Southern Lakes Scaffolds is a family owned and operated scaffolding company that has been delivering scaffold solutions across New Zealand since commencing operations in 2005 in Central Otago. With over 18 years in the industry, the company has grown to a team of 50 staff, supporting projects of every scale from residential builds to major commercial and civil infrastructure work.
The business operates across Auckland, Marlborough, Canterbury and Central Otago, led by Founder and Managing Director Garrit Van T Veen and National Operations Manager Nathan Andrews, who has been with the company for over 10 years. Safety underpins the operation — Southern Lakes Scaffolds holds SiteWise Gold and Totika Pre-Qualification accreditation, employs its own qualified scaffolding inspectors and a dedicated Health and Safety Manager, and runs ongoing training, auditing and daily toolbox talks.
The team's project history spans commercial developments, residential and multi-unit builds, civil works including bridge and railway access, and specialised propping solutions, with completed projects including a Lexus showroom in Christchurch, a classroom block at Mount Albert Grammar School, and the Mason Clinic in Auckland.
Scaffolding is easy to overlook until something goes wrong — which is exactly the mindset Southern Lakes Scaffolds builds around. Founded in 2005 in Central Otago, the family owned and operated company has grown into a team of 50 staff working across Auckland, Marlborough, Canterbury and Central Otago, with over 18 years of industry experience behind it.
Southern Lakes Scaffolds takes on projects across four main areas. Commercial scaffolding is erected to current standards and health and safety requirements, with in-house qualified scaffolders and an in-house inspector overseeing quality. The team also specialises in cantilevered and hung scaffolding, hoarding, shrinkwrapping, covered walkways and gantries, and can offer design services for more complex commercial jobs.
On the residential side, the company provides scaffolding for new construction and home renovations of any size, customising each setup for safety, the best possible access, and minimal disturbance to occupants during the work. For civil projects, the team brings specific expertise in bridge access, railway work and civil scaffolding more broadly. Rounding out the service range is propping — purpose-designed for each project's requirements and erected by experienced crews to keep both contractors and the public safe.
Safety isn't an add-on for Southern Lakes Scaffolds — it's built into how the company operates. The business holds SiteWise Gold and Totika Pre-Qualification accreditation, and employs its own qualified scaffolding inspectors alongside a dedicated Health and Safety Manager. Ongoing training, auditing and daily toolbox talks are part of the routine, reflecting the team's stated approach: "if it fails, we all pay for it."
The company was founded by Garrit Van T Veen, who remains Managing Director and has oversight of performance and strategy across all branches. Garrit started the business in Central Otago and has built a career-long focus on bringing a more professional approach to the scaffolding industry. Nathan Andrews, National Operations Manager, has been with the company for over 10 years and brings hands-on scaffolding experience to how client needs are understood and met.
Southern Lakes Scaffolds' project list spans a wide range of build types, including the Lexus Showroom in Christchurch, a classroom block at Mount Albert Grammar School, town houses and a mixed-use development in Christchurch, the Mason Clinic in Auckland, and a commercial development in Wanaka, alongside hoarding, shrink-wrapping and industrial work.
Clients have highlighted the team's willingness to go the extra mile — including working weekends on a high-risk roof replacement over an operating industrial tenancy — along with tidy, secure scaffolding and a collaborative approach to matching scaffold design to what builders actually need on site.
For commercial, residential, civil or propping work anywhere from Auckland down to Central Otago, Southern Lakes Scaffolds offers a free quote to start the conversation.