Passion, service of retired Ngāi Tahu Property manager recognised

Former Ngāi Tahu Property development manager Gordon Craig’s contribution to and passion for the industry were recognised at the 2019 Property Council Southern Excellence Awards.

Craig, who retired from Ngāi Tahu Property two years ago, was awarded the Kirk Roberts Long Service Award at the gala event held on Friday, 18 October.

His property career spanned more than 30 years, featuring numerous projects covering the management and development of shopping centres, retail, hotels, motels, industrial buildings, car parks and commercial offices from Auckland to Queenstown.  

In his 12 years with Ngāi Tahu Property, Craig brought his experience, eye for detail and passion for well-built, sustainable buildings to several key projects which are now important fixtures in the iwi-owned firm’s investment portfolio. These include the five-building Post Office Precinct in Queenstown featuring the refurbished NZ Historic Places Trust Category One historic building Te Taumata, the 6 Green Star-rated Te Hononga - Christchurch Civic Building, Te Whare Whakapapa - the NZ Blood Centre and the two 4 and 5 Green Star-rated office buildings and car park at the Pita Te Hori Centre in Christchurch’s West End.

His willing service to a variety of civic and industry groups was also celebrated. He served in the New Zealand Army in the Regulars and Territorials in the 1980s and volunteered for Civil Defence and Urban Search and Rescue from 2010 to 2018. He has also been an athletics official for over 20 years, officiating at championship events including the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

Craig was a member of the New Zealand Council of Shopping Centres governing committee from 1990 to 2000, including as president from 1997 to 2000. He is also a senior member of the Property Institute of New Zealand and an associate fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management and Leadership. He served as a member of the Property Council South Island executive from 2006 to 2017, holding positions of Vice President and Chair of the Events Committee, and was the driving force behind the inception of the inaugural Southern Excellence Awards in 2015.

Photos: Te Hononga - Christchurch Civic Building exterior; Gordon Craig with Ngāi Tāhu artist Priscilla Cowie; Te Hononga interior