‘Young Guns’ Take Top Honours in 2004 House of the Year
New Zealand’s building industry gathered in Auckland this evening to recognise the country’s best renovations, new
homes, and commercial buildings, at the Registered Master Builders 2004 House of the Year, in association with
PlaceMakers.
In front of a capacity crowd of more than 830 guests, the Supreme Award went to Auckland building company G J Bonham
Builders Ltd for a stunning five-bedroom home on Auckland’s North Shore, with panoramic views over the Hauraki Gulf.
Presented by Hon Steve Maharey, Minister of Housing, PlaceMakers CEO David Worley and President of the Registered Master
Builders Federation Jamie O’Leary, the Supreme Award winner was described by judges as a unique house of exceptional
quality, and an outstanding example of construction.
Chair of the judging panel Graham Coe says the judges were impressed by the quality of the buildings entered in this
year’s awards, particularly the entries from younger registered master builders.
“It’s exciting to see so many builders receiving recognition for their outstanding skill and workmanship. We’re
particularly delighted with the pool of younger talent this year and the number of first year entrants who have taken
top awards,” says Mr Coe.
“As all the winners demonstrate - quality workmanship is alive and well in New Zealand.”
Excitement was high at tonight’s event, with 101 Gold Reserve national finalists vying for 14 Category Awards, five
LifeStyle Awards and the Supreme Award. The Gold Reserve award winners were selected from 580 entrants in 19 local
competitions that took place throughout New Zealand between May and July this year – the largest number of entries in
the history of the competition.
Registered Master Builders Federation CEO Chris Preston says that the new awards structure provides a truly national
benchmark and a quality mark system that builders can be proud of and homeowners can trust.
“The Gold Reserve finalists represent the very best New Zealand’s building industry has to offer and the national judges
had a tough job determining the best of the best – tonight’s winners,” says Mr Preston.
David Worley, Chief Executive of principal sponsor PlaceMakers, says the company is proud to support New Zealand’s
premier building event, through its enhanced role as sole principal sponsor of the Registered Master Builders 2004 House
of the Year.
“The quality of entries and the excellence demonstrated in this year’s competition is higher than ever before. The new
quality mark creates a tangible stamp for builders and can be used to promote building excellence that is easy for home
and property owners to recognise. It’s something that New Zealand homeowners can be encouraged and inspired by.
“PlaceMakers congratulates each and every Gold Reserve award winner, and all of this year’s national award winners,”
says Mr Worley.
The Registered Master Builders 2004 House of the Year, in association with PlaceMakers, comprises the PlaceMakers
Renovation Awards (two price categories under and over $200,000); New Homes Awards (six price categories ranging from
under $180,000, to over $1 million), the Builder’s Own Home Award, James Hardie Show Home Award, the Housing New Zealand
Community Development Award and LifeStyle Awards for living solutions, structural assurance, energy efficiency,
bathrooms and kitchens. The Commercial Awards include three price categories ranging from under $1 million to over $5
million. The Registered Master Builders 2004 House of the Year is supported by principal sponsor PlaceMakers; and
Lifestyle, Commercial and supporting sponsors James Hardie, GIB Living Solutions®, Origin® Timeframe®, Pink® Batts®
Ultra, Mico Plumbing Supplies (Mico Bathrooms), Housing New Zealand Corporation and QBE Insurance (Int) Ltd.
Ends
Editors Note: Attached is a list of winning homes including the site location and contact details for the builders.
(Please note that the identity of the homeowner and actual address are confidential under the Privacy Act, and must not
be disclosed without prior permission from the owner).
Images of all winning entries are available on request.
For further information or images please contact:
Amy Murphy Mobile: 021 974 837
OR
Andrea Downs Mobile: 021 431 443
Registered Master Builders 2004 House of the Year and Commercial Awards, in association with PlaceMakers National
Winners
Supreme House of the Year Winner
Place: Supreme Winner Name of Building Company: G J Bonham Builders Ltd
Contact Details: Gary Bonham, phone 0274 977 956 Site Location:
Campbells Bay, Auckland
Judges’ Comments
Sheathed in Thermoclad with flat mineral chip roofing and Smartwood exterior joinery, this home, with an unusual and
exciting concept presents the builders with some interesting challenges in this extremely high quality beachfront home
on the foreshore of the Hauraki Gulf.
Large timber entry doors, located under an expansive protective canopy, open into a double height tiled entry foyer
capped with an intricately detailed circular roof light.
A curved stairway links the four upstairs bedrooms, each with their own en-suites to this central circular area.
The use of Swamp Totara recovered from the Wanganui River, in all finishing work, trim, handrails, joinery (etc) in
itself has clearly presented each member of the builders team with a real challenge in terms of curving, shaping,
fitting and finishing, particularly to curved walls and pillars.
The result is indeed a home of an exceptional quality, which combined with the high standard of associated finishes
throughout this remarkably executed project has resulted in a unique home exhibiting an outstanding example of
construction skills in all their aspects.
Registered Master Builders 2004 House of the Year and Commercial Awards, in association with PlaceMakers National
Winners
Category One – PlaceMakers Renovation Awards up to $200,000 Winner: Name of Building Company: Lew Walker Ltd Builder’s
Contact Details: Lew Walker, Phone 0274 342 430 Site Location: Waverly, Dunedin
Category Two – PlaceMakers Renovation Awards over $200,000 Winner: Name of Building Company: Simon Roche Ltd
Builder’s Contact Details: Simon Roche, Phone 0274 475 073 Site Location: Karori,
Wellington
Category Three – New Homes under $180,000 Winner: Name of Building Company: Roger Kenning Builders Ltd Builder’s
Contact Details: Roger Kenning, Phone 0274 570 361 Site Location: Kaiteriteri Heights,
Motueka
Category Four – New Homes $180,000 - $250,000 Winner: Name of Building Company: Chartwell Homes Ltd Contact
Details: Phone 027 245 7597 Site Location: Welcome Bay, Tauranga
Category Five – New Homes $250,000 - $400,000 Winner: Name of Building Company: Mark Prosser Builders Ltd
Builder’s Contact Details: Mark Prosser, Phone 0274 330 151 Site Location: Ouruhia,
Christchurch
Category Six – New Homes $400,000 - $550,000 Winner: Name of Building Company: Glenroy Housing Ltd Builder’s
Contact Details: Phil and John Vile, Phone 03 578 7956 Site Location: Mahau Sound,
Marlborough
Category Seven – New Homes $550,000 - $1 million Winner: Name of Building Company: Blackie Construction Ltd
Builder’s Contact Details: Peter Blackie, Phone 0274 465 372 Site Location: Tauranga
Category Eight – New Homes over $1 million Winner:
Name of Building Company: G J Bonham Builders Ltd Builder’s Contact Details: Gary Bonham, phone 0274
977 956 Site Location: Campbells Bay, Auckland
Category Nine – Builders Own Home Award Winner: Name of Building Company: Haimes Building Ltd Builder’s Contact
Details: Mark Haimes, Phone 0274 996 664 Site Location: Taupo
Category Ten – James Hardie Show Homes Award Winner: Name of Building Company: Jennian Homes Waikato Builders’
Contact Details: Glen Archer & David Moore,
Phone 0274 785 022 Site Location: Hamilton
Category Eleven – Housing New Zealand Community Development Award Winner: Name of Building Company: David Reid Homes
(Wellington) Ltd Builder’s Contact Details: Steve Franklin, Phone 021 520 420 Site Location:
Whitby Retirement Village, Wellington
Category Twelve – Commercial Award under $2 million Winner: Name of Building Company: D.R. Borman Ltd Builder’s
Contact Details: David Borman, Phone 027 463 259 Site Location: White Swan Country Hotel, Greytown
Category Thirteen – Commercial Award $2 million - $5 million Winner: Name of Building Company: Bradford
Building Ashburton Ltd Builder’s Contact Details: Phone 03 308 9039 Site Location:
Ashburton Club & MSA, Ashburton
Category Fourteen – Commercial Award over $5 million Winner: Name of Building Company: Thompson & Devanny Construction Co Ltd Builder’s Contact Details: Kelly Thompson & Geoff Morgan
Phone 025 426 427 Site Location: Bay of Many Coves Resort Queen Charlotte Sound
Lifestyle Awards
GIB Living Solutions® Award - for a better living environment Winner: Name of Building Company: C J
Fisher Ltd Contact Details: Chris Fisher, Phone 0274 933 607 Site Location:
Gillespie Place, Taupo
Origin® Timeframe® Structural Assurance Award Winner: Name of Building Company: D & M Builders Ltd Contact Details: Mark Dickson, Phone 021 351 425 Site Location:
Queenstown
Pink® Batts® Ultra Energy Efficiency Award Winner: Name of Building Company: Van Baarle Construction Ltd
Contact Details: Rudy Van Baarle, Phone 0274 412 218 Site Location:
Lower Hutt, Wellington
Heart of the Home Kitchen Award Winner: Name of Building Company: C J Fisher Ltd Contact Details:
Chris Fisher, Phone 0274 933 607 Site Location: Wairakei, Taupo
Mico Bathrooms Award Winner: Name of Building Company: G J Bonham Builders Ltd Contact Details:
Gary Bonham, phone 0274 977 956 Site Location: Campbells Bay, Auckland