National Judges On The Road In Search Of The 2003 House Of The Year

What do a builder, an architect, and a former captain of the New Zealand netball team have in common? They’re all on the road for the next few weeks judging the finalists in the Registered Master Builder’s 2003 House of the Year.

After six months of competition in New Zealand’s most prestigious home and renovations award the 51 finalists were announced, and it’s now down to three judges to select the category winners, and the overall Supreme winner in the Registered Master Builders 2003 House of the Year.

Auckland builder Graham Coe, Auckland architect Rolly Adams, and Wanaka Real Estate agent and former Silver Fern Joan Harnett-Kindly have the unenviable role of scouring the country from north to south, and east to west, judging the houses on workmanship, innovation, functionality and design.

None of the judges are new to the job, with Graeme Coe on his second House of the Year national judging panel, Joan Harnett-Kindly on her third, and Rolly Adams with a record six tours under his belt.

Travelling is also nothing new to Joan Harnett-Kindly who played in the inaugural World Netball Championships in England in 1963, and captained the team at the World Championships in Jamaica in 1971 - which they lost to Australia in the final.

“The fact that we know each other so well, and all have so much to contribute and learn from each other, means that a very tough job becomes an enjoyable one,” says Joan Harnett-Kindly of her judging colleagues.

The winners will be announced at a gala awards ceremony in Auckland on October 4.

The Registered Master Builders 2003 House of the Year is supported by principal sponsors PlaceMakers and James Hardie, and Lifestyle Award sponsors Winstone Wallboards (Gib Living Solutions), Tasman Insulation (Pink Batts), Fletcher Challenge Forests (Origin Timeframe), Mico Bathrooms (the showroom operation of Mico Plumbing and Pipelines), and NewBuild Home Finance Limited (NewBuild Home Finance Plan).

A one-hour House of the Year special will feature the winners on TV One in late November.

Winners of the local commercial building awards are also being judged by the national judging panel, with the results to be announced on August 31.

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