Cook Brothers

Cook Brothers - News

WELCOME - Autumn 2012 Update

"It's a long way to the top if you want to 'Rock'n Roll"
ACDC 1975

Welcome to this edition of our Update - Autumn 2012

Now into our sixth year of operation, Cook Brothers Construction has grown from a raw and ambitious ‘start up’ in Dunedin, to a well exercised and capable national construction group with operations in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown.

The 2012 financial year will see the Cook Brothers Group of construction companies engaging in opportunities from a supermarket in Southland, to high end architectural housing in Northland - and pretty much everything else in between including pharmacies, kindergartens, restaurants, science labs, churches and even a hospital!

‘If you wanna be a star of stage and screen, look out it’s rough and mean!’ - AC/DC 1975

Asked recently by the BBC to appear on one of the UK’s longest running reality primetime shows - ‘Wanted Downunder,’ we were quizzed about employment opportunities on offer in New Zealand for construction professionals. In effortless diatribe, we listed off dozens of positions that we genuinely need to fill across our Team - much to the satisfaction of the UK project manager that had travelled half way across the world for an interview!

It is true that in the coming months and years, New Zealand companies will be employing heavily across the construction disciplines - providing unprecedented opportunity for economic growth to those who participate.

The episode will air in the UK in January 2013, and shortly after in Australia to an estimated viewer audience of 4 million people - so great press for New Zealand, and one of New Zealand's favourite companies!

PROJECT PROFILES

University Union Redevelopment
Parker Warburton Team Architects

Nestled in the heart of the Otago University is the Union, the central hub for all varsity student life.

Cook Brothers Construction, Otago secured the contract to transform the dated centre of the building to a contemporary, light filled space with seamless links to the adjacent Information Services building.

With the deadline looming, the project team are working hard to exceed our client’s expectations and

Te Hana Residence, Auckland
S3 Architects

Located on the hill top, this private residence features cantilevered bedrooms and lounge areas which overlook the farmland below. The engineering on this house is impressive!

This modern home has been finished in a mixture of concrete and ceadar cladding, which lends to the environment beautifully.

Botswana Butchery Restaurant
Ferry Terminal, Auckland

Iconic Queenstown brand comes to Auckland!

The Cook Brothers Construction - Auckland Central team worked in the evening and on the weekends to ensure this project got nailed, due to the short time frame. With the finished result in hand, it was sure worth it!

The client was very hands on with the design work involved in this project, which made it a real team effort.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Cook Brothers Construction featured in The Business Herald with an interview by Nick Smith. Below is an excerpt from the article;

“If you were to bring someone back from the dead right now in New Zealand, it would be James Fletcher, the original, who sat with [Prime Minister] Peter Fraser [during World War II as head of defence construction],” says Rofe, business development director at construction firm Cook Brothers. “He didn’t [muck] around with all the local bureaucrats; he went straight to the boss,” he says of his role model.

Rofe also cites Fletcher’s work rebuilding Napier in 1931: “He drew the plans [for the rebuild] on the back of an envelope [and] he got the banks going within a week - can you imagine that?

“We need someone [like Fletcher] to arise in Christchurch, someone who’s not afraid to piss some people off, someone who’s got the direct authority to act.”

Rofe is an entertaining interview subject because he is not short of an opinion. His strong views are peppered with references to the company ethos of “ownership” and “responsibility”, not “blame” and “denial”.

So when he is late for the interview, he doesn’t “blame” the traffic (which was heinous in Auckland that morning). Instead, Rofe takes “ownership” by explaining that he slept in. I like the cut of his jib, mostly because it seems genuine, rather than a marketing spiel.

But underlying all his excellent words is the ambition to make Cook Brothers - the Bullings and the Rofes - as memorable a family name as Fletcher. Time will tell.

A link to the full article can be found HERE

INTRODUCING OUR NEWEST BROTHER

ROBERT POMARE
Zero Harm Manager
BAM, Grad-NZISM, MNZISM, HRINZ

With more than 20 years experience in industry leading organisations, Rob is an accomplished Safety, Health and Environment specialist Manager. Rob has invaluable experience in delivering excellent safety results on multi-million dollar construction projects, with the ability to analyse operations and pin point area’s for improvement.

As a Health and Safety Officer back in the start of 1992 for Irwin Industrial Tool Company, the number one manufacturer of circular saw blades in the world, Rob brought the company forward from having 1500 Lost-time injuries per year to 3 per year and then down to zero.
Who said Zero harm wasn’t achievable?

Currently studying toward a Masters in Business Administration majoring in Human Resource Management, Rob is an Executive member of the NZISM (New Zealand Institute of Safety Management), current Branch Manager of the Otago NZISM Branch and member of HRINZ (Human resource Institute of New Zealand).

Outside of work, Rob enjoys spending lots of time with his family and taking the kids hunting or fishing in the weekends.

RECENT / CURRENT PROJECTS

Auckland
• Botswana Butchery Restaurant, Good Bars - WJ Cadzow Architects
• Graham Street Fitout, Auckland City Council
• Newmarket Tenancy Facades, Parly - Matthews & Matthews Architects
• Rialto Food Court Refurbishment, Parly - Alto Design Ltd

Southern Lakes
• Post Masters, Bush Creek Developments
• Jade Factory Ltd - Steve Henderson
• Mount Aspiring College Deck
• Westpac Renovations, Ree Street - Context
• Wanaka Presbyterian Church - Parker Warburton Redevelopment
• Science Block Stage 2 - Mount Aspiring College

Otago
• 234 George St, MTF Property, Gary Todd Design
• 71 Frederick Street, University of Otago - Parker Warburton Team Architects
• Tahuna Normal Intermediate, Phillip Gilchrist
• Port Charmers Kindergarten, Dunedin kindergarten association - McCoy & Wixon
• Heritage View Apartments, Parabalus Trust - Design Studio
• University Union, University of Otago - Parker Warburton Team Architects
• Windsor Street New World, Foodstuffs - McCoy & Wixon

Christchurch
• Elmwood Pharmacy, Pharmacy Brands
• BNZ Kaiapoi, BNZ - Opus
• Methodist Church Repairs, Methodist Church

‘Cometh the hour, cometh the man’

To his face his men called him ‘Boss’ – behind his back though, he was simply called ‘Charlie’. As a boy he was stubborn, raised in central Christchurch in the 1920’s by a nurse until the age of 5. He didn’t like fish. His nurse made him eat some once – he put it in his mouth before proceeding on a walk round the square with her. Two hours later he swallowed the fish – like I said, he was stubborn.

As a young man he worked with his horse and trusted team of dogs in the South Island high country, spent much of his time alone with them, and was known for his opinions – he would never concede an argument because his convictions were so strong – just like the fish, he too was often hard to swallow.

He was a determined and dogged leader – his voice would shrill with adrenaline as he led his men in battle, swearing, directing, ranting, encouraging, fighting the enemy head on.

His favorite tool was a sack of short-fused hand grenades – there never seemed to be any available for anyone else! – better in the hands of ‘Charlie’ though – everyone knew that the boss had a good throwing arm.

He loved animals – once he came back to his tent to find that a cat had had her kittens there on his bed, and was sleeping with them. He undressed, and slept next to his cot, on the sands of North Africa so as not to disturb them.

He was a husband and a father.

He was a New Zealander.

He was Capt. Charles Upham - Victoria Cross and Bar, a leader of men.

‘It is a long dash down the hillside. There can be no reconnaissance, no flanking movement. It has to be an assault into the very muzzle of the guns, straight down the lines of tracer, straight towards the German armour. And as Upham runs, and he sees his boys all running with him, unhesitating and unflinching, a deep, savage pride possesses him. What men they are! But they are not thinking of themselves. They are looking at the fury ahead, and they are watching Upham as he races out in front of them…’
Mark of the Lion – Kenneth Sandford 1962.