http://www.faulknerconstruction.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.faulknerconstruction.co.nz en-us Tue, 28 Apr 2026 23:09:38 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.faulknerconstruction.co.nz/blog/post/162539/letter-to-a-first-year-building-apprentice/ Starting a first-year building apprenticeship in carpentry is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming, especially when working on architectural builds.Every builder remembers their first year on site.New people. New tools. A new environment. There’s a lot to absorb, and most of the learning comes from the people around you.When Noah Rooke started his apprenticeship with us, he set himself a goal. I still remember the day he said he wanted to become “the most useful first-year apprentice po... Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:21:57 +1300 http://www.faulknerconstruction.co.nz/blog/#post162539 http://www.faulknerconstruction.co.nz/blog/post/161908/why-a-project-cfo-matters-in-architectural-builds/ Building an architectural home is one of the largest financial commitments most people will ever make. The design may capture the imagination, but confidence in the numbers is what ultimately allows a project to move forward.Recently, a prospective client came to the table with a background in financial markets. Analysing numbers was second nature to him. In previous discussions with suppliers, he had already become frustrated by information that felt opaque or incomplete.When we were invited to... Thu, 12 Mar 2026 15:42:37 +1300 http://www.faulknerconstruction.co.nz/blog/#post161908 http://www.faulknerconstruction.co.nz/blog/post/161423/building-the-industry-not-just-the-project-architectural-builders/ What does it mean to be a builder?That question has been sitting with me for a while.In one of our early sessions with The Craftsmen leadership group at Faulkner Construction, we asked the team to answer it. No overthinking. Just instinct.Create something from nothing.Leave your mark on the landscape.Solve problems. Think ahead. Get things done.Be proud of what you build - and who you build it with.Then we asked a second question.What does it mean to be a builder at Faulkner?The answers shifted.... Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.faulknerconstruction.co.nz/blog/#post161423 http://www.faulknerconstruction.co.nz/blog/post/153867/house-of-the-year-2025-building-to-gold-standard/ “What we say and what we do are the same thing.”That phrase has become a leadership mantra at Faulkner Construction. And in 2025, it was put to the test at the Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards.We entered three projects. We walked away with three Gold Awards and a Regional Lifestyle Award.The results matter. But more importantly, they prove that the Gold Standard we talk about internally is alive in every project we deliver. Awards night = excitement + nervesHouse of t... Fri, 29 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.faulknerconstruction.co.nz/blog/#post153867 http://www.faulknerconstruction.co.nz/blog/post/153865/building-homes-and-building-culture/ A few years ago, I decided to try something different at Faulkner. I gave five carpenters a book, Belonging by Owen Eastwood, and asked them to read it at home. Then I invited them into what was essentially a book club.Five guys straight off the tools, boots left outside, sitting in the boardroom after a long day on site. Me, nervously opening a conversation about ancestry, identity, and legacy.I’ll be honest, I did most of the talking that first day. But something stuck.That book - especially... Tue, 05 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.faulknerconstruction.co.nz/blog/#post153865 http://www.faulknerconstruction.co.nz/blog/post/154575/from-finishing-carpenter-to-foreman-at-faulkner-construction/ Not every builder wants to lead. And not every craftsman is meant to — until one day, they are.At Faulkner Construction, we talk a lot about site leadership. It’s not just about experience, it’s about foresight, follow-through, and the willingness to carry the weight when no one’s watching. Dan’s journey from finishing carpenter to first-time foreman shows what happens when a great builder steps into that space.For years, Dan’s reputation preceded him. Everyone wanted him on the fina... Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.faulknerconstruction.co.nz/blog/#post154575 http://www.faulknerconstruction.co.nz/blog/post/152241/ross-faulkner-47-years-of-building-leading-and-shaping-new-zealands-construction-industry/ In the building industry, there are names that carry weight not just because of what they’ve built, but because of the way they’ve led. For us at Faulkner Construction, that name is our founder — Ross Faulkner.For nearly five decades, Ross has been a constant in an industry that has changed beyond recognition. From his beginnings as an apprentice in the late 1970s, to leading a team that delivers some of Auckland and the Bay of Plenty’s most challenging architectural builds, to shaping i... Thu, 15 May 2025 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.faulknerconstruction.co.nz/blog/#post152241 http://www.faulknerconstruction.co.nz/blog/post/153862/building-consent-exemptions-nz/ Whether you’re reimagining a heritage home or designing a new outdoor space as part of your architectural build, it’s worth understanding where the rules flex - and where they don’t.The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's (MBIE) has published a detail guide, Exemptions Guidance for Schedule 1 of the Building Act 2004, that outlines specific building activities which can be completed without formal building consent. While these exemptions might seem like a shortcut, in our exp... Tue, 07 May 2024 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.faulknerconstruction.co.nz/blog/#post153862 http://www.faulknerconstruction.co.nz/blog/post/153860/choosing-a-home-builder-compare-building-quotes/ Disagreements over unforeseen costs are a common source of conflict between residential builders and their clients. These conflicts can ruin the building experience and lead to payment disputes, causing stress for everyone involved.The seeds of this discontent are often planted early in the client–builder relationship.I wrote an article last year titled “Seven things I wish I knew before I started my Grand Design” which outlines an approach to architectural home building designed to avoid ... Mon, 08 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.faulknerconstruction.co.nz/blog/#post153860 http://www.faulknerconstruction.co.nz/blog/post/153858/award-winning-renovation-faulkner-house-of-the-year/ In a competition that celebrates the very best of New Zealand’s residential construction, Faulkner Construction has once again proven why it sits at the top.At the 2023 Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards, our Auckland and Tauranga-based team was honoured with multiple accolades, including:Regional Supreme Renovation of the YearRegional Pink Batts Craftsmanship AwardRegional Category WinnerRegional Gold Award, placing in the Top 100 nationwideThese awards reflect not just the q... Mon, 11 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.faulknerconstruction.co.nz/blog/#post153858