Regional Winners Announced For 2025 Master Builders House Of The Year For The Southern Region

A breath-taking Queenstown home constructed by Velvin Building has been awarded the Supreme House of the Year over $1 million at the 2025 Southern Master Builders House of the Year Awards. The team also took out four additional awards including, Resene New Home $2 million - $4 million category, Mitre 10 Trade Craftsmanship Award, APL Environmental and Sustainable Excellence Award and a Gold Award.

The home built by Velvin Building was described by the judges as a “unconventional” and “the result of deep collaboration and a shared creative vision”. The judges went on to say, “Velvin Building embraced a dynamic, evolving process meeting complex design challenges with confidence and skill”. The result is an expertly crafted home that celebrates individuality and stands as a true Supreme winner.

RDR Builders walked away with the Supreme House of Year under $1 million, Altus Window Systems New Home $750,000 - $1 million category and a Gold Award for a home in Invercargill. The judges called this home “a confident blend of smart design and skilled craftsmanship. Its striking twin-wing layout, refined material palette, and polished detailing create a space that is both functional and balanced”.

The Southern Region Supreme Renovation of the Year Award was won by Howe Construction for a beautiful penthouse in Queenstown. The builder also won the Renovation Over $2 million category and a Gold Award for the same build. The judges remarked that every inch of the penthouse spoke to quality. “From managing the logistical challenges that came with difficult site access to the variety of building materials used, Howe Construction approached the build with care, confidence, and extraordinary craftsmanship.”

The Master Builders House of the Year competition showcases the best in residential building across New Zealand, celebrating excellence in design, craftsmanship, and construction. Chief Executive Officer of Master Builders Ankit Sharma remarked, “House of the Year continues to showcase the skill and innovation of our Master Builders members. These homes represent the highest standards of craftsmanship our country has to offer – whether it’s a bespoke renovation, a volume-built home, or a high-end new build.

“This year’s entries reflect the full breadth of our membership talent, with outstanding work across a range of price points and project types. From precision detailing to sustainable materials and smart design, our members are leading the way in building quality homes that meet the needs of New Zealanders today and into the future.”

The House of the Year awards are supported by Altus Window Systems, Bunnings Trade, GIB, Master Build 10-Year Guarantee, Mitre 10 Trade, Plumbing World, Resene, and APL Window Solutions.

About Master Builders:

Master Builders have been building the foundations of this country, its homes, and workplaces for over 100 years. We are the voice of the building and construction industry. We represent quality-built environments where we live, work and play.

We stand for quality, and we back our Master Builders to ensure we deliver value to building owners. We provide them with the support and services they need to build better building businesses, so they can build a better New Zealand.

We work with Government and the sector to develop and uphold the highest standards. We are part of every conversation about the built environment – focused on better homes, better workplaces, and ultimately better lives for all New Zealanders.

Through collaborative working, high craft standards and ethical behaviour, New Zealand can have peace of mind with a Master Builder backed by Master Builders. It means a better-built New Zealand.

About the competition:

The Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards celebrate the very best in residential building across New Zealand. Judged by a team of experts who personally visit each home, the competition is held in two stages.

The first is at regional level, with nearly 279 homes taking part in 2025. Properties are awarded a range of quality marks, and Regional Supreme Winners for both new builds and renovations are announced at events nationwide from July.

From these, 100 homes will be selected for Top 100 status and proceed to a second round of national judging. In November, the National House of the Year Awards take place, where Category and Supreme winners are revealed.

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