In this issue of Channel we have a focus on building and renovation. It is very fitting that we are also featuring one of our local building company’s that places a strong emphasis on giving back – to their community and industry. That business is Edgecity Builders, who are celebrating 25 years of business over the next 12 months.

Edgecity Builders is owned and passionately operated by Takapuna identities, and husband and wife team, Nick Farrelly and Sharon Boyd. They are long-time residents of Takapuna and have their business based close-by in the Wairau area. They are proud to be living and working in their community.
The day I popped in to their Wairau Valley factory for a chat it was ‘grandson Thursday’ – the day of the week when Nick and Sharon look forward to the task of looking after their 17 month old grandson, Carter. He loves Pops’ toys at the factory!
Edgecity Builders specialise in high-end residential new builds, renovations and light commercial.
Nick and Edgecity Builders are members of the New Zealand Certified Builders Association, founded 26 years ago. Nick was an inaugural member. 26 years on Nick is the Chair of the association that has offices in Wellington, Christchurch and a National Support Office in Tauranga.
Nick Farrelly clearly has a focus on industry leadership and ensuring standards are high.
“I am proud of the leadership role we play in New Zealand Certified Builders Association. The association provides business support to members and their apprentices, and is the only builder association in the country where the minimum entry requirement is a recognised trade qualification in carpentry.”
Accordingly, Edgecity only employs trade qualified builders and provide pathways for all, with two former Westlake Boys High School students currently being trained as apprentices by the firm.
“At Edgecity we are supported by many business partners, merchants and suppliers, and in turn this enables us to provide leadership which includes supporting the likes of ‘MATES in Construction’ who give back to the sector,” adds Nick. “We had a recent morning ‘smoko’ that provided the opportunity for MATES in Construction’s Slade MacFarland, who’s well known on the Shore, to chat to the crew on one site and have them take time to complete a survey to help the industry.”
MATES in Construction is a national organisation with one simple aim – to reduce the number of lives lost to suicide in the construction industry. In 2019, construction had the highest male suicide rate for any occupational group.
Nick and Sharon’s support extends beyond their industry into the community. They are both active members of the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust (annual AIMES Youth Awards), they have also supported and sponsored highly ranked New Zealand BMX racer Leila Walker, since 2014.
In recent times two local projects they have been involved with have warmed their hearts. These were the construction of the ‘Whare’ at Westlake Girls High School, and assisting Abilities Group after the well-publicised fire that resulted in the devastating loss of their Hillside Road premises early this year.

Whare at Westlake Girls High School
Edgecity have been assisting Westlake Girls High School (WGHS) with building maintenance and repairs work for a decade. It’s work they love doing.
During the Covid lockdown period Nick and Sharon took the opportunity to qualify as Ministry of Education approved contractors, enabling them to tender for larger projects as part of the government public sector procurement process. This led to them winning a WGHS gymnasium weather tightness remediation project and a sports department refurbishment project for work that commenced in 2022.
“We were thrilled to get these projects which led to us then tendering and winning another very special project at WGHS,” said Sharon Boyd. “This was to build their new ‘Whare’ – their Maori meeting house. For us this was a start of a wonderful journey of working closely with a range of entities, and people, to bring this new facility to life.
“The WGHS Whare was formerly known as M9, a classroom within the music block. The task was to transform the classroom into a Whare, removing all the existing flat roof structure and re-pitching it with a steep pitched roofline. We enlarged the existing concrete foundation to extend the footprint. There were then some solid timber laminated beams running along the spine of the building which cantilevered out to create the front entrance.
“The project was led by WGHS and the Ministry of Education, it was designed by Houston Architects, and included a project management team from Octa. Our Edgecity team worked closely with this group to bring the project to life. Fortnightly meetings were held to ensure we met all build aspects of the contract and together all cultural aspects were met.
“We always said this was not just another build,” adds Sharon. “What we helped to create was a well-used community and school facility which will be a landmark for the future.”
Sharon says they engaged with Matua Hudson of the school very early on. Mr Eddie Hudson is WGHS Head of Department for Te Reo Māori.
“Nick and I understood Matua Hudson’s vision some years in advance, which was to have a Whare within the school. When we were awarded the tender we invited Matua Hudson to our Edgecity base to present to our crew on the cultural journey for our build project. We were then invited to the dawn service for the soil turning before construction commenced. Build started in June 2024 and was completed in February 2025. The official opening was a very special event held on Wednesday 7th May this year.”
WGHS Head Prefect, Julia Wilkins, had this to say about their new Whare at the opening… “This is a place of relevance. A place of love. And it’s just become even more special. Here is where cultures can come together. Where respect can flourish. Where we can feel the heart of Westlake, thumping proudly through the Earth”
WGHS Whare Head Prefect, Anahera Petera, included this in her address… “This Whare is so much more than a classroom, it shapes rangatahi. It gives them purpose. A place to be themselves. A sense of belonging. Te manawa o hinekahukura. The beating heart of our school.”
At the completion of the project Matua Eddie Hudson voiced his satisfaction with the part Edgecity played. “It has been such a cool journey having Edgecity involved with the project. Right from the start their passion and commitment was evident from the invitation to their business, presenting a power point which expressed the meaning, importance, and function our Whare Āhuru Mōwai (Place of shelter) was to have for Westlake Girls High School.”
WGHS principal Jane Stanley had this to say about the efforts of Edgecity. “Nick, Sharon and all at Edgecity builders, from day one through to completion, your passion and care for our Whare has been evident in everything you have done. It has been a privilege to work with you. Thank you.”
Sharon says that these Community/School projects are more than just structures, our grandchildren can be told Edgecity built them.
The Whare is now in use by the School with all cultural art and carvings to follow.

Helping in Abilities Group’s recovery
During May, Nick and Sharon were approached by an industry partner and friend, Lance Spalding, to see if Edgecity were able to provide assistance following the Abilities Group fire. Abilities had been donated a building in a neighbouring street to the home of Edgecity and they needed 21 tables to be built to enable their staff to return to work – their place of community and belonging.
Nick and Sharon reached out to their New Zealand Certified Builders Association ‘extended family’ as an opportunity to network whilst working together on a voluntary community project. It was a plan that resonated with the members as well as many other suppliers and supporters.
Materials were donated by Mitre 10 Wairau, facilitated by Roz Harvey of Mitre 10 Trade; Lunch was supplied by Hirepool (thanks to Shaun Owen, Marketing Manager) using their Sizzle Shack; Morning tea was supplied by Hillside ITM (Des Smith); and staff care packs were donated by Bunnings Trade Glenfield.
“It was heartwarming to see our building industry community come together,” said Nick Farrelly. “We colour coded a material cut sheet and drew the table plans enabling the build crew to work fast and efficiently on the day, and to minimise waste. We set up a working space within Abilities Group’s new premises with cut stations and work stations.
“Volunteers turned up on Saturday 14th June for an 8am start. The day commenced with a health and safety and general briefing, then worked commenced with me being one of the two project managers for the day. I was assisted by Peter Headland (also NZCB) assigning cut stations and roles for the day. We had qualified builders, a ‘rusty hammer’ (a retired NZCB member!), facilitators, merchant partners and Abilities staff and families throughout the day.
“It was a fantastic day that was enjoyed by everyone who took part, with lots of fun and banter and great networking. A highlight was when staff, families and build crew shared lunch together. This was also an opportunity for all to share some words of their own on what the day meant to them. Thanks were provided by Abilities Group, explaining what having tables in their new workplace meant for them.”
As Channel Mag was completing this issue the crews returned to Abilities Group for their community ‘thank you’ morning tea.
At a time when the building industry is in recovery it is great to seeing people like Sharon and Nick still loving what they’re doing and giving back in many different ways.

Contact Nick and Sharon at
Edgecity Builders
3d Target Court
Wairau Valley, North Shore,
Email: office@edgecitybuilders.co.nz
or Phone: 0275 821369
Visit: edgecitybuilders.co.nz