What Classic Group does

Classic Group is a privately-held, integrated construction and development company headquartered in Tauranga, New Zealand, founded in 1996 by Matt Lagerberg and Peter Cooney. The group operates as a multi-brand holding company with seven wholly-owned subsidiaries spanning the full development lifecycle: Classic Builders and CBC Construction handle residential and commercial construction respectively; Classic Developments performs land development and master-planned community project management; Classic Life operates retirement and lifestyle villages; Classic Capital manages investment funds (including land and build funds); Classic Collectives runs commercial property syndication for investors; and Classic Technology provides internal IT, software development, and data management, including the proprietary HUB Building Resource Planning tool used to coordinate contract, design, pricing, and build workflows. With 300+ employees, 11 Classic Builders branches nationwide, and an reported NZD 1.5 billion project pipeline, the group has built over 8,000 homes and completed 2,450+ residential lots, with 3,000+ sections currently held in land supply and 38 active land development projects alongside 64 completed projects.

The group serves a diversified customer base including individual home buyers (residential design-and-build and house-and-land packages), commercial clients requiring purpose-built office, industrial and retail facilities (with named enterprise clients including ANZ Bank, Trustpower, Countdown, Penske Trucks, NZ Windows, and Fresh Choice), government housing providers (notably Kainga Ora and the Western Bay of Plenty District Council), institutional capital partners (NZ Super Fund via the Kaha Ake JV), property investors using the Classic Collectives syndication channel (minimum NZD 250,000), and retirees via Classic Life village operations. Revenue is generated across multiple models: one-time construction contracts on residential and commercial builds, transaction fees on developed land sales, managed fund fees through Classic Capital, recurring subscription-style revenue from retirement village operations, and syndication transaction fees on commercial property.

The business model is unified by an integrated developer-builder-investor-operator structure that captures margin across the value chain, supported in 2021 by a NZD 300 million joint venture with NZ Super Fund (Kaha Ake) to scale land development nationally. Strategic partnerships span Iwi/Mana Whenua groups (e.g., Lynmore Rise retirement village on Maori Freehold Land), the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Trust Board (Hapori Park, Hamilton), Blue Haven Management (East Quarter, Papamoa), and government entities, positioning the group as a preferred counterparty for large-scale, mixed-tenure residential and retirement projects across New Zealand.

Name

Classic Group

Legal name

Classic Group Ltd

Website

https://classicgroup.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Classic Group is a privately-held, integrated New Zealand construction and development group operating through Classic Builders (residential), CBC Construction (commercial), Classic Developments (land), Classic Life (retirement villages), Classic Capital (funds) and Classic Collectives (property syndication), serving home buyers, commercial clients, government housing providers and investors across 11 branches nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction and Property Development

NAICS

New Housing For-Sale Builders (236117), Residential Building Construction (2361), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (236220)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), Real Estate (6500), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Custom Home Building (IMAFABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Independent Living Real Estate Owners/Operators (REITs & Management Companies) (HLADAAAG), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Residential construction
• Land development
• Commercial construction
• Property syndication
• Retirement villages

Headquarters

HQ city

Tauranga

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Residential Construction: Classic Builders constructs residential homes for individual buyers, offering design & build, house & land packages, and project building services. Revenue generated from construction contracts with home buyers.
2. Land Development: Classic Developments prepares land and creates master-planned residential, commercial, and industrial communities. Revenue from selling developed land parcels.
3. Commercial Construction: CBC Construction delivers commercial projects including office buildings, industrial facilities, and retail spaces. Revenue from construction contracts.
4. Property Investment & Syndication: Classic Collectives pools investor resources to access larger commercial property investment opportunities (10 million-plus range). Manages property investments on behalf of investor syndicates.
5. Fund Management: Classic Capital provides investment fund management, including land & build funds that lend to development companies for residential construction. Offers investors fixed returns.
6. Retirement Village Operations: Classic Life develops, builds, and manages retirement and lifestyle villages, providing accommodation and lifestyle services to retirees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Classic Group is an integrated New Zealand construction and property development group delivering residential home building, master-planned land development, commercial construction, retirement villages, property investment syndication, and investment fund management through multiple wholly-owned subsidiary brands. The group sells design & build homes, house & land packages, developed residential lots, commercial buildings, retirement living, and investment vehicles primarily to home buyers, property investors, government agencies, and commercial tenants.

Product overview

Classic Group is an integrated development company operating across New Zealand's construction sector with a portfolio of specialized brands. The core offering includes Classic Builders (residential construction), Classic Developments (land development and project management), and CBC Construction (commercial construction). Supporting these are Classic Life (retirement villages), Classic Capital (investment fund management), Classic Collectives (property syndication), and Classic Technology (internal IT/software). The group also offers HUB, a Building Resource Planning tool for process efficiency. The integrated model allows cross-functional collaboration across land development, residential and commercial construction, property investment, and technology services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kaha Ake: Joint venture land development company with NZ Super Fund, focused on creating homes at pace and scale across New Zealand. 'Kaha Ake' means 'Stronger Together'.

Products and services

• Classic Builders - Residential Construction One of New Zealand's largest residential building companies, offering design & build, house & land packages, and project building services for private home buyers, community organisations, and government clients through 11 branches nationwide.
• Classic Developments - Land Development and Project Management

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 8,000 homes built for New Zealanders
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kainga OracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with government housing agency on affordable housing developments including Sunderland Precinct at Hobsonville. Classic Developments acquired land and, in collaboration with Kainga Ora, undertook transformative initiatives to increase housing density.
• Blue Haven ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partnership for East Quarter development in Papamoa, Bay of Plenty. 13.8 hectare master-planned community with 373 lots combining coastal urban living with ample open space.
• TDM ConstructionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Hunua Views development in Drury, Auckland. TDM Construction involved in this large-scale 600+ lot subdivision.
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Trust BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngagement to repurpose Church-owned land at Temple View for Hapori Park development in Hamilton. Church engaged Classic Developments to assist in creating housing opportunities, with 280 lots planned.
• LEP Construction and Mackay Management LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Edgewater Apartments at Hobsonville Point, a 33-unit residential development completed in 2021.
• Darby PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Station View development at Jack's Point, Queenstown. 72-lot development overlooking Lake Tewa.
• Owhatiura South 5coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop, build, and operate Lynmore Rise retirement village in Rotorua on multiply-owned Maori Freehold Land. 64 villas in stand-alone duplex and triplex configurations.
• Parewaitai Estates and Kensway Consultants LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Parewaitai Village in Papamoa. 110 independent villas, apartment complex and aged care facility planned. Development began 2019, completion expected 2029.
• Zariba HoldingscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partnership for Trustpower Tauranga head office development. Sharp minds collaborated to ensure insightful land development for Tauranga's second largest office building at the time.
• Western Bay of Plenty District CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Kaimai Views development in Omokoroa, bringing affordable housing to the region through conversion of kiwifruit and avocado orchards to residential sections. 238 lots across 8 stages.
• Mana Whenua / Iwi GroupscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClassic Group recognizes Te Tiriti o Waitangi as foundation and has established relationships with Iwi groups across the country. Collaborations achieve cultural objectives including maintaining cultural connection, retaining whenua, and creating employment and homes for whanau.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Jennian Homes: Established NZ residential home builder with multiple regional branches providing design-and-build and project-built homes. Direct peer to Classic Builders with comparable target segments and product offering.
• Stonewood Homes: National NZ residential builder with multiple regional offices delivering design-and-build and house-and-land packages. Closely comparable to Classic Builders in scale, product mix and customer base.
• GJ Gardner Homes: Large NZ residential home builder operating via a national franchise model with extensive branch network. Direct competitor to Classic Builders across price points and geographies, particularly for first-home buyers.
• Naylor Love: Privately-held NZ construction company with both commercial and residential divisions. Direct peer to CBC Construction and Classic Builders across commercial buildings, mixed-use projects and select residential master-plans in NZ.
• Signature Homes: New Zealand residential home builder operating nationally. Direct competitor in the same mid-market to premium residential segment targeted by Classic Builders' project building and design-and-build services.
• Universal Homes: NZ residential home builder with strong presence across Auckland and upper North Island. Comparable to Classic Builders as a design-and-build and house-and-land provider focused on the residential for-sale market.
• Mike Greer Homes: One of New Zealand's largest privately-owned residential home builders with national branch coverage. Directly comparable to Classic Builders in offering design-and-build and house-and-land packages across the NZ mass-market residential segment.
• Winton Land: NZ residential land developer with significant land bank across Auckland and other North Island markets. Direct competitor to Classic Developments in greenfield land subdivision, master-planning and section sales.
• Ryman Healthcare: NZ's largest listed retirement village operator. Direct peer to Classic Life in the integrated retirement village build-and-operate model. Operates at materially larger scale and offers both independent and aged-care living.

Broad incumbents

• Fletcher Living: Residential homebuilding arm of New Zealand-listed Fletcher Building, one of NZ's largest construction and building products companies. Direct competitor to Classic Builders in new residential construction and operates at significantly larger scale (parent revenues multi-billion NZD).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Classic Group