New People Hub at AsureQuality Lynfield Site Marks Major Step for NZ Food Industry

Hon Simeon Brown and Hon Dr Shane Reti officially opened AsureQuality’s new People Hub at its Lynfield site in Auckland on Monday 29 September, marking the completion of the first stage of the redevelopment of the company’s laboratory, a critical part of New Zealand's $70+ billion food industry.  

The new building is part of a three-year investment in the site, supporting the evolution of testing technologies and the growth of New Zealand’s food and primary industries through increased capacity and flexibility of food testing services.  

The redevelopment project has freed up valuable space in the lab, providing flexibility to accommodate new AI- and tech-driven automations that will enable greater scalability, efficiency and increased capacity.  

CEO, Kim Ballinger, says that the development demonstrates AsureQuality’s commitment to its role in assuring food safety and quality in New Zealand and overseas markets, and protects New Zealand's reputation of providing high quality products for export. 

“This investment ensures we can adapt and keep pace with our customers’ expansion plans and support their growth with fast, reliable testing for food products,” says Kim Ballinger. 

The existing laboratory building at Lynfield was built in 1980 and is the largest food testing facility in the Southern Hemisphere, employing 450 people, with over 600,000 samples processed and 1.7 million tests performed at the lab over the 12 months to June 2025.  

Group Service Manager for Food Testing, Michael Hodgson, says that the project is not only about realising productivity gains, but also about ensuring a long-term sustainable business.  

“As a people-driven business we need to have the right space to enable our team to do their best work, with safe work as a priority. This is an important factor in continuing to attract and retain the best people. The new People Hub has created a dedicated space for offices, meeting rooms and a café, and we’re already seeing how this space is fostering collaboration and connection.”  

The opening of the People Hub marks a significant step forward in AsureQuality’s 150-year partnership with New Zealand’s food and primary industries through the provision of independent food assurance services. The new building occupies 2,274m2 spread over two floors with a direct link to existing facilities. It was designed by architects, Jasmax, and was completed on-time and within budget by contractors, NZ Strong. The lab team moved into the new building in late August, following a blessing of the site by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.   

(From Left to Right): 

• Dr Carlos Cheug, MP for Mt Roskill
• Kim Ballinger, AsureQuality CEO
• Hon Dr Shane Reti, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology
• Hon Simeon Brown, Minister for State Owned Enterprises
• Ken Hames, AsureQuality Director
• Peter Landon-Lane, Chair of AsureQuality Board
• Jeremy Hood, Chief Operating Officer
• Jan Hilder, AsureQuality Director
• Alison Posa, AsureQuality Director
• Ariana Estoras, AsureQuality Director
• Rupert Mitchell, AsureQuality Group Service Manager – Meat Services
• Sandra Fischer, AsureQuality Group Manager - Customer Solutions
• Elke van der Meijden, AsureQuality Group Manager – Transformation Delivery Office
• Georgina Daly, AsureQuality General Manager – People and Culture

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Media contact

Caroline Eddy

Email: marketing@asurequality.com