Media Release
2007 Hirepool Construction Awards
Auckland – 06 August 2007: A project to design and build the second stage of development at Northport, Whangarei, has
won the New Zealand Contractors’ Federation (NZCF) Hirepool Construction Award for projects with a value of more than
$10,000,000.
The project, by Fletcher Construction Company Limited, was one of four category winners named at a black-tie function in
Rotorua on Saturday night, at the conclusion of the NZCF’s five-day annual conference. The categories covered projects
ranging in value from less than $500,000 to more than $10 million.
The other three winners on the night were McConnell Dowell Constructors Limited for the Clandeboye Ocean Outfall
Pipeline, Juno Civil Limited for the Opahu Floodway Protection and Thelin Construction Limited for a Multi Span
Pedestrian Bridge at Kiakoura.
The design and build of the second stage of development at Northport, Whangarei was carried out by a mass gravity
retention structure, which provides 180 metres of berth face with a clear depth of 14.5 metres.
The entire project was carried out to a very high standard of quality in an extreme environment. It was kept to both
time and budget and the needs of the client were well met.
NZCF Chief Executive Richard Michael said all four category winners, were excellent examples of the civil contracting
industry’s skill and professionalism. “We’re talking about large scale engineering projects that are delivered on time
and within budget, and completed under the most trying and strenuous conditions, often in remote parts of the country
during adverse weather conditions,” he says.
Mr Michael says the NZCF are delighted with this year’s entries. “The number and quality of the entrants shows the
industry to be in very good heart. The category winners in each category had to be exceptional to just get in.”
Applicants for the awards, now in their 29th year, were judged on such key aspects as their professionalism,
construction methods, customer relations, human resources, teamwork, partnering, planning and control, quality control,
pre-planning, financial controls, location and logistics, site control and risk.
According to Tenby Powell, Chief Executive of Rakino Group, owners of Hirepool, the Principal Partner to the NZCF,
“these awards reflect the outstanding service that industry members contribute to this country’s continued growth.
“The four winners represent the very best of what those involved in civil engineering, construction and general
contracting do on a daily basis. I congratulate them, the other finalists and all those in this industry for the part
they play in developing New Zealand.
“They really are the unsung heroes. Too often the work these industries play in developing and maintaining New Zealand’s
economy across a range of infrastructural services, so critical to enabling a modern economy like ours to compete
efficiently in world markets, is overlooked,” says Mr Powell.
The civil contracting industry provides and maintains the country's infrastructure of public services - including
energy, transport and telecommunications. The NZCF is the national organisation of the industry.
2007 New Zealand Contractors’ Federation Hirepool Construction Award Winners
Category One – Projects having a value less than $500,000
Thelin Construction Limited for Multi Span Pedestrian Bridge, Kiakoura
Merit Award:
Bond Contractors Limited for Lagoon Boardwalk Construction, Invercargill
Category Two – Projects having a value between $500,000 and $3,000,000
Juno Civil Limited for Opahu Floodway Protection, Lower Hutt
Category Three – Projects having a value between $3,000,000 and $10,000,000
McConnell Dowell Constructors Limited for Clandeboye Ocean Outfall Pipeline
Category Four – Projects having a value greater than $10,000,000
Fletcher Construction Company Limited for Northport Berth 3, Whangarei
Merit Award:
McConnell Dowell Constructors Limited for Goro Port Facilities Project, New Caledonia
ENDS