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Smart Project Management was established in 2019 by Sam Summerton, building on more than two decades of experience in the construction sector. Sam’s career started out as an employed carpenter and progressed into more senior roles that included Site Manager and Project Manager for large-scale projects throughout Aotearoa, New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands.

With a degree in applied management majoring in project management, Sam leads a team at Smart PM that has combined sector knowledge and experience with technical project management know-how.

Having spent long periods away from home, Sam wanted to return to Ōtautahi Christchurch and settle his own whānau, while shifting his professional focus towards supporting projects that benefit his broader whānau, hapu and iwi communities. Driven by the concept of mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei (for us and our children after us), he saw an opportunity to put relationships and values at the heart of business for the benefit of all.

Smart PM was created to provide a platform from which to positively influence the construction sector, driven by our purpose of providing trusted solutions that are driven by quality relationships and the achievement of benefit for all. With a degree in Applied Management, majoring in Project Management, Sam leads a team at Smart PM that has combined sector knowledge and experience with technical project management know-how.

Smart PM is proud to be 100% owned and operated by Ngāi Tahu whānau, reflecting the deep sense of connection we feel to our cultural heritage.

Like many other whānau, previous generations suffered abuses on the basis of their Māori identity, which led to our culture being seen as a disadvantage and being minimised in its significance. Nevertheless, despite not having strong cultural practices as part of our daily lives growing up, our whānau values have always reflected te ao Māori principles.

Our Director Sam and his whānau, led by his uncle Greg Summerton, have undertaken a journey to rediscover their cultural heritage by tracing their whakapapa and whānau history. We are proud to have the learnings from this journey guide and inform our purpose and the way we operate Smart PM.

Our partnership with Ngāi Tahu has been the cornerstone of our business, allowing us to contribute meaningfully to various projects that enrich our communities. Delivering projects on behalf of Ngāi Tahu rūnanga that relate to our whānau history and heritage allows us to achieve the ultimate depth of connection with our culture by seamlessly integrating our personal and professional worlds.