Nigel McKenna

Founder & Chairman Templeton Group

Award-Winning Property Developer
Creating Iconic Projects | Shaping New Zealand’s Cities

‘Nigel’s enthusiasm for innovation and his ability to identify opportunities others would consider too complex, or simply unattainable, has identified him as a leading light at the forefront of better management and urban planning.’

Nigel McKenna’s name is synonymous with superior development in New Zealand, and his catalogue of achievements gives you some insight as to why. His pursuit of excellence is born from a long-held affiliation with the land, construction and a profound will to deliver beautiful places where people can be their best. With over thirty years’ experience in the field, coupled with intrepid innovation, Nigel McKenna continues to make his mark on the country’s development landscape, leading Templeton Group to become the country’s foremost developer of new homes and environments for New Zealanders.

If Successes were Numbers

OUR PERFORMANCE

These are numbers that tell a story of firsts. They are the landmarks on our placemaking map that are testament to our record of delivery and the sheer scope of our work.

$ 0 B+

TOTAL PROJECT VALUE

Unrivalled investment into national interests and injection into New Zealand’s economy. With each one building on an incomparable record.

TOTAL UNITS

An extraordinary collection of houses, apartments, townhouses, hotel rooms, sections and more.

$ 0 B

HISTORICAL PROJECTS VALUE

Life and heritage restored to some of New Zealand’s most beloved buildings.

FOUNDER & CEO

Nigel McKenna

Templeton Group & Development Director – Development Advisory Services Limited

Nigel McKenna’s name is synonymous with superior development in New Zealand, and his catalogue of achievements gives you some insight as to why. His pursuit of excellence is born from a long-held affiliation with the land, construction and a profound will to deliver beautiful places where people can be their best. With over 30 years experience in the field, coupled with intrepid innovation, Nigel McKenna continues to make his mark on the country’s development landscape, leading Templeton Group to become the country’s foremost developer of new homes and environments for New Zealanders.

With Plaudits

McKenna’s achievements have been widely celebrated, with multiple awards for his work to date. A former Ernst & Young Property Entrepreneur of the year, he has received in excess of 20 individual awards from an array of organisations, from the Institute of Architects and the NZ Property Council to the Ministry for the Environment. In 2006 Nigel was awarded the Auckland City Blue Stone Award for his contribution to the city.

A common theme to all his projects is a strong focus on design to ensure that the outcome achieved is not only aesthetically attractive but also functional and viable.

Silver Award of Merit - Issued by Association of Consulting Engineers New Zealand (Inc)

Lighter Quay Development

Property Award of Excellence: Multi Unit Residential - Issued by Property Council of New Zealand · Jan 2007

The Quadrant

Property Award of Excellence: Multi Unit Residential - Issued by Property Council of New Zealand

Stratis at Lighter Quay, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland

National Design Award - Issued by New Zealand Institute of Architects

Stratis at Lighter Quay, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland

Mayoral Urban Design Award: People's Choice - Issued by City of Auckland

Beaumont Quarter Stage 1

New Zealand Year of the Built Environment Award - Issued by New Zealand Institute of Architects, Ministry for Urban Affairs

North at Lighter Quay

NZIA Resene Award: Multiple Housing - Issued by New Zealand Institute of Architects

North at Lighter Quay

National Design Award - Issued by New Zealand Institute of Architects

North at Lighter Quay, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland

Property Award of Excellence: Multi-Unit Residential - Issued by Property Council of New Zealand

North at Lighter Quay, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland

Regional Design Award - Issued by New Zealand Institute of Architects

Beaumont Quarter, Stage I, St Mary's Bay, Auckland

Entrepreneur of the Year: Property Construction Issued by Ernst and Young

Entrepreneur of the Year

Interior Design: Hospitality, Highly Commended - Issued by Best Design Awards (Designers Institute)

The Sebel, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland

Commercial Interior Design, Finalist - Issued by Best Design Awards (Designers Institute)

Colenso Building, Wellington

NZIA Resene Award: Hospitality and Tourism - Issued by the New Zealand Institute of Architects

Holiday Inn – Wellington

Practice Areas

Specialise in providing strategic guidance during the critical pre-development and planning phases. Identify opportunities, mitigate risks, and optimise project outcomes.

Whether it’s land acquisition, zoning regulations, or feasibility assessments, our tailored consultations empower to make informed decisions and achieve the development goals.

Nigel McKenna’s strategic excellence sets the project on the path to success

This stage has crucial key components that need to be explored to ensure a project is a viable development opportunity and produces the best solution. Our seasoned meticulously examines key components to ensure each project becomes a viable development opportunity. From site analysis and feasibility assessments to regulatory compliance and community impact, we leave no stone unturned. Nigel’s commitment to producing the best solutions drives him to create sustainable, functional, and innovative developments. Trust Nigel McKenna for land development that transforms possibilities into reality!

We select the appropriate Development Manager for the job who can provide experience, networks and contacts to manage the complete development process play a pivotal role in managing the entire development process. From initial planning to execution, they ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards.

Our methodical Development Managers take a hands-on approach to ensure every project is delivered with precision. We understand that timeliness, budget adherence, and quality are paramount. Whether it’s a residential development, commercial complex, or urban regeneration, we leave no detail unchecked.

Making His Mark

Our far-flung island nation had long appealed to McKenna, so, in 1987 he made the move here permanently and quickly asserted himself as a serious performer in development. Wellington’s Shed 5 and Dockside were two of his larger maiden developments in the capital. Following his project management of Auckland’s forty-storey Metropolis for six years, McKenna eventually made the City of Sails his home.

He began taking on projects others would not, armed with vision and know-how, his name is behind the country’s most-loved buildings and precincts. The Beaumont Quarter is one such project. On the land deemed by others as too problematic to develop, McKenna delivered a design-led and much-celebrated medium density housing project, which continues to exemplify superior design and engineering, twenty years on.

Within a quick walk from the Beaumont Quarter, The Lighter Quays constitutes arguably the city’s most impressive project, which again saw the collaboration of international and local engineers, designers and architects, led by McKenna. The area was transformed into a premium master-planned residential community, producing Auckland’s most valuable real estate per square metre.

Further east, the Viaduct is Auckland’s foremost entertainment district drawing tourists and locals to the popular collection of restaurants, bars and residential apartments, developed by McKenna. By the completion of the project McKenna had put Auckland at equal status with the cities he drew inspiration from

“I love the challenge of understanding the environment we’re working with, and how we work with the land.

Creating Landmarks

PIONEERING PROJECTS

We count every project as noteworthy, though there are some that perfectly exemplify our pioneering spirit. These are projects that were considered by others as unattainable or too problematic. We say they were sites that simply hadn’t been afforded the vision they deserved. Once delivered with success, they set a remarkable new benchmark for superior collaboration, innovation, design and longevity. They are our pioneering projects.

PIONEERING PROJECTS Chambers and Station A heritage project and a passion project for McKenna, which saw the careful and considered revitalisation of a former […]

Chambers & Station

Auckland is home to a number of historic buildings, but few are as unique and well-preserved as the Chambers and Station. These two buildings, located in the heart of Mt Eden, were originally built in 1912 and 1925, respectively.

PIONEERING PROJECTS Beaumont Quarter Built on the site once home to the Auckland Gas Company, the Beaumont Quarter development successfully introduced a contemporary residential […]

Beaumont Quarter

Set in a space other developers couldn’t bring to life, Beaumont Quarter stands as an enduring testament to steadfast design and planning, the quality of which had not been seen.

PIONEERING PROJECTS Sofitel Lighter Quay The Viaduct Harbour Regeneration Project was a major undertaking that transformed a neglected industrial area into a thriving and […]

Sofitel – Lighter Quay

On the western most edge of the Viaduct Harbour, 16,600 sqm of reclaimed land located between the CBD and St Mary’s Bay was transformed into a premium master-planned residential community, completed in three stages.

PIONEERING PROJECTS The Quadrant Hotel In the energetic heart of downtown Auckland stands a remarkable hotel that defies convention and redefines the very essence […]

The Quadrant Hotel

The Quadrant Hotel Group, a brainchild of Nigel, was conceived to challenge the status quo and break away from the cookie-cutter approach that had become synonymous with hotels.

PIONEERING PROJECTS The Sebel Hotel Continuing his skill for seeing a gap in the market and filling it, in 2000 McKenna delivered the latest […]

The Sebel

The four star Sebel Hotel is part of the wider Viaduct Precinct, which transformed Auckland’s waterfront into a destination that has endured since it was conceived and developed, decades ago.

Nigel McKenna

New Zealand’s most prolific developer

A Track Record of Excellence

In the ensuing years, he has delivered world-class award-winning hotels, including Sofitel – Lighter Quay, Sebel, Quadrant, and Rydges Wellington — curated spaces where guests live to play, love to stay, and long to return. He produced celebrated master-planned communities like Stonefields, Long Ba and Bremner Ridge, which have proved to be master classes in superior design and urban planning. Widening his scope, McKenna undertook the rejuvenation of much-loved heritage buildings, with the DFS Galleria project and Chambers & Station- a former council chamber and fire station, producing six luxury apartments with the utmost sensitivity and restoration of its heritage values.

In what he describes as his ‘passion project,’ the McLaren building is McKenna’s next heritage venture. He will embark on revisiting the historic former garage and birthplace of legendary New Zealander, Bruce McLaren. It’s a true legacy project working alongside the McLaren family, celebrating the McLaren name and putting the hugely significant building back on the map.