About

About

Catalyst is a New Zealand success story, founded in 1999 with over 24 years of experience delivering commercial property solutions throughout the country.

Our purpose is to provide fast, commercially viable solutions that enable people and businesses to thrive. We offer true end-to-end design and build services to achieve this goal.

We have principal offices located in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, as well as satellite locations in key provincial centers throughout New Zealand. This allows us to provide commercial property design and/or build services for projects of varying scales.

Our team comprises of over 60 experienced architects, designers, project and construction managers who collaborate with you to design, manage, and construct your project while aligning with your specific goals.

Our Why

Our Values

Catalyst's core values, including "People at Heart," "Take Ownership," "Respect," and "Collaboration". These are more than just a brand promise - they're the driving force behind Catalyst's continued success.

People at Heart
At Catalyst, we firmly believe in the power of learning and growing as a whanau. By coming together as a family, we unlock limitless potential and achieve great things. Our whanau is built on a foundation of support, where everyone authentically contributes to the success of each other. People are truly at the heart of all that we do.
Take Ownership
At Catalyst, we hold ourselves to a high standard of commitment and excellence. When we say we are committed to delivering the undeliverable, we mean that we will go above and beyond to achieve the seemingly impossible. Our team takes full ownership of our roles, recognising that we are all responsible for ensuring our collective success. We hold ourselves accountable for the outcomes we produce and take pride in our work.
Respect
At Catalyst, respect is a core value that we hold dear. We firmly believe in leaving our egos at the door and accepting everyone for who they are and where they come from. We understand that each person brings their unique experiences and perspectives, and we value this diversity. By treating each other with respect, we foster a positive and inclusive work environment where everyone feels heard and valued. This allows us to collaborate effectively and achieve great things as a team.
Collaboration
We achieve one team - one result through collaboration and communication, open dialogue, knowledge sharing, and highlighting our powerhouse of knowledge and hero-ing-up our individual strengths. We have fun doing this along the way!

Sustainability

At Catalyst, sustainability is more than just a service we offer. It's the cornerstone of our business, woven into every aspect of what we do, from initial design concepts through to final delivery. As proud members of the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) and a Green Star company, we're committed to creating healthy and sustainable building environments that help people thrive and a better future for generations to come.

We have trained in-house team members including certified Green Star architects, designers and contracts managers. We work alongside our clients using globally recognised NZGBC tools to assist them through the certification process, enabling them to establish and achieve their environmental performance targets.

Recyclable and Recycling
We prioritise sustainability in the products we source, with a large proportion being 90% recyclable. We consider factors such as whether the product can be recycled and if it's made from recycled materials. We also specify products that contribute to reducing global waste.
Energy Efficiency
We prioritise efficiency and longevity when selecting products. For example, we choose LED lighting over traditional options and install sensors in rooms to control lights and temperature, reducing energy waste and providing cost savings over time. We also conduct lighting audits for clients and provide reports on energy use and alternative ways to save energy.
Carbon Footprint
We prioritise supporting locally made and sourced products to reduce our carbon footprint, although this can be a complex consideration. We also encourage clients to consider manufacturing ethics and life cycle impacts.
Sustainable Forests
Catalyst selects paper, wood and wallpaper products which have a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. This certification standard promotes responsible management of worldwide forests.
Environmental Efficiency
At Catalyst, we strive to reduce unnecessary waste and guide our clients towards sustainable solutions. We consider how to honor the interdependence of structure and human habitation in a sustainable manner, create comfortable and functional spaces, and incorporate natural and raw features into our designs.

Some clients specifically request environmental efficiencies, which we assess based on existing services, available time, and budget. We've developed a range of sustainability initiatives such as rainwater harvesting, solar collection, thermal reduction techniques, grey water re-usage, double glazing, low e-glass exterior, and more. These initiatives are designed to reduce energy waste and maximise sustainable opportunities.

Health & Safety

Catalyst has an extremely robust health and safety policy which underpins our exemplary construction site record. The constuction team are fully trained and undertake regular renewals to ensure they are across all new industry developments and initiatives. Catalyst is proud to have previously been nominated and a finalist for the Wellington Gold Awards- ACC Injury prevention as well finalist for Site Safe Leaders in Safety award demonstrating strong procedures for keeping our value chain healthy and safe. “Safe and healthy today, and tomorrow” is our Catalyst safety mantra.

Health and Safety Considerations in Awarding Contracts
Ask at least two subcontractor organisations to tender for work and award contracts based on health and safety processes, competencies, and pricing considerations.
Health & Safety Compliance Checklist
Maintain a current and complete H&S contractor compliance checklist and worker competency and tool register.
JSA/Method Statement and Hazard Identification
Request that successful tenderers provide a job safety assessment (JSA)/method statement for the specific work and warrant that they have identified all known hazards using their knowledge and experience.
On-site Oversight and Inspection
Assign a Catalyst representative to the work site to confirm that the JSA is being followed, agreed mitigations are in place, and a competent and certified operator is carrying out the work. For asbestos removal contracts, we conduct random inspections to ensure compliance.
Site Hazard Register
Implement the mitigations outlined in the site hazard register (elevated work platforms and scaffolds) as required.

Wellbeing

The construction industry loses nearly one person to suicide every week, which is a shocking and tragic statistic. At Catalyst, we are committed to making a positive difference by learning, investing, and supporting suicide prevention initiatives in the industry. We believe that addressing this issue requires a collective effort, as the Maori proverb says, "Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi engari i te toa takitini" - my strength is not that of a single warrior, but that of many. By partnering with organisations like Mates in Construction, we can collaborate and work towards continuous improvement in our efforts to support suicide prevention.

Programming
Significant time pressure can be a negative contributor to mental wellbeing. We combat this by consulting our subcontractors and their employees from early on in a project to allow adequate time to relieve unnecessary time pressures and the subsequent impact on mental wellbeing.
Raising Awareness
Site toolbox talks are carried out at all pre-start meeting with subcontractors, connecting subcontractors with external help such as Mates in Construction as a reminder help is available to navigate the mental health and wellbeing – we normalise this. We also seek to educate the industry right across our value chain as a more informed value chain is more likely to identify triggers and signs and set in place support mechanisms earlier.
Training
Catalyst construction delivery & site managers receive cyclical training in mental health, wellbeing and the importance of communication. By having an understanding and a trained management workforce we know this can make a difference.

Care for the Community

At Catalyst, we believe in giving back to the communities we serve. As a design and build organisation, we strive to listen, guide, and inspire our teams to deliver seamless construction projects for our clients.

Proud sponsors of Upper Hutt City Football
We know that true excellence comes when everyone involved works together as a unit and are proud to be supporting the coaching staff in the UHCF talent development programme to ultimately deliver a great footballing programme to youth footballers from the Upper Hutt region.

Catalyst is a true home-grown success story, so investing back in the communities that have helped us grow and where our staff live is our way of saying thank you to the Wellington community. As avid football fans, we hope through this partnership that we can help young footballers realise their goals and create their own home-grown success story.
Proud sponsors of the Mainland Eagles
We’re proud to support the Mainland Eagles Academy who utilise basketball as a medium to support the development of young people and coaches throughout the South Island.

This sponsorship enables us to not only give back to our South Island community but also to help inspire young people to understand who they are and how to be their best individual selves.
Proud to support Mates in Construction
Catalyst is committed to supporting mental health and wellbeing in the construction industry and supports Mates in Construction's efforts to prevent suicide in the construction industry.
Proud to Support Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter
Catalyst supports the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust (ARHT) and hold their work in the highest regard. Last year, ARHT conducted 1115 rescue missions (another record sadly), marking the ninth year in a row that they have been called upon to provide this level of operational availability.
Proud to support the Auckland City Mission
Proud to support Pink Ribbon New Zealand
Proud to support Whau River Catchment Trust

Innovation & Technology

At Catalyst, technology is a key component of our success. That's why we prioritise investing in cutting-edge, industry-leading technology to enhance our efficiencies, privacy, and security, and ensure auditable quality control for complete transparency in innovation. We continuously research and improve our technology solutions to stay ahead of the game and design projects to Green Star ratings whenever possible.

Diversity & Inclusion

Catalyst is dedicated to promoting and supporting an ethnically diverse workforce. Our team includes individuals from 15 different cultures, which brings innovation and diversity to our designs and delivery. We take pride in our commitment to building relationships with inclusive companies that prioritise and support inclusion and accessibility.

Bicultural Design

Catalyst (Waka Kotahi), travelling together recognises the value of teamwork in promoting an understanding of the protection of traditional cultural values. As members of Ngati Whatua o Orakei Marae, the team has been welcomed with open arms by the iwi, who have generously provided hospitality and education on the marae's history and future journey. This experience has highlighted the significance of effective communication in fostering collaboration and sharing knowledge to ensure high-quality outcomes for all parties involved.

It's not just about buildings; it's about building relationships - between our team and yours, as well as your people and the spaces in which they work. Contact us to learn more.

Contact