. He started the company with a partner he later bought out, and it now has a staff of four, including himself. Onus’ first project was overseeing the rebuilding and refurbishment of the old and run-down Mapua Hall near Nelson. This was followed up by multi-story work at the Nelson-Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) in Nelson, experience which put the company on the path of education-related work that continues to be a large part of the business. It’s presently contracted to handle the Project Management for the Ministry of Education at more than 40 schools in the upper South Island alone. Peter’s work has earned him no fewer than three major titles in the New Zealand Institute of Building’s annual awards, winning the Excellence in Construction award twice and the Excellence in Innovation award once. Peter shares his practical background with the two other project managers he has working with him at Onus, Daniel Miller and Carl Fisher. Both of them have gained a wealth of experience both on and off the tools before eventually joining Peter at Onus, while the fourth member of the staff, Clare Van Eeden, also comes from the construction sector, and is in charge of project support and office administration in the company office in Nelson’s Vanguard Street. “Clare makes things tick for us, and she’s the glue that holds the operation together,” Peter says. “Our work involves taking initial ideas, then developing, and coordinating the design process in collaboration with the clients, then managing procurement, delivery and approvals– the whole package from beginning to end. “Daniel, Carl and I are usually in charge of individual projects but on most jobs we share our knowledge and collaborate as required. “We’re focused on the education sector at the moment and will be for the foreseeable future, but we’re always open to other opportunities as they present themselves.” The company’s experience has included a range of construction services for residential, multi-residential, industrial, and commercial projects delivering “high-quality workmanship and exceptional customer service to meet the diverse needs of our clients.” Onus Projects embodies a collaborative client-focused approach. We thrive on assembling great teams to ensure outstanding service and favourable outcomes for not only our clients but for all project participants. Phone: 03 983 5500 waterfordpress.co.nz Your Business, Your Industry, Your News. DO OUR READERS KNOW YOU EXIST? MOUTEKA & NELSON BAYS Proudly suppporting Onus Projects nelsonbays@flooringxtra.co.nz (03) 544 6000 72 Oxford Street, Richmond, Nelson motueka@flooringxtra.co.nz (03) 528 7530 23 Old Wharf Road, Motueka Proudly supporting Onus Projects Quality Integrity Craftsmanship timmillerplumbing.co.nz 0800 PLUMBING merv@timmillerplumbing.co.nz 03 547 4532

| 13 Tasman: Onus Projects Education-related work continues to be a large part of the business for Onus Projects. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Give us a call on 022 082 6233 (Darryl) or 0279491291 (Nicole) www. adbr idgeandsonsbui lders . co.nz Proud to support Onus Projects TM Leading the way in custom joinery for over 25 years. Committed to delivering high quality products & outstanding service. TRENDSKITCHENS .CO.NZ NELSON | BLENHEIM | CHRISTCHURCH | CROMWELL | AUCKLAND

14 | One-stop solution The Smart Alliances team can see projects through from initial design consultation, planning, resource consenting processes, to construction and delivery. Tasman: Smart Alliances T T Sue Russell REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Blenheim multi-disciplinary business Smart Alliances has brought together a group of highly skilled engineers, resource managers, environmental planners and architecture/design personnel under the one roof, with the aim of offering the region a one-stop-shop solution for developers large and small. It’s the variety of projects they take on, given this capability, that sets the business apart from many, as Practice Manager, Debbie Stone explains. “We are a small team with complementary skills and experience. Directors Richard Evans and Derek Wong Nam, Engineer and Architect respectively, lead the team and given the nature of our expertise, we see projects through from initial design consultation, planning, resource consenting processes, to construction and delivery. “It’s great to have this capability with a lot of interaction between colleagues as they work on shared projects.” One benefit for developers taking projects to Smart Alliances is that all the development elements are under the same roof. This provides a seamless, efficient and very cost-effective outcomes, where there is minimal delay beyond what is absolutely necessary. One key service Smart Alliances offers clients is an upfront accurate estimation of all the foreseeable professional costs the project will incur through its various stages. “This is a tremendous help to developers who need the certainty of end to end project costs before committing what can, depending on the project, be quite significant sums of money.” Asked how business has been Debbie says, given the scope of work they get involved with, when one sector is slowing up a little, as is the case with residential work at this time, this is offset by an upturn in commercial work. “We service a large area, including Kaikoura, from Blenheim.” And working in the beautiful Marlborough Sounds comes with its share of challenges as well. “At times there isn’t a lot of space to work on in terms of the site and a lot of engineering goes into projects. “We do structural, civil, and geotech work as well. Everybody that builds needs some form of Geotech done on their site. This is normally our starting point” One main focus for the directors and the team at Smart Alliances is a work/life balance and team culture, something Debbie says is aided by the fact that this is locally owned and operated company. “We can make in house . We very much steer our own ship and have ownership of our projects to the benefit of our clients.” Weekly meetings with the leadership team and mid-level managers keeps projects ticking along well and all key staff aware of projects are at. Debbie describes the way projects are managed as a bit of a jigsaw puzzle, given the array of disciplines that come together to see projects through well. Community engagement is also a priority. An example is Smart Alliances funding and coordination of a portacom given to the charity ‘Foster Hope’, to use as their base. “We thought this work was tremendously important to the community and the team in the organisation have real compassion for the cause so helping in this tangible way was very rewarding for us.” Adventure Racing in Kaikoura is another cause, along with such worthwhile charities as Riding for the Disabled and the Westpac Chopper just to name a few “In the directors we have very supportive leaders who understand we all have commitments and lives outside work.” Debbie says the key reason Smart Alliances has garnered such a strong reputation is that they genuinely want to offer clients the very best possible outcome at a reasonable cost. “We know this matters, given the nature of many of the projects we take on. We’re all very loyal to this wonderful region we live and work in and the clients we work with.” “We do structural, civil, and geotech work as well. Everybody that builds needs some form of Geotech done on their site. This is normally our starting point” Smart Alliances is the ideal choice for anyone looking to build a home in the Kaikoura region. With their expertise in engineering, architecture, and resource management, they have the knowledge and skills to bring your vision to life . , , ,

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