• The Gulf Harbour development on the Whangaparaoa Pensinula just north of Auckland was experiencing a huge boost thanks to Team New Zealand’s America’s Cup win.
The 970-berth Gulf Harbour marina, one of the largest and best-equipped of its kind in Australasia, was named as the likely host of one or more of the Cup syndicates in 1999-2000.
Meanwhile, work forged ahead on the 320ha of rolling pastureland and clifftops around the marina, which was being transformed into a residential settlement of around 7000 people, living in more than 2500 houses.
15 years ago:
• The centralisation of the administrative activities of all Registered Master Builders Associations was all but complete, with only the Tauranga association yet to have the Federation undertake its admin.
Federation business development officer Steve Robinson said the Regional Service Officer (RSO) and Regional Service Manager (RSM) field officer concept — part of the centralisation process — was working well.
“It was popular from the outset, and feedback from members is ever more positive. It’s all about keeping our members informed about the most recent developments, materials and practices. It’s really proving to be an all-round success,” Mr Robinson said.
10 years ago:
• The Registered Master Builders Federation planned to extend its awards in the 2005 House of the Year and Commercial Awards programme to include a Registered Master Builder of the Year award for both residential and commercial categories.
RMBF president Mike Fox said the move would place a greater emphasis on the builders behind the buildings.
“These awards will recognise member companies that epitomise the skills, values and attributes of a registered master builder in residential and commercial building,” he said.
“Up to now the awards have focused on the winning building, overshadowing the team of builders behind the project. We want to make sure the people are recognised too.”
5 years ago:
• Work was well underway on the restoration of 19th Century warehouses Stanbeth House and Excelsior House, the next two buildings in the Britomart heritage restoration programme in central Auckland.
Cooper and Company began renovating the buildings in January 2010, and expected both to be completed by September 2010.
The buildings, which stand adjacent to each other on Customs Street East, and which both date back to around 1885, were being fully restored in consultation with heritage architcts Salmond Reed.
The completion of the two buildings were to have brought to eight the number of historical buildings at Britomart fully refurbished by Cooper and Company.
These included the Central Post Office, the Northern Steamship Building, the Levy Building, the Maritime Building and Charter House.
