There’s something happening in Tauranga right now. It’s not just growth, it’s momentum. The kind that creates opportunity for engineers who want to step into something meaningful, shape a region, and be part of a team that’s building with intent.

For Mark Weber, recently appointed Regional Manager at Kirk Roberts, that’s exactly what stood out.

After years working across New Zealand and Australia in project and operational leadership roles, Mark was looking for something different.

“I was looking for a company with a genuine point of difference,” he says. “Kirk Roberts stood out on many levels, from our own land developments to an in-house software team. These capabilities give us the opportunity to help create futures in ways many others can’t.”

With the pace of change in technology and development, that combination of capability and thinking was a key drawcard.

A Region That Requires Innovation

Tauranga continues to grow, but it’s not without its challenges. For Mark, that’s part of the appeal.

“There’s some really strong talent in Tauranga, along with great clients delivering high-quality projects,” he says. “It’s a challenging market, and that demands innovation to succeed. That’s where I believe we can add real value.”

Across the region, increasing complexity is driving smarter thinking, particularly as projects respond to rising costs and land constraints.

The Work: Challenging and Evolving

The Tauranga market is seeing a steady pipeline of commercial work, with projects requiring careful consideration around cost, design, and delivery.

“Rising build costs and land constraints are driving some impressive value engineering outcomes,” Mark says. “It makes the work both challenging and rewarding.”

For experienced engineers, that means exposure to a broad range of projects and the opportunity to be part of practical, solution-focused delivery.

Building the Team

Alongside the work itself, Mark’s focus is firmly on the team.

“We’re focused on building a culture of team and customer care, supported by accountability and a solutions-focused mindset,” he says. “With the right people at our core, we’ll deliver strong results and enjoy what we’re doing.”

It’s an environment designed to support experienced engineers who want to take ownership, contribute to outcomes, and be part of a collaborative team.

Why Consider Tauranga

For those already established in their careers, making a move takes careful consideration. For Mark, the opportunity in Tauranga is about more than just the role.

“This is an opportunity to build a genuinely fulfilling career around what excites you,” he says. “You’re supported by a team that wants to see you grow and succeed.”

And outside of work, Tauranga offers a lifestyle that continues to draw people to the region.

“You won’t regret it. It’s a company with a clear direction, a team that genuinely enjoys what they do, and a location that caters to a wide range of lifestyles.”

Tauranga Photo by Uran Wang on Unsplash

Kirk Roberts is strengthening our presence in the Greater Wellington Region, marking our continued commitment to national multidiscipline growth and supporting clients with high-quality, practical engineering solutions throughout Wellington, Porirua, Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt.

Building on previous project delivery in Wellington, this expansion reflects both increasing demand for our services and our commitment to being closer to the clients and communities we deliver solutions to.

We’re delighted to welcome Atharva Pisolkar, who joins Kirk Roberts as a Site Engineer based in Wellington.

Atharva’s appointment enhances our on-the-ground capability and reinforces our focus on consistency, quality assurance and responsive service across structural, geotechnical, civil and environmental inspections.

As we expand, our purpose remains the same, delivering engineering excellence and solutions, finding better ways, and partnering with our clients. We look forward to supporting the next wave of Wellington projects and continuing to build strong, enduring relationships across the region.

Kirk Roberts is proud to announce that Mark Weber has officially stepped into the role of Regional Manager – Tauranga, effective 29 January 2026.

This marks an exciting new chapter for our Tauranga office and reflects our commitment to thoughtful, values-led succession planning.

After more than 12 years of dedicated leadership in the region, Craig Manssen formally stepped aside from the Regional Manager role on 27 February 2026, following a structured handover period to ensure continuity for our clients and team.

A Strong Foundation

Craig’s leadership has been instrumental in establishing Kirk Roberts as a trusted engineering partner across the Bay of Plenty. His steady guidance, technical depth, and commitment to quality have shaped a high-performing team and a respected regional presence.

Importantly, Craig’s journey with KR continues. He remains part of the business in a consulting capacity as a CPEng Principal Engineer, providing technical expertise and support across Tauranga and beyond.

Craig Manssen says:

“Leading Tauranga for the past 12 years has been a privilege. I’m proud of what the team has built and confident in the strength of the foundations in place. Mark brings fresh energy and strong leadership capability, and I’m pleased to continue supporting the team and our clients in this next phase.”

Ollie Behrent has been appointed Regional Manager – Queenstown, marking an important step in the continued growth and dedicated leadership of the region.

Based in Queenstown, Ollie is an experienced Engineering Geologist with a strong track record delivering specialist geotechnical investigations and assessments throughout the Queenstown Lakes District. He is known for his technical depth, practical and cost-effective thinking, and the trusted relationships he builds with clients, contractors, stakeholders, and the wider community.

CEO Jade Kirk shared:

“Ollie is a highly respected leader with deep technical expertise and strong relationships across the Queenstown and Central Otago region. His progression is a great example of how we support our people to grow into leadership through our High-Performance Pathways.”

Lynda McIntosh, GM Operations, People and Culture, added:

“It’s genuinely rewarding to see our High Performance Pathways come to life, particularly through the planned succession placement of Ollie Behrent into the Regional Manager role.”

Ollie’s appointment reinforces our commitment to strong local leadership in Queenstown and continued specialist geotechnical expertise across Central Otago.

At Kirk Roberts, we’re competitive. We want to deliver the best for both our people and our clients. This drive led us to examine our learning and development processes, asking: how can we better support our team to reach their full potential?

With launching our High Performance Pathways (HPP) programme – an internal initiative designed to bring clarity to career progression, streamline individual learning and automate support and mentorship – it’s important we focus in on the vision we are working towards.

We sat down with Kirk Roberts-sponsored elite kayaker Courtney Williams, who’s been competing internationally since 2016, to explore what separates good from world-class.

The 1% Better Philosophy

“How can I be 1% better than the day before?” Courtney asks. “Challenge yourself to show up every day and give your 100%, whatever that 100% is on that day.”

We understand high-performance isn’t about dramatic transformations or overnight success. It’s about consistent, incremental improvement. Some days your 100% might feel like 20%, but showing up consistently is what builds elite performance over time.

With our new internal programme this translates to continuous skill development, regular mentorship check-ins, actionable steps and celebration of the small improvements that together result in great outcomes, for clients and the company as a whole.

The Power of Reflection

When asked about lifting team performance, Courtney’s advice is simple: “Reflect on where you’re at currently. Review it and have those conversations. If you can identify issues, it makes it easier to plan ahead.”

Regular reflection, both individual and team-based, creates the foundation for meaningful development. HPP is designed to strengthen manager and mentor relationships, making the hard conversations easier to have by turning them into supported opportunities for learning and growth.

Courtney lived this last year after dislocating her shoulder at a World Cup event. With her support team around her and a step-by-step recovery plan, she worked through each phase. The result: a stronger comeback and personal best results this year.

We develop our people and our business the same way: with clarity, honesty, and resilience. Challenges and setbacks are part of any growth story. By reflecting on where we are and identifying where support is needed, we can plan deliberately, turning hardship into learning, and learning into progress.

Kirk Roberts Consulting is pleased to announce we have once again maintained our SiteWise Gold status, achieving a 96% score in our most recent assessment.

“This outcome reflects the consistent effort and care our teams bring to every project. Health and Safety is integrated into our planning, our communication, and the way we support one another, it’s simply how we operate.” — Steve Temple, Regional Manager

At Kirk Roberts, Health & Safety always comes first. It’s the first agenda item in every meeting and is backed by certified systems, SiteSafe-trained staff, and ongoing safety training programmes that empower our people to manage risk on every site. We also invest in staff wellbeing, recognising that mental health and a strong safety culture go hand in hand.

This result is a direct reflection of the commitment shown by our people across the business who prioritise safety every day, in the office, on site, and in all aspects of our work. Thank you for your continued focus and dedication.