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This week, we welcome Ben Kevey-Maiden, founder of New Wave Construction, to the Better Builder podcast as we sit down on location in St Luke's, Auckland, inside the striking little commercial building he built off the side of his family's car wash. Ben has built a reputation across Auckland for bringing complex, high-end architectural designs to life, with a craftsman's eye for detail and finish.

In this episode, Ben pulls back the curtain on the technical reality of the build, from setting footings into solid basalt rock to pouring a cantilevered concrete staircase that hangs off the side of the building. He shares how he came up through an old-school apprenticeship, cut his teeth on high-end projects in London, and went out on his own to build a deliberately small, tight-knit team he treats as equals. Ben also opens up on the honest stuff: the "circle of trust" that holds a project together, learning to step back from working every night, and how family, meditation and staying on the tools keep him grounded. He explains why he has never needed to market, why he would rather stay small than become "a guy behind an email signature," and how early collaboration with the right architect keeps projects running on time and on budget.

Social Links 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcast

Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterbuilderpodcast

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betterbuilderstudio

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-builder-podcast

Linktree - https://linktr.ee/betterbuilderpodcast

Better Builder is hosted by Brad Visser. Brad is the CEO and founder of Gro, a builder centric agency that helps custom home builders attract higher quality projects. 

Brad’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/betterbradvisser

Gro’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gro.agency

Gro’s Offer https://builder.groagency.co/vsl

Disclaimer
This podcast does not constitute professional advice (financial, legal or otherwise) and you should seek your own professional advice where required. By listening to and/or accessing this podcast you acknowledge this, and you acknowledge that no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy of any information featured in this ...

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This week on the Better Builder podcast, we sit down with Ben Lloyd from Lloyd Hartley Architects, on location at a small St Luke's office he designed in the corner of a busy Auckland car wash. Ben shares what it really takes to run a small architecture practice, how he guides clients through a stressful once-in-a-lifetime build, why holding firm on budget matters, and why early builder involvement is a game-changer for keeping projects on time and on budget.

Social Links 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcast

Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterbuilderpodcast

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betterbuilderstudio

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-builder-podcast

Linktree - https://linktr.ee/betterbuilderpodcast

Better Builder is hosted by Brad Visser. Brad is the CEO and founder of Gro, a builder centric agency that helps custom home builders attract higher quality projects. 

Brad’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/betterbradvisser

Gro’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gro.agency

Gro’s Offer https://builder.groagency.co/vsl

Disclaimer
This podcast does not constitute professional advice (financial, legal or otherwise) and you should seek your own professional advice where required. By listening to and/or accessing this podcast you acknowledge this, and you acknowledge that no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy of any information featured in this ...

Send us Fan Mail

Lawrence is a second-year building apprentice from Tauranga who joins Brad for an honest chat about life on the tools. He breaks down how the apprenticeship actually works: the trainer visits, the night classes, the book work, and the mistakes along the way. They cover site culture, the first-year learning curve, why he chose the trades, and what makes a good apprentice. Plus a rapid-fire round on tools, energy drinks, rugby and more.

Social Links 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcast

Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterbuilderpodcast

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betterbuilderstudio

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-builder-podcast

Linktree - https://linktr.ee/betterbuilderpodcast

Better Builder is hosted by Brad Visser. Brad is the CEO and founder of Gro, a builder centric agency that helps custom home builders attract higher quality projects. 

Brad’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/betterbradvisser

Gro’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gro.agency

Gro’s Offer https://builder.groagency.co/vsl

Disclaimer
This podcast does not constitute professional advice (financial, legal or otherwise) and you should seek your own professional advice where required. By listening to and/or accessing this podcast you acknowledge this, and you acknowledge that no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy of any information featured in this ...

Send us Fan Mail

This week on the Better Builder podcast, we sit down with Matt Garlick, founder of Supreme Builders NZ, to talk about what it actually takes to execute high-end architectural construction in some of the most remote, awkward locations across the Bay of Islands. Originally a carpenter from Kent, UK, Matt moved to New Zealand at age 22 and has spent the last two decades cutting his teeth on complex, regional builds.

In this episode, Matt pulls back the curtain on the brutal logistical challenges of island building—including the extreme management required to shuffle subcontractors back and forth via workboats with limited passenger capacity, and what happens when your concrete pump breaks down on a secluded island mid-pour. He also shares his approach to fostering a tight, hands-on crew culture, mentoring Gen-Z apprentices, and transitioning from an employee to a business owner handling complex architectural expectations.

Social Links 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcast

Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterbuilderpodcast

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betterbuilderstudio

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-builder-podcast

Linktree - https://linktr.ee/betterbuilderpodcast

Better Builder is hosted by Brad Visser. Brad is the CEO and founder of Gro, a builder centric agency that helps custom home builders attract higher quality projects. 

Brad’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/betterbradvisser

Gro’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gro.agency

Gro’s Offer https://builder.groagency.co/vsl

Disclaimer
This podcast does not constitute professional advice (financial, legal or otherwise) and you should seek your own professional advice where required. By listening to and/or accessing this podcast you acknowledge this, and you acknowledge that no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy of any information featured in this ...

Send us Fan Mail

Architect Paul joins the Better Builder podcast for our second outdoor episode of the season, sitting down on location to discuss the brutal realities of building on an island. From navigating the nightmare logistics of ferry-bound concrete trucks and winter storms to making 2,600 boat trips over the water, Paul pulls back the curtain on what it truly takes to project manage a build isolated from the mainland.⁠

Social Links 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcast

Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterbuilderpodcast

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betterbuilderstudio

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-builder-podcast

Linktree - https://linktr.ee/betterbuilderpodcast

Better Builder is hosted by Brad Visser. Brad is the CEO and founder of Gro, a builder centric agency that helps custom home builders attract higher quality projects. 

Brad’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/betterbradvisser

Gro’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gro.agency

Gro’s Offer https://builder.groagency.co/vsl

Disclaimer
This podcast does not constitute professional advice (financial, legal or otherwise) and you should seek your own professional advice where required. By listening to and/or accessing this podcast you acknowledge this, and you acknowledge that no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy of any information featured in this ...

Send us Fan Mail

Charlie is a 19-year-old, third-year building apprentice from Auckland who joins Brad for an honest chat about life on the tools. From a school work-experience day on a commercial site to choosing residential building over sparky or plumbing work, Charlie breaks down how the apprenticeship actually works — the training, the book work, the pay structure, and the mistakes (and injuries) along the way. They talk site culture, staying motivated through winter, ignoring the "get rich quick" hype on social media, and what it takes to be a good apprentice. Plus a rapid-fire round on tools, music, festivals, and more.

Social Links 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcast

Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterbuilderpodcast

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betterbuilderstudio

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-builder-podcast

Linktree - https://linktr.ee/betterbuilderpodcast

Better Builder is hosted by Brad Visser. Brad is the CEO and founder of Gro, a builder centric agency that helps custom home builders attract higher quality projects. 

Brad’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/betterbradvisser

Gro’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gro.agency

Gro’s Offer https://builder.groagency.co/vsl

Disclaimer
This podcast does not constitute professional advice (financial, legal or otherwise) and you should seek your own professional advice where required. By listening to and/or accessing this podcast you acknowledge this, and you acknowledge that no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy of any information featured in this ...

Send us Fan Mail

For our second outdoor episode of the Better Builder podcast, we are on location in Mangawhai with architect Tim Dorrington, founder of Dorrington Atcheson Architects. Tim sits down to share the realities of running a modern practice, his mid-century design philosophies, and how a close shorthand with local builders creates a massive competitive advantage for clients.  

We dive deep into how early builder collaboration keeps complex, seven-figure residential projects strictly on budget, the art of reading micro-expressions to figure out how a client actually lives, and his disruptive "Pocket House" and "Basic Batch" initiatives designed to give everyday Kiwis access to premium, architectural design licenses for a fraction of the cost.

Social Links 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcast

Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterbuilderpodcast

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betterbuilderstudio

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-builder-podcast

Linktree - https://linktr.ee/betterbuilderpodcast

Better Builder is hosted by Brad Visser. Brad is the CEO and founder of Gro, a builder centric agency that helps custom home builders attract higher quality projects. 

Brad’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/betterbradvisser

Gro’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gro.agency

Gro’s Offer https://builder.groagency.co/vsl

Disclaimer
This podcast does not constitute professional advice (financial, legal or otherwise) and you should seek your own professional advice where required. By listening to and/or accessing this podcast you acknowledge this, and you acknowledge that no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy of any information featured in this ...

Send us Fan Mail

This week, we welcome back a returning favourite to the Better Builder podcast as we sit down on location in Mangawhai with Nick Smith, founder of Smith Construction. Nick has built an incredible reputation across Greater Northland for executing complex, high-end architectural homes.

In this episode, Nick pulls back the curtain on the business reality of scaling to 15 staff, the mental hurdles of stepping off the tools, and how he turned a steep, intimidating "ugly duckling" forestry site into a seven-figure architectural masterpiece. He also shares critical insights on navigating harsh coastal building environments and why early builder involvement is a game-changer for keeping projects on time and on budget

Social Links 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcast

Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterbuilderpodcast

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betterbuilderstudio

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-builder-podcast

Linktree - https://linktr.ee/betterbuilderpodcast

Better Builder is hosted by Brad Visser. Brad is the CEO and founder of Gro, a builder centric agency that helps custom home builders attract higher quality projects. 

Brad’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/betterbradvisser

Gro’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gro.agency

Gro’s Offer https://builder.groagency.co/vsl

Disclaimer
This podcast does not constitute professional advice (financial, legal or otherwise) and you should seek your own professional advice where required. By listening to and/or accessing this podcast you acknowledge this, and you acknowledge that no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy of any information featured in this ...

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Andrew joins us fresh off a lecture tour in the US to discuss his incredible career and what it takes to design world-class structures. From winning a major national housing award three times early in his career to running a premium 25-person practice, Andrew pulls back the curtain on the real relationship between architects, clients, and builders.  

We dive deep into why New Zealand is an architect's ultimate playground, how Patterson Associates uses a "reverse brief" to guarantee project success, the future of AI in architecture, and why the best builders are moving away from cold emails to physically demonstrating their value.

Social Links 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcast

Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterbuilderpodcast

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betterbuilderstudio

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-builder-podcast

Linktree - https://linktr.ee/betterbuilderpodcast

Better Builder is hosted by Brad Visser. Brad is the CEO and founder of Gro, a builder centric agency that helps custom home builders attract higher quality projects. 

Brad’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/betterbradvisser

Gro’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gro.agency

Gro’s Offer https://builder.groagency.co/vsl

Disclaimer
This podcast does not constitute professional advice (financial, legal or otherwise) and you should seek your own professional advice where required. By listening to and/or accessing this podcast you acknowledge this, and you acknowledge that no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy of any information featured in this ...

Send us Fan Mail

This month on BBA, we chat with Luka Noad, a third-year building apprentice with Builders Academy NZ. After leaving school in Year 12 and cold-emailing over 50 companies to land his first role, Luka knows better than most how hard it is to break into the trades.

In this episode, Luka talks about the reality of getting your first apprenticeship, what separates good apprentices from bad ones, and why he's tuning out the "escape the trades" noise on social media.

Social Links 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterbuilderpodcast

Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterbuilderpodcast

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betterbuilderstudio

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-builder-podcast

Linktree - https://linktr.ee/betterbuilderpodcast

Better Builder is hosted by Brad Visser. Brad is the CEO and founder of Gro, a builder centric agency that helps custom home builders attract higher quality projects. 

Brad’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/betterbradvisser

Gro’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gro.agency

Gro’s Offer https://builder.groagency.co/vsl

Disclaimer
This podcast does not constitute professional advice (financial, legal or otherwise) and you should seek your own professional advice where required. By listening to and/or accessing this podcast you acknowledge this, and you acknowledge that no warranty, guarantee or representation is made as to the accuracy of any information featured in this ...