Our Values
We believe that you deserve our very best.
Passion
Ngākau nui
We are passionate about what we do, how we do it and the outcome we strive to achieve. This is a core value emanated by every person working within our team.
Performance & Leadership
Mahinga / Hautūtanga
Performance is key to success. We understand the importance of coaching our team and our sub-trades to achieve – to ensure our projects have successful safe outcomes benefiting all participants. Remaining a leader within our industry is important to us along with encouraging the growth of leadership in our people.
Sustainability
Whakauka
We uphold our obligations as a corporate citizen to continually seek out and achieve sustainable measures to ensure our presence has a minimal negative impact on the environment that we live and operate within.
Respect
Whai koha
We hold great respect for our own people and the wider community that we operate within. We promote a caring safe environment. Relationships are formed and nurtured through the ability to listen and respectful communication to ensure a successful project outcome.
Trust
Tiakitanga
Trust is earned. From our humble beginnings in 1979 we have strived to earn trust through our honesty in dealing with others and our reliability. We take great pride in being totally dependable and responsible for our actions.
Heritage & Culture
Ngā taonga tuku iho / Ahurei
We recognise our past and are indebted to the hard work of the many who have built our company into what it is now. We acknowledge the culture this has created within our company that remains precious to us today and the continuing journey to nurture this culture into our future.
Integrity
Ngākau Pono
We are nothing without our high moral and ethical standards. Hanham & Philp’s founding principles were built on integrity and honesty from day one and it remains at the forefront of everything we do today.
Diversity
Whakaehu
We believe in a diverse workplace and respect the rights of individuals to uphold what is important to them while respecting the rights of others. We remain sensitive to New Zealand’s heritage and cultural diversity.
Our History
In business there are instances which, when considered in hindsight, you realise are defining moments.
Such instances forever impact a company for the better, or for worse. The decision Hanham & Philp Contractors made after the devastating Christchurch earthquakes is one such moment.
Keith Hanham and Basil Philp had formed the company in 1979 with a crystal clear vision: to set a new industry standard for professionalism, value, and performance. They weren’t in the commercial construction game to simply earn a quick buck – they were determined to focus on client relationships, build structures they were proud of, and look after their growing family of employees.
This emphasis on company permanence prompted Keith and Basil to implement a deliberate succession plan. They wanted to assure clients – past and present – that Hanham & Philp Contractors would always be there. So, in 2002, Jason Young and John Parish were passed the reins of the organisation.
“It didn’t feel like a transfer of ownership,” explains John. “It seemed we were stepping into a caretaker role, safeguarding the reputation of the business and making sure our dedicated colleagues could still put food on their tables.”
The earthquakes which shook Christchurch during 2010-11 presented Hanham & Philp Contractors with an unforeseen opportunity: the chance for the company to grow rapidly. They were even approached by overseas contractors, keen to joint-venture for a share of the demolish-and-rebuild programme.
“There was so much work to do, yet we could see that the rebuild flurry would only be short-term,” says Jason. “No doubt we would have grown, but at what cost? Risk working with an unknown from Texas or Timbuktu? Take on more staff, only to let them go when things went quiet?”
The ultimate decision became a defining moment for the company: John and Jason chose not to chase the short-term gains.
Instead, Hanham & Philp Contractors followed the example of the company’s founders, and looked after their existing clients.
“It was important to our whole team that we helped the people who had trusted us earlier,” John says. “We were determined to make sure any earthquake-related repairs and rebuilds were our very best work.”
It was a wise move. The company retained its top talent, stayed busy, and grew organically.
Today, with a full-time team of 70 people, Hanham & Philp is, according to the two directors, the right size. “Small enough to be responsive, big enough to get the job done,” laughs Jason. John agrees. “We know the work we’re best suited for,” he says, “and we’re proud to showcase all our client’s projects. Simple, really.”
Simple? One defining moment. Only one Hanham & Philp Contractors.
OUR ROOTS
Meet our founders, Keith Hanham & Basil Philp who started Hanham & Philp in 1979.
Our early vehicle fleet!
Our People
Directors
Jason Young
Jason completed his trade apprenticeship under the expert eye of Basil Philp. He honed his building expertise as Site Manager on a diverse range of subsequent projects.
In his role as co-Company Director/Owner and Construction Manager, Jason is now responsible for monitoring all the concurrent active projects and scheduling the pending jobs. His intent focus on critical delivery milestones has permeated the company’s entire site management team.
Often requested to assess preliminary designs, Jason identifies buildability issues and can offer clients practical solutions, always with a mind to reducing construction costs or providing swifter project completion.
“Commercial construction is a speciality. I’m very proud to offer our skilled team for your next project.”
John Parish
When John joined Hanham & Philp Contractors as Financial Controller in 1999, he already had an abundance of industry experience. Trained in a Chartered Accounting firm, he had twelve years with Carter Holt Harvey which gave him insight into responsibility for management and production systems, health and safety procedures (influenced by the American owners in the later stages), quality assurance (including Telarc accreditation) and, of course, business finance. This was followed by a period with Holcim Cement in the finance area prior to the role at Hanham & Philp.
Now, as co-Company Director/Owner and Finance Manager, John oversees the finance and admin teams, plus the quantity surveying and estimation specialists. He particularly enjoys helping clients in the early stages of new projects, where his skill in determining the financial viability of a project is highly sought-after.
“Our team helps your team – Jason confirms how best to build your idea and I make sure the plan fits your budget.”
Senior Leadership Team
Jason Young
Paul Richards
Kieran McGibbon
Mark Paterson
John Parish
Project Managers
Kieran McGibbon
Mark Paterson
Max Sykes
Site Managers & Site Foremen
John Barclay
Richard Beal
George Birt
Jay Foraker
Doug Haitana
Bruce Mills
Jamie McCracken
John Snow
Simon Thelwell
Fraser Brown (Foreman)
Tony Cain (Foreman)
Callum Hughes (Foreman)
Liam Knowles (Foreman)
Quantity Surveyors
Paul Richards
Rhys Thompson
Alex Soroka
Aaron Tangney
Francis Von Moltke
Julia Li
Interior Fitout Specialists
Mike Proud
Ian Patterson
Will Voice
Health & Safety Manager
Miriam Campbell
Administration
Glenywss Paterson
Kelly Hanrahan
Geet Bisht
Compliance Facilitator
Lolett Newman
Quality Assurance Manager
Andrew Beckwith
Our Resources
Team
How do we know we’re doing well as a company, as a family of co-workers? Because we have many employees who have been with us for 15-40 years. Glenn, Mike, Ross, Bruce and Jason have each now clocked up over 30 years service, with another dozen staff having between 15 to 30 years service.
This kind of experience and loyalty is inspiring to the younger crew joining our company. It’s important to us that they see a career with us: tradespeople, apprentices, site managers, project managers, quantity surveyors, office administrators. Without their enthusiasm, pride, and commitment to you, our client, we would not be the company we are.
You’ll like working with them.
Subbies
When we don’t have the expertise in-house we engage subcontractors, many of whom have been part of the Hanham & Philp Contractors team for many years. All are leaders in their respective specialities but we do still actively assess their quality and performance to make sure they meet our exacting standards.
One misconception at project tender time is that the lowest bid always wins. Whilst price is an important factor for negotiated contracts, we only request quotes for you from the most capable subcontractors. Part of our stringent selection process is to evaluate each subcontractor with you, to make sure engagement is based on all merits, including price.
Suppliers
To build a quality building, you need quality supplies, so we deliberately only purchase from reputable suppliers who have proven their product quality and reliability. You benefit from our long-term, established relationships with these organisations in the way of cost efficiencies and purchasing power.