Meet the team

The Ellehuus crew is led by Hans Ellehuus, a Certified Builder who trained as a joiner in Denmark then sailed around the world, building his experience, before settling down in New Zealand in 1998. Hans hand-picks his team, putting them through a stringent selection process.
 

The selection process for all Ellehuus builders

 
We advertise for a month and ask for professional CVs. We then check to see if the CVs meet our standards and make a list of possible interviewees. At interview they are put through a 40-point questionnaire which has been drawn up with the assistance of professional human resource consultants, to ascertain suitability. We look at leadership qualities, initiative, evidence of continuing education and literacy. They fill out a tools and experience checklist and give permission for a police background check. We pay the first year’s subscription to the NZCB. Any who have not already obtained their license are given licensing application forms with extra notes and a licensing points log-book. Any that have not obtained a first-aid certificate are encouraged to attend a course at our expense. Experience has shown that we hire 1 out of 10 builders who apply. Successful applicants then return for further induction which includes our company safety, equipment and folder.
 
They’re nice guys to boot, so you can feel comfortable having them in your home. It’s not all serious at Ellehuus though, with monthly meetings to chat about projects, keep up the team spirit and raise any work-related issues!
 
Find out more about the members of the Ellehuus team below.

Other Builders

Hans Ellehuus Builders subcontracts selected builders and labourers, depending on the size of the project to undertake. All subcontractors are qualified builders or Certified Builders with over ten years experience, that have gone through our lengthy professional selection process.
At present, we have two apprentices, Joshua and Taki, as well as two labourers, Todd and Eric.  

Wendy

 
Wendy grew up on a hill farm in Whitianga. She travelled for a few years and then worked on farms using England as a base. She returned to NZ and trained as a registered nurse at Tauranga Hospital. Her love of sailing took her offshore to the Pacific twice, where she met Hans just after the America's Cup in Fremantle, Australia.

Hans and Wendy sailed across the Indian Ocean on an American-owned Farr 55ft sloop and then after travelling in Africa, Hans returned to Norway to build and Wendy worked on a Cotswold farm and continued with her nursing.

Wendy helped deliver a 70ft sloop from Chicago to Spain and then they decided to live in NZ in 1988. Wendy resumed nursing but stopped working when she had their first child in 1994.

She trained as a Playcentre early childhood teacher, progressing to the level where she had to lead the teacher training. She sadly left Playcentre when her kids started school, but true to her nature she became heavily involved with their school. Her daughter shared her love of horses and so she became involved in Pony Club.

Wendy is responsible for the administration of Hans Ellehuus Builders - she keeps track of all the projects and is the person who will be keeping you up to date with how your project is progressing.


 

New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB)

Admission to this professional body requires either:

1. Advanced trade certificate or
2. Due completion of apprenticeship time and 10 years experience.

Note - this is the only professional body which insists on this, whereas this is not required to become a Licensed Building Practitioner.