Eighteen talented builders across the Auckland, Northland and Coromandel regions have received top honours at the Regional 2026 Master Builders House of the Year competition, with 65 earning Gold Awards.
A remarkable holiday home on Waiheke Island, built by Create + Construct, won multiple awards, including Supreme House of the Year over $1 million, the Interior Design Award, and the New Home over $4 million category.
The judges praised the project team’s extraordinary planning, determination and technical skill in delivering the home on its steep cliffside site. A massive retaining wall was constructed to form a stable platform before the upper levels could take shape, while transporting equipment, materials and specialist trades to Waiheke Island added further complexity.
Locally sourced Waiheke stone, rough-sawn hardwood beams and distinctive timber dowels created continuity between the interior and exterior, giving the home an authentic, quietly luxurious character and a powerful connection to its setting.
The accolades for Create + Construct didn’t stop there, with the project team also receiving the Environmental and Sustainable Excellence Award for a rural home in Paerata, South Auckland.
Stark Building secured two of the night’s other top honours — the Supreme House of the Year under $1 million award, and the New Home $500,000 to $750,000 category for a stand-out home in Milldale, just north of Auckland.
The judges acknowledged the power of the home’s clear design and precise execution. With the garage door carefully positioned to the side, the bold front form was given room to make an immediate impact from the street. A restrained palette of quality materials, sharp detailing and exceptional workmanship created a home that feels carefully resolved and remarkably difficult to fault.
For its work on a historic villa in Birkenhead, TP Builders was awarded Supreme Renovation of the Year, the Kitchen Excellence Award, and the Renovation over $2 million category. Extraordinary care was taken to restore and extend the historically-listed villa, preserving its original character while preparing it for the next 100 years.
The judges noted how the contemporary kitchen, dining and living extension sits elegantly alongside the original home, while a separate building designed in the spirit of Victorian-era stables appeared as though it had always been part of the property.
Complex, respectful and beautifully executed, the renovation brought old and new together with precision and confidence. TP Builders added to its award haul, also taking home the PDL Smart Home Award for a home in Glendowie.
Brackenridge Builders also took home one of the night’s top honours, receiving the Mitre 10 Trade Craftsmanship Award for a beautifully crafted home on the Matakana Coast. The judges praised the exceptional precision required to deliver the home’s highly demanding design, where every junction relied on exact execution.
From the roof appearing to hover above the walls, to oversized hardwood joinery that glides with the ease of fine cabinetry, each detail was approached with the care of a finely crafted piece of furniture. With almost no margin for error, Brackenridge Builders transformed an anything-but-ordinary design into a beautifully resolved home.
For more than 30 years, Master Builders House of the Year has been the ultimate showcase of New Zealand’s top homes, highlighting excellence in design, craftsmanship and construction at every scale and budget. Master Builders chief executive Ankit Sharma says House of the Year is about more than recognising New Zealand’s top homes.
“They celebrate the teams behind them, the trust between homeowners and builders, and the craftsmanship and innovation that go into delivering stand-out builds. What stands out this year is the confidence and care shown across such a wide range of project types and price points,” Sharma says.
“Our members are not only delivering homes of an incredibly high standard, but are also helping shape what quality residential building looks like for New Zealand’s future. From thoughtful planning to quality detailing, the work recognised through House of the Year reflects an industry that continues to lift the bar.”
Master Builders House of the Year is proudly supported by Altus Window Systems, Bunnings Trade, GIB, Master Build 10-Year Guarantee, Mitre 10 Trade, PDL by Schneider Electric, Plumbing World, Resene, and APL Window Solutions.
