NZ’s Largest Industrial Property & Construction Firm Calder Stewart Marks 70 Years and Expands into New Sectors
NZ’s largest industrial property and construction firm, Calder Stewart, is celebrating 70 years of operations and signalling plans to expand into new growth sectors including forestry and renewable energy. The milestone reflects the company’s evolution from a small rural builder in Otago to a nationwide leader driving the country’s industrial infrastructure.
Seven Decades of Building New Zealand’s Industrial Backbone
Founded in 1955 by Bruce Stewart and Lance Calder in Milton, Otago, Calder Stewart has grown into one of the nation’s largest vertically integrated construction and property groups. Over the past three years, it has delivered more than $1.5 billion in developments across the country, including logistics hubs, civic buildings and manufacturing facilities for clients such as Fonterra, KiwiRail and regional councils.
Ben Stewart, Director of Property, says the anniversary marks both a reflection on the company’s past and a strategic look ahead. “This milestone isn’t just about looking back, it’s about our next chapter. We’re expanding into renewable energy, forestry and capital markets. As a private family business, we have the agility to pursue opportunities that deliver long term value for New Zealand’s economy.”
Family Leadership and Future Growth for Calder Stewart
Alan Stewart, Executive Director and part of the second generation of leadership, says the company’s success continues to be grounded in the entrepreneurial values of its founders. “My father and Lance were genuine entrepreneurs who took calculated risks and backed their people. That spirit still drives us. We’ve always believed in investing for the long term in our communities, our people and the infrastructure that keeps New Zealand moving.”
The firm is advancing new projects in wind and solar energy and developing co-investment property funds allowing New Zealanders to invest alongside the Stewart family in high value commercial and industrial assets.
Celebrating 70 Years of Progress and Partnership
The 70 year celebration in Milton brought together more than 500 current and former staff from across the country. The event highlighted Calder Stewart’s latest developments, including the Revolution Hills business campus, Millburn Quadrant and its expanding forestry operations. It also showcased the privately funded cycleway that connects with the Otago trail network, symbolising the company’s commitment to regional infrastructure and community investment.
Ben Stewart says the gathering was as much about the future as the past. “It was about recognising the people who build the next generation of industrial infrastructure for this country. We wanted our team to engage with our vision and understand how they’re helping shape the next era of New Zealand industry.”
Expanding National Footprint and Future Vision
From its beginnings in Otago, Calder Stewart now operates nationwide with offices in Auckland, Waikato and throughout the South Island. Its projects form much of the backbone of New Zealand’s productive economy, providing industrial spaces that support logistics, food manufacturing and supply chain networks.
As the company enters its eighth decade, it is positioning itself to play a key role in New Zealand’s transition toward renewable energy and modernised infrastructure. “Seventy years on, we’re still building for the future,” says Stewart. “The sectors might evolve but our purpose remains the same, to create spaces that enable New Zealand businesses to thrive.”
The story was featured by 1News and Stuff, highlighting the firm’s leadership in industrial development and renewable energy investment.
About Calder Stewart’s Legacy
Established in 1955, Calder Stewart is a New Zealand owned construction and property development company delivering large scale industrial and commercial projects across the country. The company’s vertically integrated model, from design and construction through to property ownership and management, enables long term investment in the nation’s economic and regional growth.
Strategic Communications and Industry Insight
As one of the top PR agencies new zealand businesses turn to for high impact campaigns, Impact PR supports major infrastructure and property firms in sharing their innovation and sustainability stories with national audiences. The agency works with clients across the construction, property and renewable sectors to build visibility, manage reputation and position their leadership in the media landscape.
For more context on the renewable energy transition shaping New Zealand’s infrastructure, visit the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for sector updates and policy insights.