Mr Beckett said he was encouraged to set up his own business by the people he did his apprenticeship with.
"They said I should get out and do my own thing.
"I was motivated by the challenge of creating something that was mine," says Mr Beckett.
The business was going well — but not well enough for the owner's liking.
He says he wanted to drive more growth, but a lack of land was making it hard for local firms.
His answer was to expand into subdivisions and offer house and land packages.
"That created the growth we wanted," he says.
ZB Homes now operates out of Te Awamutu and Tauranga and employs about a dozen staff at each office, as well as local sub-contractors.
Mr Beckett says there are about 40 building projects on the go at any given time.
The team offers design and build options for landowners, land and home packages and investment opportunities.
He also likes to embrace technology to maintain a high level of communication with the client, so they know exactly where their project is at.
"We make sure we listen carefully to what people want and we make sure we keep to the agreed budgets.
"Our aim is to keep being innovative, keep growing and make sure every client is treated as an individual," he says.
