Development Progress

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!