Hawke’s Bay’s longest established civil construction business Russell Roads has had a name change to Tūpore Infrastructure and will invest in excess of $10 million for growth.
Tūpore Infrastructure chief executive Gavin O’Connor said the name change was three-fold – ownership changes which first started in 2015, growth in the service offering from road and pavements to quarry operations and the region’s only operating asphalt plant.
He says growth aspirations started when former owner Chris Russell introduced locals Robbie and Michelle Gale as shareholders, who then became sole owners in 2019.
The Gale’s appointed Gavin as CE in 2022 to further grow the business and at a launch event of the new name, announced that Gavin and wife Katie have become part-owners.
“This is a new era for the business, at a time when the region is recovering from Cyclone Gabrielle and the devastation it caused.”
“We’ve been around for 50 years, with many long standing local staff, and we’re all committed to getting the region moving again, supplying materials for roads, bridges and pavements along with doing the mahi ourselves,” O’Connor said.
Robbie Gale said as part of the business strategy they explored what we would be known as into the future.”
“We are very grateful to have had the association with the Russell family, but we also look at our team, our business values and also the impact we have in the community.”
“Tūpore means to care for, and that really moved us – as we are very focussed on creating career opportunities for our staff, we also have a charitable foundation which supports those less fortunate and our day job of constructing roads, pathways and public spaces, enhances community outcomes.”
Gale said with Gavin now at the helm leading the day to day operations, Tūpore is well positioned to play a major role in the region’s rebuild, with current projects being the repair and rebuild of Devils Elbow on SH2, safety projects on SH51 Napier as well as other cyclone response works across Central Hawke’s Bay and Hastings District Council.
“Gavin has brought additional experience, expertise and a track record of delivering quality infrastructure projects throughout New Zealand. Having welcomed 36 new faces to the business in 2023 he’s backed by a 100 strong hard working team that are also committed to making the lives of fellow locals better.”
“We’re proud to see new people joining the industry and coming in to our business including through our work with Ministry for Social Development which has helped return people to work and had the added benefit of increasing our female field workforce from 1 to 8.
Tūpore is investing heavily in to the local economy with plans for a more modern and expanded Asphalt Plant and enhanced Aggregates business both earmarked for 2024.
First published by Stuff. Click here to read the full article.