Waikato and Bay of Plenty Architecture Awards 2026: Shortlist announced
Shortlisted - Housing: Awatere House by Chow:Hill Architects. Image: Simon Devitt
Shortlisted - Housing: Bay by DCA Architects of Transformation and Yvette Jay Interior Design in association. Image: Simon Devitt
Shortlisted - Housing: Liddle Home by Judith Jean Eden. Image: Milan Kendall from Bladescenes
Shortlisted - Housing: Pōhutukawa House by Sumich Chaplin Architects. Image: Thomas Cannings
Shortlisted - Housing: Stretch by Architecture Bureau. Image: Jono Parker
Shortlisted - Housing: The Lookout by Rogan Nash Architects. Image: Simon Wilson
Shortlisted - Housing: Whangamatā Bach by Artekus. Image: Jono Parker
Shortlisted - Housing – Alterations and Additions: Spolia by Architecture Bureau. Image: Hamish Melville
Shortlisted - Housing – Multi-unit: The Muse by Construkt Architects. Image: Calvin Hui
Shortlisted - Housing – Multi-unit: University of Waikato Knighton Road Student Apartments by Chow:Hill Architects. Image: Aries Stokes
Shortlisted - Interior Architecture: 90 Devonport Road by Warren and Mahoney. Image: Simon Devitt
Shortlisted - Interior Architecture: Holland Beckett by Wingates. Image: Amanda Aitken
Shortlisted - Public Architecture: Bay Oval – Craigs Investment Partners Pavilion (Phase 2) by Jasmax. Image: Jasmax .
Shortlisted - Public Architecture: BNZ Theatre by Jasmax and Charcoalblue in association. Image: Jasmax .
Shortlisted - Public Architecture: Cathedral Hall by Chibnall Buckell Team Architects. Image: Conrad Blind - Picture Show
Shortlisted - Public Architecture: MacMurray Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Centre Tauranga by Wingates. Image: Sam Hartnett
Shortlisted - Public Architecture: Merivale Community Centre by Designgroup Stapleton Elliott and Wingates in association. Image: Amanda Aitken
Shortlisted - Public Architecture: Pacific Lakes Village – The Pavilion by Peddle Thorp. Image: Jahl Marshall
Shortlisted - Public Architecture: 90 Devonport Road by Warren and Mahoney. Image: James Hunter
Shortlisted - Public Architecture: Chanel Centre by Chibnall Buckell Team Architects. Image: Conrad Blind - Picture Show
Shortlisted - Public Architecture: Pūtahi Teia by Falk Tapsell and Beca in association. Image: Ngata Tapsell
Shortlisted - Public Architecture: Te Puna Hauora Ki Uta Ki Tai by Design Engine Architects. Image: Samantha Myers
Shortlisted - Public Architecture: The Lake House by DCA Architects of Transformation. Image: Simon Devitt
Shortlisted - Public Architecture: The Wedge – Head Office Building by Sheppard & Rout Architects. Image: Amanda Aitken
Shortlisted - Small Project Architecture: Living House by RTA Studio. Image: Paul Brandon
Shortlisted - Small Project Architecture: Summerhill ’23 & ’24 by Andrew Barrie Lab, Gregory Mann and Billy Pengelly in association. Image: Sam Hartnett
Shortlisted - Small Project Architecture: Te Tohu by Andrew Barrie Lab and Jeremy Cleland in association. Image: Sam Hartnett
Shortlisted - Small Project Architecture: Toi Tauranga Art Gallery by Warren and Mahoney. Image: Ian Hutchinson
Shortlisted - Small Project Architecture: Wellington Street Beach by Athfield Architects and Boffa Miskell in association. Image: Boffa Miskell
Shortlisted - Education: Te Wharekura o Mauao - Science and Technology Block, Pukewhanake by Wingates. Image: Amanda Aitken
Shortlisted - Education: Tongariro School Redevelopment by RTA Studio. Image: Patrick Reynolds
Shortlisted - Heritage: APG Offices (The Old Lodge) by APG Architects. Image: Amanda Aitken
Shortlisted - Heritage: BNZ Theatre by Jasmax and Charcoalblue in association. Image: Jasmax .
Shortlisted - Hospitality: Fergus Bar by APG Architects. Image: Amanda Aitken
Shortlisted - Hospitality: Huka Lodge Gym, Spa and Wellness by Christian Anderson Architects. Image: Rory Fuller
35 projects have been shortlisted in the 2026 Waikato & Bay of Plenty Branch Architecture Awards. The shortlisted projects were selected from entries in the awards programme of the Waikato & Bay of Plenty Branch of Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects.
The shortlist was compiled by a jury led by Louise Booth of Object Office Architects, and rounded out by Georgia Peacocke (Edwards White Architects), Davor Popadich (Davor Popadich Architects) and Geoff Lentz.
The winners will be announced on Friday 15 May.
See above for images of the shortlisted projects, which are:
Housing
Awatere House by Chow:Hill Architects
Hauparu Bay by DCA Architects of Transformation and Yvette Jay Interior Design in association
Liddle Home by Judith Jean Eden
Pōhutukawa House by Sumich Chaplin Architects
Stretch by Architecture Bureau
The Lookout by Rogan Nash Architects
Whangamatā Bach by Artekus
Housing – Alterations and Additions
Spolia by Architecture Bureau
Housing – Multi-unit
The Muse by Construkt Architects
University of Waikato Knighton Road Student Apartments by Chow:Hill Architects
Interior Architecture
90 Devonport Road by Warren and Mahoney
Holland Beckett by Wingates
Public Architecture
Bay Oval – Craigs Investment Partners Pavilion (Phase 2) by Jasmax
BNZ Theatre by Jasmax and Charcoalblue in association
Cathedral Hall by Chibnall Buckell Team Architects
MacMurray Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Centre Tauranga by Wingates
Merivale Community Centre by Designgroup Stapleton Elliott and Wingates in association
Pacific Lakes Village – The Pavilion by Peddle Thorp
Commercial Architecture
90 Devonport Road by Warren and Mahoney
Chanel Centre by Chibnall Buckell Team Architects
Pūtahi Teia by Falk Tapsell and Beca in association
Te Puna Hauora Ki Uta Ki Tai by Design Engine Architects
The Lake House by DCA Architects of Transformation
The Wedge – Head Office Building by Sheppard & Rout Architects
Small Project Architecture
Living House by RTA Studio
Summerhill ’23 & ’24 by Andrew Barrie Lab, Gregory Mann and Billy Pengelly in association
Te Tohu by Andrew Barrie Lab and Jeremy Cleland in association
Toi Tauranga Art Gallery by Warren and Mahoney
Wellington Street Beach by Athfield Architects and Boffa Miskell in association
Education
Te Wharekura o Mauao - Science and Technology Block, Pukewhanake by Wingates
Tongariro School Redevelopment by RTA Studio
Heritage
APG Offices (The Old Lodge) by APG Architects
BNZ Theatre by Jasmax and Charcoalblue in association
Hospitality
Fergus Bar by APG Architects
Huka Lodge Gym, Spa and Wellness by Christian Anderson Architects
The Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZIA Local Architecture Awards are proudly sponsored by APL and Resene.