Most architects and industry insiders today need no introduction to the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC). But let’s take a moment to provide some context and cast our minds back to 2005 — a pivotal year for sustainable design in Aotearoa with a lot happening. In 2005:

1. The Kyoto Protocol came into force, marking a major global commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions
2. Helen Clark’s Labour Party secured a third term in government
3. The Ministry for the Environment released two formative publications: The NZ Urban Design Protocol and The Value Case for Sustainable Building
4. The NZGBC was officially established, representing a new “green” vision for the country’s construction industry.

Two decades later, NZGBC membership has grown from 31 founding organisations to over 700. Sustainability is no longer fringe — green is very much the new black.

This year’s NZGBC Housing Summit echoed that evolution. The theme, “It’s Happening,” felt both like a reality check and a call to arms. From the cost of living and energy crises to climate change, the urgency is undeniable. The Summit framed these issues through the lens of housing: how we design, build, finance and regulate homes to create a resilient, affordable and sustainable future.

A warm Ngāti Whātua welcome set a positive tone. Accompanied by good coffee and the capable MC’ing of Bernard Hickey — who navigated sessions with charm and incisiveness — the day was framed for robust and constructive discussion.

Evidence and incentives: Homestar’s financial case

Brad Olsen, Chief Executive and Principal Economist at Infometrics, opened the day with a compelling presentation. His research, funded by NZGBC, analysed the financial benefits of Homestar 6. When paired with ANZ’s 0.7 per cent interest discount for Homestar-certified homes, the analysis revealed a two–three year payback period for upgrades beyond NZBC minimums, despite a slightly higher upfront cost for Homestar 6.

“Over a 30-year period, households buying a Homestar house would save at least $62,000 on electricity and interest payments. Electricity and interest savings combined range from $62,800 for a terraced house in Auckland up to $98,800 for a standalone house in Wellington.”

This kind of evidence strengthens the argument for Homestar as a smart investment. Audience members responded with enthusiasm. Further incentivisation through tax breaks would make the economic case even stronger. Homestar homes are not just green; they’re also sound financial strategies.

Housing and policy: More than just shelter

Housing is inherently political. As the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserts, adequate housing is a fundamental human right. In New Zealand, it also reflects broader issues: public health, equity, cost of living, and cultural responsibility. Addressing housing challenges can have a spiraling positive effect — if we get it right, many other social issues can follow suit.

Minister Chris Penk joined by Paula Bennett on stage for a conversation that offered insights, if not a fully articulated government vision. While lacking some clarity around next steps, the discussion did surface some vital topics: the need for faster updates to the building code, in particular, smarter ventilation standards in light of overheating in new builds, and further investigation of opportunities for open-source multiproof designs from Kāinga Ora. It could be that we are due for a 21st-century version of the Ministry of Works — or at least a public digital design library with a government architect at its helm?

The big win from this session was confirmation of New Zealand’s participation in the Chaillot Declaration, a global agreement to integrate cultural and natural heritage into climate policy. A government otherwise seen to be softening on climate commitments signing onto such a statement is perhaps a hopeful contradiction — we will have to wait and see what the outcomes are.

Lessons from Australia: Design, density and delivery

Australia’s representatives — Francesca Muskovic of the Property Council and Luke Menzel from the Energy Efficiency Council — offered a glimpse of what’s possible. With a federal government more aligned to progressive climate policy, Australia is charging ahead on issues like solar incentives, Build-to-Rent and density done well.

Sydney and Melbourne, for example, make use of pattern books and design review to streamline approvals with incentivisation of design quality to expedite the process. These strategies could offer valuable guidance for New Zealand’s urban growth, especially as “quality” risks becoming a casualty of RMA reform. Energy efficiency targets, appliance standards, and renewables are all making gains — but skilled labour shortages, particularly in trades like electrical, are seen as potential barriers. The need for National holistic long term strategic planning was highlighted as an opportunity to enable success.

Global energy trends and local impact

Brian Motherway of the IEA framed the global energy context. His presentation brought to mind ambitious initiatives like OMA’s Roadmap 2050. However, a noticeable omission was the rising energy demand from AI infrastructure, Bitcoin mining, electrified transport and increasing demand across the “developening” world, raising the question will renewables be able to cope with demand and what new tech is possible to aid in our bid for clean green equitable energy supply.

What was clear, however, is that designers must understand and mitigate risk — a language already familiar to banks and insurers. Climate impacts are already affecting asset values and insurance premiums.  The Auckland floods were a recent reminder. When risk becomes uninsurable, some land may become worthless — or ripe for rewilding or other opportunities for positive public use.

Can scale deliver quality?

Pam Bell, Chair of the NZ Construction Industry Council, posed a vital question: Can scale deliver beautiful, functional homes? Malcolm Fleming (NZ Certified Builders) and Mark Todd (Ockham Residential) explored this idea, noting that volume does offer opportunities for efficiency and innovation — if done right.

Modularity and prefab solutions, long promoted by groups like PrefabNZ, are continuing to gain relevance. The government’s proposed exemptions from consent requirements for sub-70m² homes could reinvigorate plans for and repeatable pre-consented housing solutions. RTA Studio and Dorrington Atcheson Architects offer recent examples of scalable, thoughtful design.

Open-sourcing good designs from the bottom drawers of architect offices across Aotearoa may provide a treasure trove of affordable, replicable models. NZ Institute of Building’s terrace housing project with DGSE and Kāinga Ora’s multiproof designs are promising contributions to the opportunity of a New Zealand wide pattern book.

Apartments, code and practical solutions

Mark Todd shared Ockham’s experiences with mid-rise density in Tāmaki. His call to revise Clause E2 of the Building Code to allow simpler processes for consenting weatherproofing solutions above 10m made sense. Reducing bespoke design costs through regulatory reform could enable smarter, more affordable buildings.

He also noted missed opportunities around the City Rail Link (CRL) investment. Without proper development planning around the stations, we risk building expensive infrastructure that doesn’t unlock surrounding value. Transit-oriented development needs to be more than a buzzword — it needs coordination.

Looking ahead: Finance, labels and equity

Andrew Eagles provided a with a snapshot of NZGBC’s current priorities:

•       Energy-efficient, healthy homes
•       Energy labelling for houses (not just appliances
•       Building Code improvements
•       Low-cost green finance

Homestar is gaining traction, with 80+ building companies on board. Integration of tools like Eccho energy modelling into design processes is helping make sustainable design more seamless.

Vicki White from BRANZ shared insights from the HEEP2 project, showing how energy use and housing conditions remain well below global best practice. Linking this data with findings from the organisations like He Kāinga Oranga programme shows just how stark the health impacts of poor housing remain. Anecdotes from the audience made this real — including the lasting effects, and costs,  associated with childhood respiratory issues from damp and substandard rental housing. Why we would subject our people to such conditions I don’t know.

Community housing: A glimmer of hope

With Kāinga Ora stepping back from the supply lead, the Summit spotlighted community housing initiatives. The newly established Community Funding Agency is creating pathways for investment, backed by government guarantees. KiwiSaver and private equity may soon play a bigger role as in the Simplicity model.

Ali Hamlin-Paenga of Te Matapihi reminded us of the numbers: 20,000 people on the housing waiting list. Only 4 per cent of housing in NZ is social housing, compared to 7 per cent in Australia and 10 per cent in Europe. Her closing message, People must come first through support of the basics : Wai, kai, whānau and whakapapa.

Final thoughts

In the absence of Hon. Kieran McAnulty, it was left to Bernard Hickey to close the day. He did so with humour and hard truths, reminding us that New Zealand’s economy is, in many ways, a housing market with extras tacked on. With 20,000 hours of median-wage labour now needed to buy a median-priced home, housing is everything — and eats everything.

The message of the Summit? It’s happening. Slowly, perhaps unevenly, but undeniably. With design, finance, policy, and people pulling in the same direction, we can make this moment count. Let’s not waste the momentum as a sector we all need to lean in. Now is the time for joined-up thinking: across design, finance, regulation, and community. The tools, data, and talent exist. The challenge is alignment—and action.

References
Ministry for the Environment. (2005). The New Zealand Urban Design Protocol, Wellington, NZ
Infometrics (2025). Cost-Benefit Analysis of Homestar Homes. NZGBC
International Energy Agency (IEA). (2024). Global Energy Trends Report
BRANZ (2024), HEEP2 Findings: Energy Use and Health Impacts in New Zealand Homes
He Kāinga Oranga/Housing and Health Research Programme, University of Otago.