About us

Built by the same
hands since 2005

We build, renovate and remodel homes on the eastern Coromandel — and we are in the business of bringing your dreams to life, not constructing the average house.

Our story

Established in 2005 in Whitianga, on the Coromandel Peninsula — and still run by the person who answers your call.

Craig Ohlson and the team have more than six decades of combined experience between them. In that time we have built a reputation for craftsmanship, and a better one for customer service, because on a building site the two are not separable.

We talk to our clients regularly, right through the job — you are not left in the dark. Our payment claim schedule shows proof of progress before any payment is made, so you always know exactly what you have paid for. And as members of the Registered Master Builders Federation, every new home we build has the option of the 10-Year Master Build Guarantee.

2005
Building on the
eastern Coromandel
60+
Years combined
on the tools
1
Point of contact,
start to finish
Cedar and stone entry at dusk
Coastal home facade built by Ohlson + Whitelaw
What sets us apart

More than a
construction company

Three things clients tell us made the difference — and the reasons we have not needed to change how we work in twenty years.

Registered Master Builders

A trade qualification on its own was never going to be enough. Registration took building experience, trade and professional qualifications and practical management experience to earn — and it is what lets us offer the 10-Year Master Build Guarantee on your home.

A reliable point of contact

Every project is personal to Craig, and he is the primary contact on every job. You deal with one person who has an eye on every phase, who is accountable for it, and who will not pass the buck.

Quality industry contacts

Twenty years in one place builds relationships. From chartered professional engineers to architects, we know who is good — and our clients get the benefit of that access.

The team

The people
who drive us

Part of what makes Ohlson + Whitelaw worth hiring is the team behind it. Every member has been vetted and selected by Craig, and the people who price your build are the people you will see on site.

Craig Ohlson

Director & Licensed Building Practitioner
  • LBP to Site 2
  • Registered Master Builder

Craig is the man in charge, with exceptionally high expectations for quality and performance. Every member of the team has been vetted and selected by him after proving they can meet that standard.

More than 25 years in construction as both builder and project manager gives him the insight and the industry connections our clients benefit from. He takes a personal interest in every project and is the primary point of contact on each one.

He is a fastidious, meticulous craftsman who believes good is never good enough. As a Licensed Building Practitioner to Site 2, he can manage and construct the projects most builders turn down.

Kelly Ohlson

Administration
  • Contracts & reporting
  • Payment claim schedule

Kelly is a genius when it comes to administration. Organisational skills, attention to detail and an uncanny affinity for time management make her the person who keeps the business running — and with Kelly back at base, Craig and the crew are free to do what they do best.

She makes sure every form, contract and report is prepared, in order and ready for client meetings. She also built and runs our payment claim schedule, the one that keeps the job on track and puts proof of progress in front of you before any payment is made.

Alongside Craig and Kelly, a close-knit crew of qualified builders and long-standing subtrades carries the work on site.

In their words
Amazing, very professional team. The finished outcome has exceeded our expectations.
Scott Thomson — Whitianga
Enquire

Like how
we work?

Whether your consent is granted or you're six months from a sketch, an early conversation costs nothing and saves plenty. Craig reads every enquiry personally.

Post
PO Box 42, Whitianga 3510
Coromandel Peninsula
Where are you up to?