Structural Engineers & Design Program Management

Martin Mao，Engineering Project Manager

– DipEng, BEngTech, PGCertEPM, CMEngNZ

Martin is a Chartered Member of Engineering New Zealand, having completed 6.5 years of full-time engineering studies since 2008, and entered the New Zealand building industry in 2013. Since then, he has held various management positions in both construction and consultancy, including roles as a main contractor, sub-contractor, supplier, engineer, and end client.

These diverse experiences have equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively manage all parties involved, ensuring efficient and high-quality outcomes.

He believes that his varied project management experiences provide valuable insights into the broader context of the projects he engages in. This understanding of multiple stakeholders in different positions allows him to contribute more comprehensively to projects compared to most engineers who primarily focus on the technical aspects.

Lucia Zhang，Chartered Professional Engineer

– BE(Hons.), CPEng, CMEngNZ

Lucia achieved a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree (First Class Honours) from the University of Auckland in 2014 and attained her CPEng status in her mid-20s in 2020.

She has worked with a broad range of structural design and construction methodologies. With approximately ten years of experience, including projects within the industrial, commercial, and healthcare spaces in her previous employment. Demonstrating a keen aptitude for harnessing innovation, she consistently deliveries structurally sound and cost-effective solutions. This ability played a pivotal role in her swift adaptation to residential projects, contributing to the provision of structural engineering design solutions for thousands of families and their houses in New Zealand.

She believes each project is unique, emphasizing the importance of strategic and creative thinking to deliver the best design outcomes for the projects she involved.

About M&Z Group Ltd

Leading Structural Engineering Based in Hamilton that Working Through NZ

Welcome to M&Z Group Ltd, established in early 2020 by Martin Mao, a qualified engineering project manager (EngPM), and Lucia Zhang, a Chartered Professional Structural Engineer (CPEng). We place a strong emphasis on tailoring project-specific engineering solutions, setting us apart from other firms in the industry. This ideology comes from our group project manager Martin, who has held various roles in the building industry since 2013. Combined with our distinctive business model and a proven track record of success, we are well positioned to elevate your business and projects.

Presently, we have a team of professional, experienced, and qualified engineering project managers and design engineers. We take pride in delivering structural engineering services for residential, commercial, industrial , and development projects across New Zealand. Since our establishment, we have contributed engineering expertise to thousands of homes in New Zealand, equivalent to supporting approximately one family with engineering needs daily in the country.

Our aspiration is to foster long-term relationships with our business partners to collectively elevate design and construction methodologies to suit their requirements. Our approach is not centered around doing the minimum; rather, we consistently focus on maximizing our contributions to your projects. This commitment has been a guiding principle since our inception.

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What We Do

From Structural Analysis to Seismic Assessments

Structural engineering, a branch of civil engineering, comprises the design of the “bones and joints” that shape human-made structures. Rather than simply concentrating on completing designs for consent approval, our management and technical teams, led by Martin and Lucia, are dedicated to developing solutions in collaboration with architects, developers, builders, and other stakeholders.

We understand that there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ in design. Instead, we believe in crafting solutions and adapting designs to suit each project, factoring in resources, time, and construction methodologies. This approach ensures the delivery of the most fitting engineering solutions tailored to the unique requirements of each project.

Waffle Slab Foundation

Pile Foundation

Masonry Blockwall

Steel Portal Frame

SED Beams & Columns

Retaining Wall

Our Engineering Process

Qualified, Experienced & Professional Engineers

Our engineering project managers can help improve the timelines and performance of your projects.

We will help you find the best balance between quality, time, and price that suits your projects.

Our design engineers deliver innovation in structural engineering for your projects.

We understand the importance of regular and productive communication in building relationships within the engineering and construction environment.

M&Z Group Ltd recognizes that every project is different, and the suitable design decisions made early on will have significant downstream impacts on the project’s performance.

We believe there is no single best design, but we will find the most suitable design solutions for your project. We are here to assist you and the related stakeholders in finding the most suitable design solution for your projects together.

M&Z

Professional Qualified Engineering Project Managers & Chartered Professional Engineers

Proudly Delivering Structural Engineering Solutions across New Zealand

There is no job too big or too small for us. Our bespoke residential projects exemplify the perfect fusion of innovative engineering design, helping clients realize their aspirations.

The featured project, designed and managed by Martin Mao, serves as an excellent example. Built as his own residence shortly after completing his BEngTech studies in 2015, this project reflects Martin’s exceptional ability to learn and achieve outstanding results within the constraints of a graduate student’s limited budget.

Martin’s deep understanding of the balance between design and practicality is evident in the structural design, which incorporates a 460UB steel beam to achieve the desired open space of over 10 meters. Located in North Hamilton, this project is a testament to the harmonious integration of innovative design and solid structural engineering.

We are confident in providing more comprehensive and effective assistance for projects of this nature, leveraging our unique blend of expertise and innovation.

Full Project Structural Design

Engineering Project Management & Structural Design

Development Structural Engineering Projects

No job is too big or too small for us.

The role of engineering design is crucial in New Zealand’s development projects, particularly considering the Building Code, local council requirements, financial positions of each stakeholder, and many other factors.

The photo featured highlights a significant accomplishment: a 40+ unit development project in Northridge (stages 1 & 2), Hamilton. We are proud to have delivered the complete design for this project and helped the developer bring the project vision to fruition. We also carried out construction monitoring and provided product statements for all units, which effort enabled over 40 families to move into their dream homes.

Having delivered engineering designs for thousands of houses across New Zealand, we’re helping more than one family move into their dream home every day. We are confident in our ability to offer more comprehensive and effective support for these types of projects.

Full Development Structural Design

Engineering Project Management & Structural Design

Commercial Structural Engineering Projects

Lucia has worked on many commercial projects including Auckland City Mission-Home Ground, Hasting police station; Waikato acute adult in patient facility (WDHB), Auckland International Airport Pier B extension, and so on. She spent four years on structural design and construction monitoring to witness the building of Home Ground under her previous employment.

Both the architectural design and construction presented structural challenges, some of which were further exacerbated by the impacts of COVID-19 (refer to blog posts for more lessons learnt). The main structure was completed in 2021, with fit-outs happening throughout the building. The building officially opened in February 2022.

Architect | Stevens Lawson Architects
Photo Credit: Mark Smith | Render Credit: Stevens Lawson Architect
PM | TSA Management Contractor | Built Environs
More commercial references refer to Lucia’s personal
blog: https://www.luciazhang.co/

Advanced Seismic Assessment and Retrofitting Services

M&Z Group Ltd carried out the site investigation and building condition surveys for the Glen Eden Playhouse in Auckland, a heritage building.

We can inspect the condition of existing buildings to meet council (Building Consent) requirements and/or advise on the NBS% based on current New Zealand guidelines. Both ISA (Initial Seismic Assessment) and DSA (Detailed Seismic Assessment) options are available upon request.

We produce detailed structural design drawings for small to large-scale buildings and industrial projects, and we also provide structural design services for renovations to existing buildings.

MZ.G believes that quality design is the first step toward a successful project, and quality is the foundation of everything—without it, everything is nothing.

Our business strategy has always been to develop our business “vertically” by focusing exclusively on structural engineering and the management to support it, rather than expanding “horizontally” to cover a wide range of services.