'Most trusted' award built on core values

Joe La Grouw Jnr says the values his father worked hard to instil into the business are reflected with Lockwood being named New Zealand's most trusted home building brand.

The award was announced as part of the Reader's Digest Most Trusted Brands announced today.

For the past 13 years, Reader's Digest has conducted New Zealand's Most Trusted survey, with the aim of uncovering Kiwi attitudes on the most trustworthy professions, people and brands.

It's the first time the publication has looked at home building brands.

Mr La Grouw said he was "absolutely thrilled" with the awards.

He said it was a fantastic award because it was something the company didn't have anything to do with - and was based solely on what the public thought of the brand.

"I think it is a reflection of what my father started ... the values and the culture of the organisation still continues today."

Mr La Grouw said the award was a reflection of the hard work put in by employees and related builders, who had a culture of doing things right the first time.

"It's been ingrained into our culture."

Many of those employees were long-standing ones who had been with the business for decades, he said.

While it was the first time the award had been given, Mr La Grouw said he would love to get it next year too.

Lockwood is known as a kiwi institution, having built more than 50,000 homes in the past 60 years.

The business was created by Joe La Grouw Snr in the 1950s and now has more than 21 Lockwood family-operated businesses around New Zealand.