23 April
Search begins to find New Zealand’s top homes
Judges have started their journey up and down the country seeking New Zealand’s top residential builds in the Registered
Master Builders 2018 House of the Year competition.
More than 340 homes will be assessed as the judges travel around New Zealand, with regional award-winners announced at
nine 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, as well as multi-units and apartments.
Registered Master Builders Chief Executive David Kelly says House of the Year is the prominent house building
competition in New Zealand and has been celebrating quality and innovation in New Zealand construction for more than 25
years.
“The competition recognises quality building across all types of homes and price brackets. The Master Builders who enter
House of the Year set the standard for building quality and innovation. House of the Year showcases what is possible by
introducing new trends, materials and approaches,” says Kelly.
“The industry needs to be innovative in both how we are building and what we are building if we are to meet the
Government’s ambitious KiwiBuild target of 100,000 homes built over 10 years.
“Our Master Builders are the industry leaders who can help make KiwiBuild a reality. We are open to working with the
Government to build the homes they need, whether standalone or apartments.”
In 2017, the competition introduced a new multi-unit category, which recognises the changing landscape and an increase
in apartments, duplexes and terrace housing.
The number of apartment and townhouse consents has tripled in the last five years, from 3,076 in 2013 to 9,192 in 2017.
Apartment numbers alone increased by 29% in the past 12 months, compared to February 2017.*
“There is no doubt there is still a role for the traditional stand-alone home in our landscape, however 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,” says Kelly.
Kelly says Registered Master Builders Association and the House of the Year competition play a leading role in ensuring
a better built New Zealand amidst a changing building and construction sector.
This competition sets a standard for the industry and showcases the range of materials and approaches the industry can
use to meet the increasing demands of the sector. We are excited to see the range of homes this year and the innovation
that is currently taking place in the industry.”
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
ENDS