Green Star Buildings NZ

The latest version of Green Star for low carbon new buildings and major refurbishments is here!

The latest version of Green Star; Green Star Buildings NZ, is now live. During the transition period, Green Star Design & As Built NZ v1.1 will run alongside Green Star Buildings NZ. Please note that all DAB v1.1 Expressions of Interest must be submitted by 6pm, Friday 30th May 2025, and fully registered by 30th June 2025. Current projects can benefit from extending their design and planning to incorporate the new credits available under Green Star Buildings NZ. For more details, check out the credit substitution document here.

After more than two years of industry consultation across the motu, Green Star Buildings New Zealand (NZ) is live.

The next iteration of Green Star for the design and construction of non-residential buildings, Green Star Buildings replaces Green Star Design & As Built, further defining what it means to create a sustainable building.

Climate action, resource efficiency, social sustainability, transparency in supply chains and health & wellbeing are key megatrends changing the world as we know it. More and more companies are committing to climate action, as investors, consumers and employees expect more from companies than ever before.

Across Aotearoa New Zealand, our built environment must respond to meet the challenges of our time or risk obsolescence.

The Aotearoa New Zealand version of Green Star Buildings seeks to:

Establish a clear, well-defined entry point for best practice ratings
Set new levels of achievement for those committed to the highest possible levels of sustainability.
Introduce new categories and credits reflecting issues relevant to our market now and in the future
Further prioritise reductions in carbon emissions from the built environment
Create green features for all Green Star rated buildings, driving wider market awareness and appreciation for the differences and benefits that sustainable building practices can provide.

A new benchmark

Green Star Buildings NZ has been specially designed to meet the challenges of the next decade, helping deliver assets that don’t just meet the expectations of today, but are also future ready and can withstand evolving customer demands, regulatory requirements and increasing scrutiny against greenwashing.

Green Star Buildings NZ introduces 16 minimum expectations that must be achieved for projects to achieve a Green Star rating. These expectations are aimed at ensuring all Green Star rated buildings meet a basic definition of a green building (energy efficient, water efficient, good healthy spaces, built responsibly, and on sites that are not critical natural areas).

A clear path to reach your decarbonisation goals

Green Star Buildings NZ includes the Net Zero Ready Pathway* which are a clear set of targets aligned with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recommendations to help deliver a net zero building that’s fossil fuel free, powered by renewables, highly efficient, built with lower carbon materials and offset with nature.

Fast, simple, streamlined reporting

Green Star Buildings NZ has been specifically designed to align with leading frameworks, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals, GRESB, IPCC recommendations and the Task Force for Climate Related Financial Disclosure.

The result? A project that aligns with Green Star NZ expectations and can help makes the reporting process faster and simpler.

Meet tenant demands for better, healthier buildings

In a post-COVID world, healthier buildings are more important than ever. Green Star Buildings NZ sets minimum standards for fresh air, adequate light, acoustic comfort and exposure to toxins, whilst also incentivising you to go beyond and reach higher benchmarks – so you can rest assured you’re delivering a healthier building that will be sought after by tenants.

Be recognised for your leadership

Green Star certification is your opportunity to differentiate your brand in a competitive market.

Build for better returns

Green Star has been used to certifying thousands of buildings across Ahitereiria Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Data from Green Building Council of Australia shows that Green Star certified assets lead to better returns; such as a 16.4% higher capital value per m2 and a 13.5% higher annual return. Not to mention significant utility cost savings such as 66% less electricity use and 51% less water use, and a 23% longer weighted average lease expire (WALE), reducing lease turnover.

NZGBC Members and Green Star Accredited Professionals can access the Submission Guidelines for free.

For Non-members the Submission Guidelines for any NZGBC tool costs $600+ GST.

Responsible Resource Management - Operational Waste Calculator v1.0

Responsible Products Calculator NZGBC v1.0

This document provides guidance to project teams on how to use credits from Green Star Buildings NZ on projects registered under
Green Star – Design & As Built NZ

Download the guidance on credit substitutions

We now move into a transition period where Green Star Design & As Built NZ v1.1 (DAB v1.1) will run in parallel with Green Star Buildings NZ. To give clarity on the dates for this period:

- All DAB v1.1 Expressions of Interest (EOIs) must be submitted through our website by 6pm, Friday 30^th May 2025. The ability to submit an EOI for DAB v1.1 will be closed at 6pm on that day.

- EOIs must become fully registered (i.e. paid and Certification Agreement signed) by 30 June 2025.

As always, we’re keen to work with you to get the best outcomes for your clients and your projects so please do get in touch if you’d like to talk further. Contact us at greenstarnz@nzgbc.org.nz.

This first version of a New Zealand-based best practice guideline document for sustainable management of operational waste has been developed to provide a structured approach to minimise operational waste generation and maximise the recovery of materials, whether it be proactively within the design phase of a new development, or retrospectively (where applicable) on an existing building.

Download the guide

"It has been incredibly rewarding to participate and witness the comprehensive engagement and collaboration facilitated by the NZGBC on the evolution of the Green Star tool. We hope this tool will continue to support and facilitate sustainability objectives within the built environment of Aotearoa, New Zealand.
NDY are proud to have been part of this process as the technical partners to the NZGBC."

Shelly Thompson
NDY Senior Associate | New Zealand Sustainability Lead

Certification fees

Green Star Buildings

Single Project Certification

For a Green Star Buildings Certified Rating, the following fees apply.

Please note price will be determined at time of billing and is subject to change.

All fees shown are excluding GST.

Project value ($)	Members fees 2024/2025 ($)	Non-member fees 2024/2025 ($)
0M - < 3M	18,500	24,700
3M - < 10M	23,400	30,800
10M - < 30M	31,700	44,800
30M - < 60M	40,700	57,500
60M - < 100M	49,700	70,000
100M - < 150M	60,800	82,300
150M +	72,000	93,500

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