For builder Steve Robinson, above right, working on projects with local sports and community groups ensures that people in South Auckland have safe, fit-for-purpose facilities.

Steve and the team at Robinson Builders have partnered with the Wiri Licencing Trust for the past three years, providing advice, guidance and cost estimates to groups seeking funding from Trillian Trust.

“It can be quite daunting for these groups to figure out the process on their own, especially if they haven’t been involved in building projects before.”

Steve works with a team of reliable subcontractors he involves in the projects. Once the funding application has been granted, these local companies are ready to do the work required to restore local community facilities to a high standard.

“Many of these clubs and sporting organisations started in the 60s and 70s and ran on the smell of on oily rag. They’ve had zero maintenance or upgrades since then because they haven’t had funds available,” says Steve.

Without community relationships with organisations such as the Wiri Licensing Trust and support from funders such as Trillian Trust, the facilities will become unsafe and eventually need to close.

“And how do you get started again if you didn’t even have enough money to maintain what you had?”

Wiri Licensing Trust General Manager Kim Green says Steve and his team have been invaluable to the organisation, especially during its transition to a new head office in the old BNZ building, now known as Wiri Trust House, at 3 Ronwood Avenue.

“From day one, Steve was instrumental in ensuring the space was not only tailored to our needs but that all aspects of the project were handled with the utmost care and attention. He’s someone we trust implicitly, and that trust extends beyond just the work he does; it’s about his unwavering support and commitment to protecting the integrity of our commercial assets. The work he did to create a home for us, as well as for our newest commercial tenants, required time, precision, and dedication, and Steve consistently delivered.

“What truly sets Steve apart is his personal touch. Whether it’s answering emails, calls, or texts at all hours of the day, Steve makes it clear that no request is too small, and no issue too big. The respect he’s earned in the community is a direct reflection of the level of care and integrity he brings to everything he does. We are incredibly grateful for how he prioritises the needs of our community. Simply put, Steve is more than a builder—he’s a friend and Robinson Builders is a company we know we can rely on.”

Steve says one of the projects that stands out in his work with the Trust was the renovation at Tōtara Hospice, which created a Whānau Room where larger family groups can stay when a loved one is in hospice care at the end of their life.