Registered Master Builders Federation immediate past president Ashley Hartley has been honoured with an RMBF National Life Membership.
Mr Hartley was presented with the award by Minister of Building and Construction Shane Jones at the recent RMBF Conference in Wellington.
RMBF chairman Mike Fox described Mr Hartley as “an inspiration and leader to us all”, and that the industry was “so much better because of your tireless efforts and wisdom”.
“Ash only has two speeds — on and off. When he is on it is 150% at whatever he does,” Mr Fox said.
Mr Fox acknowledged Mr Hartley’s wife Denise and employer, Gemco Construction.
“I’ve been told that Ash is worth two employees so I can see massive productivity gains for Gemco this year,” he said, referring to the huge amount of time Mr Hartley had spent away from home and work in carrying out his industry duties.
Mr Fox said it would take too long to go into even a small part of Mr Hartley’s 42-year contribution to the industry. “But it is huge and, knowing Ash, it will continue for some time yet.”
Mr Hartley began his career in the industry as an apprentice and building technician with Mackersey Construction Ltd in Hastings in 1966, before becoming head quantity surveyor, programmer and project manager with the company in 1970.
In 1999 he had a spell as manager of Lockwood & McMillan Group Ltd before becoming general manager of Gemco Construction Ltd, a Havelock North-based company which currently employs 50 staff, including 16 apprentices. The company also runs a division in Wellington which employs 12 staff.
Mr Hartley has won two New Zealand Institute of Building (NZIOB) Building Manager of the Year awards, and been project manager for millions of dollars worth of construction around the North Island.
Those projects include hotels, motels, banks, office buildings, grandstands, shops, sewage works and pumping stations, single and multi‑storey buildings up to six storeys, food processing plants, churches, school buildings, supermarkets, gymnasiums, toilet blocks, truck depots, electrical sub‑stations, microwave repeater towers, swimming pools, cold stores, tanneries, wineries, laboratories, butcheries, hospitals and houses.
But it is the tireless and extensive work that he has put back into the industry during his time as an RMBF member that makes the most impressive reading.
His roll of honour includes:
• RMBF president and director 2006 and 2007
• RMBF vice-president and director 2005
• RMBF junior vice-president and director 2004
• Director, Construction Information Ltd — 1999 to present
• Member of RMBF Contract Peer Review team — Residential Contract — 2005 to present
• Member of RMBF Commercial & Contracts Committee — 1985 to present, including chairman 1990 and 1991
• Chairman of RMBF Health & Safety Strategy Committee — 2007
• BCITO Regional Board — 1998 to 2001
• RMBF representative on NZ Standards reviewing NZS 3910 Conditions of Contract for Building and Civil Engineering Construction — 1996 to 1998 and 2001 to 2003
• Presented with a Certificate at RMBF Auckland conference in 1999 for continuous attendance at 22 national conferences (total of 30 conferences now attended)
• BCITO Construction Management Diploma committee — 1996 to 1998
• RMBF representative on Joint National Committee with NZIQS reviewing NZS 4202 Standard Method of Measurement — 1996
• Member of RMBF Health & Safety Committee formed to produce Health & Safety booklets for members — 1993 to 1994
• Federation National Councillor and Central North Island Regional Councillor — 1985 to 1990
• Assisting with Qualification Review Committee for Construction Management Diploma — 2008
• Member of ACC advisory group preparing Health & Safety documentation for residential builders — 2008
• Member of Department of Building and Housing working group reviewing Schedule 1 of Building Act
• BCITO assessor in Carpentry Practical and Theory.
Mr Hartley has always been an advocate of “you get from something what you put into it”. And it is clear that his contribution to the construction industry would be unmatched by anyone in New Zealand.
For the future, he says he will enjoy spending more quality time with his wife Denise.
On behalf of all members and the industry, the RMBF thanks Ashley for his outstanding contribution.
