Deconstruction supports regeneration in Old Papatoetoe

02 July 2026

Old Papatoetoe
News
Urban regeneration
Sustainability

Located on the southern corner of Kolmar Rd and St Georges St, the building had reached the end of its useful life.

The building was no longer suitable for tenants and has been "deconstructed" - not demolished.

An ageing two-storey building at 98 St George Street, Old Papatoetoe, has been carefully deconstructed as part of ongoing efforts to revitalise the town centre while minimising environmental impact.

Located on the southern corner of the site, the building had reached the end of its useful life. Following assessments of its condition and associated health and safety risks, it was determined the building was no longer suitable for tenants and should be removed.

The project is another step in the regeneration of Old Papatoetoe town centre.

While the future use of the site is yet to be determined, we are exploring options to support the long-term vision set out in the Unlock Papatoetoe masterplan, which aims to create a more vibrant, accessible and attractive town centre for residents, businesses and visitors.

Rather than using traditional demolition methods, contractor TROW Group carefully dismantled the building to maximise the recovery and reuse of materials. This approach reduced the amount of waste sent to landfill while preserving valuable resources for future use.

The project also supports Auckland's broader waste reduction goals. Each year, more than 1.5 million tonnes of waste is sent to landfill across the region.

Construction and demolition waste is Auckland's largest waste stream, accounting for around a third of all material sent to landfill.

Some of the timber recovered during the deconstruction has already found a new purpose in the community. Recycled timber from the site was donated to Free Church of Tonga – Mounga 'Olive in Māngere, where it will support the development of a new community garden project. The donation demonstrates how materials that might otherwise be discarded can continue to provide value through local community projects.

TROW Group is one of Aotearoa and the Pacific’s largest waste recovery service providers. Weaving commercial and residential deconstruction with broader outcomes that uplift communities while protecting Papatūānuku.

The revitalisation of Old Papatoetoe’s town centre has recently reached a significant milestone, with three key projects now complete. Chambers Laneway, Stadium Reserve Playground and Cambridge Terrace extension are helping create a more connected, accessible and vibrant community. The future regeneration of 98 St George Street will be an important part of this transformation.