Stories
July 1, 2023
Zane Dykman, Director of Ze Build, says it was keeping an open mind and following through with every customer, no matter the size of the job, that has seen the young business owner take his construction company of two to a multi-million-dollar operation.
Starting with just a van and a trailer, Zane and his wife Chloe, did it all in the space of just five years. The can-do couple also have three children.
“Even if a job was just a soccer ball through cladding,” Zane says, “We saw it as a golden opportunity to ‘just turn up’.”
Ze Build Group’s fleet of now 60 plus vehicles can be seen out and about in Greater Auckland and beyond with exciting plans to expand their Whangaparaoa-based operations.
Zane says it was the small jobs and looking after friends and family that kept the business alive during the COVID-19 pandemic. In times of recent economic uncertainty, Ze Build has bucked the trend and is still hiring, with friends and family employed as well.
“I’m definitely a believer in locals supporting locals,” Zane says.
While Ze Build sponsors local sports and clubs, “Supporting the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter service is a non-negotiable for me,” the 31-year-old says.
Ze Build has been supporting the service since 2019 and was recently welcomed on board as a Major Sponsor.
Zane has never needed the service of a rescue helicopter himself but he knows of friends and family who have.
Ze Build supports the Rodders Beach Festival. Organiser and Founder Sharon Morris has inspired Zane to get behind the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter service.
“When Sharon shared what Westpac meant to her, it really touched me,” he says.
Sharon’s brother Ron suffered a heart attack at just 45 years of age. While he couldn’t be saved, Sharon has never forgotten the crew’s efforts to keep him alive. Her love of hot rods and the rescue helicopter was all the inspiration Sharon needed to start the festival and raise funds for the charity’s life-saving work.
Zane has another reason, closer to home, why he supports.
Zane’s brother-in-law Kurt, a Ze-Build Project Manager, was prepared to give up his Christmas bonus to support his best mate, kayaker and Paralympian Corbin Hart’s, efforts. In late 2019, Corbin was involved in a workplace accident that saw him lose his right leg. The Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter was instrumental in helping save his life.
“I thought to myself, if Kurt’s prepared to give up his hard-earnt cash, I need to get behind this guy,” Zane says. Zane gladly offered to sponsor Corbin and his efforts.
The young men have developed a close bond.
“I am really inspired by the guy,” Zane says, “Corbin’s really big on reminding us, ‘it’s still me’. He doesn’t want to be treated any differently. The thought of the rescue helicopter not being there for Corbin gives me goosebumps. If there was no Westpac Rescue Helicopter, there’d be no Corbin.”
Just “being there” for people is why Zane believes Ze Build and the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter are a good fit.
“We’re huge on team here,” he says, “Every single person plays a key role in making this place what it is. Similarly, here’s a charity that looks after anyone from any walk of life. There’s no discrimination, it’s just people helping people.”
