132 | BUILDING Braden Manera Building T T Hugh de Lacy Braden’s team ‘busy as’ on the Coast There is plenty of buidling activity underway on the West Coast. There’s been little evidence of the economic downturn in the West Coast South Island construction industry, with Hokitika-based Braden Manera Building “busy as,” owner Braden Manera says. The three-man team has two houses on the go at Lake Kaniere, expected to be finished by the end of the year, and then they’ll be back home to start on another new-home build in Hokitika. “The recession hasn’t really shown up on the Coast, and we’re ridiculously busy at the moment and would love to have a couple of extra trade-qualified staff if we could find them,” Braden says. “We’ve had a staff of up to five but anyone leaving is hard to replace and we’re down to two tradesmen, myself included, and an apprentice.” And where other regions round the country are feeling the pinch from potential clients keeping their money in their pockets while awaiting the expected fall in interest rates, the West Coast is booming. “A lot of it has to do with the strength of the dairy industry, especially Westland Milk here in Hokitika, but in particular we’re seeing a lot of interest in new mining projects on the Coast, and that’s offering well-paid jobs to people moving here from elsewhere and being able to afford to build a new home,” he says. “It’s also helped by the fact that section prices here are lower than most other places, typically between $150,000 and $300,000, with most of them being about $200,000. “The Coast has also become a retirement destination for a lot of people from around the country, and this has added to the strength of our local market.” Braden’s a Ross local who started his carpentry apprenticeship in nearby Hokitika before moving over the Christchurch after a couple of years, and coming out of his time in 2013 while working there for Zayne Kerr Builders. He stayed on with that firm for several more years before heading home and launching his own company. Typical of qualified tradesman going out on their own, Braden started out subcontracting for another local builder while picking up small jobs for himself on the side. His first major job up on his own account was the upgrade of the upstairs accommodation for Hokitika’s Stumpers bar, café and restaurant. He followed this up by hiring his first staff member and taking on his first new residential build there. He’d like his business to grow bigger but he’s seen no sign yet of builders laid off around the country during the recession heading to the West Coast for work – and he’s got plenty of it available if they did. “The Coast used to be the forgotten part of New Zealand with little investment in the residential market, but that’s changed over the past few years as people begin to realise we’ve got a beautiful lifestyle down here, and it’s a marvelous place to live and retire. “There’s no sign of those trends fading so we’re looking forward to continuing strong demand for our services.” ANDY’S PAINT & DECORATING Town & Country • Interior & Exterior A/H: 302 6992 | Mobile: 0274 354 646 www.andyspaintinganddecorating.co.nz PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH BRADEN MANERA BUILDING 027 4310 461 OR 03 755 8448 admin@henryadams.co.nz McMullan ITM, 18 Kaniere Road, Hokitika 03 755 8519 | office@mcmullanitm.co.nz We’re proud to support Braden Manera Building From high spec jobs to pole sheds, farm supplies, tools, hardware and more. Contact us for all your building requirements.
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