Property Insider: $2b Samson Corp’s problems with failed builder Vivian Construction

Opinion byProperty Editor·NZ Herald·7 Sep, 2026 05:00 PM6 mins to readAnne Gibson, Property Editor for New Zealand's Herald, has been writing about real estate since 1985 and is a skilled and knowledgeable journalist with deep insights into property as well as other businesses.‌The Samson retail property is at 172 Jervois Rd in Herne Bay. Photo / Google MapsSamson Corp replaced Vivian Construction with NZ Strong in Ponsonby;Questions about $146m Glenfield Mall sale;Waiwera has struck success, what is next?Arvida’s $720m plans at three big development sites;Wolfbrook, GN Construction, Williams Corp updates too.The Friedlander family’s $2 billion-plus business Samson Corporation has run into problems with a retail upgrade in Herne Bay, forcing it to replace Vivian Construction with NZ Strong.“This is a deeply upsetting situation,” said Callum Scott, a development manager at the Auckland property investment business Samson Corporation. Samson engaged