New Zealand’s premier building awards winners

Media release

 28 November, 2008

New Zealand’s premier building awards winners announced

A striking holiday home in Russell and a revolutionary Auckland office building took out the supreme awards at the national Registered Master Builders 2008 House of the Year and RMB Commercial Project Awards, in association with PlaceMakers.

The national winners were announced at a gala dinner at the SKYCITY Convention Centre in Auckland tonight, where Minister for Building and Construction Maurice Williamson joined more than 700 builders and industry leaders to celebrate the best new homes and commercial buildings in New Zealand.

The 2008 House of the Year was awarded to Lindesay Construction Limited for Te Whare Hoiho – an elegant, low-maintenance holiday retreat at Paroa Bay, near Russell. 

The architecturally designed home utilises steel, glass and corrugated iron to create a striking structure and takes full advantage of spectacular Bay of Islands vistas and sunsets.

One of the competition’s national residential judges Guy Evans said it was hard to fault the property.  “From a category with a range of outstanding entries, this home was unique – it blew us away,” Mr Evans said.

“The extremely demanding design of this home left no room for error in the builder’s execution.  The property has been put together with exquisite detail, resulting in a home the owners see as a work of art.”  

For the second year in a row, Mainzeal Property and Construction Ltd was awarded the RMB Commercial Project of the Year.  The company’s winning entry this year was Sovereign House, at Smales Farm on Auckland’s North Shore.

Commercial judge Rolly Adams says Sovereign House was a supreme effort by all concerned and is a building where the people who work there have been put first.

“The outstanding performance of the Mainzeal Property and Construction Ltd, and all the sub-contractors under their care, has resulted in a building which sets a new and exciting standard for the workplace in 2008 and beyond,” Mr Adams said.

Registered Master Builders Federation chief executive Warwick Quinn says he is extremely impressed with the standard achieved in the 2008 House of the Year and RMB Commercial Project Awards.

“As someone who has only been with RMBF for a matter of weeks, I am blown away by the calibre of the properties that have been entered in the competition,” Mr Quinn said.  “It’s a real tribute to the building and construction industry, and augers well for our future in these testing economic times.

“My sincere congratulations go out to all the Gold Reserve Finalists and national category winners.”

David Edwards, chief executive of principal sponsor PlaceMakers, says the Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition shows the quality and high standards of building in New Zealand.

“PlaceMakers is proud to support this competition and help recognise and reward excellence in the building and construction industry. We congratulate all National Gold Reserve finalists and this year’s national award winners,” Mr Edwards says.

The 100 finalists – all National Gold Reserve Award winners – were selected from more than 650 entrants in 20 regional competitions held throughout June, July and August.

The Registered Master Builders House of the Year and RMB Commercial Project Awards are made possible through the support of principal sponsor PlaceMakers, and supporting sponsors James Hardie, GIB Living Solutions®, Pink® Batts® Ultra® (Tasman Insulation), Mico Bathrooms, Housing New Zealand Corporation, Nulook, Future-Proof BuildingÔ, Pacific Steel Group, QBE Insurance, Department of Building and Housing, and Meridian Energy Limited.

ENDS

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