Better Builder Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the fifth episode of our monthly bonus series: Better Builder Apprentice, where we invite builders, business owners, and apprentices to talk about all things apprenticeship!  In this episode, we sat down with Caleb Kennedy, a freshly qualified builder, and chatted about career options after getting qualified, the biggest mistakes apprentices make, and ways companies and...

Send us Fan Mail Nic Patterson is the director of BK Patterson Builders. A building company founded by his father Brent Patterson in 1989, focusing on high quality renovations, new builds, and commercial fit-outs in the Wellington region. Nic is a very qualified builder and has been in the business for over 16 years. He works with his clients from the consultation phase through the build/construct...

Send us Fan Mail Daniel Gudsell is the Director of Abodo Wood, a New Zealand-based leading proponent of wood modification technology in the Southern Hemisphere. By harvesting from sustainable trees and avoiding using harmful chemicals to process them, ABODO crafts timbers with lasting beauty that is safe for people and the environment. Daniel believes in a world where sustainable, locally grown wo...

Send us Fan Mail Todd Wickenden founded Broswick Builders in 2009 after 10 years in the building industry in New Zealand, USA, and Canada. Broswick Builders specialises in residential building based in Auckland and Northland, and has won multiple awards for its builds throughout the years. Todd is known for his commitment to excellence and passion for creating exceptional homes, and he's also...

Send us Fan Mail Oliver Austen is the founder of Austen Projects. With over 12 years of experience in construction and project management, he gives the company an edge over its competition. Throughout his career, Oliver has managed to complete over 70 projects across Auckland, committing to delivering outstanding results within established timelines and budgets every time. In this episode, we sat...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the fourth episode of our monthly bonus series: Better Builder Apprentice, where we invite builders, business owners, and apprentices to talk about all things apprenticeship!  In this episode, we sat down with Dane Simpson, an apprentice educator at Builders Academy, and chatted about how he found his passion in training apprentices, the best ways to work with modern-da...

Send us Fan Mail Ben Lewis is the founder of Lewis Build and has more than 20 years of experience in building. When he was young, Ben was inspired to build by his uncle, who was a master carpenter. Ben is passionate about building luxury homes for his clients and making sure the quality of work is exceptional. He enjoys meeting new people and expanding his professional network. Outside of work, Be...

Send us Fan Mail Jonathan Smith is the director of Matter Architects, recognised for its work in architecture, urban planning, art, design and strategic thinking. After working within some of the leading industry firms, Jonathan registered as an Architect in 2003 and began his own practice, operating under the basic philosophy of prioritizing relationships and processes. Carefully developing his p...

Send us Fan Mail Michael Wilson is the founder of Wilson Designer Homes, a company dedicated to designing and constructing new builds and state-of-the-art renovations around central Waikato for over 10 years. Driven by the talent and passion within its team, WDH specialise in building spacious designer homes on lifestyle blocks and sections. In this episode, we sat down with Michael and chatted ab...

Send us Fan Mail Finn Collins is a barrister at Lambton Chambers, he practices in construction and property and provides advice and advocacy for contractors and owners on complex matters. With his deep understanding of expert evidence on construction-related matters and considerable trial experience involving experts, Finn has acted in disputes for prominent developers, contractors, and commercial...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the second episode of our monthly bonus series: Better Builder Apprentice, where we invite builders, business owners, and apprentices to talk about all things apprenticeship!  In this episode, we sat down with Blair Hendren, a well-respected training mentor at Builders Academy NZ, where we chatted about his journey to become a training mentor, how he trains his apprenti...

Send us Fan Mail Willie de Gruchy established WG de Gruchy Construction in 2009 with an ambitious goal of becoming Auckland’s preeminent high-end building company. To achieve this goal, he has built a team of like-minded, passionate, uncompromising, and dedicated people, and established strong relationships with top-of-the-line architects and subcontractors. Nowadays,  de Gruchy Construction has b...

Send us Fan Mail Jesse Greene has an extensive history in the boat building & construction industry, winning multiple awards including Craftsman of the Year. He founded Green Build Projects, focusing on new builds, renovations, and concept plans around Auckland, Mangawhai, and the surrounding area. Over the years the company has created a strong presence in the commercial interior fitout indus...

Send us Fan Mail Anthony Reweti has been building since he was 17. After leading a team in his previous company for 9 years which won him two supreme awards in the Master Builder House of the Year awards, he started BOLD Builds in 2020. As one of Mount Maunganui's most reputable builders, Anthony understands the importance of good relationships with his clients, designers, and subcontractors...

Send us Fan Mail Mitch Fleming has years of experience in residential building and is a skilled insitu concrete specialist. After learning from many experienced builders and business owners, Mitch started Te Arai Builders, a residential building company operating in Te Arai & Mangawhai that specialises in new home builds and high-quality renovations. Growing up in Northland, Mitch enjoys many...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the second episode of our monthly bonus series: Better Builder Apprentice, where we invite builders, business owners, and apprentices to talk about all things apprenticeship!  In this episode, we sat down with Marcus Copson, who is a third-year builder apprentice, and chatted about his apprenticeship journey, the struggles of modern apprentices, and what they can do to...

Send us Fan Mail Scott Thrupp is a third-generation builder, tertiary qualified in Construction Management and has over 20 years of experience in the industry. In 2012, he founded his own construction company, Ninety45, which undertakes architectural builds, new homes, custom landscapes, pools, and extensive renovation projects. With extensive construction knowledge and a passion for planning, Sco...

Send us Fan Mail Ollie Tuck entered the building industry as a labourer when he was 17 years old, where he discovered his love for the work and soon progressed into an apprentice. After completing his apprenticeship, Ollie moved to London on an O.E and continued working in the industry, moving into project management running high-end renovations. Once he returned to New Zealand, Ollie began work f...

Send us Fan Mail Matt Farrell has over 20 years of experience in the building industry in both New Zealand and London. He is the founder of Intact Construction, which specialises in building exceptional homes in and around Auckland. Over the years, Intact has built a solid reputation with their clients for their dedication to delivering the highest standard of work and integrity, with most project...

Send us Fan Mail Troy Jury has been in the trade business since he was 15. Working from the bottom of the food chain, Troy found himself learning from many skilled carpenters and tradesmen. The knowledge he gained from his apprenticeship helped him start his own business, QBS, in 2011, dedicated to delivering high-quality and innovative building solutions to its clients. Over the next decade, QBS...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the first episode of this brand-new bonus series, where we invite builders, business owners, and apprentices to chat about all things apprenticeship! The new series, titled Better Builder Apprentice, will be dropping once a month on top of the weekly regular episodes! On this first episode, we sat down with Chris Barnett, founder of CBC Group, to chat about his experien...

Send us Fan Mail Shaun Higgins has been a building since he was 15 years old. After working in Europe for a few years and trading ideas with builders there, he realised two things that changed his approach to building forever. The first is that New Zealand homes aren’t as energy-efficient or high-performing as they should be. And the second is how important it is to keep our homeland healthy for f...

Send us Fan Mail Ross Bannon is a pioneer of the concrete industry in New Zealand, being one of the first in the country to develop their own concrete system. Ross founded Bannon Construction in 1999, specialising in building high-end architectural concrete homes. From using block and precast initially, to using insitu poured concrete more recently. Because of Ross' experience in working with...

Send us Fan Mail Jeff Vivian and his two brothers founded Vivian Construction, which deals with commercial, fit-out, and high-end residential construction projects. After 7 years, Vivian Construction has grown into a multi-8-figure business through its commitment to quality, consistency, and its generalist approach to targeting both residential and commercial markets.  In this episode, we sat down...

Send us Fan Mail Matt Nicholls founded RYSE Construction, a company focusing on new home builds, residential renovations and extensions, architectural services, and project construction management. RYSE Construction prides itself on fostering strong client relationships, understanding their unique vision, and using its 3-step process (design-develop-construct) to turn those visions into reality. ...