Development Progress

The neighbourhood is taking shape

One of the biggest changes over the past few months has been how much more defined the development now feels.

The post-and-rail fencing clearly marks out the individual sections, while the established swales and planting are creating an attractive green edge along the streets.

With more homes now under construction, you can start to see how the sections relate to each other, how much space they offer and what the finished streetscape will eventually look like.

We still have a selection of sections available, with a further 38 sites now completed.

Another step closer to finished roads

The latest section of road is now prepared and ready for its final asphalt surface.

During August, the civil team completed the membrane seal that sits beneath the asphalt. The road was cleaned, a bonding emulsion was applied and a layer of chip placed over the top to protect it until the asphalt goes down.

It is one of those stages that might not look particularly dramatic from the roadside, but it means another important piece of the development is nearing completion.

A better connection to Maymorn Station

Work has also started on extending the wide shared walking and cycling path from inside Maymorn Farm, across Maymorn Road and towards the railway station.

Once complete, it will create a much easier connection for residents walking or cycling to the train.

Being so close to Maymorn Station has always been one of the advantages of the location, and this pathway will make that connection even more practical for everyday use.

GJ Gardner show home underway

There has been good progress on the GJ Gardner show home on Lot 9, with work now well underway on the foundations.

The home is being built using a polystyrene pod foundation system. The pods sit within the concrete slab to reduce the amount of concrete required while also providing insulation.

Steel reinforcing and additional concrete beams are then placed beneath the areas carrying the main loads of the home.

Most of this work will never be seen once the house is finished, but it is an interesting look at just how much goes into a modern home's foundations before the framing even begins.

Our Gillies Group show home is closing in

Our own show home on Lot 21 is also moving quickly.

The roof and windows are now installed and the exterior rigid air barrier has been fitted and taped, meaning the home is becoming weather-tight.

Inside, the first stage of plumbing and electrical work is underway, along with installation of the sprinkler system required for homes at Maymorn Farm because of the development's rural setting.

Next up will be the exterior cladding, followed by the interior linings, fittings and finishing touches.

Indoor-outdoor living starting to take shape

We are particularly looking forward to seeing the outdoor living area of the Gillies Group show home come together.

Large double-opening sliding doors will connect the living and dining areas with the future deck, with flush thresholds helping create an easy transition between inside and out.

A covered portico will provide shelter over part of the outdoor area, while the raised decking system will allow the deck to sit closely in line with the internal floor.

They are relatively simple details, but together they should make the outdoor area feel like a genuine extension of the living space.

Coming up in September

There should be plenty more to see over the next month.

We are expecting the next section of road to move towards its final asphalt surface, work on the shared pathway towards Maymorn Station to b completed, and all 4 show homes to progress through their next stages of construction.

With each month that passes, Maymorn Farm is becoming easier to experience rather than simply imagine — and we are looking forward to showing you more as it takes shape.

If you know someone who may be interested in Maymorn Farm, please feel free to share this update with them and encourage them to subscribe to our newsletter for future updates.

As we move into August, Maymorn Farm is coming through a productive stretch of winter work. July brought a run of clear, still weather, giving the site a bright and settled feel while also creating a few practical challenges for the teams working outside.

For painters, plasterers and builders completing exterior work, cooler temperatures and frosty starts meant materials took longer to dry. On still days, the lack of wind slowed the process even further, particularly on south-facing walls where surfaces were not fully drying during the day.

That gave some exterior work a much shorter window than it would have in warmer or breezier conditions. It was a useful reminder that even fine winter weather needs careful management on a construction site, with each stage given the right conditions before the next coat, finish or surface can be completed.

GJ Gardner breaks ground on its show home

One of the key updates from July was the start of GJ Gardner’s show home on Lot 9. Groundworks have now begun, adding another show home to the growing builder presence at Maymorn Farm.

GJ Gardner already has a number of homes underway within the development, and its show home will join those being delivered by HouseWorks, Sentinel Homes and Gillies Group. Together, these homes will give visitors a broader range of styles, layouts and finishes to walk through and compare.

Show homes are an important part of helping purchasers understand what is possible on-site. They allow people to experience the scale of the sections, see different building approaches in person, and get a clearer sense of how the neighbourhood is coming together.

Gillies Group show home moves quickly from slab to frames

The Gillies Group show home also made strong visible progress during July. The slab had been poured by the Rapid Slabs team the month before, and the home has already moved on to framing, with the building wrap now installed.

This show home will be an opportunity for Gillies Group to demonstrate the quality and detailing that can be achieved at Maymorn Farm. One detail already visible is the rebated slab edge at the door unit.

By lowering part of the slab where the door sits, the door unit can be set down so it finishes flush with the internal floor level. Once the deck is built up to meet it, this will help create a smooth indoor-outdoor transition without the usual raised threshold becoming a trip point.

It is a small detail at this stage of construction, but it shows the level of thought that goes into the home before the more obvious finishes are added.

Safety systems in place as homes rise

As the homes move through framing, truss installation and roofing, fall protection is also in place. Safety nets have been installed beneath the ceiling and roof areas to protect anyone working at height.

These systems are part of the normal health and safety process during construction. They allow trades to work through the upper levels of the home with protection beneath them while trusses, roofing and related structural elements are installed.

Much of this work disappears from view once the home is closed in, but it is an important part of building safely and carefully through each stage.

Road preparation nears the sealing stage

Civil works also continued through July, with road preparation now well advanced. The road base has been built up using AP65 aggregate, graded with GPS-guided machinery, and rolled a number of times.

The team is allowing the sun and wind to draw out the remaining moisture before asphalt can be laid. Once conditions are suitable, a 30-millimetre asphalt layer will be installed and rolled to create the finished road surface.

The road has been shaped so water moves from the crown of the road towards the swale, crossing the flush nib and into the drainage area. That finished profile is important because it helps manage surface water and supports the wider stormwater design across the development.

As with exterior painting and plastering, the timing depends on drying conditions. A little wind can make a meaningful difference at this stage, helping remove the last moisture before paving begins.

Swales and winter grass growth

The swales are now in place, with coconut matting visible through the drainage areas. This matting helps hold the ground, protect the seed and encourage grass to establish.

The swales have also been hydroseeded, and even in the middle of winter the grass is beginning to strike well. Once established, the grass will help stabilise the swales and support the development’s stormwater management system.

These areas may look simple once finished, but they play an important role. They help move water through the site in a controlled way while also softening the streetscape as the landscape becomes more established.

GPS-guided grading brings precision to the roads

A lot of technology sits behind the road preparation work. The grader being used on-site is guided by GPS and a 3D model, allowing the operator to shape the road to accurate levels across a large area.

From the outside, it may look like machinery moving aggregate, but the finished result depends on precise levels, falls and alignment. The grader’s blade is adjusted to match the road design, helping create the correct shape for drainage, footpaths and the surrounding swales.

That accuracy matters because it affects how the road performs once sealed and how water moves through the completed streets.

Lighting poles and finished sections coming into view

Streetlight poles are now up around the development and are close to being connected. The lighting units will be installed before the poles are hooked up and activated.

As these elements are added, the development is becoming easier to read as a finished neighbourhood. Roads, swales, footpaths, fencing and lighting all help define the streetscape and give each section a clearer shape.

This is also the stage where some of the remaining sections begin to reveal their real character. Until the earthworks are complete and fences are in place, it can be difficult to fully appreciate how each site will sit. Now, with more definition across the development, several of the remaining sites are showing their potential.

The next stage across Maymorn Farm

The next focus will be continuing the work already underway: allowing the road base to dry ready for asphalt, completing footpaths, connecting lighting, and progressing the homes and show homes now under construction.

With GJ Gardner breaking ground, the Gillies Group show home moving through framing, and civil works edging closer to completion, Maymorn Farm continues to feel more established each month.

For those following the development or considering their options, the site is now giving a much clearer sense of how the finished neighbourhood will look and feel.

As we come to the end of June, Maymorn Farm has moved into its first month of the winter works season. While bulk earthworks pause over winter, there has still been plenty happening on-site, with civil works continuing, new homes starting, show homes progressing, and the final stages of the first phase taking shape.

The development is looking more established each month, and with roads, footpaths, fencing, swales, landscaping and new homes all coming together, it is becoming easier to see the finished community taking shape.

Civil Works Continue Through Winter

Although winter means we are not undertaking bulk earthworks, we are able to continue with civil works across the site.

Over the past month, the team has been focused on finishing off the curbing, footpaths and roading preparation for the final 38 sites in this first phase of Maymorn Farm.

The road formation has now been built up, the footpaths are going in, and the swales are clearly visible alongside the roads. The next step is allowing the sub-base and basecourse to dry out enough so the roads can be sealed.

Subject to weather, we expect the roads and footpaths through this area to be completed and sealed over the coming weeks.

These final 38 sites form part of the first 91-site stage at Maymorn Farm, and it is exciting to see this area moving closer to completion.

Stabilising the Site for Winter

A key part of preparing the site for winter is making sure exposed ground is properly stabilised.

Across the completed earthworks areas, the team has used hay mulch and seed to protect the ground. This gives immediate cover, helps prevent erosion and sediment runoff, and creates a warmer, more protected environment for grass to strike.

Even in the middle of winter, the grass is already coming through well. It is a simple-looking process, but it plays an important role in protecting the site, managing stormwater and keeping the development tidy through the colder months.

The swales and landscaped areas are also looking sharp, with the team keeping everything well-maintained and presentable as the development progresses.

New Homes Underway

It has been another strong month for building activity at Maymorn Farm.

Over the past month, another three homes have started, and there is now a real sense of momentum across the development. With more slabs being prepared, more framing underway, and more finished homes nearing handover, the neighbourhood is quickly taking shape.

There continues to be strong interest in building at Maymorn Farm, particularly because flat, usable sites of this size are increasingly hard to find across the Wellington region.

Maymorn Farm offers people the flexibility to choose the pathway that suits them best. They can buy a section, work with one of our partner builders on a design and build, choose from one of our turnkey plans, or purchase one of our ready-to-move-in homes.

Lot 6 Handover

This month we handed over Lot 6, a beautiful home that had also been used as a show home.

We were grateful to the owners for allowing us to use the home for viewings, and it proved incredibly popular. A large number of people came through, and the level of interest reinforced just how much demand there is for single-level, new-build homes on larger, flatter sites.

Lot 6 has been a great example of what can be achieved at Maymorn Farm, and it is always rewarding to see another finished home handed over to its new owners.

Lot 21 — Our New Gillies Group Show Home

One of the most exciting updates this month is the start of our new Gillies Group show home on Lot 21.

The team from Rapid Slabs has been on-site boxing up the foundation and preparing the rib raft slab system. The slab is due to be poured shortly, and once that is complete, construction of the home will begin.

Lot 21 is a beautiful 2,000 square metre site, and the home we are building here is a plan we have built before, with some refinements made for this site.

Even before construction has properly started, we have already had people asking about purchasing the home. That is a good sign and reflects the strength of the design, the site, and the overall demand for quality homes at Maymorn Farm.

We are also taking a more complete approach to the landscaping around this home. Where possible, we are landscaping outside the building envelope from day one, so that when the home is finished, it feels complete rather than like a house sitting in the middle of a construction site.

The goal is for this to become a real showpiece for Maymorn Farm and for the quality of homes Gillies Group can deliver.

Ready-to-Move-In Homes

We have also started work on our ready-to-move-in homes.

These homes are designed for people who want a brand new home but do not necessarily want to go through the full design and build process themselves.

With these homes, we select the site, choose a plan that works well for that site, position the home carefully, and then start construction. The intention was originally to complete these homes before selling them, but demand has been stronger than expected.

The first of these homes sold before construction had even started.

As a result, we are now bringing forward additional ready-to-move-in options, including homes on Lot 47 and later Lot 202.

This gives buyers another simple pathway into Maymorn Farm, particularly for those who want certainty, speed and less decision-making.

Four Easy Ways to Own at Maymorn Farm

Maymorn Farm has been designed to give buyers flexibility.

There are four main ways to purchase:

1. Buy a section
Choose your site and build when you are ready, using your own builder and designer.

2. Design and build
Work with one of our partner builders to create a home designed specifically for your chosen site.

3. Turnkey home
Select one of our plans, choose a site, and have the home built for you with a clear package.

4. Ready-to-move-in home
Choose from homes that we have already designed and started, making the process as simple as possible.

This flexibility is one of the key differences at Maymorn Farm. Buyers are not locked into one pathway, one builder, or one style of home.

Partner Builder Show Homes

Our partner builders are also making great progress on-site.

The Sentinel Homes show home is coming along well and is expected to be open in the coming months. Their team is regularly on-site, giving buyers the opportunity to talk directly with a builder about design and build options.

Houseworks is also building a large show home on Lot 5. This is a standout home, with impressive craftsmanship, a large garage and boat storage, and some beautiful design details.

One of the features that really caught our attention this month was the curved cedar wall at the front of the Houseworks show home. It is a great example of the level of craft and detail that can go into a custom design and build home.

Once completed, these show homes will give buyers more options to walk through, compare styles, and understand what is possible at Maymorn Farm.

And our friends at GJ Gardner on lot 9, the corner site as you enter Mayorn Farm we are told are looking to break ground any day and we are looking forward to having a village of show homes for potential customers to walk through and choose from. 

Feature Detail: Curved Cedar Cladding

One of the standout moments from this month’s site visit was the cedar cladding on the Houseworks show home.

The curved cedar wall has been carefully detailed using full boards and half boards to achieve the radius. The builders have also paid close attention to the colour variation in the cedar, grading the boards so the colour changes softly rather than looking random or patchy.

Small details like the Stainless with brass finish nails, clinch nails, spacing, board selection and flush corner treatment all contribute to the finished look.

It is the kind of craftsmanship that is easy to miss at first glance, but when you understand what has gone into it, you can see why it creates such a strong architectural feature.

This is one of the benefits of a design and build pathway. Buyers can make more detailed choices and create features that are specific to their home, their site and their style.

Feature Detail: Choosing Stud Heights

This month also gave us a good opportunity to talk about stud heights, which is something many buyers do not think about until they are deep into the design process.

In a typical New Zealand residential build, there are three common stud heights:

2.4 metres
This is the standard stud height used in many New Zealand homes.

2.7 metres
This creates a much larger, more open and more spacious feel, but it also adds cost because of the extra cladding, internal linings and often the need for over-height doors and joinery.

2.55 metres
This is a great middle option. It gives an extra sense of height and space compared with 2.4 metres, without going all the way to the cost and scale of 2.7 metres.

We saw a great example of a 2.55 metre stud height in one of the homes on-site. The difference is subtle, but when you walk into the room, you can feel the extra space.

For many buyers, 2.55 metres can be a smart compromise. It gives the home a more generous feel while still helping manage the overall build cost.

Feature Detail: Rib Raft Foundations and XPods

At Lot 21, the team from Rapid Slabs has been preparing the foundation for our new show home.

This home is using a rib raft foundation system with XPods. These pods create voids within the slab, while concrete and reinforcing form beams around and over the pods.

In areas where the home will have heavier loads, such as under load-bearing walls, the pods are spaced differently so larger concrete beams can be formed within the slab.

It is a clever system and a good example of the planning that happens before a home even comes out of the ground.

Although foundations are not always the most visible part of the finished home, they are one of the most important parts of the build.

Looking Ahead

The next few weeks will be another important period at Maymorn Farm.

We expect to see more progress on the final 38 sites, including road preparation and sealing as conditions allow. More slabs will be poured, more homes will begin, and the new show homes will continue to move forward.

The development is now at a point where buyers can walk the site, see completed homes, see homes under construction, talk to builders, and clearly understand the different ways they can own at Maymorn Farm.

If you are interested in a section, a turnkey home, a ready-to-move-in option, or a full design and build, now is a great time to come up, have a look around and talk through what might work for you.

And just like that, ladies and gentlemen, the earthworks season has come to an end.

It has been a season of real contrasts. The early-to-middle period, from October through to February, brought some of the toughest weather we have had to work through. At times, it really felt like the climate had shifted and the season was getting later and later each year.

But then, just when we needed it, we had a run of weather that made us forget all about the wet start. Six weeks of sun and breeze dried everything out, allowed our teams to get back onto site, and helped us make some fantastic progress across the development.

We have now finished the final 38 sites and had them hydroseeded, so they are looking sharp and ready for house construction to begin.

The road has also come along well. It has been bulked out, and the footpath has been basecoursed in preparation for a concrete pour next month. This coming week, the team will be building up the subbase using AP65 aggregate.

The Novacoil has been installed, and the service trenches have been dug, laid, and backfilled, with only a couple of laterals left to install and cover over.

While we were able to complete the earthworks in time, we have not yet had the opportunity to disestablish some of our sediment retention devices, or SRP ponds. Most notably, this includes the pond on Lot 1 and the larger pond that sits beneath Lots 51, 52, and 165. These will be completed early next season, after 1 October.

We have also now stabilised our haul road with roto millings, which has made a big difference across the site.

House construction has been full noise, and it is great to see the development really starting to come to life. Activity breeds activity, and it also brings interest.

Two turnkey homes have already been handed over, with another nine currently under construction and more due to start with Gillies Group. Our partner builders also have three homes underway on site, with many more planned to begin soon.

We are seeing a great variety of purchasers coming through, from all walks of life and from different parts of the region. For every turnkey home being sold, there is also a fully customised design-and-build project, or a section-only sale happening as well.

That choice is a big part of the appeal here. The ability to own a new home on a reasonably flat, generously sized site is something that has really resonated with buyers.

We also recently launched a range of spec homes, where we build the homes to sell once completed. The first of these was snapped up before we had even put a digger on site, so we are now planning to start more of these over the next few months.

As the development takes shape, and houses start popping up across the site, it is timely to point out that sections are now selling with greater momentum.

If you have friends or family who are sitting on the fence, or looking for somewhere special to build, now is a great time to get them up to site or encourage them to give us a call. The sites are selling through, and the final 38 sections, now fenced and looking great, are well worth a look if they have not yet found the right one.

It has been a huge season, and we are proud of the progress made at Maymorn Farm. A big thanks to everyone involved — our team, contractors, builders, purchasers, and supporters.

We are excited for what is coming next.

It’s hard to believe, but we’re now down to just one month left in the earthworks season!

Despite the challenges of the weather — and only managing one full uninterrupted week of earthmoving — the BOSCOS team has done an outstanding job completing earthworks across the final 38 sites. Since October 2025, the scale of progress has been remarkable. Tens of thousands of cubic metres of topsoil have been moved, with fill expertly cut, compacted, and brought down to lift these final sections. It’s been a next-level effort in logistics and coordination, and we’re thrilled to now be on the home stretch.

On the bright side, the recent combination of warmth and moisture has worked in our favour, with grass establishing quickly and coming through thick and strong across the site.

Behind the scenes, the Plymouth Civil team is making great progress, working in tandem with BOSCOS to install stormwater and service lines in preparation for title issuing.

Gerry — our fencing extraordinaire — is ready to hit the ground running, eager to fence the sites and get them market-ready.

Excitingly, the first two homes (Lots 41 and 32) have now been handed over, and it’s fantastic to see frames and slabs appearing right across the development. Barrett Homes and Sentinel Homes are making great strides with their show homes, while GJ’s has submitted plans for council approval.

As for our own show home on Lot 21, plans are now with council, and we’re aiming to pour the slab by mid-May — an exciting milestone ahead.

We’ve also set up a new sales suite on-site at Lot 21. We warmly welcome anyone interested in Maymorn to visit us on Sundays between 12:00—2:00pm to meet the team, or feel free to get in touch via our website.

There’s a real sense of momentum building, and we’re excited for what’s coming next!