Busy Whangarei building firm makes time for community good

Whangarei Mayor Sheryl Mai helps site the Northland Craft Trust's new clay storage shed. Also pictured are Padden Builders principal Ben Padden (centre) and Padden builder Levi Gibbs.

Business is "busy" for Padden Builders principal Ben Padden - but not too busy to stop him from doing community good.

Mr Padden employs two staff to build sheds, sleepouts, storage units and small custom-built buildings, and orders are starting to pour in with the advent of spring.

But when he got a call from Northland Craft Trust manager Ali Goodman about two weeks ago wanting a quote on a storage shed he said "No problems" and he was happy to increase the door size so pallets of processed clay could be wheeled inside - and also add structural strength to the floor to carry the weight.

And then he offered to take a third off the normal price from what Ms Goodman described as "an already low comparative price.

"I was so impressed with his community-mindedness, not to mention his efficiency and accommodation to meet our specific needs."

Mr Padden has been in business for 10 years, starting with cabins but in the last five to six years has focused more on sheds.

"There's been a boom in demand for storage units, garden sheds and craft sheds," he said. "People want somewhere to store their ride-on mower, the kids' bikes and maybe a kayak or two, and these sheds are ideal."

He has a website he set up about five years ago but said he doesn't need to do any advertising. "Work just keeps coming in from word of mouth."