We are an end-to-end design and project management firm with over 40 years of experience in enhancing the vitality of healthcare, educational, and corporate environments through thoughtful design and efficient execution.
We are an end-to-end design and project management firm with over 40 years of experience in enhancing the vitality of healthcare, educational, and corporate environments through thoughtful design and efficient execution.
As independent advisors, we are fully dedicated to safeguarding our client’s interests. We draw from our extensive experience, possessing invaluable insights into our clients’ fundamental goals. We understand the need for superior design standards that are resource-efficient and promote long-term business prosperity. Additionally, our robust capability to navigate budget constraints and meet deadlines is crucial to our success, ensuring consistent delivery on our promises.
Founded in 1982 by David Gaze, Gaze was born from a vision to offer design and build services that add value through innovative design and seamless end-to-end service. For over 40 years, we've dedicated ourselves to crafting spaces that empower businesses to succeed and fosters thriving corporate cultures. Our enduring success stems from our agility in aligning with evolving trends, technologies, and methodologies in the design and workplace landscape.
At our core, we are a family business deeply invested in our clients, staff, and community. We take corporate social responsibility seriously, believing in our collective role in influencing the success of others. To this end, we've established the Gaze Foundation, aimed at providing tools and pathways for youth to break the cycle of poverty, building healthy, resilient and confident individuals who contribute positively to society.
1982
The New Zealand commercial fit-out market was in decline, and David Gaze, after spending the previous decade overseeing significant commercial builds, saw major gaps in (1) efficient spatial design and (2) cost-effective project delivery. No one was delivering.
David decided to overhaul this market by optimising spatial needs, transforming project costs, and driving client productivity. This revolutionised the New Zealand tertiary sector, leading to the introduction of the country’s first Interior Architectural Design pathways in 1986, directly responding to David’s innovations in the fit-out industry.
1983
The company name changed to Gaze Interiors, establishing itself within the growing commercial interior market. They soon landed major contracts, including work with leading law and accountancy firms across New Zealand.
1984
Gaze’s rapid growth led to a relocation to a penthouse floor in Newmarket, and another name change to Gaze Commercial. One early success was helping a small real estate company, Bayleys, move into the central city—a pivotal move in establishing Bayleys as a leader in the property sector.
1986
The mid-1980s was transformational for Gaze. The company expanded to over 50 staff and occupied the top two storeys of what is now Westfield 277 Shopping Centre. This era also saw the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, including one of the first business fax machines in the country. Gaze worked with high-profile organizations such as Chase Corporation and Landmark.
1987
David identified opportunities in repurposing 2nd and 3rd-grade buildings in New Zealand. After briefly listing Gaze Commercial on the New Zealand Stock Exchange, David quickly privatised the company ahead of the infamous 1987 global stock market crash. By swiftly reducing liabilities and moving the head office to the outskirts of the CBD, Gaze Commercial survived the economic downturn.
1988
The company ventured internationally, delivering prefabricated motels to Niue after a cyclone and completing a rebuild of the island’s only international hotel. This opened doors throughout the South Pacific, with projects in Samoa, Papua New Guinea, and American Samoa.
1990s
Throughout the early to mid-90s, Gaze expanded globally. Key projects included refurbishing old French villas in Vietnam and re-opening commercial buildings for companies like Coca-Cola and Johnson & Johnson. During this time, Gaze also partnered with a Korean developer to construct luxury apartments in Ho Chi Minh City, though the project was halted by the Asian Financial Crisis in the late '90s.
2002
David relocated to London with his family, immersing Gaze in European and post-war projects in Croatia and Malta. During this time, Gaze also launched a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, partnering with the International Trust Fund in Slovenia to demine land in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. We purchased mined land, demined the land and then sold to re-cycle the funds to de-mine more land.
2010
David and his family returned to New Zealand, and the Gaze Foundation for Educational Equity was launched. In partnership with the Centre for Brain Research, the foundation worked on developing neuroplasticity programs for children in New Zealand.
2011
Following the devastating Christchurch earthquakes, Gaze opened a Christchurch office dedicated to seismic repairs and relocations. This marked the launch of Gaze Property Partnerships (GPP), an entity focused on major industrial developments and office towers.
2014
Gaze relocated its head office to High Street, Auckland, transforming the infamous former Rakino’s Restaurant and Bar into a team-friendly, creative workspace.
2017
With over 37 years in business, 35+ staff, and more than 300,000 square metres of spatial design projects completed, Gaze marked a year of notable success. This included the development of the Tidal Road industrial estate in Mangere, shifting 25,000 cubic metres of topsoil for the project.
2018
The team continued to push forward, working on significant projects and establishing partnerships, further cementing Gaze's reputation in the commercial interior and construction market.
2019
Gaze solidified its reputation as an industry leader in project delivery by winning the prestigious Best Designers Award from the Designers Institute of New Zealand. This recognition further demonstrated Gaze Commercial's commitment to excellence and innovation in the design and construction industry.
2020
Gaze made significant strides in its digital transformation by partnering with SignOnSite to digitise on-site processes. This transition improved data management, compliance, and visibility, enabling the company to enhance safety and productivity, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new system was successfully implemented across their offices in Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington, further strengthening Gaze's approach to project delivery and compliance.
2024
Gaze underwent a complete refresh and redesign of its website, modernising its digital presence to better reflect the company's growth and capabilities. The company also welcomed Michael Harris as the new CEO, marking the beginning of a new chapter under fresh leadership.
In addition, Gaze embraced further change by relocating its headquarters to a new office at Quay Street, Auckland CBD, providing the team with a contemporary, centrally located workspace to support their continued success and growth.
