Fletcher Building
Fletcher Building Limited is a New Zealand-headquartered multinational corporation engaged in the manufacture, distribution, and construction of building materials and infrastructure projects, with primary operations in New Zealand, Australia, and the South Pacific.[1] Tracing its origins to 1909, when James Fletcher and Albert Morris built their first house in Dunedin, New Zealand, the company has expanded into a dual-listed entity on the NZX and ASX, employing over 12,500 people across resource extraction, product manufacturing, distribution, property development, and construction segments.[1][2] For fiscal year 2025, Fletcher Building reported revenue of NZ$7.0 billion, reflecting its scale in supplying cement, concrete, lumber, insulation, roofing, steel, plumbing, and undertaking general contracting.[3] The firm has contributed to national infrastructure achievements, including motorways, tunnels such as the Christchurch-Lyttelton Road Tunnel, and buildings of significance in New Zealand for over a century.[4][5] Notable controversies include ongoing class action lawsuits over defective pipes manufactured by its subsidiary Iplex, affecting thousands of homes in Australia, and legal disputes with SkyCity over delays and cost overruns in the New Zealand International Convention Centre project, alongside past issues with construction losses and market dominance in products like plasterboard.[6][7][8]Company Profile
Founding and Corporate Evolution
James Fletcher, a Scottish carpenter, immigrated to Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1908 and constructed his first house there in 1909 in partnership with local builder Albert Morris.[9] This project laid the foundation for the Fletcher family's construction enterprise.[10] In 1915, James Fletcher and his brothers established Fletcher Bros Ltd, initially concentrating on residential building contracts in southern New Zealand.[9] Over the ensuing decades, the firm expanded its operations, innovating with American-influenced brick and tile housing designs in the 1920s and introducing New Zealand's inaugural ready-mix concrete service in the late 1930s.[9] By the mid-20th century, it had evolved into Fletcher Holdings, a diversified construction and materials group. In 1981, Fletcher Holdings merged with Challenge Corporation and Tasman Pulp and Paper Company to create Fletcher Challenge, New Zealand's first multinational conglomerate, which extended into forestry, pulp, paper, and energy sectors alongside building activities.[9] The 1990s brought strategic consolidation, with Fletcher Challenge divesting non-core assets to refocus on building-related operations amid economic pressures and globalization.[9] In 2001, the conglomerate underwent a comprehensive demerger, separating into independent entities; the buildings division was restructured as Fletcher Building Limited, incorporated on 19 December 2000 and listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange shortly thereafter.[9] This evolution positioned Fletcher Building as a specialized public company emphasizing construction, infrastructure, and building products, with operations primarily in New Zealand and Australia.[9]