• Developers, councils & asset owners

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Experience across infrastructure and
construction projects

Delivered across a range of infrastructure and civil construction projects

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Supporting contractors, consultants, and clients

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Our Approach

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Contact Illustris Consulting NZ

Available for short-term, project-based, or ongoing commercial support

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Proven Experience Across Water, Wastewater & Civil Infrastructure Projects

Over 29 years of quantity surveying, estimating, commercial management, and procurement experience across water,
wastewater, Three Waters, transport, land development, and civil infrastructure projects throughout New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Water & Infrastructure Experience

Auckland Central Interceptor - Commercial estimating and pricing of major wastewater tunnel infrastructure and associated assets
Queenstown Lakes District Council – 3 waters infrastructure pricing
Multiple large-scale water and wastewater projects across the UK
Queenstown town centre services renewals (water, gas, electrical)
Auckland Light Rail (Early stage pricing and feasability)

Featured Project Experience

Rotokauri Transport Hub

Lead quantity surveying and commercial management for
a $25m multi-modal transport hub delivered within a live rail corridor
including rail infrastructure upgrades, pedestrian bridge construction,
station platform works, bus interchange, park-and ride facilities, and
surrounding transport network improvements. (NZS3910)

State Highway 1 Underpass

Lead site-based quantity surveying and commercial management for a
$3m pedestrian underpass delivered within a live State Highway 1 corridor
including subcontractor procurement, cost control, claims, variations
and commercial delivery support. (NZS3910)

Kopaki Bridge Replacement

Lead site-based commercial and quantity surveying management for a $12m
bridge replacement project, delivering a new overbridge structure across
active rail and stream corridors, including procurement, cost control,
claims, variations and live delivery commercial support. (NZS3910)

Drury - Subdivision

Client-side quantity surveying, cost management, and contract administration
for subdivision infrastructure delivery, supporting water and wastewater
network installation, commercial controls, procurement coordination and
project governance prior to vertical development. (NZS3910)

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Commercial Support for Contractors Focused on Delivery, Cost, and Margin

Approved supplier under the New Zealand Government All-of-Government Construction Consultancy Services Panel

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• Contractor Services
• Claims & Variations
• Contractor Experience

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Independent Quantity Surveying & Commercial Oversight for Clients, Councils & Asset Owners

Approved supplier under the New Zealand Government All-of-Government Construction Consultancy Services Panel

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• Client Services
• Procurement & Governance
• Sector Experience

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Contractor Quantity Surveying & Commercial Delivery Services

Practical commercial systems for contractors, subcontractors, and delivery teams, from tender strategy through project delivery,
claims, and margin protection.

Tender Support & Pre-Contract Commercial Strategy

Illustris Consulting supports contractors during tender and pre-contract stages by strengthening estimate quality, pricing structure,
and commercial clarity before commitments are made. Services are designed to improve bid confidence, identify commercial risk
early, and support more informed project acquisition.

• BOQ review and pricing support
• Estimate build-up and cost planning
• Tender strategy and commercial review
• Submission support and pricing logic
• Risk identification before contract award

Delivery Commercial Controls

During live delivery, Illustris Consulting helps contractors implement practical commercial systems that improve cost visibility,
subcontractor control, and contractual positioning. This includes real-world support across reporting, claims, procurement,
and margin management.

• Cost tracking and forecasting
• Monthly payment claims
• Variations management
• Procurement systems
• Subcontractor administration
• Commercial reporting frameworks

Claims, Variations & Margin Protection

Illustris Consulting provides structured support to protect commercial outcomes during delivery by improving claims quality,
contract interpretation, and variation strategy. Services focus on protecting margin, reducing leakage, and strengthening
contractor commercial position.

• Payment claim preparation
• Variations strategy
• Contract interpretation
• Claims support
• Commercial troubleshooting
• Margin protection systems

Flexible Delivery Model

Services can be delivered remotely, on-site, or through hybrid support models depending on contractor requirements,
project complexity, and geographic location. Illustris Consulting supports both short-term commercial
troubleshooting and longer-term delivery system implementation.

Need stronger commercial systems, better claims
positioning, or practical contractor-side QS support?

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Client-Side Quantity Surveying, Procurement & Commercial Governance

Independent construction consultancy for developers, councils, asset owners, and project stakeholders seeking stronger cost certainty,
procurement confidence, and delivery oversight.

Feasibility, Budgeting & Early Cost Planning

Illustris Consulting supports clients during early-stage planning by improving project cost clarity, feasibility understanding, and commercial
decision-making before procurement begins. Services are designed to strengthen budget confidence and support more informed project investment.

• Feasibility estimates
• Early budgeting
• Business case support
• Cost planning
• Pre-procurement commercial advice
• Project financial strategy

Procurement & Tender Assurance

Illustris Consulting provides independent procurement and tender advisory support to improve commercial transparency, procurement quality
and project confidence. Services focus on helping clients structure stronger procurement processes and make more informed commercial decisions.

• Tender review
• Procurement strategy
• Commercial due diligence
• Tender analysis
• Contract packaging advice
• Procurement governance

Delivery Oversight & Commercial Governance

During delivery, Illustris Consulting supports clients through independent commercial oversight designed to improve financial governance,
cost control, and contract confidence. Services help strengthen project visibility and support more accountable commercial outcomes.

• Claims review
• Variation scrutiny
• Cost governance
• Commercial reporting
• Delivery oversight
• Contractual review support

Independent Advisory Model

Illustris Consulting provides flexible independent advisory support across project lifecycles, from feasibility and procurement through delivery
and close-out.Services can be delivered remotely, on-site, or through hybrid engagement models depending on project scope,
stakeholder structure, and governance requirements.

Need stronger cost certainty, procurement confidence
or independent commercial oversight?

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Claims, Variations & Commercial Positioning

Practical contractor-side support for payment claims, variations strategy, contract positioning,
and commercial systems designed to protect margin and strengthen project outcomes.

Variations Strategy & Entitlement Positioning

Illustris Consulting supports contractors in identifying, structuring, pricing, and positioning variations
more effectively to improve entitlement clarity and reduce commercial leakage during live delivery.

• Variation identification
• Scope change assessment
• Pricing support
• Entitlement positioning
• Commercial strategy

Payment Claims & Commercial Recovery

Strong claims systems improve payment quality, project cashflow confidence, and contractor commercial resilience.
Illustris Consulting supports structured payment claim preparation, contract alignment, and supporting documentation.

• Payment claim preparation
• Supporting documentation
• Contractual alignment
• Commercial recovery systems
• Cashflow support

Contract Interpretation & Commercial Risk

Commercial outcomes are often shaped by contract administration quality and strategic interpretation.
Illustris Consulting provides practical support across contractual review, NZS 3910 familiarity, commercial positioning, and dispute risk reduction.

• Contract interpretation
• NZS 3910 familiarity
• Commercial positioning
• Risk mitigation
• Dispute avoidance

Practical Claims Systems

Rather than reactive claim preparation alone, Illustris Consulting focuses on improving systems
that strengthen contractor commercial discipline throughout project lifecycles.

• Record quality
• Variation workflows
• Claim systems
• Reporting discipline
• Margin protection

Need stronger claims systems, better variation positioning
or contractor-side commercial support?

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Procurement, Governance & Commercial Assurance

Independent procurement advisory, tender assurance, and commercial governance support
designed to improve project confidence, procurement quality, and delivery oversight.

Procurement Strategy & Tender Structuring

Illustris Consulting supports clients through stronger procurement planning, tender strategy
and commercial structuring to improve market engagement, reduce procurement risk, and strengthen project foundations before delivery begins.

• Procurement strategy
• Tender structuring
• Contract packaging
• Commercial planning
• Market engagement support

Tender Review & Commercial Due Diligence

Independent tender review and commercial assessment improve procurement clarity by
supporting more informed contractor selection, pricing confidence, and commercial transparency.

• Tender review
• Commercial due diligence
• Pricing analysis
• Bid comparison
• Procurement confidence

Governance, Oversight & Cost Control

Illustris Consulting supports project governance through structured commercial oversight, cost governance,
reporting systems, and independent review processes that improve visibility across project lifecycles.

• Cost governance
• Commercial reporting
• Independent oversight
• Delivery review
• Variation scrutiny

Delivery Through Governance

Strong project outcomes are often determined before construction begins. Illustris Consulting focuses on
aligning procurement quality, governance systems, and delivery controls to improve confidence from feasibility through completion.

Need stronger claims systems, better variation management
or improved contractor and subcontractor commercial control?

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Commercial Support for Subcontractors & Trade Contractors

Practical quantity surveying and commercial support to help subcontractors improve pricing confidence, manage variations,
navigate contract requirements, and strengthen commercial outcomes.

Subcontractors often operate within complex contractual environments while managing tight margins, programme pressures
and payment risks. Illustris Consulting provides practical commercial support to help strengthen contractual compliance,
improve recovery of legitimate entitlements, and increase confidence throughout project delivery.

Tender Reviews & Pricing

Subcontractors are often asked to price works against incomplete information, compressed tender periods, and contractual requirements
that may not be fully understood. Illustris Consulting provides independent tender review and pricing support to help identify
commercial risks, clarify scope requirements, strengthen exclusions and assumptions, and improve pricing confidence before submission.
Our aim is to help subcontractors submit competitive tenders without exposing themselves to unnecessary commercial risk.

Variations & Claims

Many subcontractors carry out additional work without securing the documentation needed to recover their entitlement.
We assist with variation identification, notice requirements, record keeping, claim preparation, and entitlement assessment
to help ensure legitimate additional costs and time impacts are properly recognised. Practical support is provided to
strengthen commercial positions and improve recovery outcomes throughout project delivery.

Payment Claims & Retentions

Maintaining cash flow is critical for every subcontractor. We provide support with payment claims, progress claim reviews,
retention tracking, payment schedules, and contract compliance requirements. Whether dealing with delayed payments,
disputed claims, or retention management, Illustris Consulting helps subcontractors understand their
contractual position and improve commercial visibility throughout the life of a project.

Working Within Main Contractor Contracts

Subcontractors are often required to operate within complex contractual environments without fully understanding
the obligations and risks passed down from upstream contracts. We help subcontractors navigate NZS 3910 and
similar contract arrangements, understand notice obligations, manage commercial risks, respond to instructions, and maintain
stronger contractual compliance. The result is greater confidence when working within large infrastructure and construction projects.

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FREE CONSTRUCTION COMMERCIAL RESOURCES

Practical guidance based on real construction experience.The Illustris Free Resources Library has been created to help improve commercial understanding throughout the construction industry by
sharing practical knowledge gained from nearly 30 years of Quantity Surveying experience and extensive hands-on construction experience.

These resources are written for clients, contractors, subcontractors and those beginning their careers in construction.
They are intended to encourage good commercial management, effective communication, accurate record keeping and collaborative project delivery.

Construction projects are most successful when everyone understands their responsibilities and follows the agreed contractual procedures.
Our aim is not simply to explain what should be done, but to explain why good commercial practices matter and how they contribute to better project outcomes.

Whether you are managing a major infrastructure project, pricing a variation, administering a contract or simply looking to
improve your understanding of construction commercial management, we hope you find these resources genuinely useful.

• CLIENTS

• MAIN CONTRACTORS

• SUBCONTRACTORS

• LEARNING CENTRE

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CLIENT RESOURCES

The following guides have been developed to help clients improve commercial management, contract administration
and project delivery through practical, experience-based guidance.

Client Contract Administration Guide

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Commercial Governance Checklist

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Working Effectively with Contractors

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Managing Variations Fairly

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Payment Certification Best Practice

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Why Following the Contract Benefits Everyone

• Read guide

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MAIN CONTRACTOR RESOURCES

The following guides have been developed to help main contractors improve commercial management, contract administration
and project delivery through practical, experience-based guidance.

Variation Pricing Guide

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Tender Review Checklist

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Pre-Start Commercial Checklist

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Payment Claim Checklist

• Read guide

Contract Administration Guide

• Read guide

Extension of Time Record Keeping

• Read guide

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SUBCONTRACTOR RESOURCES

The following guides have been developed to help subcontractors improve commercial management,
record keeping and project delivery through practical, experience-based guidance.

Variation Claim Guide

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Getting Paid Guide

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Site Records Checklist

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Pricing Tips Before You Quote

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Protecting Yourself Against Verbal Instructions

• Read guide

Understanding Your Subcontract

• Read guide

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LEARNING CENTRE

The following guides have been developed to help those wishing to improve their
understanding of construction commercial management through practical, experience-based guidance.

The Anatomy of a Construction Project

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What Does a Quantity Surveyor Do?

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Understanding Construction Contracts

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Understanding Variations

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Construction Commercial Terminology

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Why Site Records Matter

• Read guide

Understanding Payment Claims

• Read guide

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Client Contract Administration Guide

Practical guidance for achieving successful project outcomes through good commercial management

Construction projects rarely succeed by accident.They succeed because the client, designer, Engineer, contractor and subcontractors all understand
their responsibilities and work together to deliver the project in accordance with the contract.Good contract administration is not about creating paperwork or protecting one party
from another. It is about providing a clear framework for making decisions,
managing change and keeping the project moving forward.When administered properly, the contract becomes one of the project's greatest assets.

Why Good Contract Administration Matters

Construction projects are constantly changing.Ground conditions differ from expectations.Client requirements evolve.Designs are refined.Unexpected events occur.The contract provides agreed procedures for dealing with these situations fairly and consistently.
Following those procedures helps ensure that:responsibilities remain clear;
changes are properly instructed and valued;
payments are made fairly and on time;
delays are managed appropriately;
disputes are minimised; and
everyone understands where they stand commercially.Good contract administration provides certainty.Certainty allows projects to move forward.

The Client's Role

The client is not expected to manage every commercial detail of a construction project.However, the client plays a critical role in creating an environment where good commercial management can flourish.This includes:making timely decisions;
providing clear instructions;
following the agreed contractual procedures;
ensuring appropriate delegations are in place;
maintaining accurate project records; and
supporting collaborative problem solving.When decisions are delayed or contractual procedures are overlooked, uncertainty develops quickly.Uncertainty almost always leads to increased commercial risk.

Managing Change

Very few construction projects finish exactly as originally designed.Changes are a normal part of construction.The important issue is not whether changes occur, but how they are managed.Changes should be:identified early;
instructed through the appropriate contractual process;
assessed promptly;
valued fairly; and
recorded accurately.Allowing variations to accumulate until the end of a project often creates unnecessary disagreement because records become more difficult to verify and people's recollection of events naturally fades over time.Resolving commercial matters while they are still current is almost always simpler than attempting to reconstruct events months later.

Communication and Record Keeping

Many commercial problems are not caused by the contract itself.They result from poor communication and inadequate records.Simple practices such as recording meetings accurately, confirming important discussions in writing and maintaining clear variation records
can prevent relatively small issues developing into significant commercial disputes.On larger or more complex projects, establishing clear commercial controls early in the project can make contract administration significantly easier.
Illustris Consulting regularly assists clients by reviewing commercial processes, establishing practical project controls and helping project teams manage contractual issues before they become costly disputes.

Common Mistakes

Some of the most common contract administration problems include:issuing verbal instructions without formal confirmation;
delaying commercial decisions;
failing to assess variations promptly;
relying on memory instead of written records;
treating the contract as a problem rather than a management tool; and
leaving unresolved commercial issues until project completion.Most of these problems are entirely avoidable.

Good Contract Administration in Practice

Successful projects generally share several characteristics.They encourage early communication.They make decisions promptly.They keep accurate records.They deal with issues while they are still manageable.Most importantly, every participant understands that the contract exists to support successful project delivery—not to create conflict.When everyone follows the agreed procedures, projects become easier to manage and better outcomes are achieved for all parties.

Summary

Good contract administration is not simply about complying with contractual requirements.It is about creating certainty.Certainty allows informed decisions to be made, commercial risks to be managed and projects to proceed with confidence.The contract should be viewed as a practical management tool that protects everyone involved and provides a fair framework for delivering successful construction projects.When used properly, good contract administration benefits clients, consultants, contractors and subcontractors alike.

Disclaimer

This guide provides general information only and is intended as practical industry guidance. It does not constitute legal, contractual or project-specific advice.
Professional advice should always be sought where circumstances require.

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