Search widens to find NZ’s top builds


Judges have started their journey up and down the country seeking New Zealand’s top quality builds in this year’s Registered Master Builders 2017 House of the Year competition.

This year’s competition has some exciting new additions, with judges assessing builds within three new categories that reflect the changing building and construction sector – two for Volume and Group House builders, and one for multi units, such as apartments.

More than 370 homes will be assessed as the judges travel around New Zealand, with regional award-winners announced at 10 regional events during July and August. The team of industry experts are tasked with finding the best builds in the country, ranging from new homes and show homes to renovations and builder’s own homes, and now also multi-units. 

Registered Master Builders Association chief executive David Kelly says this year’s competition has evolved to reflect the changing market and the types of homes that are now a part of our landscape.

“Demand for building in this country is calling for new ways of operating and new types of building. As the prominent house building competition, we want to ensure we reflect this new landscape,” he says.

“House of the Year showcases what is possible by introducing new trends, materials and approaches. The focus on sustainable building over the past few years is a key example of this. We are now moving into a period which will see a major rise in multi-unit homes and apartments – that is very exciting for the industry and for New Zealand.”

Kelly says Registered Master Builders Association and the House of the Year competition play a leading role in ensuring a better built New Zealand.

“House of the Year has been celebrating quality and innovation in New Zealand construction for more than 25 years. These changes recognise that the market continues to evolve and grow but the focus of our builders remains on quality across all types of homes and price brackets,” he says. 

“This competition sets a standard for the industry, and has become a valuable source of ideas for anyone thinking about building a new home or undertaking renovation. We are excited to see the range of homes this year and the innovation that is currently taking place in the industry.”

Judging concludes in June, before the first regional events in Waikato and Mid and South Canterbury on 14 July.

The Awards are made possible through the support of PlaceMakers, Master Build Services, GIB, Altus, CARTERS, Plumbing World, Resene and Bunnings Trade.

For more information about the competition, visit www.houseoftheyear.co.nz  

Registered Master Builders 2017 House of the Year: Regional event details

Region

Date & time

Venue

Waikato

Friday 14 July

Claudelands Events Centre, Hamilton

Mid & South Canterbury

Friday 14 July

Caroline Bay Hall, Timaru

Manawatu/Wanganui/East Coast

Saturday 15 July

Napier Conference Centre

Southern

Saturday 15 July

Skyline Restaurant, Queenstown

Marlborough/Nelson/West Coast

Friday 28 July

Marlborough Convention Centre, Blenheim

Bay of Plenty

Friday 28 July

ASB Baypark, Tauranga

Canterbury

Friday 28 July

C&E Hall Wigram Airforce Museum, Christchurch

Taranaki

Friday 4 August

Devon Hotel, New Plymouth

Auckland/Northland

Saturday 5 August

Sky City

Wellington/Wairarapa

Friday 11 August

Carterton Events Centre