New Zealand Embassy, Dili, East Timor

Building an embassy and residence complexin a third world country, which had to comply with the New Zealand Building Code, was an exercise in logistics and strategic planning for Leighs Construction when it won the design and build contract for the New Zealand Embassy in East Timor.

Building materials were shipped in from throughout the South Pacific, and the embassy was designed to reflect East Timor's origin as a Portuguese colony, but with a New Zealand flavour.

Local Filipino and East Timorese tradesmen and labourers were employed, along with an East Timorese-New Zealand resident as staff liaison, while the project was led by an exceptional team from Leighs Construction.

Sustainability and security were the prime foci for the embassy, as was making the facility self-sufficient, with its own emergency electrical generation, water supply and waste water system. The result is the highest quality building in the country.