The Five Secrets to Timely Construction Project Management.

Construction projects are complex, with many moving parts. Every component, from material sourcing to subcontractors, plays a role in the streamlined completion. However, all it takes is a single unreliable partner to throw an entire project into disarray, causing delays and cost overruns.

With over 25+ years of experience navigating the construction landscape, we’ve identified the five principles that make a project a success story with the outcome every client wants — high-quality infrastructure completed on time and within budget.

Strong Relationships Through Deep Client Understanding

As a construction consultancy serving ports, airports, and government agencies across New Zealand, we understand the intricacies of construction projects. We work to deeply understand our client’s goals, challenges, and long-term vision to build trust and become valued partners from the outset.

Throughout the project, we keep you informed, address concerns proactively, and offer clear solutions when inevitable challenges arise, resulting in client satisfaction, smoother project execution, and an enhanced company reputation.

United We Stand. The Stronger We Build

We view ourselves as an extension of your team and work with yours to tailor strategies to fit your context and priorities. We use project management tools and regular feedback mechanisms to keep everyone in the loop and open up discussions.

With a construction project, only some entities possess all the expertise required, so collaboration is necessary to achieve exceptional outcomes. By working together and bringing in external support where required, we leverage collective strengths for more comprehensive solutions, better risk mitigation, and a project that exceeds expectations.

Clear communication and shared understanding ensure smoother workflows to minimise delays and ensure timely project completion. When this flows, we as your consultants, gain valuable insights, expand our knowledge base and improve our ability to serve you.

Ethical Integrity and High Professional Standards

Ethical integrity and high professional standards are cornerstones of success. Like building a structure, you don’t use substandard materials or take shortcuts that might impact structural integrity. Similarly, we don’t compromise on the values that form the foundation of our work.

Clients are entrusting us with their dreams and investments. Ethical practices develop and maintain this trust, which is vital in the competitive construction industry where reputation is everything. Ethical conduct extends beyond legal compliance. It encompasses environmental responsibility, fair treatment of workers, and community involvement to leave a positive mark on the world.

Results Induced By Foresight and Innovation 

The redevelopment of the ageing Wharf 7 at the Eastland Port in New Zealand is a compelling example of how forward-thinking and innovation can generate ideal outcomes in large-scale construction projects. 

The facility required modernisation and reengineering to withstand catastrophic earthquakes and ensure regional resilience. It called for a vision that addressed future needs and set the stage for broader port transformation by:

• Accommodating evolving trade patterns and larger vessels, ensuring long-term usability.
• Streamlining processes and maximising efficiency for the port’s competitiveness in keeping up with the demand of projected volumes of wood products, the growing horticulture sector, cruise ships, and enabling containerisation.
• Minimising environmental impact using sustainable practices and materials was essential for responsible development.

Our approach, as it always does, involved Early Contractor Involvement (ECI). Identifying and mitigating potential risks early on minimised delays, and instead of one company pitching their ideas, they listened to two different plans, providing more options for assisting in choosing an optimal final design.

Delivering on Time and on Budget – The Gisborne Airport Terminal Project

The redevelopment of the Gisborne Airport Terminal is a testament to our ability to manage projects efficiently while maintaining quality. Stepping in as project manager, we partnered with Trust Tairāwhiti to transform the airport into a modern facility that met the community’s needs without exceeding the budget or timeline.

This project involved:

• Working closely with stakeholders to ensure smooth coordination and alignment with regional goals.
• Implementing robust project management frameworks to track progress and mitigate risks.
• Ensuring that every phase adhered to the set budget, preventing cost overruns.
• Overseeing construction workflows to keep the project on schedule, allowing seamless operations for the airport.

Through careful planning and collaboration, we delivered a high-quality, efficient airport terminal that now serves as a crucial gateway for the region, reinforcing our commitment to timely and budget-conscious project management.

Airport Terminal A redevelopment

Wisdom Gained Through Experience 

Each completed project is a story full of lessons to leverage on future projects. At Seven Rivers, we traverse this landscape as industry leaders in engineer-to-contract, engineer and client representation, project management, procurement services and quantity surveying. This experience has translated into solutions that enhance infrastructure across New Zealand.

When tasked with improving Waikato Regional Council’s pump stations, in addition to functionality, we incorporated sustainable practices and technologies. In addressing the present and safeguarding the region’s future in the face of environmental challenges, we were able to align with the council’s long-term vision for flood mitigation.

The Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union’s monumental sports infrastructure project needed specialised experience for large-scale construction. Serving as the face of the Union Board in all dealings with the construction industry, we guided them through resource allocation and project management to deliver a state-of-the-art facility.

Building A Future We Believe In

Industry leadership is a responsibility upheld through the continuous pursuit of knowledge and a dedication to leaving a lasting positive impact on New Zealand’s economic future. These projects are a snapshot of our journey where one element remains constant: translating experience and knowledge into results for timely construction project management. 

Empowering Project Managers Through Training

Effective project management is key to ensuring timely and budget-conscious construction projects. At Seven Rivers, we believe that continuous learning and upskilling are essential for project managers to navigate the challenges of the industry successfully. Our training programmes are designed to equip professionals with practical knowledge in:

• Risk mitigation and problem-solving strategies.
• Advanced procurement methodologies.
• Efficient resource and budget management.
• Best practices in collaboration and communication.

By participating in our training, project managers can gain the expertise needed to execute projects more effectively, reduce delays, and optimise outcomes. Learn more about our training opportunities here: Seven Rivers Training.