GIVEN THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO, HAVE YOU FELT A REDUCTION IN AVAILABLE WORK?

Name: Matthew Lee – Director 

Mairehau House Ltd 

Staff: 2 

Location: Christchurch 

I’ve been building for over 60 years, so I’ve seen a few different economic conditions! The most recent recession was nowhere near the economic conditions we had in the late 1970s. Back then, developers would build houses then sell them for 20% less than it cost to build! 

This year was still hard though – we still built houses and sold them at cost, just to keep the business turning over and cashflow liquid. All the building I do now, it’s only for my personal development. I’m nearing the end of my career and it’s nice to do something for yourself. 

I don’t build like a normal person – I build old school, with my ideas and designs. For example, after the earthquake I got some work designing and building a few new medical centres, which was good work to get.  

Name: Hunter Pearce – Director 

Luxmore Construction 

Staff: 2 

Location: Te Anau 

We’ve been lucky in the Southland that we’ve been pretty insulated from any economic downturn. Nothing really changes for us, the work just keeps turning up. I don’t advertise or anything, I just keep doing what I do. 

I don’t think many people realise, but there’s actually a lot of money flowing around and there’s really, really good jobs available. For example, I’m working on an 18-month house project at the moment – which is ironic because I tend to stay away from houses if I can as the margins are too tight. 

We’re also doing a bit of work with Downers at the moment and that’s been good. This region is a little funny because you get people from out of town coming here to build a bach or holiday home, but they’ll bring a builder with them! Luckily for us, the locals keep us in plenty of work. 

Name: Greg Woodward – Director 

Woodward Building 

Staff: 2 

Location: Invercargill 

If anything, there’s too much work and I’m having to give bits away! I’ve never really advertised, which goes to show how much work there has been.  

Before I was a builder, I sheered sheep for 15 years and I had planned to go back to that, but I’ve had too much work on to put down the tools! Right now, I’m working on a new build, two-storey home and that’s got me tied up as there’s only two of us working on it. Historically we’ve worked on a lot of residential jobs, as well as farm sheds, which has been a good income stream for me. 

We’ve been working on that house build for a year now, and there’s been a few delays. But they haven’t been council related, so we can’t even blame them! 

I’d say in general builders in Invercargill are positive about the economic outlook, but there’ll always be small periods when things go a bit quiet.