Volume 35 | Issue 7 | October 2026 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Welcome to Nelson... As gateway to the wider region, Nelson Airport is playing a key role in driving the region’s visitor and tourism economy .... Page 06
2 | Contents 08| Major milestone Queenstown’s iconic tourist attraction Kiwi Park is celebrating 40 years of conservation 32| All aboard in Otago Dunedin Railway Station is anticipating a busy summer on its Taieri Gorge train. 116| Raising the bar A new retirement living option is about to open its doors in Christchurch’s northern suburbs. 32 116 08 #businesssouth #yourstory www.waterfordpress.co.nz Aerial Academy ����������������������������������������03 Nelson Airport ������������������������������������������06 Kiwi Park ����������������������������������������������������08 Vortex Engineering ����������������������������������10 Direct Logictics �����������������������������������������12 Enztec ��������������������������������������������������������13 Wakatipu Transport Alliance ������������������14 Westland Mineral Sands �������������������������17 Vetta Group ����������������������������������������������18 Subtle Shuttels �����������������������������������������20 Ashburton Aviation Museum �����������������20 Watts & Hughes Constructrion ��������������22 Cohesive Construction ���������������������������25 Andrew Simms Dunedin �������������������������26 Dunedin Kia ���������������������������������������������29 Other Places ��������������������������������������������30 Mitre 10 MEGA Dunedin �������������������������31 Dunedin Railway Station �������������������������32 Maguire Engineering �������������������������������34 JWEngineering ������������������������������������������36 HEB Construction �������������������������������������37 Apex Water �����������������������������������������������38 Fulton Hogan Central Otago �������������������39 Folding Hill Wines �������������������������������������40 Earthworks Central ����������������������������������41 Planz Consultants ������������������������������������42 Terra Firma Engineering �������������������������44 Landform Projects �����������������������������������45 Thomas Bros Orchards ���������������������������46 Isaac Construction Nelson ����������������������47 DC Structures Studio �������������������������������48 Bed Rock Queenstown ����������������������������49 Nelson Forest Managers �������������������������50 Tasman Pine Forests �������������������������������51 Awarua Synergy ���������������������������������������52 AR Earthworks ������������������������������������������53 Airtech NZ �������������������������������������������������54 ATR Refrigeration ������������������������������������55 Erskine Earthworks ����������������������������������56 Heaps Landscaping ����������������������������������56 Profile Roofing Marlborough ������������������57 Plunket Electrical Oamaru ����������������������58 Sangster Electrical ������������������������������������61 GMR Foundations ������������������������������������62 Master Foundations ��������������������������������63 Williams Hoist & Haul ����������������������������64 Lanark ��������������������������������������������������������65 The Tool Shed - Timaru ���������������������������66 KB Contractors �����������������������������������������67 Lake McKay �����������������������������������������������68 HWH Properties ���������������������������������������69 RCL Group �������������������������������������������������70 Oakville Estates ����������������������������������������72 Woodlands Estate ������������������������������������73 McConnell Property ���������������������������������74 WFT Property ��������������������������������������������77 South Projects ������������������������������������������78 Lime Developments: ��������������������������������78 Nest Corp ��������������������������������������������������80 Beachside Sumner �����������������������������������81 Anna-Marie Chin Architects ��������������������82 Bull O’Sullivan Architecture ��������������������82 Birch & Pyne Architecture �����������������������83 Hallmark Homes ��������������������������������������84 Gibson Builders ����������������������������������������86 You Build ���������������������������������������������������89 Bayview Construction ������������������������������90 G.j. 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| 3 T TVirginia Wright Christchurch academy taking off Aerial Academy is New Zealand’s largest aerial fitness studio. Aerial Academy REGIONAL T T to page 4 With the enticing tag line ‘Come and Fly’, Christchurch’s purpose-built Aerial Academy is taking off in Riccarton. It’s New Zealand’s largest aerial fitness studio, and home to aerial hoop/lyra, aerial silks, hammock, trapeze and more, with extra studios available for yoga, dance and Pilates, and a wide variety of classes for all age groups. “We’re an aerial arts facility so we teach aerial acrobatics to any ages, kids, teens and adults,” says co-owner Lydia Donaldson. An expert in vertical apparatus such as silks and rope, Lydia owned the former studio, They then had to ensure it was structurally sound enough to take what can be 10 times someone’s body weight when they drop through the air, Lydia says. “We’ve got 60 rigging points in the ceiling of our facility, so the building had to be structurally sound enough to withstand 10 times a person’s body weight times 60. It’s more than everything I dreamed of,” says Lydia, who met Nicola when she taught her aerial silks at her former studio. “The idea was for Nicola and I to collaborate and create a bigger space with things like air- conditioning and heating, which mine didn’t have. Priority Projects Commercial • Residential • Fit Outs Design Build Proud to manage this prestigious project from concept to completion priorityprojects.co.nz 0274 888 305 steve.brownie@priorityprojects.co.nz “Every single time I tell people what I do they say ‘I’ve always wanted to try that’, so we’ve made it easy for people to try something that was just for circus acrobats.” Aerial 3, before joining forces with Nicola Riddell to create an environment where pupils can come as close to flying as they are ever likely to get. Nicola’s extensive training with leading international aerial artists perfectly complements Lydia’s skills, and between them they teach a wide variety of aerial skills in this environment designed to keep people safe while making it easy for everyone to challenge themselves and have fun doing it. Every inch of their facility has been purpose-built with circus, aerials and movement practice in mind. To practise circus and aerial arts, you need a high ceiling and it was finding a former sports facility that made the Aerial Academy build possible.
4 | Academy flying high in Chch Aerial Academy currently has 14 teachers offering 40 classes, with more to come. T T from page 3 Aerial Academy REGIONAL 03 343-5061 | 027 433 9450 Residential expertise offering a total package including lighting design “Affordable Excel lence” COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL • STRUCTURAL STEELWORK • ARCHITECTURALMETALWORK • CERTIFIEDWELDING ben@colemanstructural.co.nz ARCHITECTURAL & STRUCTURAL FABRICATION COLEMAN STRUCTURAL S O S L U T I O N “It snowballed into us creating this huge facility with four studios where you can run multiple classes at the same time, which means there’s room for the business to grow.” Studio 1 doubles as a theatre for Aerial Academy’s own shows and for others needing its highly specialised facilities. With acoustic panels, theatre lights and curtains, and retractable seating, it can be transformed into a performance space with 205 seats that come out of the wall at the push of a button. Studio 2 is a similar size to Studio 1, with one wall mirrored to 7.8 metres, almost as high as the rigging points, and designed to allow people to see what they are doing when they are practising. Studio 3 is smaller and set up as more of a dance studio with a sprung wooden floor. “It’s ideal for dance, and especially for people practising more complex aerials,” says Lydia. With15 rigging points, floor lights and ceiling spots, it’s easy to create an ambience and ideal for hosting events. A group of women have already enjoyed learning how to do aerials in a charity event for Dress for Less successfully run by Miss Canterbury New Zealand. Studio 4 has similar dimensions to Studio 3, complete with the mirror wall, but is intended more for use by instructors that want to practise for their classes, do their own training, or have private clients. Aerial Academy currently has 14 teachers offering 40 classes, with more to come. Of the 150 members who quickly signed up, 80 of them are children and they and their parents are well catered for. Comfortable seating in a lounge area in front of a huge window allows parents to look straight into Studio 1 and see what their children are learning. It’s an obvious activity for the school holidays and Aerial Academy runs all sorts of aerial classes and fun games involving mats and trapezes and swinging around the room on harnesses made from the aerial silks. “We make it a try-out space with give-it-a-go classes for an hour or two as well as half-day workshops where you can drop the kids off and go to work or whatever. The kids have an absolute ball. I’m planning heaps more classes in term four which will be listed on the timetable online,” says Lydia. The other 70 members are adults, who range from 18 to 70 years old covering a huge spectrum, Lydia says. “Retired, adult, students, predominantly female, but male and non-binary as well. We’ve got an upstairs loft and next to that a Pilates studio with eight state-of-the-art Reformer Pilates machines that are connected to screens. “It’s a 24/7 on-demand studio so members can scan their phone to get in whether it’s 2am or 2pm, click on the screen and do the class of their choice.” Lydia is studio manager, Nicola general manager, and they are both aerialists or aerial coaches. As Lydia says: “Literally, every single time I tell people what I do they say ‘I’ve always wanted to try that’, so we’ve made it easy for people to try something that was just for circus acrobats. “Now it’s an accessible sport, which is super fun to do and you’re getting fit and flexible at the same time. It’s amazing for your mental health too, so it’s an all-round positive.” Trusted electricians serving the greater Canterbury, and further. Proudly Supporting Aerial Academy 0800 ZAPTEK (0800 927 835) joe@zaptek.co.nz Contact Us Suppliers and Installers of all Sound Systems for the Aerial Academy.
| 5 Aerial Academy runs all sorts of aerial classes and fun games involving mats and trapezes and swinging around the room on harnesses made from the aerial silks. Aerial Academy REGIONAL INTUMESCENT COATINGS We specialise in intumescent coatings Nationwide service Quality, compliance and long-lasting protection Liam@scpaint.co.nz www.straightcutintumescent.nz DANIEL ASPLIN 027 534 0878 | o ice@daybrospainters.co.nz daybrospainters.co.nz 0800 768 848 www.southtile.co.nz Supplier & installers of insulation Proudly supporting Aerial Academy Concrete Cutting Christchurch & Canterbury With a full range of petrol and electric tools, 20 + experienced Concrete Cutters, Tradesmen we are capable of any task big or small throughout the South Island. We're not just about saws and drills were about building long term relationships with the people who rely on us. Core Drilling Concrete Cutting Wire Saw Wall Saw Ground Saw Concrete Scanning Controlled Demolition Hydro Excavation Excavation Concrete Repair Structural Grouting Floor Levelling Screeding Sealant Works Proudly Supporting Aerial Academy 03 349 6684 www.knockoutconcrete.co.nz
6 | T TKim Newth Unlocking opportunity in Nelson-Tasman Nelson Airport chief executive Brendan Cook: “This is great recognition for our wonderful team and their hard work.” Nelson Airport REGIONAL PROUD TO SUPPORT NELSON AIRPORT LTD 14 McGlashen Ave, Richmond PO Box 25, Mapua info@envirolink.co.nz www.envirolink.co.nz • Freshwater Management • Inundation Assessment • Flood Modelling •Water Quality Monitoring •Three Waters Engineering •Contaminated Land Assessment www.eckford.co.nz 1 Auckland Street, Blenheim . Phone: 03 578 3002 STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING: Steel Fabrication · House Beams Galvanised Brick Lintels · Winery Catwalks and Platforms Nelson Airport’s lead role in actively enabling regional growth, backed by a future-focused vision, has won recognition at this year’s Nelson Pine Industries Chamber of Commerce Business Awards with the airport team honoured to receive the Large Business Award. The annual awards celebrate and showcase business success, innovation and creativity. Nelson Airport was praised for its vision and impact, as well as its focus on customer experience, sustainability and long-term resilience. The judges observed that a strong internal culture and genuine commitment to community contribution also added to the airport standing out as ‘a regional asset confidently shaping what comes next’. “This is great recognition for our wonderful team and their hard work,” says Nelson Airport chief executive Brendan Cook. “We’re really passionate about serving our community and representing our community in the terminal and in all things we do, and we’re passionate about connecting Nelson Tasman domestically and to the world.” Nelson Airport – the busiest regional airport in Aotearoa – is tipped to contribute around $2.5 billion to regional GDP over the coming decade. On top of the airport’s own team, hundreds of people are on-site every day, from airline engineers and mechanics to local business operators. As the gateway to Te Tāuihu, the airport is of vital importance to the visitor and tourism economy. With a bold and sustainable award-winning design, the terminal building expresses a strong regional identity that travellers love. Two months ago, the airport installed ‘always on’ survey technology, inviting customer feedback. “What can happen when you invite feedback like this is it risks becoming a dumping ground for complaints, but instead the complete opposite has happened here – the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Brendan. A striking new addition in the terminal this year is a 22-metre-long airborne waka, suspended above the arrivals and departures hall. Delivered in partnership with Ngā Iwi o Te Tauihu, the waka functions as a tomokanga – or gateway – into the region, and honours the stories and identity of Te Tauihu. “It has been very well received by the community, not just the travelling public, but also school and community groups doing special tours and visits,” Brendan says. The Nelson Airport arrivals and departures experience will be further enhanced this December when a new 140m covered walkway opens, linking the terminal to southern aircraft parking stands. Designed to boost passenger comfort and reduce emissions, it includes nearly 200 roof-mounted solar panels for on-site clean energy generation. The new walkway will feature local art and photography on its walls to showcase the region. With its location by Tasman Bay, Nelson Airport is very conscious of climate change and the potential for more frequent flooding and storm surge events in future. The airport has a multi-year, multi-million- dollar programme of stormwater resilience improvements underway to update ageing infrastructure and accommodate future growth and development. “We’re doing the work needed to ensure the region has a resilient and reliable airport facility into the future,” Brendan says. Events like January’s Walk the Runway, which raised $10,700 for Blood Cancer NZ, along with various sponsorships and charitable support, further highlight the airport’s deep commitment to the region and local community.
| 7 Nelson Airport – the busiest regional airport in Aotearoa – is tipped to contribute around $2.5 billion to regional GDP over the coming decade. Nelson Airport REGIONAL Serious sites that hit the heights. hothouse.co.nz
8 | T TKim Bowden Park marks 40 years of conservation Kiwi Park is now part of wider breed-and-release programmes through the Zoo and Aquarium Association and the Department of Conservation. “We’ve been here for 40 years. We’ve planted over 50,000 trees here. It’s a pretty special little oasis.” Kiwi Park REGIONAL Richard Wilson’s grandfather was a Queenstown mechanic who didn’t have an answer when a customer asked where they could see a kiwi – but the question gave him an idea. In 1984, he secured eight acres of wasteland below the Skyline Gondola and set about turning it into what would become Kiwi Park. Four decades and three generations later, the family business is celebrating its 40th anniversary, with more than 50,000 trees established across the site and a conservation programme that reaches well beyond its famous kiwi. Getting the park off the ground was no small job. Richard says the site was Queenstown’s unofficial rubbish dump, with his grandparents, father and aunty pitching in to clear “all the car bodies and blackberry and broom”. It was Richard’s grandfather that found the natural spring at the heart of the property – water welling up from beneath Ben Lomond – and diverted it through the park, building aviaries over the top so the birds would have spring-fed water year-round. Planting came next. Richard’s grandmother put in 15,000 trees in those early years, and the family has continued planting ever since. The park opened in 1986. Richard’s parents ran it for close to 30 years before he took over as general manager as the business emerged from the Covid‑19 pandemic. While kiwi remain the star attraction, Kiwi Park is now part of wider breed-and-release programmes through the Zoo and Aquarium Association and the Department of Conservation. Whio, yellow-crowned kākāriki and pāteke are among the other taonga species nurtured at the park. Richard says the next step is to “bolster our local ecosystem with our birds”, bringing more of the park’s release work back to the South Island and working with partner organisations such as Southern Lakes Sanctuary, which is working on takahē rehoming in the Rees Valley. For a bit of fun to celebrate the 40th milestone, the park is also building a ‘Kiwi car’, a quirky custom vehicle in the spirit of the old Red Bull promotional cars. The car is being built by Wellington company, Human Dynamo, and is due back in Queenstown for summer. “It will be an absolute neck snapper,” Richard says. “Everyone will notice it. You will not be able to drive past it without recognising it.” International visitors account for the majority of Kiwi Park’s business, but Richard says, “We definitely look after our locals”, with the park regularly hosting school groups and locals’ days. It recently ran a fundraising day for local child, Dylan, and his family, who are going through a difficult time with cancer. The business has also recently been accredited with Qualmark Gold status, which Richard says showcases “how well the team’s doing and how well the business is doing with all the back-end stuff as well”. A major redevelopment of the park’s guest services building is underway, aimed at smoother ticketing, less queuing and crowding, and an improved visitor experience. For Richard, though, the biggest achievement remains what his family has created on those eight acres which were once written off as a dump. With Queenstown continuing to face pressure for land, he is adamant Kiwi Park is there for the long term. “We’ve been here for 40 years. We’ve planted over 50,000 trees here. It’s a pretty special little oasis,” he says. “You watch this place over the next 40 years, with lots of birds that we’ll be able to breed.”
| 9 International visitors account for the majority of Kiwi Park’s business. Kiwi Park REGIONAL See our disclosure information on our website | findex.co.nz 40 years of conservation, backed by good advice. Congratulations to Kiwi Birdlife Park on 40 years of conservation and wildlife education. We’re proud to support the business behind the mission, helping it thrive for the next 40. If you’re looking for the right advice to support your business growth, LUXURY NZ MADE KNITWEAR 77 Adams Drive, Pukekohe www.lothlorian.co.nz 40 Years of Protecting Paradise Huge congratulations to the team at Kiwi Birdlife Park for 40 incredible years of protecting New Zealand’s native wildlife and educating visitors from around the world! We’re proud to support their mission through our signature Possum & Merino knitwear. Exceptionally light and luxuriously warm, every piece crafted helps control an introduced predator—giving our native forests and birds room to thrive.
10 | T T Kim Newth Global impact with clean air solutions Christchurch-based Vortex Engineering is a leading specialist in providing custom-designed solutions for air pollution control, including dust, fume and off-gas control, as well as material handling, improving plant efficiency, keeping workers safe and protecting the environment. “We work with our engineering partners around the world, designing air pollution control systems for them, which we manufacture in New Zealand and then export to site.” Vortex Engineering REGIONAL Contact us for all your industrial valve needs sales@valvesolutions.co.nz Industrial processes sometimes produce unwanted dust, fumes and emissions that need to be carefully controlled. Christchurch-based Vortex Engineering is a leading specialist in providing custom-designed solutions for air pollution control, including dust, fume and off-gas control, as well as material handling, improving plant efficiency, keeping workers safe and protecting the environment. Since starting in 1988, Vortex Engineering has grown considerably. Several specialist companies now operate under the Vortex Engineering Group, sharing the same dedication to providing world leading air pollution control, water management and renewable energy solutions. The group includes two specialist manufacturers in Christchurch — Taurus Engineering and Taylors Manufacturing. The group also has a strong presence in Australia, operating as Fowlerex. With facilities in New Zealand and Australia, Vortex Engineering Group is equipped to provide bespoke solutions across both countries and internationally. Across the Vortex Engineering Group, skilled teams support safe and compliant operations across a range of industries including mining and mineral processing, chemical manufacturing and processing, agricultural and food production, and manufacturing, recycling and material handling, as well as delivering bespoke solutions for specialist facilities. Having up-to-date, tailored solutions for controlling dust, fumes and emissions is highly beneficial for many industrial operations. “Some processes simply won’t work without proper fume and dust extraction,” says Group Sales Manager Richard Pigou, an air pollution control specialist at Vortex Engineering Group. “Having that in place is fundamental to ensuring smooth, efficient processing. It’s also vital for health and safety as you can’t have people working in an environment where they’re being exposed to dust, or toxic or carcinogenic chemicals. In order to comply with requirements not to discharge harmful emissions or substances into the air or waterways, you also need to have the right equipment in place to stop that happening.” Vortex Group is having a growing global impact for the better, for example in mining and mineral processing operations, particularly in Australia and Africa. “We work with our engineering partners around the world, designing air pollution control systems for them, which we manufacture in New Zealand and then export to site,” says Richard, whose father Doug, founder of Vortex, continues to guide the group’s ongoing evolution, working regularly on both sides of the Tasman. “We’re currently working on two quite similar uranium mining projects in Australia and Namibia, both involving a high temperature process called calcining that releases chemicals that need to be collected to ensure gases like sulphur dioxide and ammonia are not released. We design scrubbers, baghouses, air-filtration and extraction systems tailored to each particular plant. These are robust, low maintenance systems that strip out any unwanted fumes, vapours and emissions so they are not discharged to the atmosphere.” Melting used in gold ore processing also produces smoke and fumes that need to be captured, retained and controlled. “The benefits of that go wider than health and safety or environmental compliance too as there is gold in the fumes that can also be recovered.” Whether it’s new installations or existing systems, Vortex supports industry needs for maintenance and repairs of air pollution control equipment. Vortex can advise on best options from repair to retrofit or replacement to ensure systems will continue to operate safely and efficiently into the future.
NEW ZEALAND +64 (7) 839 6444 | sales@spraynozzle.co.nz | spraynozzle.co.nz Experts in Spraying, Tank Cleaning, Washdown, Air Blowing & Spray Dry Nozzles New Zealand’s Trusted Industrial Spray Solutions Provider for Over 30 Years Industrial Food & Beverage Mining Petrochemical Fire Protection Good spray technology is easy to overlook, until it isn't working. For more than 30 years, Spray Nozzle Engineering has been New Zealand's leading supplier to the food, beverage and dairy sectors, providing high-quality nozzles, washdown guns, CIP tank cleaning heads, hose reels, foamers and sanitisers to businesses that can't a ord downtime. A reputation that recently brought Vortex Engineering to our door seeking our technical expertise on a nozzle application to help bring their project to life. It's a pattern we see often, and we're proud of the breadth of what we do, with our products reaching businesses across nearly every industry and application in New Zealand, from mining sites and processing plants to dairy factories and meat works, each with its own exacting demands. In mining and mineral processing, where dust suppression is essential under demanding conditions, our BETE spray nozzles deliver engineered solutions built for the environment, with misting, fogging, full-cone and spiral nozzles targeting crushers, conveyors and transfer points as well as stockpiles, haul roads and drilling operations to control airborne dust and reduce its generation at the source. The same BETE range extends into gas scrubbing and treatment, where precisely engineered spray patterns and droplet sizes maximise liquid-to-gas contact for e ective scrubbing, cooling and quenching, available in materials suited to hazardous areas for dependable, long-term performance. Closer to the processing oor, our range of CIP tank washers can clean small IBCs spotlessly every time, whether they contain honey, powders or uids, using less water than standard spray balls or competitor products, and are manufactured in the USA to a high nish standard that helps reduce the risk of pathogen harbourage. We also carry one of the widest ranges of washdown guns on the New Zealand market, from standard RB-style guns with an integrated swivel design, through to the heavy-duty, long-lasting Strahman M-70 range, ergonomically designed to reduce wrist fatigue and suit any user, up to the ultimate Hydro-Pro 150, typically found in specialised applications or meat works where heavy-duty reliability is paramount. On the drying side, Spray Nozzle Engineering develops patented spray-dry products under the Click&Dry brand for the dairy industry and exports these technologies globally, with innovations spanning safer sealing and check-valve technology to a unique wear-parts design, all aimed at making spray drying more e cient, safer and cleaner. And for compressed air applications, Silvent's range of blow guns, Swedish-designed to meet occupational health and safety requirements, runs quieter and safer than conventional options, as anyone who has been through a noise audit knows, the di erence a quieter environment can make is real, while Silvent's unique approach retains the power needed and adds safety features not typically found elsewhere, such as eliminating dead-ending and incorporating dead-man switches. It's this combination, deep technical know-how, a genuinely wide product range, and a willingness to get hands-on with a customer's speci c problem, that has kept Spray Nozzle Engineering at the centre of New Zealand's spraying, washdown and tank-cleaning industry for three decades, and counting. Spray Nozzle Engineering Ltd
12 | Warehousing expansion drives rapid growth Direct Logistics T T Karen Phelps “We combine storage, product handling, transport and technology to provide tailored supply chain solutions.” REGIONAL Proudly supporting New & Used Pallet Racking Systems | Compliance & Consents Repairs & Maintenance | Dismantles & Buy Back of Used Racking www.aucklandracking.co.nz info@aucklandracking.co.nz Rapid growth in warehousing is helping Christchurch-based Direct Logistics strengthen its position as one of New Zealand’s agile third-party logistics (3PL) providers. Now approaching its fifth year of operation, the company manages six warehouses in Christchurch and has recently expanded its Auckland presence by moving into a larger facility. It employs more than 100 people, reflecting the pace of growth since it was established in December 2021. Managing Director Nathan Scott says the expansion is “an exciting achievement” for a business that began with just one warehouse, four staff and a single metro truck. “We are your experts in 3PL warehousing and metro freight,” says Nathan. “We combine storage, product handling, transport and technology to provide tailored supply chain solutions.” Direct Logistics works across a range of sectors, including FMCG, e-commerce, retail, healthcare, manufacturing and construction. Its construction operations can include direct delivery to building sites using crane trucks and additional labour for manual unloading. Its services include picking and packing, product customisation, freight and courier distribution, container transport and dedicated fleet services. Its own trucks and carrier partnerships connect its facilities with business and consumer customers, and integrated systems provide visibility over the storage and movement of goods. The total space across seven warehouses is 42,000sqm with pallet capacity for 66,000 pallets of which 33,000 is racked capacity. Nathan says that Direct Logistics has warehousing space available for both pallet-racked and bulk storage, with the flexibility to accommodate customers requiring additional capacity, including seasonal overflow during peak periods. It offers specialised capabilities for whiteware and other cartonised products and also has a risk management programme in place for export dairy products, adding another specialised capability to its warehousing operation. “We have invested in specialist equipment to meet our customers’ demands. For example, our forklifts can be fitted with a carton clamp attachment designed to handle appliances and other cartonised goods safely,” says Nathan. The company’s ability to handle different types of products is a key part of its approach and includes palletised goods, food, beverage, dairy products, whiteware, electronics, e-commerce products, building materials and other non-standard goods requiring specialised handling. Direct Logistics has also placed strong emphasis on technology, streamlined processes and an adaptable approach, allowing it to respond quickly as customers’ supply chain requirements change. That willingness to take on more complex logistics requirements has been central to Direct Logistics’ development. Its founders brought extensive industry experience to the business, with Nathan having 20 years’ experience in logistics management, including as general manager of warehousing for one of New Zealand’s largest third-party warehousing providers. Nathan says the company’s success can be attributed to its focus on a great team culture, customer-focused approach and ability to provide comprehensive logistics solutions. “We are a service industry, and if you can’t provide that service, it’s hard to keep customers. We pride ourselves on going that extra mile.” As demand continues to grow, he says the company is positioning its expanding warehouse network and broader logistics capabilities to support businesses looking for reliable storage, handling and transport without unnecessary complexity. “We are an experienced, dynamic team that offers tailor-made innovative solutions to any logistics problems our customers might face. Our goal is to provide the best service possible at the best cost.” Managing director Nathan Scott - Direct Logistics works across a range of sectors, including FMCG, e-commerce, retail, healthcare, manufacturing and construction.
| 13 T T Virginia Wright Hitting the sweet spot The Christchurch Enztec team - specialises in orthopaedic surgical instrument manufacturing. Enztec REGIONAL Proudly supporting Enztec 1 Tanner St, Woolston www.contex.co.nz 03 389 9296 tleonard@contex.co.nz NZ’S SPECIALIST PROVIDER OF: • CNC Machining • High Precision Engineering • Prototyping • Manufacturing PROUDLY SUPPORTING ENZTEC 03 348 2631 51 Falsgrave Street, Waltham, Christchurch www.contour-engineering.com From healthcare to agriculture, we produce high-value, quality critical products across a variety of industries. New Zealand’s Largest Precision Manufacturer Get In Touch Today www.accord.co.nz +64 (09) 577 0004 sales@accord.co.nz The New Zealand owned and operated company, Enztec, that specialises in orthopaedic surgical instrument manufacturing, has really hit its stride over the last eight years with the enviable figure of a 400% increase in revenue over that time. Thirty years ago Enztec was founded by a surgeon and an engineer looking to solve some of the surgeon’s problems and believing that other surgeons would be equally interested in having those problems solved. They were right and the company grew. Over the years it stabilised a position in the market as a contract manufacturer for multi-billion-dollar global MedTech companies making all the tools used by orthopaedic surgeons. Eight years ago, Enztec made a strategic decision to go back to their roots rather than competing in a contract manufacturing market always looking for the cheapest option. “It’s difficult as a New Zealand manufacturer to be competitive in that space so we decided to focus on solving complex problems and do it in a way that made people want our product because it’s both the best performing and the most desirable in terms of its feel and function,” says CEO Iain McMillan. He has worked with Enztec for 22 years on top of the six years he spent completing his PhD in Mechanical Engineering specialising in spinal implants. Instead of waiting for the next job to come along, Enztec successfully created their own range of products which they market to customers globally. Their growth is exponential: this year is on track to be up 71% on last year which was already 23% up on the year before. “Eight years ago, we were a company of 23 people. Today we’re a team of 115. “We’ve tripled the size of our facility and we’re nearly ready to triple it again,” says Iain. It’s a testament to Enztec’s capability and the investment they’ve made in their people and in the quality of the products they supply to orthopaedic implant companies while keeping both the patients and the bigger picture of health systems in mind. “These days the ways to replace a hip or a knee continually evolves. Our job is to stay hyper current with what we’re creating to enable surgeons to do the best possible job of putting in that joint which can positively influence the outcome of the patient’s return to sport or active life,” says Iain. Surgeons need to prepare a cavity or socket ready to take a new hip, for example, and Enztec have designed a product to achieve that which they believe outperforms their competitors in three key ways, Iain says. “Everyone needs to create a cavity to take the hip implant, but our instrument lasts longer before it wears out and breaks; it’s easier to clean which is really important for health and hygiene obviously; and it’s easier to assemble and disassemble in theatre, so all of that makes for a better user experience. “More importantly if something goes into a theatre anywhere in the world and you can take a minute off each step of the procedure you might be able to treat another patient today, which reduces the pressure on the health system and helps keep costs down while making it easier, simpler and more efficient for the surgical team.” That they’re hitting a sweet spot in the global market is not an accident. Enztec actively pursues clinical insights from surgeons worldwide to feed into their design of products ensuring they are as user friendly as they are functional: that surgeons will instinctively respond to because of the quality of both their design and their manufacture. They sell these tightly machined, finely calibrated components to surgeons, distributors, small companies and global multi-billion-dollar companies. When, manufacturing team is overloaded with an influx of work they rely on other skilled manufacturers in Christchurch, Auckland and Dunedin to help meet demand.
14 | T T Karen Phelps QT arterial project overcomes challenges The project is QLDC’s largest-ever public infrastructure project and forms part of the Queenstown Town Centre Masterplan. Wakatipu Transport Alliance REGIONAL 2014 LIMITED 0800DRILLER KEVIN KILKELLY 027 432 3119 kev.kilkelly@xtra.co.nz PO BOX 95, OMAKAU. 9352 • CORE DRILLING • FLOOR SAWING • WALL SAWING • CONCRETE GRINDING • WIRE SAWING • DECORATIVE CUTTING • SOFF SAW CUTTING • CONCRETE EXPANSION CUTTING Earthmoving specialists Locally owned & operated earthmoving company in the Queenstown lakes district. We take pride in all our work & strive to exceed your expectations. 027 513 2520 htcontractingqueenstown@gmail.com McNeilly Heavy Haulage are proud to support Wakatipu Transport Alliance 027 489 3794 mark@mcneillyhh.co.nz www.mcneillyhh.co.nz A $98.77 million project that has transformed Queenstown’s transport network has been named a finalist in the 2026 Civil Contractors New Zealand Construction Awards. Queenstown Arterial Road Stage 1 was named a finalist in Category 4 — Projects with a Value of Between $20 Million and $100 Million — recognising a project that tackled major engineering, logistical, environmental and cultural challenges in one of New Zealand’s most constrained urban environments. Delivered for Queenstown Lakes District Council by the Kā Huanui a Tāhuna Alliance, the project created a new arterial route above Queenstown’s CBD, linking Melbourne Street with Henry Street and providing an alternative to the State Highway through the town centre. For Alliance Manager Oliver Snyder the recognition reflects the complexity of delivering major infrastructure as the team worked within an established and highly sensitive urban environment. “The project brought together a huge range of challenges in a very small footprint,” says Oliver. “We were working on a steep, geologically complex hillside immediately above the CBD, alongside heritage buildings, apartments, a school, hotels and a nationally significant river system.” The project is QLDC’s largest-ever public infrastructure project and forms part of the Queenstown Town Centre Masterplan. Design began in April 2021, construction started in July that year and physical works were completed on 30 June 2025. The need for the project had been recognised for decades with Queenstown’s single State Highway corridor struggling to accommodate the rapid growth in residents and visitors. Stage 1 provides an alternative route around the town centre improving access to Arthurs Point and supporting the long-term expansion and revitalisation of the CBD. Its $98.77 million value places it close to the upper limit of the awards category but it was the technical complexity behind that investment that presented the Alliance with some of its biggest challenges. Within a corridor just 1.1km long the project involved more than 30km of new pipes and ducts, extensive three-waters infrastructure, power and fibre networks and 895m of retaining walls reaching up to 8.5m high. The retaining structures incorporated 240 piles, 270 precast concrete panels manufactured in Christchurch and transported to Queenstown and 328 tie-back anchors with a combined anchor length of 3.9km. “The retaining walls were a major undertaking in themselves,” says Oliver. “The tolerance for error was essentially zero because the piles and panels had to align precisely on a steep hillside.” The logistics of transporting the 270 precast panels to the constrained Queenstown site were managed over a 26-month programme without a single health and safety incident. T T to page 16
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