Coterra History
Trusted Since 1987
Our company, Coterra, has a rich history that dates back to 1987 when Charlie Hughes founded C Hughes and Associates. The firm was located in Cromwell and offered surveying and resource management services for land development in Cromwell, Wanaka, Queenstown, and Alexandra. The company played a significant role in the region’s development and the relocation of Cromwell’s commercial and residential areas, completing many subdivisions in and around Cromwell.
Tony Cox was hired by Charlie in 1990 after several years of working overseas in Nigeria, Egypt, and Southeast Asia. Matt Suddaby joined Charlie as a graduate in 1994 and worked in Cromwell until 1998. Upon his return from working in the UK, Denmark, and Poland, Matt opened the Wanaka branch of C Hughes and Associates in Ardmore Street Wanaka in 2002. In 2006, Jack Lister joined Matt in the Wanaka office.
In 2008, Matt and Tony became partners with Charlie in C Hughes and Associates, and together, they endured the tough economic times of 2009 and 2010. In 2014, Campbell Hills joined the Cromwell office following 18 months of experience in North Queensland. Charlie retired in 2016, marking the end of an extraordinary career as he played a vital role in Cromwell’s growth.
Campbell took over the management of the Cromwell office when Tony retired at the end of 2020. In 2021, Campbell and Jack purchased Tony’s shares, and together they became Directors of C Hughes and Associates. In 2023, Matt, Jack, and Campbell decided to refresh and revitalize their firm and rebranded it as Coterra.
