Project creates 24 jobs

Whangarei Engineering boss Ian Hendrikse and his team have started working on the steel framework for a new Countdown supermarket on Waiheke Island. Photo / John Stone

Whangarei companies are feeling the benefits of economic growth in Auckland, with one company buying up an Auckland-based industrial and marine electrical company and an engineering firm scoring a new Waiheke Island contract that has created 24 jobs.

Whangarei Engineering has just employed the extra tradesmen to work on the construction of the new Countdown supermarket on Waiheke Island.

Managing director Ian Hendrikse confirmed to the Advocate that the company, with a workshop at the Port Whangarei Marine Centre, had delivered a team of 10 tradesmen to the Auckland job on Monday and would be fabricating a total of 300 tonnes of structural steel from Whangarei for framework for the new supermarket over the next three months.

The company confirmed that fabricators and welders were pushing out 25 tonnes of steel every week, and the first shipment of steel was also delivered on Monday for the $35 million store, due to be completed by the second quarter of 2016.

Mr Hendrikse, who took the helm at Whangarei Engineering in 2014, said there were opportunities for Northland companies in Auckland, but competing for the tenders called for compliance and best practice.

"The structural steel sector is a competitive one. We had the capacity - there are a lot of companies in Auckland that are just too flat out to take on more work," he said.

"Dealing with Auckland companies and projects, you must have your systems in place ... commercial and contractual."

Mr Hendrikse said the company was fortunate to have attracted skilled and experienced local tradesmen.

Finding and hiring the team of 24 had not been too difficult.

The downturn in Australia and the wind down of the refinery's construction project meant there were highly skilled tradesmen looking for work, he said.

"When we advertised on the radio for workers, the floodgates opened."

Whangarei company Rudolphs was blasting and priming each component before it was transported to the Auckland site each week.

Meanwhile, Northland's McKay Group has expanded its marine division and bought out Auckland's Cervina Marine, an industrial and marine electrical design company which specialises in superyachts and is based in Blockhouse Bay.

McKay has been operating in Auckland for the past 20 years and has established a base in Devonport, where it has a 30-year contract with the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Lindsay Faithfull, chief executive officer of the McKay Group, said investing in the Auckland environment made sense for Northland companies.

"If a business can survive in Northland, it can survive anywhere.

"To be a successful business in Northland and in operation for a long time [next year will be McKay's 80th year], the company must have robust management systems with a strong market offering and identity. Northland businesses are resilient, which gives us an advantage when entering other markets outside Northland which have more stable economies."

He said Auckland also allowed for better international reach and influence.

"Aucklanders are now buying residential properties in Northland for lifestyle reasons - parallel to this, Northland businesses are now looking to invest in Auckland as a way to grow their businesses."