A builder who once fitted superyacht interiors is making waves in building control.

Richard Poole is applying the skills he learned at the academy to his position as a Senior Building Specialist and Team Leader for Building Compliance for the Far North District Council.

The 50-year-old completed in November the NZ Diploma in Building Surveying (Blended online), Level 6 to meet building regulations requirements for his role. “I enjoyed studying with others who were in the same roles but had varying degrees of skill base and being able to share my knowledge with them,” he says.

The Kerikeri resident was raised in the Far North where he gleaned his building apprenticeship. Richard ran his own design and build business before moving into project management with a construction company. When the global financial crisis hit, he lost his job and was forced to change careers. He entered unchartered waters, installing superyacht interiors in the United States for a company from Whangarei. Richard was dealing with a finished product of world-class standard. “Your workmanship had to be perfect as anything less didn’t meet the standard required. Maybe this is why my own boat, which I’ve been working on for the last 16 years, isn’t finished yet!”

After a stint fitting superyachts, Richard landed a job with the local polytechnic teaching carpentry, looking after apprentices in the field as well as teaching them through block courses. He secured a job as Building Compliance Officer with the council where he has worked for the past five years.