The future of housing in New Zealand presents both challenges and opportunities. As our population grows, innovative fast-tracked solutions are needed to create affordable, sustainable and high-quality homes. ‘The Future of Housing Summit’ will bring together the leaders and game changers from across pan-industry disciplines to debate industry disruptive futuristic approaches to housing design, development, investment, and policy reform.  Speakers will share cutting-edge modern construction methods, new ownership models, streamlined regulations and much more to deliver a thriving and affordable housing market.  Fostering collaboration and fresh thinking, the summit will provide the outcomes needed to help the future of housing to meet the evolving needs of our nation.

Mark Abbott, Interim CEO of Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects, agrees “The Future of Housing Summit is an opportunity for the industry to come together and debate the big issues including both the challenges and opportunities in order to create affordable, sustainable and high-quality homes.”

With a stellar line-up of the biggest industry influencers joining the discussions attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead, equipped with the knowledge and connections needed to drive meaningful change. The NZIA, a champion of architectural excellence, will host the day and moderate each panel, setting the tone for collaboration and change. Key panel speakers include leadership from New Zealand Institute of Architects, Squirrel, BRANZ, Registered Master Builders, Simplicity Living, Hubexo, Beca, Kāinga Ora, New Zealand Certified Builders and more. With 60 NZRAB CPD points available for members who attend, the Summit is a must for professionals seeking to shape Aotearoa’s housing landscape while earning Continuing Professional Development points.

NZIA’s Interim CEO Mark Abbot will open the day and join the Summit’s first panel discussion, Scaling Up Supply: Overcoming Barriers to Housing Construction. Here panellists will focus on overcoming barriers to housing supply, including land availability, consenting delays, infrastructure constraints, and workforce capacity, through regulatory reform and industry collaboration. Panellists include; Caroline McDowall, GM Housing Delivery of Kāinga Ora, John Bolton, Founder & CEO of Squirrel, Claire Falck, CEO of BRANZ, Malcolm Fleming, CEO of NZCB, Peter Townsend of NZIA.

The second panel of, Housing, Quality, Speed and Affordability through Simplicity features Shane Brealey, MD of Simplicity Living and Kevin Brewer, Director of Brewer Davidson Architecture. Here, both Shane and Kevin will outline the design and construction methodology behind their projects. Shane will present the advantages of Simplicity Living’s vertically integrated business structure from project feasibility through design management to construction delivery.

Kicking off the afternoon is the return of the highly anticipated session form BCI Central/Hubexo, Insights from New Zealand’s Top Builders & Industry Leaders. This high-impact third annual session brings together senior leaders, including Craig Treloar, GM of Hawkins, Malcom Fleming, CEO of NZCB, Ben Hurrel, Head of Customer Success at Hubexo, to dissect current market trends, navigate challenges, and unveil the opportunities shaping the future of construction. With a panel featuring the decision-makers behind Australasia’s most significant projects, this is your chance to gain exclusive insights into where the industry is headed next.

Wrapping up the day, the Summit discusses the sustainability of housing in NZ and how to extend its life expectancy. This session is titled. Adapt, Don’t Demolish: The Case for Retrofit in New Zealand’s Housing Crisis examines how New Zealand could consider Retrofit First principles to increase housing supply and residential amenity and how we could extend the life expectancy, while reducing carbon and maintaining affordability of both our existing buildings and our new buildings. A stellar line up includes Joe Lyth, Chairman PHINZ, Phoebe Moses, Carbon Navigator of Beca, Dr Chris Litten, GM Research of BRANZ, Huia Reriti, President of NZIA, Rachel Macintyre, Sustainability Advisor of NZIA, Christopher Kelly of Architecture Workshop and Matthew Aileone, GM of RMB.

Whilst BuildNZ offers a broader platform showcasing cutting-edge products and services from over 260 exhibiting suppliers, the Future of Housing Summit is one of its anchor features. It promises candid dialogue and actionable strategies to bridge policy, design, and construction. Join us at BuildNZ on Tuesday, 15^th July, to engage with these leaders and design a better future where every New Zealander has the opportunity to live in an affordable, sustainable home. Register at www.buildnz.com to be part of this transformative event.

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