Rene
Qualifications:
Rene grew up and was educated in Estonia. He graduated from Vorumaa Vocational Centre with higher level woodwork, site and project management and metalwork.
LBP 150819 (carpentry)
EXPERIENCE
Since then he has travelled extensively, working in different countries, including Western Australia and Norway.
Since 2017, he has worked as a builder in NZ and formed his own company – CRO Build Ltd.
We have been fortunate to add him to our team in 2022.
BACKGROUND AND INTERESTS
We have found him to be a very focussed worker and a fast learner.
Client feed back has been 100% positive.
Greg Gunderson
QUALIFICATIONS
No formal apprenticeship, but worked with his first employer for 18 years before working independently.
EXPERIENCE
36 years building in New Zealand.
Mostly residential, but some commercial as well.
BACKGROUND AND INTERESTS
Greg has 6 children ranging from teens to mid twenties.
Still active in surf lifesaving since his teens.
Really enjoys outdoor activities with his family, when he isn’t working.
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.
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.
Hans Ellehuus
Qualifications:
Danish Joinery Trade Certificate
Certified Builder since 2006 – Business Membership number AAO2916
Licensed Building Practitioner: BP113030, Carpentry and Site 2
Experience:
Hans is the founder of Hans Ellehuus Builders (1992) Limited. He grew up in Denmark, where they have extremely high standards for apprenticeships and the building trade is very specified. With an early love of love of wood (his father and grandfather were both furniture upholsterers and antique restorers), including refitting boats with his family, Hans decided to channel his skills into joinery.
After working as a carpenter in Norway, fitting out houses, Hans combined his passion for boats with his skills in wood joinery, and worked his way around the world in private sailing boats. In 1988 he and Wendy, his Kiwi partner, decided to live in New Zealand, which gave Hans the opportunity to pursue his two passions – sailing and wooden houses. He began building commercial and residential buildings with CCL Concreting in Auckland. From here Hans took his knowledge and experience and started up Hans Ellehuus Builders during the recession of 1987-1993. This has grown into the respected home renovation business it is today.
The special thing about Hans is that his upbringing is very evident in his work. The finish on things that he has made is always perfect, and he has great attention to detail. Hans is great at interpreting plans and bringing them to life for a result that is stylish and functional. He’s also built great relationships with building inspectors, architects and subcontractors. So whoever else you have working on your home, Hans and his crew will fit right in.
Mikk Laatre
Qualifications:
Also grew up and was educated in Estonia.
He graduated from tertiary level with a qualification in steelworks and machinery.
Experience:
For 3 years he worked in Estonia as Nilfisk’s technical manager, before travelling extensively.
He worked in Brisbane for Craftlatt – customising and installing aluminium louvre systems, fences, gates, balustrades and other products.
He spent @4 years working for 1 Construction and Geotechnical, based in Christchurch – installing steel beams, framing and associated carpentry in a variety of commercial buildings all over NZ.
He joined our team in 2022, proving to be a fast learner, with superb ability to resolve technical details.
BACKGROUND AND INTERESTS
Client feed back has been extremely positive.
His interests outside of work include – both on road and off road motorbikes, gardening, golf and kite surfing.
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 of experience, that have gone through our lengthy professional selection process. Most of our builders are LBP.
New Zealand Certified Builders Association(NZCB)
Admission to this professional body requires either:
- Advanced trade certificate or
- Due completion of apprenticeship time and 10 years experience.
Note – this is the only professional body that insists on this, whereas this is not required to become a Licensed Building Practitioner.