About us

'The Group is centred around complementary businesses – Hawkins Construction, Hawkins Infrastructure, McConnell Property, Steelpipe and Harker Underground Construction -  with a common passion for creating and building project based businesses.

We don't necessarily want to dominate; our focus is on strategic growth opportunities where we optimize our margin on risk and focus on being five years ahead of our competition.

 

McConnell Group History

The McConnell Family, the owners of the businesses making up McConnell Group, has a strong construction, infrastructure and property pedigree. In 1960 the late Malcolm McConnell co-founded McConnell Dowell and built this business into a leading international construction company*. He was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) for his services towards the export of engineering and New Zealand business.

The 1990s were a period of transition and change for the McConnell business interests. With the sale of all the McConnell family shareholding in McConnell Dowell* in 1992, McConnell International Limited was formed.

By 1995 McConnell International had officially changed its name to McConnell Limited and with the untimely death of Malcolm in the same year the next McConnell generation has continued to build on his legacy.

In 1996, McConnell Limited acquired 50% of Hawkins Construction. The subsequent acquisition of Steelpipe NZ and the founding of McConnell Property Limited made 1977 a momentous year and by 2001, the remaining 50% of Hawkins was purchased.

So who is McConnell Group?

McConnell Group is made up of a group of complementary businesses - Hawkins Construction, Hawkins Infrastructure, McConnell Property, Steelpipe, Harker Underground Construction and Element NZ.  As one of New Zealand's largest privately owned construction, property and infrastructure groups our passion is 'creating and building project based businesses.'

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Who leads McConnell Group?

The leadership of McConnell Group is made up of the combined leadership resource of Hawkins Construction, Hawkins Infrastructure, McConnell Property and Steelpipe. Chris Hunter, CEO Hawkins Construction; Peter Alexander, CEO Steelpipe and Commercial Manager McConnell Group; Nigel Richards, General Manager McConnell Property; Brian Fitzgerald, Executive General Manager Hawkins Infrastructure and David McConnell Managing Director McConnell Group; are part of the McConnell Group leadership team.  They see value in being part of a group, sharing and learning from each other through the complementary 'project and service focused' nature of the businesses. John McConnell is Executive Director and Mike Wardle Chief Financial Officer.

What is the role of McConnell Group?

The role of McConnell Group is to support and strengthen the operating businesses ensuring that targeted resources are put in place to support and strengthen the operating businesses.