A Passionate Paver
1995 – the year when Microsoft launched the iconic Windows ’95, The All Blacks lost the rugby world cup to South Africa, and the song by TLC “Don’t go chasing waterfalls” was top of the charts.
But back in cosy little Blenheim, one man WAS chasing waterfalls in the landscaping and paving industry. Jonathan Faulkner, a young hardworking family man, was at the start of his career. He was working for his father-in-law to create dry cast pavers for across Marlborough and Nelson customers.
By July 1996 Jonathan, who had noticed a gap in the paving installation market, decided to pack up his skills and start a business in Marlborough. And just like that, Conpavers was born, with the name giving kudos to the abbreviated words “concrete pavers.”
This was no overnight decision to make. Jonathan had a young family, lots of responsibility and often only a couple days work a week up his sleeve. But like any budding entrepreneur, he took it in his stride and with some blood, sweat and tears, started out on his Conpavers journey.
He didn’t start with much. A trustworthy truck, wheelbarrow, shovel and a rake were all he needed to deliver projects on time to a high quality. Jonathan remembers his first commercial job well, as it set the foundations for a thriving relationship with Downer Engineering. “It was an exciting paving job down a small street called The Willows, in Springlands, Blenheim. I still remember getting the paycheck!” says Jonathan.
From here, many more great relationships were developed including with Fulton Hogan on the Marlborough Ridge development. If you take a drive down the ridge, you'll notice the paved entranceway.
Going back to one of the first 'momentous', high-pressure jobs Jonathan worked on was the 'critical path' which consisted of laying pavers around the shop fronts of the forum in Blenheim CBD in 1998.
His team of just three people - Daniel Fisher, Richard Kenyon, and himself laid 30m of pavers a day, in the middle of winter. Jonathan says “We turned up rain or shine, to get each section complete so the shop could open the next day, that was pressure!”.
2001 arrived and the decision was made to buy some land for a headquarters to provide a home base for the growing team. Around the same time, the historic Train Station in Blenheim was moved to make way for a large roundabout. Jonathan and the team worked to aid the relocation and lay the aesthetic pavers that now surround the icon.
Going back to one of the first 'momentous', high-pressure jobs Jonathan worked on was the 'critical path' which consisted of laying pavers around the shop fronts of the forum in Blenheim CBD in 1998.
His team of just three people - Daniel Fisher, Richard Kenyon, and himself laid 30m of pavers a day, in the middle of winter. Jonathan says “We turned up rain or shine, to get each section complete so the shop could open the next day, that was pressure!”.
2001 arrived and the decision was made to buy some land for a headquarters to provide a home base for the growing team. Around the same time, the historic Train Station in Blenheim was moved to make way for a large roundabout. Jonathan and the team worked to aid the relocation and lay the aesthetic pavers that now surround the icon.
Going back to one of the first 'momentous', high-pressure jobs Jonathan worked on was the 'critical path' which consisted of laying pavers around the shop fronts of the forum in Blenheim CBD in 1998.
His team of just three people - Daniel Fisher, Richard Kenyon, and himself laid 30m of pavers a day, in the middle of winter. Jonathan says “We turned up rain or shine, to get each section complete so the shop could open the next day, that was pressure!”.
2001 arrived and the decision was made to buy some land for a headquarters to provide a home base for the growing team. Around the same time, the historic Train Station in Blenheim was moved to make way for a large roundabout. Jonathan and the team worked to aid the relocation and lay the aesthetic pavers that now surround the icon.
More trucks and trailers and a kerbing machine were added to the fleet in the early 2000s, and the team grew with the addition of (our longest serving staff member) Dale Faulkner.
Conpavers grew to become a real asset to the Marlborough community. You can find many iconic landscapes across the Marlborough region that feature paving work from Conpavers. This includes the Queen Charlotte lookout completed in 2007, and the paving at London Quay 2009.
Going back to one of the first 'momentous', high-pressure jobs Jonathan worked on was the 'critical path' which consisted of laying pavers around the shop fronts of the forum in Blenheim CBD in 1998.
His team of just three people - Daniel Fisher, Richard Kenyon, and himself laid 30m of pavers a day, in the middle of winter. Jonathan says “We turned up rain or shine, to get each section complete so the shop could open the next day, that was pressure!”.
2001 arrived and the decision was made to buy some land for a headquarters to provide a home base for the growing team. Around the same time, the historic Train Station in Blenheim was moved to make way for a large roundabout. Jonathan and the team worked to aid the relocation and lay the aesthetic pavers that now surround the icon.
More trucks and trailers and a kerbing machine were added to the fleet in the early 2000s, and the team grew with the addition of (our longest serving staff member) Dale Faulkner.
Conpavers grew to become a real asset to the Marlborough community. You can find many iconic landscapes across the Marlborough region that feature paving work from Conpavers. This includes the Queen Charlotte lookout completed in 2007, and the paving at London Quay 2009.
Fast forward to 1st April 2010 Jonathan purchased Total Tactilez which is managed by son Jayden, and later acquired MC Construction in 2011. In the same year, Conpavers and MC Construction spread their wings to the Canterbury region. In 2018 it was decided to amalgamate the three brands into one house called CMT Group.
Along this journey all Jonathan and Rowena’s children have established roles within the company, something that makes Jonathan immensely happy. “Each have brought their own talent and skill to different sections of the business, allowing for incredible growth and development. Further acquisition of staff has enabled the company to double in headcount from 35 since 2018 to 72, and growing, in 2022.”
Jonathan's advice for anyone getting in the paving/construction industry "It requires long hours and hard work, but there will always be a future in it!"
