Neighbourly Good Sort: Mark Dunajtschik
Todays Good Sort is someone who can claim to have changed the face of Wellington.
Wellington property developer Mark Dunajtschik was this week honoured as the Property Council New Zealand Members’ Laureate, a lifetime membership awarded once a year.
Mark was called “a shining example of ‘property for good’, consistently breaking the often-negative connotations that come with the role of property developer”.
A humble man, Mark came to New Zealand as a toolmaker in 1958 to make a new life after an extraordinary story that saw him imprisoned in a Yugoslav concentration camp before eventually escaping with his mother to Germany.
He trained as a toolmaker, before spending five years travelling the world and deciding to make New Zealand his home.
After a few months on Kiwi soil, Mark established Precision Grinders, running the business successfully for 25 years.
After retiring in 1987, he dabbled in property investment and development as a hobby, quickly accumulating and adding value to commercial and residential property around central Wellington, developing his unique, hands-on formula for success.
He has added value
His legacy includes properties such as Environment House, the James Smith Building, the Harcourts Building, HSBC Tower, the Asteron Centre, and more recently the new $50 million-dollar Children’s Hospital for Capital and Coast District Health Board, which he has developed and gifted to the city.
Mark has also been benefactor for many charitable organisations including a helicopter service which eventually morphed into the present Life Flight Trust, disability provider Hohepa, the Wellington Free Ambulance and as one of the first private donors to the Michael Fowler Centre.
Please put NFP if you do not want your comment used by Stuff.
Poll: Would a new supermarket help NZ?
Nicola Willis will this weekend announce decisions taken by Cabinet to incentivise and encourage a third supermarket player alongside FoodStuffs and Progressive (Woolworths).
Do you think having a third supermarket chain will bring competition and lower grocery prices, or will the existing giants still dominate?
-
60.1% Yes, it will help
-
37.4% No, I doubt it'll make a difference
-
2.5% Depends - I'll share below
🎉The Riddler wants to hear from you 🫵
Hello, dearest riddle fiends 😈
You might have noticed we've been doing a few different things recently on The Neighbourly Ridder...
We took your thoughts from our last check-in and made some changes, left the riddles up for longer, as well as added some brand new rebus riddles to perplex your processor, and we wanted to know what you think 🤔
Are you a fan of the changes, or liked the way it was last time?
Is keeping the comments open longer so people can enjoy them more going well, or did you like it when we had a daily riddle?
Are you liking the new style of riddles? Would you like to keep them going, have more, or get rid of them?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below 👀
Your ideas could help shape the next chapter of our riddles! 🧩
What's one highway or road that needs attention?
We've all been on a summer roadie and experienced first-hand the state of our roads.
If you've ever been stuck in a summer traffic jam, had near-misses on dangerous turns or feared for your life on clifftops (while the car behind you is tail-gating!) - you may have an opinion on this one.
Tell us what main road or highway you think needs some serious attention across the country, and why!
Loading…
