Kia ora koutou,
In this issue, I want to share where momentum is building — and where it’s stalling —across Aotearoa’s building sector. We look at the urgent steps needed to cut carbon today, shifts in the residential regulatory landscape, our upcoming nationwide energy-modelling masterclasses, and a significant new 6 Star Green Star project that sets a benchmark for the country.
It’s been frustrating to see momentum on climate action slow. But the reality is this: our sector can deliver massive carbon reductions — tens of millions of tonnes — using solutions that exist right now.
The alternative is a high-carbon future marked by higher costs, more disruptive weather events, and rising energy bills for families and businesses. While some parts of the economy may still be waiting on emerging technologies, we don’t need to wait. We already have the will — and the tools.
What we need now is alignment: clear government policy, stable regulation, and targeted investment that unlocks scale. With those ingredients, the sector can move far faster, together.
A nationwide retrofitting programme, supported by existing solutions, can deliver homes with 30–60% lower carbon profiles — unlocking enormous efficiency gains for Aotearoa.
Energy security continues to dominate headlines as our gas reserves decline. And while awareness is growing that our built environment is part of the solution — through more efficient homes, offices, and community buildings — our team is working harder than ever to amplify your voice.
Our latest research shows that scarce fuel is still flowing into heating buildings inefficiently, when it could instead support at-risk industries involved in heavy manufacturing and processing across the motu.
Amid the delays and backtracks, there has been positive movement in the residential space. The long-standing ‘schedule method’ for insulation design has finally ended. Designers must now accurately model performance before construction—an essential step toward addressing overheating in new builds, especially terraced homes and apartments.
Alongside Auckland Council Chief Executive Phil Wilson, I recently wrote to Housing and Construction Minister Chris Penk urging action on overheating and mandatory design — stage modelling. International building codes — including those in Australia and the UK — already require this. New Zealand’s Building Code does not. It’s time for that to change.
See more on overheating here
To help bridge the capability gap, we’re taking our commitment to industry upskilling on the road in 2026 with our nationwide Better by Design: Residential Energy Modelling Masterclass series. Backed by partners including EECA, these hands-on sessions will equip builders, designers, and developers with practical skills — using ECCHO, the Energy and Carbon Calculator for Homes —to make faster, better design decisions.
Find out more and register here
This week we were also privileged to celebrate an important milestone: Aotearoa’s first 6 Star Green Star building certified under the Design & As Built NZ v1.1 tool—the L’Oréal building at 9 Manu Street, Favona. Congratulations to the James Kirkpatrick Group and L’Oréal for this achievement. It was heartening to see the Prime Minister and senior ministers attend, repeatedly reference the value of Green Star in recognising both the commercial and environmental advantages of high-performance buildings.
As the year draws to a close, it’s a great time to reconnect and reflect on the impressive work happening across the sector. Tonight we’ll be in Wellington for our latest Green Speak event — thanks to Dulux — featuring insights from the BNZ on sustainable finance, a case study on Te Rua Archives from Dexus, and a discussion on how buildings can strengthen New Zealand’s resilience, followed by networking.
Like many of you, it feels like a sprint to Christmas. But while national targets may be drifting, our collective commitment remains firm.
Ngā mihi nui,
Andrew
Pictured: L’Oréal's newly opened Auckland distribution centre