DStevens' Managing Director, Peter Stevens, looks back on the obstacles we encountered in 2023 and acknowledges the outstanding efforts of our team in his summary of the year.

Team,

We’ve had a year like no other.

These past 12 months have been marked by material shortages, economic uncertainty, and an ongoing series of severe weather events – which placed further pressure on supply chains, our team, and our communities. In the first half of this year alone, three Regional States of Emergencies and one National State of Emergency were declared in Tairāwhiti.

When Cyclone Gabrielle hit in early February, our region was cut off completely with no road access, no communication to the rest of New Zealand, and widespread damage to homes and infrastructure. In the immediate aftermath of the cyclone, DStevens donated $3,000 towards the Tairāwhiti Mayoral Relief Fund set up by the Gisborne District Council to help our community get back on their feet.

It was incredible to see how our team swung into action. Despite personal challenges, with families at home and significant disruptions to their own lives, they supported our communities at a time of great need. They also supported each other in the process. I could not be prouder of their efforts and dedication.

Almost 10 months later the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle and subsequent storms are still being felt across Gisborne as the clean-up and recovery continues. While our teams have been working hard to repair flood-damaged homes and bridges, we have also been busy with new homes, renovations and commercial buildings.

Earlier this year we manufactured and installed new joinery items for Kiwa Pools – an incredible new community swimming and recreation complex. We take great pride in collaborating closely with our clients to understand their distinct requirements, as demonstrated through the successful completion of residential projects in 2023, such as Ormond House and Whataupoko Villa.

In addition, we recently commenced work at Lytton High School to strengthen and refurbish the Hall building. With this project, our team will install new structural steel cross-bracing to improve the seismic performance of the building. Over the next six months, the hall will be refurbished and upgraded to meet current New Zealand building standards and ensure its longevity for future use.

Over the past three years, our focus has been primarily on responding to the global COVID-19 pandemic. In doing so, we missed the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate an important milestone in our company's history. Fifty-three years ago, we began manufacturing Rylock™ aluminium windows and doors for residential and commercial buildings in Gisborne. In the five decades since our aluminium workshop has grown to become an integral part of the company. Through investing in advanced technology and processes, we are ensuring that our team stays at the forefront of the industry – providing customers with the latest and most innovative products and features available on the market.

DStevens is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and healthy workplace that supports and protects our people, subcontractors, clients and community. In October, our health, safety & wellbeing performance was independently assessed by SiteWise – achieving an outstanding 100% rating for the second year running. Each year, we strengthen our systems and processes in a continuing effort to raise the bar, and this year is no exception.

Sustainability remains a significant challenge for not only our business but also the wider construction industry. This year, we began a partnership with Trees That Count by donating 100 native trees to community planting projects in Tairāwhiti. We are proud to be supporting the restoration of our local ngahere while also contributing to a more resilient and biodiverse Aotearoa. The increasing frequency of climate events here and overseas highlights the critical need to improve sustainable outcomes in the built environment. While these challenges are significant, we view them as opportunities to innovate and evolve.

DStevens was built on values that remain as strong today as when our founder Derek Stevens started the business in 1955. From our humble beginnings, we have grown to offer our customers a comprehensive range of integrated building services, including construction, joinery and interiors. We are grateful for the understanding and patience of our customers in light of the many challenges we faced in 2023. Thank you for your ongoing support of our local business and for trusting us to bring your vision to life.

I am incredibly proud of the projects that we have delivered this year, and I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and determination of our team at DStevens. Your resilience and support of each other have helped us navigate an unprecedented time in the building industry.

We have some exciting projects ahead of us next year. Although there will be challenges, we are well-positioned to face these together. For now, I wish you a restful and enjoyable summer break spent with friends and family.

Peter Stevens
Managing Director