www.nrc.govt.nz
Number of pages: 02
Date: 06 October, 2008
Final Two Shortlisted For Events Centre Build
Two firms are to compete for the right to design and build a proposed $16 million multi-purpose regional events centre
at Whangarei’s Okara Park.
A 10-member joint Northland Regional-Whangarei District Council steering group has narrowed what had been a group of
five contenders to just two finalists – Mt Eden-based NZ Strong and East Tamaki-based Argon Construction.
Over the next month the two firms will negotiate the detail of the multimillion dollar design-build contract with the
Councils.
Northland Regional Council Chief Executive Officer Ken Paterson and his District Council counterpart Mark Simpson will
spearhead the negotiations and expect to report back to their respective Councils in mid-November. Their report is
expected to include a final recommendation as to which of the companies should be awarded the contract.
The Regional Council has agreed to fund a $13 million capped stake in the proposed centre – subject to conditions – and
the Whangarei District Council a $3 million share.
Mr Simpson says the three unsuccessful companies that had been in the running included Whangarei-based Kerr
Construction, Ebert Construction (which operates nationally from regional offices in Wellington and Auckland) and
Manukau City-based Hawkins Construction.
Mr Paterson says while all three had provided excellent proposals, they had been non-compliant in some areas, for
example seating numbers, and all had exceeded the non-negotiable $16 million capped budget.
However, Mr Simpson says regardless of which firm is ultimately awarded the contract, initial indications are that at
least 10 Northland-based companies will secure work on the centre, either as suppliers or in a subcontracting role.
Assuming the negotiations progress favourably, the successful firm is expected to be awarded the contract within the
next several months, with construction underway by early 2009.
ENDS