Every business has a beginning. Ours was pretty humble.

Ascon started in Ōtara, working out of a family garage, with an idea of what we wanted to build and plenty to learn along the way.

We didn’t have everything figured out. We were finding our feet, learning how to run a business, building relationships, and working out how to turn an opportunity into something that could last.

What we did have was experience in construction, a strong work ethic, and a genuine desire to create opportunities for our people.

Today, Ascon is a Māori values-driven labour-hire business supplying skilled personnel to civil construction and infrastructure projects across Aotearoa.

It’s been a journey. And we’ve learnt a hell of a lot along the way.

Where It All Began

It was the end of 2020, and COVID had changed life as we knew it.

New Zealand had been through lockdowns, international travel was restricted, and the construction industry was feeling the effects. Projects were struggling to access experienced workers, particularly in specialist areas where the industry had relied on people coming in from overseas.

We could see what was happening, and it raised some questions for us. Why were we so dependent on overseas workers? Why weren't we doing more to train and upskill people already living here? Why weren't we creating opportunities for local people to build careers in an industry that clearly needed them?

We knew there were good people in our communities who wanted to work. Some had experience but struggled to find steady employment. Others had the right attitude and willingness to learn but needed someone to give them a chance.

Around the same time, an opportunity came through Auckland's City Rail Link.

There were experienced Kiwi tunnellers working overseas who wanted to return home. COVID had made life difficult for people living away from their families, and many were looking for opportunities to come back to New Zealand.

City Rail Link needed skilled tunnelling personnel, and we had an opportunity to help those returned kiwis into employment on the project.

It was a win win for everyone involved. The project needed experienced people, the workers wanted to return to their whānau, and we had the chance to establish Ascon in an industry we understood.

There was just one problem. We didn't have the money to start a business.

We still owned a house in Melbourne, and after deciding we weren't moving back to Aussie, we made the decision to sell it and put that money into getting Ascon off the ground.

It was a big commitment for our whanau, especially at a time when there was so much uncertainty. We were putting our own money into something that hadn't yet proven itself.

But we believed there was an opportunity to build a pākihi that could create work for people and contribute something worthwhile to the industry.

So we took the chance.

Two People on City Rail Link

We started with two people.

Those first placements meant a lot. We'd committed ourselves financially, and now we had workers relying on us and a client trusting us to deliver.

Over time, that opportunity grew, and so did our workforce. Those early experiences taught us more than we expected and gave us the confidence to keep going.

Our people have worked across tunnelling, civil construction, site logistics, skilled labour, machine operation and supervision. That includes tunnelling under Karanga-ā-Hape, the Normanby Bridge foundations, and civil support and site supervision at Beresford Square.

Some came to us with years of construction experience. Others were stepping onto a major infrastructure project for the first time.

We've watched people learn new skills, gain confidence, take on responsibility, and become experienced workers in their own right. Some have stayed with us through different stages of the project, while others have moved on to new opportunities with the experience they've gained.

And we've grown alongside them.

Working on a project of this scale has taught us a lot about planning, communication, leadership, and putting capable people in the right roles. It's also taught us the importance of understanding the people we're supplying and making sure they have the support they need.

There have been early starts, night shifts, long days, difficult conditions and plenty of challenges. But there have been some amazing people.

Supervisors who shared what they knew. Workers who looked out for each other. People who backed us and trusted us to deliver.

Those relationships have meant a lot to us. Many of the opportunities we've had along the way have come from people getting to know us, seeing how we work, and giving us a chance.

We're grateful for that.

Learning How to Run a Business

There's a lot that goes into running a labour-hire business that people don't see.

Finding work is one part of it. Then there's recruitment, payroll, compliance, health and safety, training, managing people, and keeping the business going. When you're a small business, you're often wearing several hats at once, and the work doesn't always finish when everyone else knocks off.

We've had our share of challenges. Workers who didn't work out, difficult conversations, projects coming to an end, and times when we've had to rethink how we were doing things.

We've made mistakes. We've had to make some hard calls. And we've learnt that good intentions need good systems, clear expectations, and the willingness to deal with problems when they show up.

There have been times when running the business has been stressful. When you're responsible for people's employment, you think about the work coming in, the people relying on you, and the decisions you need to make to keep things moving.

Some lessons have been harder than others, but they've helped shape how we run Ascon today.

We've put a lot of effort into strengthening our health and safety practices, improving how we recruit and support workers, and building better processes behind the scenes. Some of that work has been frustrating, and some of it has taken longer than we'd like.

But we can look back now and see how much we've learnt.

We're still learning, and we probably always will be.

The People Behind the Business

If there's one thing this journey has taught us, it's how much people matter.

We've had workers who stuck with us through different projects and different stages of their careers. We've watched people grow from needing guidance on site to becoming the ones others turn to for help.

We've seen the pride that comes from learning a new skill, earning a qualification, or being trusted with more responsibility. And some people have moved on to other opportunities, taking what they've learnt with them.

That's part of the journey too.

One of the reasons we started Ascon was because we wanted to see more opportunities for local people. Four years on, that still matters to us.

We know construction can offer people a good career, but everyone has to start somewhere. Having experienced people willing to teach, supervisors who take the time to guide someone, and employers who are prepared to give people an opportunity can make a real difference.

We've seen that happen with our own workers, and it's something we want to keep building on.

Behind every worker is a whānau, and we know what the work can ask of them. Early mornings, long hours, night shifts and time spent away from home.

Our own whānau have been part of this journey as well. They've seen the hours, the pressure, the ups and downs, and the work that goes on long after everyone else has knocked off.

When we sold our house in Melbourne, we had no idea exactly where this journey would take us. We knew we were taking a chance, and we knew we'd have to work hard to make it worthwhile.

Looking back, we're grateful for the people who have helped us along the way. Our workers, our clients, our families, and the people who believed in Ascon when we were still finding our feet.

We haven't forgotten that.

What Mahi with Mana Means to Us

Mahi with Mana has become an important part of who we are.

It reflects the values we were raised with and the way we want to carry ourselves in business. Respecting people, taking responsibility, looking after one another, and being proud of the work we do.

Those values are easy to talk about when things are going well. The real test comes when things get hard.

When someone needs support. When a worker makes a mistake. When a client raises a concern. When you have to make a decision that isn't easy.

How you handle those moments says a lot about who you are.

We've learnt that looking after people sometimes means having difficult conversations, setting clear expectations, and holding ourselves accountable for the decisions we make.

We don't always get everything right. But we care about getting it right, and we're prepared to do the work.

That's what Mahi with Mana means to us.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we come to the end of 2024, we've been reflecting on how far Ascon has come.

From a family garage in Ōtara, selling our house in Melbourne to get started, and helping experienced Kiwi tunnellers return home to work on City Rail Link, to having our people contribute across some of New Zealand's biggest infrastructure work.

That's something we're incredibly proud of.

We're proud of the people who have worn the Ascon name, the relationships we've built, and the opportunities we've been able to create. We're also proud that we've kept going, learning and growing through everything that comes with running a business.

There's still plenty we want to achieve in 2025.

We want to keep developing skilled workers, supporting local employment, and building relationships with clients who value what our people bring. We want to see more people in our communities getting the chance to learn from experienced workers and build careers in construction.

Those questions we were asking back in 2020 are still important to us. We know there's a lot more we can do, and we want to keep doing our part.

Most of all, we want to build a business our whānau and our people can be proud to be part of.

When we first started, we couldn't have imagined everything that would happen along the way. There have been some tough days, plenty of lessons, and a lot of good people who have helped us get this far.

And we're grateful for all of it.

To everyone who has been part of Ascon's journey so far, ngā mihi nui.

Here's to another year of hard work, good people, and opportunities ahead.

Mahi with Mana. In all ways. Always.