Volume 35 | Issue 6 | September 2026 www.waterfordpress.co.nz Gateway to space... The wide-open skies of the Mackenzie Country are seeing Glentanner Airport play a key role in New Zealand’s burgeoning aerospace industry. Page 06
2 | Contents 52| Investment boost Season’s Best is expanding its Ashburton vegetable processing facility. 69| Loving trees Easy Big Trees is one of New Zealand’s largest growers and distributors of quality trees and shrubs. 76| Cutting edge Active Refrigeration is playing a major part in decarbonising primary industries with its heat pump technology. 69 76 52 #businesssouth #yourstory www.waterfordpress.co.nz GCH Aviation ��������������������������������� 03 Aluume ������������������������������������������� 04 Glentanner Airport ����������������������� 06 Noble PM ��������������������������������������� 08 Hillmorton Hospital ���������������������� 10 Cottonsoft �������������������������������������� 14 Badboy Graphix ���������������������������� 15 Grey District Council ��������������������� 16 WSP New Zealand ������������������������� 18 Ecogas NZ �������������������������������������� 20 Marine Flex ������������������������������������ 22 Cawthron Institute - C.W. Mussels � 23 Alaron Products ���������������������������� 24 Apollo Projects ������������������������������ 26 RDA Consulting ����������������������������� 27 Cromwell Memorial Hall �������������� 28 Clutha District Council ������������������ 30 Bike It Now ������������������������������������� 33 Clutha Vets ������������������������������������� 34 ElectroNet Group �������������������������� 36 Geotago ������������������������������������������ 37 Tall Poppy Central Otago ������������� 38 Lakeside Stainless ������������������������� 40 David Reid Homes Queenstown � 41 Brownie Construction ������������������ 42 Winton Group �������������������������������� 44 Carter Group ��������������������������������� 46 G.J. Gardner Canterbury North ��� 49 Tru-Line Civil ���������������������������������� 50 Cornershop Investments ���������������� 51 Season’s Best ������������������������������������ 52 Spy Valley Wines ������������������������������ 58 Mt Difficulty Wines ��������������������������� 59 Cloudy Bay Vineyards ���������������������� 60 Te Whare Rā Wines �������������������������� 61 Springfield Quarry ��������������������������� 62 Oceana Gold ������������������������������������� 63 Atlas Trailers ������������������������������������� 64 Atér ���������������������������������������������������� 65 Attika ������������������������������������������������� 66 First Windows & Doors �������������������� 67 Kelford Engineering Services ���������� 68 Easy Big Trees ����������������������������������� 69 Leech Drainage �������������������������������� 70 Laser Plumbing Oamaru ����������������� 70 H2Flow ���������������������������������������������� 72 Discount Drainage ��������������������������� 74 MHR Drainage ���������������������������������� 75 Active Refrigeration ������������������������� 76 Ranger Drilling Supplies ������������������ 78 Freeman Roofing Dunedin ������������� 78 Woodbury Plumbing ���������������������� 80 Shipleys ��������������������������������������������� 81 Manor Property Services ���������������� 82 Dirt Trailbuilding ������������������������������ 83 ArcAtelier ������������������������������������������ 84 Bob Burnett Architecture ���������������� 84 Warren & Mahoney ������������������������� 86 OUR PARTNERS: T&C’s: These conditions are prescribed for the sake of understanding between the Waterford Press Ltd and its clients. 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| 3 GCH Aviation REGIONAL T TKelly Deeks GCH still reaching for the sky GCH Aviation is continuing to grow demand across tourism, corporate experiences, and specialist aviation work. “We’ve grown enormously over the years, but we’ve always stayed focused on safety, quality, and taking pride in looking after our communities.” More than four decades after becoming Christchurch’s first commercial helicopter operator, GCH Aviation is continuing to grow demand across tourism, corporate experiences, and specialist aviation work, reinforcing its position as one of New Zealand’s leading privately owned aviation groups. Marketing manager, Caroline Blanchfield, says the family-owned business has developed from a single helicopter operating from New Brighton Beach in 1983 into a nationwide aviation operation offering helicopter and fixed-wing services across New Zealand. Founded by John Currie, GCH Aviation now operates from bases in Christchurch, Kaikōura, Greymouth, Nelson, and Wellington, delivering scenic flights, commercial helicopter services, pilot training, rescue helicopter operations, the New Zealand Flying Doctor Service, along with a purpose-built private jet centre and a private jet charter service. The Christchurch headquarters also includes an engineering facility, where aircraft maintenance is completed in-house, supporting the strict safety standards that underpin every part of the operation. “We’ve grown enormously over the years, but we’ve always stayed focused on safety, quality, and taking pride in looking after our communities,” Caroline says. Those values were on display at a recent open day, which drew 10,000 visitors to the Grays Road base as part of celebrations marking more than 40 years of aviation in Canterbury. Tourism remains at the centre of the business, with scenic helicopter flights offering passengers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Christchurch, Banks Peninsula, Akaroa, the Southern Alps, and wider South Island landscapes from above. Caroline says the experience is about perspective as much as travel. “People often tell us they have lived here for decades, but have never seen their city like this before. The moment you lift off and see it from above, it completely changes how you understand it.” That bucket list appeal is also driving strong corporate demand, with businesses using helicopter flights for staff incentives, conferences, client hosting, winery lunches, golf days, and luxury lodge transfers. Groups from two people up to 30 can be catered for using multiple aircraft across the fleet, with tailored itineraries designed around memorable experiences rather than standard transport. “Businesses are still looking for meaningful ways to reward their people. A helicopter flight is something many have always wanted to do. It is not just an outing – it is something they remember for life,” says Caroline. The company also delivers helicopter flight training from Christchurch, giving aspiring pilots access to experienced instructors and purpose-built facilities. Commercial aviation remains a major part of the operation, with helicopters supporting lifting, inspections, surveying, firefighting, and vineyard and orchard work across demanding terrain. Caroline says the pilot team is central to the customer experience. “Our pilots know these regions intimately. They are not just moving people from A to B. They are telling the story of Banks Peninsula, the geology of the Canterbury Plains, and the landscapes that make this part of the world so unique.” Safety remains absolute, with pilots holding final authority on whether conditions are suitable to fly. “If it’s not safe, we simply do not fly. That has never changed.” While Covid 19 brought one of the most difficult periods in the company’s history, rescue helicopter operations and theNew Zealand Flying Doctor Service continued throughout, ensuring essential services remained in place. As tourism continues to recover, and demand across commercial and corporate aviation remains strong, GCH Aviation is focused on delivering the kind of bucket list experiences that show New Zealand from a perspective most people never forget.
4 | REGIONAL Aluume: Frankton Floating Sauna Every project starts with an idea. Then comes the design. Then the delivery. Kinetic Electrical – Design. Build. Deliver. sales.qt@kinetic-electric.co.nz (03) 441 4150 www.kinetic-electric.co.nz Kinetic Electrical is proud to be delivering the electrical installation for The Aluume Thermae floating sauna at Frankton Marina. From concept through to completion, we work alongside clients, designers, and contractors to bring innovative projects to life. Our capabilities include in-house switchboard design and manufacturing, electrical design, installation, commissioning, and ongoing support—allowing us to deliver seamless, end-to-end solutions. Whether it's a commercial development, industrial facility, rural operation, or specialist project, our experienced team combines technical expertise with practical problem-solving to deliver quality outcomes, on time and on budget. Rance Winter rance@kinetic-electric.co.nz Jandre van Niekerk jandre@kinetic-electric.co.nz M A N U F A C T U R E R S G U A R A N T E E 15 YEAR Ph: 027 840 0022 www.tkplastering.co.nz · Industrial & Commercial Electricians · Instrumentation · Automation & Control · Irrigation Specialists RURAL INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL E-mail: matt@oprltd.co.nz Matt Taylor - Director Cell: 027 626 4978 T TKim Bowden A ‘cool experience’ coming to QTown Located on a custom pontoon about 120m from shore, Thermae complex will let guests move between steam, sauna and icy lake plunges. Less than a year after opening Bathe in central Queenstown, Aluume is preparing to launch its next venture, Thermae, a floating sauna on Lake Wakatipu. Located on a custom pontoon about 120 metres from shore, the complex will let guests move between steam, sauna and icy lake plunges, with mountains all around, and they will have the choice of two communal saunas or a private sauna for exclusive hire, alongside a steam room. Forget the pale timber look often associated with Scandinavian saunas – these interiors will be dark, moody and contemporary. Back on land, two marina sheds will serve as reception and changing facilities. Aluume general manager, Jay Errington, says the idea taps into a global surge of interest in sauna and cold immersion, but with a distinctly Queenstown twist. Jay describes it as “an age-old tradition”, with solid scientific backing for its health benefits alongside a “cool experience”. “We’re going to frame it in a really cool contemporary way, and we’re going to give it the best backdrop you could probably put it in, in New Zealand,” he says. “The Remarkables are going to be the backdrop to everyone’s sauna.” Cold plunge options will vary by booking type. Private sauna guests will have access to a hole cut through the pontoon floor, giving them exclusive, direct entry into the lake. Those using the communal saunas will use a retrofitted boat berth within the marina – a dedicated cold-plunge zone fitted with stairs, handrails, lighting and safety equipment. Jay describes it as less like open-water swimming and more like a controlled immersion: guests can hold onto bars if they don’t want to float off, or “just jump straight in – get that real sort of shock therapy when you hit that cold water”. Construction is underway, with the pontoon already in place and the build tracking towards a spring opening. “We’ve had quite a lot of international attention around it,” Jay says. “Once it’s actually built, it sits on the flight path into Queenstown and in quite an iconic spot on the lake.” The floating sauna is the next step in Aluume’s growing wellness offering. It follows the opening in November last year of Bathe by Aluume on Brecon Street, tucked beneath Bob’s Peak and the Queenstown gondola. Jay says Bathe brings an outdoor hot pool experience into central Queenstown. “You don’t need to jump on a shuttle to go out of town,” he says. “You’ve still got a corridor of views down to Coronet Peak and through to The Remarkables.” Mature pine trees were retained where possible, and materials chosen to complement the landscape. “We were working with the site as opposed to being against it,” says Jay. The magnesium-enriched pools have found a niche market among trampers, mountain bikers and skiers looking to recover after an active day outdoors. Jay says Bathe offers visitors somewhere to slow down amid the bustle of Queenstown. “Whether it’s winter or summer, Queenstown is a busy place to be. We’re a central location where you can just stop, press reset, and take it in while the town buzzes below you.”
| 5 Aluume: Frankton Floating Sauna REGIONAL ^U[C=ɺ= [ 8jCR7 U[ *>8 UUɺɺɨɺ R UUɺɨɺ COO Rɺɨɺ 8^=*>*^=ɺɨɺU[ 8 JOHN PARK MANAGING DIRECTOR 021 039 0219 john@gratiatiling.com Bathe by Aluume on Brecon Street brings an outdoor hot pool experience into central Queenstown, is tucked beneath Bob’s Peak and the Queenstown gondola.
6 | REGIONAL Glentanner Airport Fulton Hogan are proud to be associated with Glentanner Airport Fulton Hogan are specialists in road maintenance and construction, sealing and paving, earthworks, drainage, highways, subdivisions and civil construction solutions across the region. www.fultonhogan.com 03 687 4500 Meadows Road, Washdyke, Timaru 7910 Timaru New Homes & Buildings • Home Renovations • Carpentry Projects • Community Initiatives Proud to be associated with Glentanner Airport 0800 922 823 admin@hcclimited.co.nz highcountrycarpentry.com 1 Gall Street, Fairlie, South Canterbury T TAlexia Anderson Gateway to scenery and beyond... Glentanner Airport is a gateway to some of New Zealand’s most stunning scenery. For 60-plus years, Glentanner Airport has been connecting visitors with the Mackenzie Country district, while also supporting tourism, aviation and regional growth. Owned and operated by Ross and Helen Ivey, the airport started life in the 1960s with a grass airstrip that served Glentanner Station for agricultural purposes, including topdressing and rabbit control. It has since evolved to include scenic flights, helicopter tourism, recreational flying, pilot training and aerospace testing. The airport’s combination of open airspace, modern infrastructure and central South Island location continues to attract a diverse mix of aviation users. A turning point came in 1985 when Newmans Group developed the airport’s 1080-metre sealed runway to assist with the establishment of a regional tourism airline, linking Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch, Glentanner and Queenstown. Commercial airline operations later stopped, but the airport remained a valuable asset to the community, where it continued to attract a wide range of operators. Today, Glentanner Airport is a gateway to some of New Zealand’s most stunning scenery, with scenic flight operators showcasing the area’s landscape to thousands of visitors each year. Ross says the airport has some long-standing partnerships that remain strong today. “Glentanner is very proud of our business association with The Helicopter Line and Whirlwide Helicopters over the 50-year period. The Helicopter Line is Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading helicopter company, operating with a fleet of modern Airbus helicopters specifically configured for flying in and around our outstanding national parks, glaciers, mountains, lakes and valleys.” The Helicopter Line now flies around 20,000 scenic passengers annually from Glentanner, and has invested significantly in hangars, staff accommodation and a fleet of modern Airbus helicopters, creating employment while strengthening the region’s tourism offerings. Those visitors also provide important flowon benefits for accommodation providers,
| 7 Glentanner Airport REGIONAL Aoraki Mount Cook & Glaciers 'Grand Traverse' scenic flights & charter flights from Glentanner Park - all year around. PH 03 6806 880 www.airsafaris.co.nz Locally owned & operated since 1970 ONCE IN A LIFETIME HELICOPTER EXPERIENCES. helicopter.co.nz Christchurch-based company Dawn Aerospace has been testing its unmanned Aurora spaceplane at Glentanner Airport. “Our goal is to be an exemplar in offering a premium tourism experience, with an understanding that the cornerstone of the Glentanner Airport business is environmental care.” hospitality businesses and visitor attractions throughout the Mackenzie District. The airport’s continued success has helped encourage visitors to stay longer and explore more of the area, ultimately creating value well beyond the airfield itself. Air Safaris is also pivotal to the airport’s success, operating scenic flights from Glentanner, while supporting airport operations behind the scenes. More recently, Glentanner has attracted international attention through Christchurchbased company, Dawn Aerospace, which has been testing its unmanned Aurora spaceplane from the airport. The location offers unique advantages, including wide-open airspace, a privately managed airfield and the scenic backdrop of Aoraki/Mount Cook, while also showcasing the region on a global stage. For users from tourism operators and recreational pilots to aerospace innovators, Glentanner has become a flexible base that supports both established industries and emerging technologies. Today, the airport continues to welcome recreational pilots, military training exercises and charter operators, while also supporting pilot training. Together, these diverse aviation activities make Glentanner Airport an important player in the wider Mackenzie tourism economy. By supporting commercial operators, recreational aviation, aerospace innovation and visitor experiences, the airport complements other regional businesses while benefiting both the Aoraki/Mount Cook area and the wider South Island. Looking ahead, there are further opportunities across tourism, aerospace technology, pilot training and regional aviation. However, those opportunities come with challenges, including rising operating costs, compliance requirements, and the effects of climate change on alpine environments. “Our goal is to be an exemplar in offering a premium tourism experience, with an understanding that the cornerstone of the Glentanner Airport business is environmental care,” Ross says. That commitment extends beyond the airport itself through conservation initiatives across Glentanner Group properties, including protecting native landscapes and maintaining the area as “wilding free”, ensuring the environment that has attracted visitors for generations continues to do so in the future.
8 | REGIONAL Noble PM - Capstone Hotels: The Alfred We have your all of your pool & spa needs covered • Pool & Spa Maintenance • Pool & Spa Valeting • Premium Custom built and pre-moulded fibreglass pools • Premium spa pools • Pool fencing 03 579 6300 office@marlboroughpools.co.nz www.marlboroughpools.co.nz 66 Grove Road, Mayfield, Blenheim Proudly associated with NOBLE PM and CAPSTONE HOTELS Trusted electrical solutions for homes and businesses 03 579 4445 | www.cmelectrical.co.nz POWERING MARLBOROUGH SINCE 2001 T TKim Newth Five-star Blenheim hotel on track The 123-room hotel, comprising a mix of standard and luxury rooms, will be linked via a skybridge with the Alfred Taylor Centre. A new six-storey, five-star hotel under construction in central Blenheim is already igniting a lot of interest from corporate groups and others planning to visit Marlborough from late 2027. That’s when the new hotel — The Alfred — is due to open its doors for the first time. The 123-room hotel, comprising a mix of standard and luxury rooms, will be linked via a skybridge with the Alfred Taylor Centre and its riverside facilities, including Wine + Food Experience Marlborough, sophisticated tasting rooms, a restaurant, bar and gym. The Alfred will also link up with the Marlborough Events Centre to provide exclusive corporate opportunities, with growing synergies also with the nearby Whitehaven Theatre Marlborough, (formerly the ASB Theatre). Together, it adds up to a compelling combination. The Alfred is poised to provide a grand hotel experience, with guests arriving at a large glass atrium before taking escalators or lifts to the level above, where the hotel’s front of house will be located. Advance bookings for rooms at The Alfred are providing an early indication of likely future demand. “Even through we’re not close to being finished, we’ve already got 4,500 nights booked,” says Andy Noble, director and owner-operator of Noble PM Ltd. “This is the biggest construction project in Blenheim for over a decade, so people are pretty excited about the impact it will have. Up until now, there has been very limited hotel space in the area and nothing else at this scale. Companies holding conferences, drawn to Marlborough because of its vineyards, now have a viable conference option where all their guests will soon be able to stay in one place.” Noble is an investor in the new hotel and is also delivering project management and quantity surveying services to the project. “Developer Chris Thornley first approached us back in 2024, soon after he decided to buy the old Clubs of Marlborough building. The council-owned site next door was also for sale. The caveat was that it could only have a hotel built on it. Everything grew from there. “We’ve been managing it all from the start, including design coordination, budgets and the initial feasibility study. We managed the tender process and are currently overseeing construction,” says Andy. The project has involved extensive ground improvement for earthquake resilience, in the form of 600 12-metre deep stone columns across the hotel site. A six-metre deep sheet pile retaining wall has also been installed. Local suppliers have been used as much as possible. Brosnan Construction, a nationwide builder with a strong presence in Blenheim, was appointed to build the new hotel. Noble is providing full construction project management, including fortnightly meetings and processing/ oversight of changes and variations as they arise. Building work has been made easier thanks to the Marlborough District Council providing parking space for the project team to use, cordoned off from an existing council-owned car park. “The local Council team has been amazing to work with.” Capstone Hotel Management will operate The Alfred.
| 9 Noble PM - Capstone Hotels - The Alfred REGIONAL • Building Setout • G.P.S & Topographical Surveys • All Land Surveying Matters • Resource Management • Supply Survey Information Including Plans & Titles • UAV (Drone) Services, Mapping & Photography REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL SURVEYORS Land Development Consultants & Resource Management Planners 03 578 7984 | 181 High St, P.O. Box 380, Blenheim office@gilberthaymes.co.nz | www.gilberthaymes.co.nz AFTER HOURS Philip Morton 021 431 190 Proud to be associated with Noble PM and Capstone Hotels 0800 ALLWIN www.allwinfacade.co.nz enquiries@allwinfacade.co.nz Solutions provider of engineered architectural envelopes Proudly supporting Noble PM & Capstone Hotels PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY AND PROPERTY FIRE PROTECTION / IQP INSPECTIONS / BUILDING WOF / Nelson: 03 548 2640 office@ffpnelson.co.nz ffpnelson.co.nz Earlier this year, Capstone Hotel Management merged with Marsden Group to create New Zealand’s largest locally owned hotel management platform, with over 40 properties nationwide. Andy and Julia Noble are the husband and wife business powerhouse behind Noble. They share an open and approachable business ethos, with success founded on their flair for relationship building. The company employs a skilled team of nine, out of Queenstown and Nelson. “We’re not only project managers but also quantity surveyors. “Most of the projects we oversee are in the commercial sector, which includes high end residential, industrial, educational and aged care projects. We’re excited to be leading The Alfred as our first ever hotel project.” The project has involved extensive ground improvement for earthquake resilience, in the form of 600 12-metre deep stone columns across the hotel site.
10 | REGIONAL Hillmorton Hospital: Adult Acute Facility 10a Vulcan Place | Middleton | Christchurch | New Zealand www.farrellconstruction.co.nz Proudly supporting Hillmorton Hospital Phone: +64 3 374 3266 Email: contact@farrells.co.nz T T Kelly Deeks Team overcome project challenges “When we looked at the size of the building, the number of people we would need onsite and the deadline we had to achieve, building it entirely in the traditional way just wasn’t going to work.” T T to page 12 Finding a way to deliver one of Canterbury’s largest health infrastructure projects on time without overwhelming the construction site or stretching available resources was one of the biggest challenges facing the team behind Hillmorton Hospital’s new Adult Acute Facility. Less than two years later, that challenge has become one of the project’s biggest success stories, with work progressing ahead of programme and the facility on track for completion at the end of 2027. Naylor Love is delivering the new 80-bed mental health facility as part of the long-term redevelopment of the Hillmorton campus, a project that will replace ageing infrastructure with purpose-built facilities designed to better support patients and clinical staff. But before construction could begin in earnest, the team needed to rethink how a project of this scale could be delivered within an ambitious time frame. Senior project manager Grant Molloy says the answer came from looking beyond traditional construction methods. “Offsite construction was really about necessity,” Grant says. “When we looked at the size of the building, the number of people we would need onsite and the deadline we had to achieve, building it entirely in the traditional way just wasn’t going to work.” Working backwards from the required completion date allowed the project team to identify where the greatest risks lay and where efficiencies could be gained. That planning ultimately led to a partnership with Christchurch-based prefabrication specialist VIP Frames and Trusses in Bromley, a company Naylor Love already knew for its structural steel work, but which also had growing expertise in offsite manufacturing. “They really bought into what we were advocating for,” Grant says. “They also had their own transport capability, which is a critical part of the process. There is no point building a huge structure in a factory if you can’t get it safely to site.” Together the companies developed a modular system using single bay pods incorporating ceiling cassettes, roof trusses, and structural diaphragms. While the modules were manufactured offsite, construction crews continued preparing the Hillmorton site, allowing multiple stages of the project to progress simultaneously. The results have been significant. Over nine months, 144 prefabricated pods were manufactured, transported, and installed. Instead of constructing every element piece by piece onsite, the completed sections were craned directly into position, allowing follow on trades to begin work immediately.
| 11 CREATING SPECIALISED ENVIRONMENTS ken@onsitesolutions.co.nz onsitesolutions.co.nz 021 453 265 LET'S BRINGYOUR NEXT PROJECT TO LIFE. DESIGN FABRICATE INSTALL ROOFING&CLADDING FREEZERSANDCOOLROOMS FLASHINGS & ARCHITECTURALMETALWORK COMMERCIAL FACADES LOUVRES Onsite Solutions Onsite Solutions is leveraging a major roofing and cladding package on the Hillmorton Hospital Adult Acute Facility to cement its South Island presence and accelerate national growth, in this key project delivered alongside main contractor Naylor Love. Director Ken Wilson says the work represents a turning point for the business, giving it the scale and complexity needed to support its expansion strategy beyond Auckland. Onsite Solutions is installing the roof system and cladding package on the facility, including Kingspan insulated panels, within a highly coordinated build environment driven by prefabricated structural modules. Ken says the project has required a shift in approach compared with standard commercial builds, with much of the structure manufactured off site and delivered in completed sections ready for installation. “Normally we would measure on site once the structure is up, but in this case everything had to be measured from shop drawings with a high degree of accuracy,” he says. “There has been a lot of coordination between our team and the design team because once the materials were ordered, there was no room for change.” The roof system covers 10000sqm and features a steep pitch designed to align with earlier stages of the wider hospital development. It also marks one of Onsite Solution’s first large scale uses of Kingspan panels manufactured in Christchurch, following the establishment of local production. Ken says the experience has been valuable for the team, particularly in refining early stage coordination using in house AutoCAD and BIM modelling to ensure precision before installation begins on site. Onsite Solutions’ long standing relationship with Naylor Love has been central to securing the work and supporting its expansion into the South Island, where the company is now building a consistent pipeline of activity. The business, which has operated for more than 15 years and employs more than 45 staff, has traditionally been Auckland-based but is now deliberately diversifying into regional markets as Auckland construction conditions remain subdued. A key part of that shift has been the deployment of experienced site manager Damien Kent, whose tier one contractor background has strengthened on-site delivery and lifted overall project coordination. Having senior leadership embedded on site has helped align subcontractor delivery with main contractor expectations at a higher standard. With further work already secured in the region, including the upcoming Woolworths Faringdon project with Naylor Love, Onsite Solutions is preparing to increase its South Island workforce as its pipeline continues to build. Ken says the Hillmorton project is now proving the growth strategy, giving the company a platform to compete in larger, more technically complex projects nationwide. ken@onsitesolutions.co.nz Hillmorton Hospital: Adult Acute Facility REGIONAL Naylor Love is delivering the new 80-bed mental health facility as part of the long-term redevelopment of the Hillmorton campus.
12 | REGIONAL Hillmorton Hospital: Adult Acute Facility If you’re looking at upgrading your security or installing a new system, speak to the team that not only brings over 30 year’s experience, but truly cares for their customers. We’re proud to have supported Hillmorton Hospital We offer a range of security options. For your security CALL 03 466 3030 Y O U R C O M P L E T E B U I L D I N G C O M P A N Y C O N S T R U C T I O N P A S S I V E F I R E D E C O R A T I N G Your Complete Building Company LICENSED BUILDING PRACTITIONER Rana Hammond MANAGING DIRECTOR Cell: 021 400 655 Email: rana@restructconstruction.co.nz Overcoming project challenges The new Adult Acute Facility spans around 10,000sqm and will provide 80 inpatient beds alongside administration offices, clinical practice rooms, and extensive mechanical and electrical services. T T from page 10 “The speed of offsite construction has been one of the biggest advantages,” Grant says. “It has saved thousands of hours onsite and allowed us to concentrate on the work that needs to happen onsite.” The approach has also delivered important safety benefits. With much of the structural work completed in a controlled factory environment, the project has required considerably fewer temporary works and reduced the amount of work undertaken at height. The scale of the project makes those efficiencies particularly valuable. The new Adult Acute Facility spans around 10,000sqm and will provide 80 inpatient beds alongside administration offices, clinical practice rooms, and extensive mechanical and electrical services. Grant describes it as being “buildings within a building” because of the complexity of the spaces and services required to support modern mental health care. Before construction reached that point, however, the site required months of preparation. Naylor Love took possession of the site early last year before completing extensive demolition and ground remediation, removing ageing buildings that had long outlived their usefulness before foundation work began. Today the project has moved into its internal fit out, with specialist services, finishes and healthcare infrastructure now being installed. Despite the scale and complexity of the development, Grant says remaining on the original programme is one of the team’s proudest achievements. “Large commercial projects often experience delays because there are so many moving parts,” he says. “Our role is to identify the risks early, manage them and solve problems before they become bigger issues. “We’ve been able to stay on programme while delivering something that is genuinely different.” The redevelopment forms part of Health New Zealand’s wider investment in the Hillmorton campus, which is expected to continue over the next 10 to 15 years as older facilities are progressively replaced. The facility represents an important step in modernising mental health services in Canterbury, providing facilities that better support patients during periods of acute need, and improve the overall continuum of care. For Grant, the project’s greatest legacy may extend well beyond Hillmorton itself. “We’ve shown what can be achieved when everyone is prepared to think differently,” he says. “If we can identify these opportunities early and bring the right people together, this approach can become part of how we deliver major projects into the future.” Rana Hammond MANAGING DIRECTOR Cell: 021 400 655 Email: rana@restructconstruction.co.nz ACCREDITED PASSIVE INSTALLERS / LICENSED FBL APPLICATORS
When it comes to creating safer environments for some of the most vulnerable people in the community, every detail matters. That philosophy is driving Kingsway Group’s contribution to Christchurch’s new Hillmorton Hospital development, where the international specialist in anti-ligature solutions is supplying critical door systems designed to reduce risk and improve patient safety. Kingsway Group head of sales ANZ Jordan Cross says the Hillmorton project represents a significant milestone for the company in New Zealand, following previous work with Te Whatu Ora on mental health facilities including Waikato Hospital. “The scale of Hillmorton makes it a flagship project for us,” he says. “It has been about understanding what Te Whatu Ora’s anti-ligature requirements are, what solutions they were looking for, and working with them to come up with the right approach.” Kingsway Group’s involvement began about two years ago as part of its wider relationship with Te Whatu Ora, supporting safer mental health environments across the country. The company is supplying about 200 doors for the Hillmorton development, including approximately 80 bedroom doors fitted with anti-ligature technology. The systems alert staff if pressure is applied to the top of a door, providing an early warning if an attempt is made to attach a ligature. The doors also feature anti-attack vision panels, tri-laminate hardwood core, and specially designed hinges with no gaps, creating robust systems that prioritise safety and durability. Jordan says one of the key challenges in mental health construction projects is ensuring all components work together effectively. “Traditionally, you might buy a hinge from one supplier and a door from another, then try to put everything together on site,” he says. “That approach can introduce installation complexity and doesn’t necessarily result in a full integrated anti-ligature solution.” Kingsway Group provides a complete system, with products manufactured and tested together before installation. Its project managers work alongside contractors on site to oversee installation and ensure the systems perform as intended. “We don’t just want to be a supplier of doors and walk away,” Jordan says. “We’re there from the start of a project right through to the end, and for every project after that. If something goes wrong, we rectify it because at the end of the day, it is about people’s lives.” Established in the United Kingdom, Kingsway Group has become a major provider of anti-ligature solutions, working with more than 85 percent of National Health Service mental health trusts and delivering more than 10,000 projects globally. The company expanded into Australia and New Zealand in 2021, bringing its specialist knowledge of mental health environments to a growing local market. Its innovations are developed through real world customer feedback, including the KALM Co Produced Washroom Range, which was created over two years in collaboration with lived experience experts in the UK. The design process has been recognised by the Design in Mental Health network and the Building Better Healthcare Awards for creating safer washroom environments without compromising dignity or therapeutic design. Jordan says innovation remains central to Kingsway Group’s ongoing work. “We are always looking at how we can make things safer and more effective,” he says. “Mental health environments are changing, and we need to continue developing solutions that support both patients and staff.” With projects like Hillmorton Hospital, Kingsway Group continues to work alongside healthcare providers to deliver safer, more therapeutic environments across Australia and New Zealand. All About The Detail
14 | REGIONAL Cottonsoft Visit our Web Site WWW.ATTWOODS.CO.NZ 17 William Lewis Drive, Sockburn. Email salesch@attwoods.co.nz Huge efficiencies with new Christchurch plant The Christchurch operation is more than twice the size of the Dunedin factory. T T Karen Phelps Cottonsoft has reinforced its long-term commitment to the South Island with the opening of a major new Christchurch manufacturing facility following the launch of an adjoining warehouse last year. The 10,000sqm site replaces what had previously been a complex network of multiple South Island locations and allows the business to both produce and store products from a single location. “The opening of the facility shows our ongoing commitment to New Zealand and the South Island,” says Cottonsoft country manager Kim Calvert. “It will reduce our transport emissions significantly because, instead of supplying the South Island from Dunedin and Auckland, we can now manufacture everything required for the South Island right here in Christchurch.” The investment follows rapid business growth. Since the Christchurch project was approved in 2022 Cottonsoft’s South Island business has grown by almost 60 per cent, placing increasing pressure on its Dunedin operation, which had been running around the clock. At the heart of the factory is a 50-metre-long, 190-tonne Italian-built Giotto rewinder capable of converting tissue at speeds of 700 metres per minute. The highly automated production line embosses, perforates, winds and cuts toilet tissue before passing products through advanced wrapping, bundling and robotic palletising systems. The entire line is operated by just four people with production settings able to be adjusted while the machinery is running. “It’s a gamechanger,” says Kim. “The new line enables us to manufacture much larger volumes far more quickly producing everything the South Island requires within the South Island. It also reduces truck miles across the island by almost 80 per cent reducing transport emissions as we are now located much closer to our key customers.” The Christchurch operation is more than twice the size of the Dunedin factory and will eventually replace manufacturing there with some experienced team relocating from both Dunedin and Auckland to help establish the new site. Around 30 people now work at the Christchurch operation across manufacturing, warehousing, engineering and safety and quality roles contributing to a team of around 230 nationally. Envision Eighty20 were the project managers. “They were working for the building owner and did a great job. Their project management capability was first class, so we also got them to project manage a lot of the preparations for us in the building preparation phase.” Sustainability has remained central to the company’s growth. It is a founding member of New Zealand’s soft plastics recycling scheme and holds certifications including PEFC sustainable forestry certification, Eco Choice Aotearoa, SEDEX and other recognised product, environmental and quality accreditations. “Our investment in Christchurch demonstrates that we believe in local manufacturing, local jobs and supplying New Zealand customers as efficiently and sustainably as possible. It positions us well for the future supporting Cottonsoft’s continued growth across the South Island.” Founded in Dunedin in 1988 Cottonsoft has grown into one of New Zealand’s leading tissue manufacturers producing well-known consumer brands including CottonSofts, Paseo, KiwiSoft, Tuffy, EarthSmart, Cute & Co and Livi. It also manufactures private-label products for major retailers. Its range includes toilet tissue, kitchen towels, facial tissues, wipes, nappies and commercial hygiene products.
| 15 REGIONAL T T Kim Newth Bold rebranding a sign of success West Coast signage specialist Badboy Graphix’s rebranding was recognised with a silver award at the 2026 Sign Display Awards of Excellence. Badboy Graphix A sharp rebranding to top off 10 years in business has paved the way to award-winning success for West Coast signage specialist Badboy Graphix. The rebranding was recently recognised with a silver award at the 2026 Sign Display Awards of Excellence. Badboy Graphix also collected a bronze award for self-promotion and received an official plaque recognising their accreditation as a Master Sign Maker. “It has been quite a special moment for our whole team,” says Damian Hands, who founded Badboy Graphix with partner Lucy in 2015. “We’ve been a finalist before, but never won an award. We’ve been congratulated by so many people – it’s awesome.” The company’s new logo pays homage to the rebellious look of their old one, while introducing some sharp new edges and bright colours. The versatile new logo is a real stand out, and now has pride of place on their van, business cards, website, hats and staff uniform, promotional tote bags and stickers. “It’s definitely working well for us,” says Damian. “Just the other day, for example, I was parked up in downtown Greymouth when a motorist pulled over just to say how amazing the van looked.” Competing in the inaugural West Coast Pie of the Year challenge also presented a unique opportunity for Badboy Graphix to promote their brand. Their special gourmet pie creation was a finalist in the competition, which featured on Breakfast Live. Along with the awards success, Badboy Graphix is proud to have received their accreditation as a Master Sign Maker. This is a recognised mark in New Zealand’s sign industry that gives customers confidence and helps them identify businesses they can trust. Damian originally started Badboy Graphix after being fired from a previous signage job. “That’s where the name came from – you’ve got to have a sense of humour!” Equipped with a wooden screen-printing machine made by his father, Damian began screen printing T-shirts. Then he bought a vinyl cutter and started making signs. Initially, his base of operations was a bedroom, then a purpose-built workshop at Damian and Lucy’s property. “We lasted two years there before we outgrew it completely. Then, six years ago, we moved to our current building, much closer to Greymouth. Once we were here, our work exploded.” Today, Badboy Graphix is a sought-after specialist in signwriting, screen printing and graphic design. Working with Damian and Lucy are Damian’s sister Emma, two experienced signwriters and an apprentice. From design to installation, Badboy Graphix provides tailored solutions throughout the West Coast, from Greymouth and Hokitika to Westport, Karamea and Haast. Bringing together experience, quality materials and proven processes, they produce signage that stands out and stands the test of time. Their tailored services include vehicle graphics and signage, sign fabrication, window tinting and frosting, screen printing, digital printing, installation and maintenance. There have been many uniquely memorable projects for the team through the years, with flow-on benefits for local businesses wanting to make a lasting impression. “Design is what I love – bringing a client’s vision to life and seeing how happy they are with the finished product and seeing them succeed because their brand looks so good.” NOW AVAILABLE AT WWW.BADBOYGRAPHIX.CO.NZ Your wardrobes best mate since ‘89.
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