Founders Development Limited

What Founders Development Limited does

Founders Development Limited (operating as Founders Group) is a New Zealand-based land subdivision and property development company founded in 2014 as a breakaway from Wilshire Group. The company specializes in master-planned land subdivision throughout New Zealand, targeting Auckland, the Golden Triangle (Auckland-Waikato-Bay of Plenty), Christchurch, and Central Otago. Founders acquires raw or future-zoned land, conducts site selection and master planning, delivers civil infrastructure, applies place branding, and either sells shovel-ready superlots to residential builders or enters joint venture partnerships with landowners who retain a stake.

The company's service portfolio comprises five integrated disciplines: Site Selection & Acquisition, Master Planning, Civil & Infrastructure, Development Management Services, and Brand & Marketing. These services are delivered through a portfolio of named project brands including Kennedys Road (11ha in Whenuapai), Peacockes (40ha in Hamilton), Haven & Green (4ha in Westgate), EdgeWest (2.4ha in Westgate), Richmond (10ha in Mt Wellington with over 500 terraces and apartments across five stages), 11 Ryburn (13 terrace homes in Mt Wellington), and 246 Queen Street (8,000m² commercial/retail in Auckland CBD). Since 2014, Founders has built over 250 terraced homes in Auckland and has worked with construction partners G.J. Gardner Homes, Capri Construction, Ceta Developments, Onward Homes, Unispot, and Jebel Group.

Founders' business model centers on B2B transactions: acquiring and entitling land, then selling superlots to a curated network of build partners, with flexible JV partnership models offered to landowners — either sharing or fully covering development costs depending on the agreement. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time land and superlot sales, supplemented by property management services for projects owned by the affiliated Wilshire Group. Construction financing for build partners is facilitated through a partnership with Vincent Capital. The company is privately held, headquartered at 246 Queen Street, Auckland, funded through shareholder equity and local bank loans, and operates with a conservative gearing ratio.

Name

Founders Development Limited

Legal name

Founders Development Ltd

Website

https://foundersgroup.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Founders Development Limited (Founders Group) is a New Zealand land subdivision company that acquires, master-plans, and civil-develops residential land, then sells shovel-ready superlots to builders across Auckland, the Golden Triangle, Christchurch, and Central Otago.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real Estate Land Development

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Land Development & Subdivision Homebuilding (Build-to-Sell Communities) (IMAFABAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Land Acquisition, Lot Development & Construction Financing (AD&C) (FSALAHAI)

Keywords

• Land subdivision development
• Master-planned communities
• Residential superlot sales
• Civil infrastructure development
• Joint venture land partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Land Subdivision and Superlot Sales: Founders acquires raw land, completes master planning, civil infrastructure, and marketing, then sells subdivided superlots to residential builders and developers. Revenue is generated through the sale of development-ready sites at premium prices, with the company capturing value through land assembly, planning permissions, and place branding.
2. Property Management Services: Founders manages properties owned by Wilshire Group, including the 246 Queen commercial building and Richmond residential development stages 1-4.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Founders Development Limited is a New Zealand land development company that acquires raw land, performs master planning, delivers civil infrastructure, and sells build-ready subdivided superlots to residential builders and developers. The company also provides development management and place branding services, and operates a portfolio of named master-planned communities such as Richmond, EdgeWest, Haven & Green, Kennedys Road, Peacockes, 11 Ryburn, and 246 Queen Street. Revenue is generated primarily through superlot sales, with supplementary property management for related Wilshire Group assets.

Product overview

Founders Development Limited (Founders Group) is a land subdivision and property development company operating throughout New Zealand, with a focus on master-planned land development in the Auckland region. The company operates as a single integrated service offering five core disciplines — Site Selection & Acquisition, Master Planning, Civil & Infrastructure, Development Management Services, and Brand & Marketing — which together transform raw land into build-ready sites for residential builders and developers. These services are delivered through a portfolio of named project brands: Kennedys Road (11ha Whenuapai), Peacockes (40ha Hamilton), Haven & Green (4ha Westgate), EdgeWest (2.4ha Westgate), Richmond (10ha Mt Wellington, 500+ homes), 11 Ryburn (13 terraces Mt Wellington), and 246 Queen Street (8,000m² commercial/retail Auckland CBD). The company also manages several completed projects for its parent Wilshire Group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Site Selection & Acquisition Identifies and acquires land parcels with future potential connected to quality transport hubs and established amenities, taking a long-term view of market trends and demographics. Service offered to internal projects and to landowner JV partners.
• Master Planning Creates the foundation for quality, attractive, long-lasting neighbourhoods, planning walkways, parks, and traffic flows to deliver desirable lifestyle outcomes. Underpins the company's master-planned community approach for its Auckland and regional subdivisions.
• Civil & Infrastructure Delivery Delivers build-ready sites to residential builders and developers, coordinating roads, footpaths, lighting, power, water, and ancillary services with council, utilities, and service providers.
• Development Management Services Manages medium density apartment, terrace, and standalone home projects from initial brief and budget through development and successful delivery and sell-down of homes on behalf of clients. Includes property management of related Wilshire Group assets such as 246 Queen Street and Richmond stages 1-4.
• Brand & Marketing Brings subdivisions to market through place branding, setting a tone and lifestyle expectation that adds value, quality, and confidence for builders and future homeowners.
• Kennedys Road Subdivision An 11-hectare greenfield land development site in Whenuapai with views over the inner Waitemata Harbour. Master-planned residential subdivision to be sold as superlots to residential builders and developers.
• Peacockes Subdivision A 40-hectare elevated and gently rolling development site in Hamilton's strategic growth precinct of Peacocke, with substantial views of the city and Hakarimata Range. Master-planned residential subdivision to be sold as superlots to residential builders and developers.
• Haven & Green Subdivision A 4-hectare medium density subdivision in Westgate with terrace houses and a pocket park, offering individually titled lots to build partners including Onward Homes, Unispot, and Jebel Group.
• EdgeWest Subdivision A 2.4-hectare subdivision located 150m from Westgate Shopping Centre and 18km from Auckland's CBD. Five superlots were sold to builders delivering approximately 200 terrace homes, with construction funding offered through Vincent Capital.
• Richmond Subdivision A large, medium density residential development spanning 10 hectares in Mt Wellington, with over 500 terraces and apartments across five stages. Stages 1-4 are complete and owned by Wilshire Group, managed by Founders; Stage 5 under development by Unispot.
• 11 Ryburn Terrace Homes A collection of 13 new residential terrace homes in Mount Wellington, 12km from Auckland CBD. Construction completed mid-2023; all homes sold.
• 246 Queen Street Commercial Redevelopment An 8,000m² commercial and retail redevelopment of a 1960s building in Auckland CBD. Owned by Wilshire Group and managed by Founders; refurbishment complete with ongoing leasing. Won the 2021 Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Award in the Offices and Workplace Environment category.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 terraces and apartments developed across five Richmond stages
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Onward HomescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Build partner at Haven & Green. Established 2013, Auckland-based development company with experience in standalone homes, master planning, and medium to high-density developments. Members of NZ Certified Builders Association and NZ Master Builders Association. Built first block in 35 working days - a record for the company.
• Ceta DevelopmentscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Strategic partnership at EdgeWest development. Ceta Developments delivers terrace houses and community park, priced from $700,000. Together bringing new housing to market at speed. Ceta has been able to deliver outstanding value for new homeowners through this partnership.
• UnispotcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuild partner at EdgeWest, first to begin settling new terraces and welcoming residents. Also a superlot purchaser at Haven & Green Stage 2.
• Fearon Hay ArchitectscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture partner for 246 Queen office space, which won the Designers Institute of New Zealand's Best Design Award in the Offices and Workplace Environment category.
• G.J. Gardner HomescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing construction partner for Richmond Fellow development, constructing medium density homes alongside Capri Construction.
• Capri ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing construction partner for Richmond Fellow and 11 Ryburn developments.
• March Cato DevelopmentsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil works contractor for Haven & Green development, completing roads, footpaths, services.
• Bob Hick EarthmovingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarthworks and civil construction contractor for Richmond Fellow development.
• McKenzie & ParmaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil construction contractor for Richmond Fellow development.
• The Plant PeopleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContractor building the Pocket Park at Haven & Green.
• Wilshire GroupcoreOthersParent/affiliated company. Founders is a breakaway from Wilshire Group, formed in 2014. Wilshire Group owns Richmond stages 1-4 and 246 Queen building, managed by Founders. Leo is founder of both.
• UnispotcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloping Stage 5 of Richmond residential development (stages 1-4 owned by Wilshire Group and managed by Founders).
• Jebel GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuperlot purchaser at Haven & Green Stage 2, delivering additional homes in the development.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Mike Greer Homes: NZ residential homebuilder active across Auckland and Hamilton. Functions as a downstream builder-purchaser of superlots (analogous to Founders' build partners) rather than a direct land-development competitor; relevant ecosystem participant.
• Signature Homes: NZ residential homebuilder operating group-built and franchise-built homes in Auckland and upper North Island. Comparable on end-product residential delivery and builder profile that overlaps with Founders' superlot buyer base.
• Jennian Homes: NZ franchise homebuilder and developer with national reach. Downstream of superlot producers like Founders, but operations and customer base in residential construction overlap meaningfully with the builders Founders works with.

Regional players

• AV Jennings: ASX-listed Australian residential land developer with a master-planned community and superlot sales model across Australia. Direct analog on subdivision economics and builder partner go-to-market, but operating in Australia rather than competing in NZ.
• Peet Limited: ASX-listed Australian land developer specialising in master-planned residential communities and land subdivision across Australia. Comparable project profile (large masterplans, superlot delivery, JV with landowners), although Australia-only.

Direct peers

• Classic Group: NZ residential property developer and builder operating across Auckland with land development, terraced housing and turnkey home delivery. Direct comparable on master-planned medium-density subdivisions and superlot sales to builder partners.
• Winton Land: NZX-listed NZ land subdivision specialist focused on acquiring and subdividing residential land, primarily in Auckland and the upper North Island, selling finished superlots to builders. Closest direct peer to Founders' land-bank, subdivision and superlot-sales model.
• CDL Investments New Zealand: NZX-listed NZ property investor and developer with a meaningful residential land bank and subdivision exposure alongside commercial assets. Comparable in NZ land banking, subdivision and JV-style developments, though more commercial-skewed.
• Fletcher Living: Residential land development and homebuilding arm of Fletcher Building, operating master-planned communities and integrated residential developments across New Zealand. Comparable as a competitor in NZ master-planned residential subdivision, with broader scale and balance sheet.

Broad incumbents

• Stockland: ASX-listed Australian diversified property group with a sizeable master-planned communities business. Broad incumbent across residential land, though at substantially larger scale and broader portfolio than Founders' specialised NZ focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/foundersgroup.co.nz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/founders-development

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Founders Development Limited