MEDIA RELEASE
23 April
Builders gain the edge by competing in New Zealand’s premier building awards
Builders from around New Zealand are set to compete in the country’s premier building awards programme – the Registered
Master Builders 2009 House of the Year and RMB Commercial Project Awards, in association with PlaceMakers.
Despite the difficult times for the sector, a total of 548 entries nationwide in the competition has pleased organisers
and indicates its importance to builders.
Commercial entries this year reflect the strength of the commercial building sector, while entries into the Sustainable
Building categories, a new set of awards introduced in 2008, show New Zealander’s growing preference towards this style
of building.
Registered Master Builders Federation chief executive Warwick Quinn is happy with the level of entries in this year’s
competition and believes builders appreciate the value of entering – now more than ever.
“There has never been a better time to build and registered master builders fully recognise the value of this programme
to give them an edge in a very competitive market,” Mr Quinn says.
David Edwards, chief executive of principal sponsor PlaceMakers, is also impressed with entries in the 2009 awards,
given the impact of local and global market conditions on the New Zealand building and construction sector.
“As the principal sponsor of the House of the Year and the RMB Commercial Project Awards, PlaceMakers is delighted with
the number of entries received for the 2009 competition. It endorses my belief that the awards are a great way for
builders to market the quality of their work and their brand,” Mr Edwards says.
In last year’s competition, Auckland-based Lindesay Construction took out top honours, as the Registered Master Builders
2008 House of the Year and winner of the PlaceMakers Supreme Award – an accomplishment that Phillip Lindesay says the
company was rapt with.
“Winning supreme was a real honour for all involved. It is fantastic to be recognised as excellent and especially in the
current economic climate, when exposure like this is a fantastic way to differentiate your company.”
For further information about the competition visit www.houseoftheyear.co.nz or www.rmbcommercial.co.nz or click through from the Registered Master Builders Federation website, www.masterbuilder.org.nz.
The 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),
Nulook, Housing New Zealand Corporation, Meridian and The Department of Building and Housing.
ENDS