Whangarei companies are feeling the benefits of economic growth in Auckland, with one company buying up an Auckland-based industrial and marine electrical company and an engineering firm scoring a new Waiheke Island contract that has created 24 jobs.
Whangarei Engineering has just employed the extra tradesmen to work on the construction of the new Countdown supermarket on Waiheke Island.
Managing director Ian Hendrikse confirmed to the Advocate that the company, with a workshop at the Port Whangarei Marine Centre, had delivered a team of 10 tradesmen to the Auckland job on Monday and would be fabricating a total of 300 tonnes of structural steel from Whangarei for framework for the new supermarket over the next three months.
The company confirmed that fabricators and welders were pushing out 25 tonnes of steel every week, and the first shipment of steel was also delivered on Monday for the $35 million store, due to be completed by the second quarter of 2016.
Mr Hendrikse, who took the helm at Whangarei Engineering in 2014, said there were opportunities for Northland companies in Auckland, but competing for the tenders called for compliance and best practice.