No undocumented workers on $200m ex-Fonterra HQ job: boss

The International project beside the Northern Club on Princes St.

Construction workers converting the ex-Fonterra world headquarters in Auckland into a $200 million 90-unit apartment project have full immigration and work documentation and none are here illegally, the boss of the project says.

Sanctuary Group's Gary Groves said: "All the people working on-site are fully documented and if they are not New Zealanders, they have work visas."

He was referring to an Immigration New Zealand crackdown on illegal construction site workers. The Weekend Herald reported on Saturday that nearly 200 undocumented Malaysian workers were deported or stopped at the border, following a six-month investigation into Auckland's construction industry.

Groves said about 130 Dominion Constructors workers are on the site beside the Northern Club, opposite the Pullman Hotel Auckland.

He is re-fitting the older 17-level office tower on Princes Street off Shortland Street at The International where Donald Trump advisor Chris Liddell was reported to have bought the $15.2m penthouse, although Groves has said he cannot comment due to confidentiality arrangements.

A Sanctuary spokeswoman said exterior cladding had been removed from the existing building via a 40m tower crane.

Groves said deposits had been taken on 55 apartments, sold for $1m to $15.2m.

"The housing market hasn't made any difference to our product. It's been steady sales. Owner-occupier product seems to be less affected by lending loan to value ratio restrictions and also we sold to any offshore buyers," Groves said.

The block behind the Grand Hotel's facade was developed by a Fletcher business with Argus Questar between 1988 and 1990 and incorporated the hotel's facade in a period when old buildings were demolished, with only their faces remaining.

Jasmax designed Sanctuary's changes, working with interior designer Rufus Knight. One, two and three-bedroom apartments are to have Italian-designed kitchens, German appliances and natural stone features.

The spokeswoman said interior fixtures, fittings and walls had been removed. A new glazing system would be applied soon.

"We've got petitioning in on two levels," Groves said.

The project is due to be completed in the middle of 2019.