Foreman James Leads Our New Build

Young builder James Riordan has a huge job – the 24-year-old site foreman is in charge of Nelson Tasman Hospice’s new $10.5 million build in Stoke.

What did you do before taking on this role?

I’ve been building for eight years – I started with Gibbons from school. Before this my only involvement with hospice was knowing of people who’d been helped when their health was in a bad way.

What’s a work day like for you?

My role is to basically build the building, so that’s organising tradies – all the manpower, materials and methodology. At the moment we have 15 men on site. Once next year rolls along, there’ll be up to 30. After the organising, I get to put my apron on and get out there with the boys.

Your last big project was Placemakers in Motueka. Is it different building a community project? 

Yes. I like that I can use my knowledge of building to give back and deliver a high quality product to the hospice. We’ve got the blessing stone right at the driveway. You feel cleansed when you come in here – it’s a good feeling.

Are there particular challenges working on this site? 

We have to be careful because we’re working in a residential area. We have to play it by the rules in terms of time, noise and dust.

What do you like to do outside of work? 

I like to ride my motorcycle, mainly off-road cross-country in the forestry around Nelson. I love it and all the rest – fishing, hunting, diving down the Marlborough Sounds. I work out at the gym;  I’m training to do a bodybuilding competition next year. I’ve also just bought a house and I’ve got a new puppy, a German short-haired pointer. She’s going to sniff out the deer for me.