2022 property and construction industry honours

Looking back on my 2022, I have lost count of how many times the Reserve Bank of New Zealand raised interest rates, and how many sighs followed. I cannot remember how often I stared blankly at market figures that kept falling, or how often I stepped out of the office only to realise it was dark again.

 

Which moments from 2022 will stay with you? Perhaps you have just completed a project to an exceptional standard, created an astonishing design, found a buyer their ideal home, handed a client the keys to their dream home, or worried endlessly about a developer’s funding... Although the market remains in the depths of winter, it is each of you, and your refusal to give up, that makes every moment remarkable and gives us reason to look forward to spring.

 

We remain full of hope: that your efforts will bear fruit, your passion will inspire more colleagues, your work will challenge people’s prejudices, and your creativity will make our cities more beautiful!

 

The recipients of New Zealand’s 2022 construction and property industry honours:

 

Commercial Design of the Year: Creative ARCH’s Nixon Studio project is a refreshing achievement that also prompts deeper thought about future-proofing our industry: how can we combine new roles and materials with environmental protection while emphasising design quality and value for money? We look forward to seeing more outstanding work like this from Chinese designers!

 

Consultancy Team of the Year: It is pleasing to see Prostone’s rapid growth in 2022, spanning development management, project management and quantity surveying services. The two major projects it is involved in are on a scale typically undertaken by Tier One companies in New Zealand’s mainstream construction market. We believe more Chinese consultancy firms will participate in projects of this size in future.

 

Residential Project of the Year: This year’s residential project is Sanmu Construction’s 88 Hastings Road development. It won both the 2022 NZCBIA Excellence in Development Award and an Auckland regional Gold Award in Master Builder’s 2022 House of the Year competition! Residential development and construction form the mainstay of New Zealand’s Chinese construction industry. We hope more developers and building companies will learn from Sean and his team, making “Chinese Builder” a label we can be proud of!

 

Real Estate Agency Team of the Year: I know almost every member of Dream Team, not because I have bought or sold property through them, but because most have attended NZCBIA/BIET’s property development and management training. “Success never comes without effort.” Dream Team’s dedication and professionalism have earned the trust of developers, homeowners and buyers, and delivered excellent results. Its dedication shows in the team’s hard work, collaboration and ability to think from clients’ perspectives. Its professionalism shows in its constant refinement of marketing and ongoing learning in development and management. Keep it up, Dream Team!

 

Real Estate Agent of the Year: I recommend that every Chinese professional in real estate read this issue’s interview with REINZ CEO Jen Baird carefully. Cindy Guo embodies the qualities Jen describes: “Persistence, resilience, strong social connections and excellent organisation. The best real estate agents always have something that sets them apart, and everyone’s strengths are different. Sometimes it is an ability to identify what makes a property distinctive; sometimes they may be an expert networker. The key is recognising that clients need to trust their agent, who must be able to offer sound advice at every step of the complex process of buying or selling a home.”

 

Thank you! Thank you for your hard work, your perseverance, your dedication and your wisdom!

 

Special thanks also go to title sponsor Blue Ocean Capital, whose support enabled the smooth selection and announcement of New Zealand’s 2022 construction and property industry honours. We wish Blue Ocean Capital every success in injecting more of our industry’s lifeblood—capital—into the market in 2023!

 

Residential Project of the Year

Honoured project: 88 Hastings Road, Mairangi Bay

Reason for selection: setting an example in quality housing through consistently high standards

 

Located in picturesque Mairangi Bay on Auckland’s North Shore, the 88 Hastings Road project comprises two back-to-back townhouses with sea views, built to the highest quality standards. Sanmu Construction (3EYES Homes Ltd) was established in March 2011. Founder and director Sean Li graduated in civil engineering in New Zealand and has 19 years of local construction experience. Over more than a decade, the tireless efforts of all its staff have helped the company stand out among its peers and win industry awards on numerous occasions.

 

An example of quality housing

 

Each home at 88 Hastings Road has an average floor area of approximately 200 square metres, with 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and 2 living rooms, incorporating modern, flowing open-plan living areas. Glass balustrades on the front and rear decks, carefully designed gardens and seamless indoor-outdoor flow create a healthy, comfortable living environment. Solid concrete blocks separate the homes, providing excellent fire resistance and sound insulation to maximise residential safety. Warm-toned cedar cladding and patterned steel accents give the exterior a distinctive design character. Two interior styles are available. Type A features cool tones, wrought-iron balustrades, dark timber and crisp black finishes and trim to emphasise its modern design. In contrast, Type B combines softness and comfort with elegant neutral tones. Inspired by Scandinavian interiors, it uses lightly textured timber and clean white finishes for a more rustic feel. Top-quality air conditioning, insulation and advanced smart home systems further enhance the living experience.

 

Outstanding project and health and safety management

 

Construction of 88 Hastings Road faced two COVID lockdowns, materials shortages and restrictions caused by severe weather. Thanks to the Sanmu Construction team’s meticulous planning and advance scheduling and ordering of materials, the construction crew maintained continuous, efficient work during the peak construction period. Every project milestone was achieved, and the homes were delivered on schedule.

 

Health and safety is another important part of site management. All Sanmu Construction staff are trained in health and safety procedures, and everyone shares responsibility for monitoring compliance, including ensuring workers wear PPE (personal protective equipment) that meets New Zealand standards, maintain physical distancing and follow other safety measures. A health and safety officer regularly inspects all building sites, and all work is recorded in the Buildertrend construction management system. Each site manager receives a tablet with Buildertrend for project management and site records. The team also provides an on-site toolbox containing an emergency plan, first aid kit and health and safety manual to help ensure safe construction during the pandemic.

 

Industry professionals regard 88 Hastings Road as an outstanding project. It earned Sanmu Construction the 2022 NZCBIA Excellence in Development Award in the medium-density residential category for developments valued at NZD 5 million or less, as well as an Auckland regional Gold Award in the 2022 annual best home awards (2022 House of the Year), organised by New Zealand’s Registered Master Builders Association (Master.Builder)!

 

Commercial Design Project of the Year

 

Honoured project: Nixon Studio

Reason for selection: actively promoting the use of new construction technologies and materials

 

Nestled among trees on the city fringe at 29 Nixon Street, Grey Lynn, the Nixon Studio project aims to create a new home for an architectural practice while actively promoting new construction technologies and materials.

 

The building sits between two precast concrete panel walls. A continuous tinted glass curtain wall on the street-facing elevation brings abundant natural light into the double-height studio. Golden prefabricated laminated timber used for the intermediate floor, walls and stairs is left exposed, blending harmoniously with the black structural steel columns and beams.

 

Prefabricated laminated timber was chosen for the intermediate floor, with its natural colour exposed on the underside, to explore its potential in texture, structural performance and sustainability. The stairs use the same material, drawing attention to their exposed edges and the central stairwell wall, so that structural timber surfaces feature throughout the building. Access from the street through the cobbled entrance or garage, a green plant wall, a car lift and sensor lighting all further the building’s sustainability.

 

A green, cobbled entrance connects the industrial-style ground-floor office space with the stairwell leading upstairs. The upper floor contains an open-plan workspace, two meeting rooms, a kitchen, mobile storage and a team breakout area. Tinted floor-to-ceiling glazing offers views east towards the city fringe, while large double-glazed windows in the open-plan kitchen provide expansive views west over the motorway. The upstairs meeting rooms overlook the double-height studio. Concealed full-glass sliding doors maximise natural light while allowing spaces to be enclosed or opened up.

 

The building’s form follows the functions of the commercial premises. Exploring the possibilities of prefabricated materials shaped both its interior and exterior design. Precast concrete panels were selected for the northern and southern elevations to serve as firewalls while also providing structural integrity

and rapid installation. A road leading to a school runs alongside the site, requiring a firewall along the entire southern elevation. The designers, Arch Group, therefore chose to maximise glazing on the eastern and western elevations. Installing precast concrete wall panels also allows for future vertical expansion.

 

Black structural steel weaves throughout the building, creating cohesion through variations in rhythm, while the different column positions introduce spatial asymmetry. Overall, the combination of materials creates an industrial character and reinforces the occupants’ identity as a design practice.

 

Consultancy Team of the Year

 

Honoured team: Prostone

Reason for selection: in 2022, Prostone secured and commenced two major projects while achieving growth across development management, project management and quantity surveying services.

 

Prostone Consulting Limited is New Zealand’s first multidisciplinary Chinese consultancy, offering one-stop advisory services in property development, investment, project management, design management and construction management.

 

A professional team delivering quality service

 

Prostone’s experienced professional team manages developments on clients’ behalf, achieving the best possible outcomes in time, cost and quality.

 

Prostone currently has several senior consultants providing the following specialist services:

 

Development management: experienced consultants plan the entire property investment and development process for clients, leaving no blind spots. This service is particularly important in today’s complex development and construction market, helping developers make every decision with clarity and understanding.

 

Project management: whatever the project type or stage, Prostone can help steer it towards success. Its senior project managers have experience managing local commercial and residential projects, and maintain strong working relationships with industry partners, including design

consultants, main contractors, subcontractors and suppliers.

 

Construction planning/early contractor involvement: Prostone’s senior development and project managers review designs at an early stage and tailor the best approach to future construction, minimising risk and ensuring the best possible

outcomes.

 

Procurement strategy/quantity surveying: Prostone has two registered quantity surveyors (QS), both with many years of experience on major local projects, who maintain rigorous control over project costs. Services include budgets, cost planning, bank QS services, progress payment certification, tender management and construction project quantity surveying.

 

Growth across multiple fields

 

Prostone can provide flexible, efficient services and solutions at different stages of a project. From pre-purchase assessments and feasibility studies to tendering and construction delivery, it offers highly professional support. For Prostone, 2022 was a transformative year. Commercial Director Raymond Kwan joined at the start of the year, bringing nearly 30 years of cost and commercial management experience on major local projects. His arrival also gave Prostone’s outstanding QS team an impressive line-up of 2 registered quantity surveyors and 4 next-generation quantity surveyors.

 

Soon afterwards, a South Auckland industrial building project whose design and consent applications had been managed by Prostone officially broke ground with a prayer from local Māori iwi. The project comprises a large 13,000-square-metre industrial building. In early 2021, the client appointed Prostone as the owner’s

project management consultant and professional quantity surveying consultant (PQS). In just 9 months, the team completed land purchase due diligence, tendering for design consultants, design management, management of resource consent and building consent applications, and the entire construction tender process. Such speed was rare in the booming construction market of 2021. Once construction began, Prostone’s project management and QS teams, supported by the owner’s trust and the cooperation of the main contractor and design consultants, overcame challenges including the pandemic, materials shortages and price increases, and a shortage of skilled workers. Work has progressed steadily and methodically to plan, meeting quality and delivery requirements.

 

Mid-year, Prostone met an Australian client with a landmark development in Papua New Guinea’s capital, with a total construction cost of nearly NZ$500,000,000. Its first phase comprises two high-rise apartment buildings totalling nearly 30,000 square metres. The client had been searching for a project manager but had not found a satisfactory team in Papua New Guinea, Australia or China. After getting to know Prostone’s team in depth and hearing its proposed plans and management approach, the client appointed Prostone as project management and QS consultant. Design work is now progressing intensively.

 

The two major projects in 2022 marked two significant steps forward for Prostone. The team also achieved growth across development management, project management and QS services. Its QS team completed more than 20 bank QS assignments, while its development and project management teams worked on residential projects comprising nearly a hundred homes. These achievements are closely tied to the team’s strengths, which Prostone summarises as “a professional, responsible team, major project experience and strong industry relationships”. These strengths enable it to understand projects’ and owners’ needs accurately, secure quality resources in a severely constrained market, and deliver strong project planning and execution.

 

In 2023, Prostone will work to improve its management systems, strengthen the team’s professionalism and cohesion, and diligently deliver every project entrusted to us by our clients!

 

Real Estate Agency Team of the Year

Honoured team: Dream Team Dream Team

Reason for selection: selling more than 200 homes in two years and fulfilling clients’ dreams of home

 

On 1 September 2019, Kitty Long, who had spent five years working hard in real estate, metaphorically earning her “bachelor’s degree” as a property consultant and beginning “postgraduate study”, joined three colleagues who trusted her to establish Dream Team at Barfoot & Thompson’s Highland Park branch. Its slogan was “Making your dream of home come true”.

In its first two financial years, Dream Team sold more than 200 homes. Even with the virus spreading and market sentiment low, it maintained monthly sales in the teens and repeatedly achieved excellent results. While fulfilling the dreams of more than 200 families, team members have also seen their own dreams become reality, making it a dream team in every sense.

 

A professional team with comprehensive capabilities and efficient collaboration

Over several years, Dream Team has grown from Kitty and three colleagues into a professional team of experienced property sales consultants led by Kitty, with comprehensive capabilities and close coordination. Seasoned consultants work on the front line, while the marketing group provides support for clients’ and team members’ needs. Their seamless collaboration aims to deliver the smoothest, most efficient execution for clients and partners, providing quality service to homeowners and buyers alike.

The team’s outstanding licensed property consultants—Jessica Zhou, Chelsea Liu, Gary Lee, Carrol Liu, Prasun Acharya and Anna Hilliam—have honed their skills through years of practical industry experience and have extensive property knowledge. Although each can work independently, they never operate alone. They collaborate closely, discussing sales strategies, sharing market research, refining negotiating approaches during transactions and considering how to handle unexpected situations. Whatever changes occur in the wider market, Dream Team therefore has the depth and expertise to keep its business growing.

Dream Team’s marketing group handles support, from meeting team members’ needs and coordinating internally with other branch colleagues to communicating with external partners. Its marketing planning and execution are also widely praised by clients. Embracing new media and new approaches, it keeps pace with the times and takes its marketing wherever clients are, delivering exceptional value to homeowners and buyers.

In a rapidly changing market, every Dream Team member brings key professional qualities: sensitivity to change, fresh solutions to new problems, prompt adjustments to thinking and execution, and a strong capacity to learn. These qualities keep the team performing at its best in a competitive market, with capabilities among the industry’s strongest, so it can serve clients better.

 

Building on success and setting out again

The past year was undeniably volatile and challenging, and Dream Team faced enormous pressure from many directions. With the understanding, trust and support of homeowners, buyers and partner organisations, however, it successfully sold 67 properties in 2022. It concluded 17 transactions in December alone, with numerous new homes also under contract awaiting settlement.

With mortgage rates continuing to climb and market confidence severely lacking, how did Dream Team help so many homeowners and buyers successfully sell or buy their desired homes?

Team leader Kitty says the foundation is their original desire to help people solve problems. “Can we understand sellers’ and buyers’ real needs? How strongly do we want to help them solve their problems? How much action are we willing to take? Over the past year, we have encountered developers needing to recover funds quickly, people moving home with limited choices and tight timeframes, and first-home buyers facing reduced mortgage pre-approvals... Every case has its challenges. But from the moment we take it on, our original desire to solve people’s problems keeps driving us forward. The responsibility we carry gives us ample motivation and the ability to act. Combined with years of professional knowledge and experience, and a resilient determination, this makes problem-solving more effective.”

Achievements eventually become history, but strengths can continue to grow. Without becoming complacent about past results, every day is a new departure. May Dream Team’s professionalism and experience bring homeowners and buyers the finest property advisory service. In 2023, the team sets out again from a new high point!

 

Real Estate Agent of the Year

 

Honoured entry: Cindy Guo

Reason for selection: an experienced sales consultant specialising in farms, lifestyle properties and large landholdings, with annual sales reaching NZ$50,000,000

 

Cindy Guo is an experienced property sales consultant specialising in farms, large landholdings and development projects at the Pukekohe branch of Barfoot & Thompson, New Zealand’s century-old real estate company.

 

Professionalism and sincerity deliver quality service

 

Auckland’s Franklin area, where the Pukekohe branch is based, has developed rapidly in recent years. As a local resident, Cindy has a strong understanding of local housing and policies such as the Auckland Unitary Plan. Sincerity, friendliness, patience and professionalism consistently define her approach. Alongside satisfied clients, this has delivered annual sales of NZ$50,000,000, including a record single sale for the Pukekohe branch. At the recent Barfoot & Thompson awards for the second half of 2022, Cindy ranked seventh among individuals in the South Region.

 

Compared with ordinary residential transactions, buying and selling farms, lifestyle properties and large landholdings is often more complex. Buyers must consider more factors: alongside future development trends in the area, returns on land investment and lending, they need to assess water supply, soil conditions, property maintenance costs, driveways and the land itself. Property consultants need greater specialist knowledge and more extensive sales experience, and Cindy is ideally suited, combining expertise with integrity.

 

Client satisfaction is the ultimate goal

 

Working in real estate involves meeting people from all walks of life, something Cindy enjoys and excels at. She is passionate about discussing property details with clients. Her approachable personality has helped her build a strong network, with clients throughout New Zealand and overseas.

 

Cindy has a keen instinct for property and works tirelessly to expand her industry knowledge. She finds farm sales more challenging: every property is distinctive, and even neighbouring homes can have different views. House designs are equally varied, ranging from classic villas to stylish modern homes.

 

One client said: “Working with Cindy gave me real peace of mind. Throughout the sale she was always available, and I could reach her promptly whenever I needed to. She followed up on buyer feedback quickly too, ultimately achieving a result that satisfied both sides!”

 

“At the end of a busy day, seeing the results of my efforts and receiving clients’ appreciation gives me a strong sense of fulfilment,” Cindy said. “I am also proud to be part of Barfoot & Thompson, with its century-long history. The company provides us with a very strong network, and I will continue to offer clients even better service!”