Through economic uncertainty and the ongoing recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle, our team has continued to thrive, delivering exceptional projects and supporting our clients and community along the way.

Peter Stevens, Managing Director of DStevens, reflects on the achievements and challenges of 2024 in his year-end summary.

Team,

As 2024 draws to a close, I want to take a moment to celebrate what we have achieved together this year. Despite an environment of economic challenges in New Zealand and the ongoing recovery efforts following Cyclone Gabrielle continuing to impact Gisborne, we have continued to thrive, proving once again the strength and resilience of our team.

Firstly, I want to welcome our new team members who joined DStevens this year. We aim to provide you with a positive, progressive, and productive working environment and create a culture that enables you to do your best work each day. It is always exciting starting at a new workplace. I hope you have settled in well and are finding the work to be both exciting and rewarding.

Building Our Future Together

This year has been marked by a wide range of projects, each unique in scope and importance, reflecting our commitment to excellence in construction.

In the education sector, we completed work on Te Hinatore at Lytton High School, a beautifully refurbished hall that will serve the school and community for many years to come. We also returned to Sean Shivnan Pharmacy, originally built by DStevens in 2000, to undertake an external refurbishment – a rewarding project that allowed us to enhance a longstanding community facility. At Dunblane Lifecare Village, we converted an existing lounge into three private bedroom suites, adding comfort and privacy for new residents.

We have also been busy with many renovations and additions to homes across Gisborne, each tailored to meet the needs of our clients. Looking ahead, we are excited to be starting several new homes as we move into 2025.

Alongside these projects, our workshop teams have made a tremendous impact, manufacturing outstanding aluminium windows and doors, crafting bespoke timber joinery, and bringing to life beautiful kitchens for our clients. In addition, our own showroom received a fresh update earlier this year, with a brighter look, new products, and displays designed to assist clients in creating their dream kitchens.

Projects like these are great examples of what DStevens can deliver for our clients with our long-standing experience and expertise. The craftsmanship demonstrated by our teams is integral to DStevens’ reputation for quality, and I want to thank each of you for the work you do.

Outstanding Achievements in Health & Safety

For the third consecutive year, our health and safety practices were recognised with a 100% rating in an independent audit conducted by SiteWise. This remarkable achievement reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a safe environment for our team, clients, subcontractors, and the community. Thank you for your adherence to our health and safety practices. As always, I am interested to hear from you about how we can continually improve our systems and processes to create positive safety outcomes.

Making a Positive Impact

Our commitment to sustainability has also grown, and this year we partnered with Trees That Count again by donating an additional 100 native trees to community projects. This contribution is a small but important part of our efforts to support environmental resilience and biodiversity here in Tairāwhiti. We are proud to contribute to a more sustainable Aotearoa and look forward to expanding our construction waste reduction initiatives in the year ahead.

Looking Ahead

Next year marks a significant milestone for DStevens as we celebrate our 70th anniversary since the company was founded by Derek Stevens. Over the decades, we have grown from humble beginnings to be a trusted name in construction, joinery, and interiors – while staying true to the values of quality and service that Derek built this company on. Our commitment to trust, craftsmanship, people, and the environment continues to shape our work, making sure that each project reflects the trust and dedication that have defined us for generations. It is a privilege to be part of this legacy, and I am excited about what we will accomplish together as we celebrate this milestone next year.

Thank you for everything you do. Your hard work and passion are what make DStevens exceptional. I hope you take the opportunity to relax and enjoy the summer with family and friends, knowing we have achieved so much together this year.

Peter Stevens
Managing Director