Wellington property owner and philanthropist Mark (Markus) Dunajtschik has been recognised for his services to philanthropy and knighted in this year's New Year's Honours List.
However, there will be no pop of Champagne or celebration.
“Not at all,” Dunajtschik tells NBR. “I’m working.”
Described by the Property Council as a shining example of ‘property for good’ and an exception to Sir Bob Jones’ belief that all property developers go broke, Dunajtschik is an avid supporter of charity – especially in his local Wellington region.
His philanthropy dates back more than 40 years and includes helping to fund a helicopter rescue service in Wellington during the mid-1970s that led the way for what later became the Westpac Helicopter rescue service. 
Dunajtschik helped fund the precursor to the Westpac helicopter.
In 2017 he donated $53 million to Capital and Coast District Health Board for a new children’s hospital and in 2019 donated $2m to Hōhepa Homes, a disability service provider for intellectually disabled children and adults to purchase land to expand its operation in Kāpiti.
The children’s hospital, named Te Wao Nui – derived from Te Wao Nui a Tāne, and translating to ‘The Great Forest’ – was opened earlier this year but Dunajtschik wasted no time announcing the next project, putting $50m toward a mental health unit expected to open mid-2025.
The award doesn’t come as a surprise to Dunajtschik who says he was also nominated in 2019 but declined the recognition.
“I declined saying that I prefer to finish the job before I accept recognition for it.”
Origins
Born in Yugoslavia but of German ethnicity, Dunajtschik spent three years in a Yugoslav concentration camp during WWII before escaping with his mother and becoming a refugee in Germany.
After some travelling around the world in 1958 he arrived in New Zealand as a toolmaker and later decided this was where he wanted to settle.
As for why Wellington was the lucky place? “Simple, the ship landed there,” he tells NBR.
His business Precision Grinding became Wellington’s largest tool, cutter, and blade sharpening specialist and was later sold to his nephew.
Dunajtschik entered the property sector through fellow NBR lister Jones, from whom he brought his first high rise building, and has become a pivotal name in Wellington’s commercial cityscape.
Sir Bob Jones.
Jones once famously remarked that all property developers go broke and the only exception he knows is that “bugger” Mark Dunajtschik, noting that the reason he doesn't go broke is because he keeps his property.
Dunajtschik says the pair were never very close in a business context.
“We did the odd deal but no, he has a different philosophy than I have,” he tells NBR.
Recognition
Earlier this year he was honoured for his work in the region at the Gold Awards and received the Tribute to a Wellington Icon Award.
Going into the new year, Dunajtschik has also been nominated as semi-finalist for senior New Zealander of the Year with the winner announced in March.
He tells NBR that naturally he’s pleased that his efforts for the community are being recognised, but makes it clear his work is not about that.
“I’ve been working physically all my life; I’m still doing the same thing regardless of age or whether I have official recognition or not.”
However he declined to answer whether he would like to see more serve the community and contribute to charity.
“That’s not for me to say.”
True to his hard-working character, Dunajtschik says the highlight of his year has been receiving the code compliance for the Asteron Centre. 
The Asteron Centre.
His landmark Asteron Centre in downtown Wellington was identified by the Wellington City Council as a ‘potentially earthquake-prone building’ and forecast to be a major focus for Dunajtschik during the year.
Dunajtschik has no plans for utilising his new title of sir with his friends and family.
“Absolutely no, I don’t think there’d be any changes whatsoever,” he remarks noting that the title is academic rather than practical.
“So, day to day life, I don’t think it will even be mentioned.”
