Your local placement agency that puts people first.
We are a relations–focused business.
Putting great people in roles means staying in touch, dealing face-to-face and never treating anyone like a number.
“We don’t employ staff unless we are confident they can fulfil the role.”
Not the big guns – simply straight shooters.
Our clients like working with us because we always take the direct approach. We keep all communications confidential and easy to understand.
Great candidates. Streamlined systems.
Part of being straight shooters is having easy-to-use digital platforms that make tracking and billing hours transparent and straightforward.
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Richard Keown
Director
Richard has been an ex-carpenter/joiner in the trades for over 20 years. He’s spent enough time ‘on tools’ that he reckons he can spot a great worker from 20 yards.
Richard’s a straight shooter who prefers straightforward, uncomplicated dealings. Richard’s ethos is to employ people he would have work on his own site, and then be happy to invite them back to his place for a cuppa and to meet the family.
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Mary Cruz
Office Manager & Immigration Specialist
Mary is a perfect fit for the recruitment industry. She loves learning and exploring new things and focusing on the bright side of life.
Before moving to New Zealand, she worked as an office administrator for her family’s business in the Philippines. Mary has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a major in Marketing Management. After completing a Diploma in Business Level 7 in Christchurch in 2018 she became a Spark Consultant and two years later became an Office Administrator for an Engineering Firm in Christchurch.
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J.R. Francisco
Recruitment Consultant
Arriving in New Zealand from the Philippines in 2013, J.R. sought employment as a carpenter. He worked for six years for two well-known construction firms. Then, in 2020, he started ‘on tools’ for Blokhaus.
In May 2024, Blokhaus noticed a noticeable uptick in new staff from the Philippines, so Richard asked J.R. to start working in the office as a recruiter.
At the time of writing, 80% of new staff come from the Philippines. J.R. knows the language and understands their challenges—he can empathise with them. Having used the tools himself, he can place the right people in specific roles.
J.R. has two children, a son and a daughter, who were born in New Zealand. His partner is a union official. They often have after-work chats about helping people with their workplace challenges.
When not at Blokhaus, J.R. loves playing with his kids and doing renovations - keeping his carpentry skills sharp.
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Kyle Patron
Admin Assistant
Kyle arrived from the Philippines with his wife in 2025. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science - Major in Marketing in 2019 and worked as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher for two years. Then, he spent the post-COVID years in various roles working from home. His WFH experience spans insurance, real estate, web hosting, and IT support.
It’s safe to say that Kyle is excellent at supporting people. He is currently helping Mary Cruz with administrative tasks and the intake of new clients.
Kyle was awarded a sports-focused scholarship when studying, and his passion for recreation and competition is where he spends much of his out-of-office time. His two favourite pastimes are football and basketball. At home, when not talking about marketing with his partner, he enjoys cooking Filipino and Malay food. His favourite dish? Whole slow-roasted pig. BBQ at Kyle’s house!
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Marson Magbanua
Recruitment Consultant
Originally from Visayas in the Central Philippines, Marson emigrated to New Zealand in 2014, after working with tools in Japan since 2010. A qualified builder with over a decade of experience in New Zealand's construction industry, he now helps people find good jobs as part of the Blokhaus team.
Marson loves working with people and solving problems. He's passionate about learning and always looking for ways to improve his skills to help others land their desired roles and get home safely each day.
A happy husband and devoted father of two daughters, Marson enjoys playing basketball and mountain biking in his free time. His most impressive injury was acquired on the court, not on the trails. He approaches both basketball and biking with full power, so be prepared if you play against him!
What do we value?
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Challenge accepted
Love helping people, solving their problems.
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Let’s get growing
Keen to grow the business, get bigger but never at the expense of personal service.
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Not afraid
Get stuck in. Don’t hold back. Give 100% and make sure you deliver results.
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Lasting relationships
Our core driver of new business is word of mouth. Great relationships are the foundation of future work.
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Straight shooter
Firm but fair, and honest, even if it’s hard news. Be straight.
