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Transbuild Welcomes Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to Our Drury Factory

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visits Transbuild NZ

A proud day for the team — and a real conversation about the future of building in New Zealand.

Proud day showing Christopher Luxon around at Transbuild NZ

There are days at work that just feel different. Thursday was one of them.

We welcomed the Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, to our factory and show homes here in Drury. He was joined by Emma Chatterton, National’s Papakura candidate – who has been a genuine supporter of Transbuild as a local business in her area, and it was great to have her along for the visit.

We had a full hour together. A factory walkthrough, morning tea in our flagship show home, and a real conversation about where prefab and transportable construction fits into New Zealand’s housing future. It was the kind of visit we hoped it would be.

“How wide are these?”

One of the moments that stuck with us came early in the factory tour. The Prime Minister stopped, looked around, and asked about the size of the homes – genuinely surprised by the width and the scale of what comes out of an offsite build. It is a reaction we see often, but it never gets old.
People expect something smaller, something more basic. What they find is a home that feels generous, considered and well-made – 2.57m stud heights, open-plan living, proper kitchens, ensuites, walk-in wardrobes. The kind of space you actually want to live in.
He was equally taken aback by our build timeframe. When we told him a Transbuild home goes from deposit to delivery in around 12 weeks, the reaction said it all. We build homes in months, not years – and that still surprises people every time.
Inside the Ruahu 151 at Transbuild with Christopher Luxon
A peek inside offsite construction for PM Christopher Luxon at Transbuild Drury NZ

A conversation that mattered

Walking the factory floor gave us the chance to talk openly with the Prime Minister about the prefab and transportable sector – the opportunities, and the parts of the process that still create friction for our industry.

We are not going to go into all the detail here, but what mattered was that he listened. Moving between homes and through the build area, he was engaged, he asked questions, and he was genuinely interested in how New Zealand could better support proven offsite building models – including how other countries approach this type of construction.

That kind of on-the-ground conversation is how things change. Prefabricated and transportable homes are not a future idea. They are here, they are working, and they are already helping Kiwis into warm, well-built homes.

Talking to our tradies at our offsite yard factory the PM visits Transbuild
Emma Chatterton and Christopher Luxon from National talk to the team at Transbuild NZ
The team at Transbuild NZ gather to celebrate a visit from the Prime Minister of New Zealand
Transbuild Factory with NZ's Prime Minster Luxon
Sam Paterson Transbuild CEO in factory with PM Christopher Luxon
Entering a Ruapehu 151sqm Home with PM Chris Luxon by Transbuild
Transportable homes are the future for NZ as PM Christopher Luxon visits Transbuild

Taking time with the team

What stood out most about the Prime Minister’s visit was how he moved through the factory. He was not rushing.
He stopped to talk to people – our builders, our contractors, the subbies on the floor – asking each person about their role, what they do, how it all comes together.
Genuinely curious, not just going through the motions.
For a team that puts a lot of pride into their work, that kind of attention means something. There were a few camera phones out, as you would expect. It is not every day the Prime Minister comes through your factory.
Our builders smile as the Prime Minister takes time to talk to them at Transbuild NZ
The Prime Minister Luxon next to our Hector 70 Granny Flat offsite built by Transbuild

He already knew about our commercial work

One thing that caught us by surprise – in a good way – was how prepared he was. The Prime Minister came in having already looked into Transbuild’s commercial range, including our classroom solutions.

That is a part of what we do that does not always get the spotlight it deserves, so it was good to have a conversation about it.

From classrooms and staff accommodation to medical facilities and offices, our commercial offering is built on the same principles as our residential range – quality construction, offsite efficiency, and a fixed-price process that actually delivers.

That kind of on-the-ground conversation is how things change. Prefabricated and transportable homes are not a future idea. They are here, they are working, and they are already helping Kiwis into warm, well-built homes.

What it comes down to

Christopher Luxon left Drury the same way he arrived – relaxed, warm, and easy to be around.
He is the kind of person who makes a room feel comfortable, and our team felt that. He left us all feeling good about the day and about what we are building here.
At the end of it, our purpose has not changed. We are here to help Kiwis achieve a place to call home – whether that is a family home, a rural solution, a second dwelling, or a commercial space that helps a business grow.
Thursday reminded us why that matters.
Want to find out what Transbuild could build for you? Explore our range or get in touch with our team.
Inside our architectural prefab homes, its clear the Prime Minister is impressed.
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