A LEGACY OF GROWTH AND LEADERSHIP
Our Journey Through the Decades
What began in the 1940s as Cook Construction evolved under new leadership into Higgs Construction, a company built on craftsmanship and continuity. Since 1994, the firm has thrived under the ownership of Dave Freeman, Simon Fraser, and Paul Harris—leaders committed to quality and innovation in every project.
1941
Cook Construction began after the Ballantynes fire, focusing on installing fire escapes around Christchurch.
1940s–1970s
Cook Construction operated as a medium-sized company owned by Sam Cook, serving the Christchurch region.
1970s
Mervyn Higgs, a former apprentice, acquired Cook Construction and renamed it Higgs Construction Company.
1991
Dave Freeman, who had also worked for Cook Construction and Simon Fraser joined Mervyn Higgs in forming Higgs Builders.
1994
Mervyn chose interests outside the construction industry and today the company continues under the ownership of Dave Freeman, Simon Fraser and Paul Harris.
1997
The Directors purchased a 50% shareholding in J.B. Joinery, which is one of the larger joinery manufacturers in the South Island.
2012
A decision was made to rename the company Higgs Construction Limited in order to reinforce the fact that we are a large commercial construction company and align our brand with our core business.
PEOPLE & CULTURE
Our People and Commitment to Growth
We proudly employ 120 staff across our construction and joinery divisions. Our workforce consists of permanent wage and salary earners, ensuring stability and quality.
Higgs Construction is also a leading provider of apprenticeship training for carpenters and joiners in the Canterbury region — helping to build the next generation of trades professionals.
Equipment & Capabilities
We are a traditional large-scale commercial construction company with substantial in-house capabilities.
Our company owns a wide range of plant and equipment, including:
- 60-tonne truck crane
- Trucks and Hiab equipment
- 20-tonne all-terrain mobile crane
- Lifting gear, form hoists
- MR295 Potain tower crane
- Extensive scaffolding, propping, and falsework
Owning our equipment reduces reliance on external rentals and enhances our project efficiency.
