Robert Rowe

• After the sale of Turf and Drainage, Custom Made was established as a new company specialising in small-scale civil works. Projects include greenfield earthworks, drainage and finishing works such as car park preparation, kerbing, concrete and asphalt. The role also involves implementing and ensuring compliance with resource consent conditions, along with managing fleet and plant assets and overseeing all Health and Safety requirements.

Turf & Drainage Ltd
Director / Business Manager | Dairy Flat | 2012 – 2022

Founded and managed a specialist sports field construction and renovation company delivering open space, grounds maintenance, and civil works.

Key Responsibilities:

• Overall management of business operations, staff, finance, and growth.
• Tendering and estimating, including compilation of weighted/non-weighted attributes and pricing from first principles.
• Project programming using Microsoft Project and Excel; delivery of projects on time and within budget.
• Client liaison with Auckland Council, other councils, private clients, and contractors.
• Daily supervision of work crews (up to 20 staff) and plant/vehicle procurement.
• Health & Safety management, Site Safe compliance, and Environmental Management accreditation.
• Office management, job costing, budgets, material ordering, and financial administration (GST, PAYE, payroll via Xero).

City Parks Services was a major provider of parks, recreation, sports fields, and streetscape amenities for Auckland Council. I joined the organisation in July 2007 in a Business Development role, where I was responsible for tendering and securing the company’s primary income streams, working closely with the Group Manager.

This role was highly successful, securing approximately $25M per annum in future work for City Parks Services. In addition, I led and contributed to numerous projects that enhanced operational efficiency and added long-term value to the organisation, while also tendering for and securing additional contracts valued at approximately $5M per annum. Innovation played a key role in advancing the business and improving how services were delivered.

Key Responsibilities:

• Identifying and pursuing new business opportunities
• Client liaison, including negotiation of new and existing contracts
• Leading innovation initiatives to improve efficiency and business performance
• Tendering and estimating for major contracts
• Preparing and compiling tender attributes and supporting documentation

Techscape Ltd was a provider of parks and sports field maintenance services to Waitakere and North Shore City Councils. During my tenure, I was responsible for the operational management of two major maintenance contracts with a combined value of approximately $6M.

The role involved full contract delivery, client liaison with council representatives, business growth, and profit optimisation. I also had responsibility for recruitment, Health and Safety, and environmental management, ensuring all contractual and compliance requirements were met while maintaining high service standards.

Key Responsibilities:

• Identifying and pursuing new business opportunities
• Operational management of large-scale parks maintenance contracts
• Managing a workforce of approximately 50 staff
• Ordering and managing materials and supplies
• Fleet management and plant utilisation
• Driving innovation to improve operational performance and efficiency
• Managing computer systems to support peak operational performance
• Client liaison with council stakeholders
• Job costing and financial control
• Reviewing and analysing monthly financial reports

Following the acquisition of Stargate Services Ltd, I joined City Care Ltd in an operational management role. I was responsible for delivering Source Detection and Pipe Rehabilitation projects across the North Shore, including Devonport and Northcote Point.

At that time, City Care was newly established in the Auckland region, with a strong emphasis on securing additional work and growing the business. My role supported this growth through successful project delivery, client engagement, and maintaining high operational and compliance standards.

Stargate Services Ltd was a provider of water and wastewater maintenance services to Auckland City Council. I held the role of Wastewater Division Manager, with responsibility for managing all wastewater operations as well as delivering additional projects outside the standard scope of works.

The position involved end-to-end operational management, client liaison, and project delivery, ensuring contract performance, compliance, and service quality. During my tenure, Stargate Services Ltd was successfully sold to City Care Ltd, providing continuity of services under new ownership.