Calley Homes, Urbo Homes and Framed Builders are Bay of Plenty winning builders in this year's top New Zealand build and renovations awards.

Celebrating building excellence in New Zealand since 1991, the Registered Master Builders House of the Year celebrates the best homes, renovations and builders across New Zealand.

In a first for the competition, the National Supreme House of the Year Award has been split into two, recognising homes under and over $1 million. The new award has been introduced to better reflect the market and celebrate top builders across different price brackets.

The industry celebrated the House of the Year National Awards in-person for the first time in two years, with nearly 300 entries this year across eight regions.

Calley Homes is the winner of the National Resene New Home $2 million - $4 million category, for a home in Welcome Bay, Tauranga.

"This outstanding home is perched on the ridge of a hill and has been designed to take advantage of the stunning Tauranga views. It is located at the end of a long winding rural road, which slowly reveals the home," says the judges.

A large pivot oak door welcomes visitors into the lobby which features a burnished polished concrete floor.

"This attention to detail is followed throughout the interior joinery, with another feature pivot door revealing the main living wing, which is terraced down to a sunken lounge."

Calley Homes, winner of the National Resene New Home $2 million - $4 million category, for a home in Welcome Bay. Photo: Supplied.

Precast concrete panels act as the core of the living wing; they both anchor the home structurally as well as provide an architectural feature within the space.

"The attention to detail is evident wherever you look in this house. It has resulted in a beautiful and functional family home," says the judges.

Framed Builders is the winner of the National Pink Batts Craftsmanship Award, for a home in Papamoa.

Framed Builders is the winner of the National Pink Batts Craftsmanship Award, for a home in Papamoa. Photo: Supplied.

This beachside angular home has been built on a challenging and narrow site, despite this, it is a masterpiece that showcases leading architectural design, all crafted to perfection by the builder, say the judges.

Framed Builders is the winner of the National Pink Batts Craftsmanship Award, for a home in Papamoa. Photo: Supplied

An outstanding aspect of the home is the exterior cladding which combines a feature wall of 'off the boards” and insitu concrete, which is also exposed internally.

Another feature are the boards on the deck that line perfectly through into the interior passage and then up the wall to the matching sliding doors. There are multiple interior timber walls and ceilings which have been fitted skilfully to the sloping ceiling.

"This is an intriguing home, and the result is nothing short of impressive," say the judges.

Framed Builders is the winner of the National Pink Batts Craftsmanship Award, for a home in Papamoa. Photo: Supplied.

Urbo Homes is the winner of the National Renovation up to $750,000 category and the National Special Award, for a home in Lake Rotoiti.

This historic, 100-year-old fishing cottage, or "shack" as the family knew it, is located on the shores of Lake Rotoiti.

It has been in the family since the day it was built, and has been passed on from generation to generation.

Urbo Homes is the winner of the National Renovation up to $750,000 category and the National Special Award, for a home in Lake Rotoiti. Photo: Supplied.

It has been sympathetically renovated in a manner that preserves the original character while extended to accommodate the family for future generations. All the facilities have been updated to a very high standard including modernised insulation, new exterior cladding, and an extension to accommodate a new kitchen and master bedroom.

"Special details have been well thought out and incorporated, such as the panelled master bedroom with bespoke barn doors and a tiled bathroom and laundry," says the judges.

"The builder has successfully retained the original character of the old cottage whilst bringing it into the 21st century."

Urbo Homes is the winner of the National Renovation up to $750,000 category and the National Special Award, for a home in Lake Rotoiti. Photo: Supplied.

The fisherman's cottage has also won the National Special Award.

Urbo Homes was given the brief to preserve the history and character of the 'shack”, retain and reuse as much of the existing materials as possible, and make the house into a comfortable and warm cottage. This included retaining the original concrete filled kerosene tin cans as piles, the original rimu boards as interior linings, and a number of drawings found on the walls beside the bunks, which the present owner remembers doing.

Urbo Homes is the winner of the National Renovation up to $750,000 category and the National Special Award, for a home in Lake Rotoiti. Photo: Supplied.

"There was great cooperation between the family and the builder," say the judges. "Everyone involved should be proud of the way they were able to maintain so much of the original character.

"This home is a small piece of paradise on the shores of Lake Rotoiti that has now been preserved for generations to come. A very worthy recipient of this Special Award."

National Supreme House of the Year Over $1 Million

Metzger Builders Ltd (MBL) took home the National Supreme House of the Year Over $1 Million for its home in Christchurch, along with the National New Home Over $4 million category.

Metzger Builders Ltd (MBL), winner of the National Supreme House of the Year Over $1 million and the National New Home over $4 million category, for a home in Fendalton, Christchurch. Photo: Supplied.

The judges were in awe of how the project team delivered a home with the scale of a commercial build, that retained the liveability of its much smaller peers.

"It has striking marble, bluestone, herringbone timber and solid brass features sprinkled throughout its graceful living spaces. The entrance to the property is also particularly notable, with automatic gates and a long-landscaped driveway that crosses a stream."

National Supreme House of the Year Under $1 Million

Buildcraft won the National Supreme House of the Year Under $1 Million for its home in Wanaka as well as the New Home $500,000 - $750,000 category.

Buildcraft, winner of the National Supreme House of the Year under $1 million and the National New Home $500,000 - $750,000 category, for a home in Wanaka. Photo: Supplied.

"The judges were blown away by how the project team were able to deliver this exceptionally high-quality, architecturally designed holiday home."

The western red cedar vertical cladding, sheltered private deck, and easy indoor-outdoor flow were real standouts. Built for two families, the compact home has a large amount of amenities and living space for its size.

National Supreme Renovation of the Year

Roger Gilchrist Building Services took home three awards for its home in Oamaru including the National Supreme Renovation of the Year, National Kitchen Excellence Award, and National Renovation Over $1.5 million category.

Roger Gilchrist Building Services, winner of the National Supreme Renovation of the Year, the Renovation over $1.5 million category, and the National Kitchen Excellence Award, for a home in, Oamaru. Photo: Supplied.

The judges were impressed by how the project team had turned this homestead from the 1800s into a luxurious, modern family home. Its award-winning marble and oak kitchen is elegant and well positioned as the heart of the home.

Other awards

An additional 12 category awards, a craftsmanship, a special, a platinum and three other lifestyle awards were announced at the National House of the Year Awards at the Cordis Hotel in Auckland.

It was a special evening for Urban Homes, who was awarded the prestigious Platinum Award. The Platinum Award is bestowed on builders who have achieved outstanding building excellence, winning five or more National Category titles, two of which can be lifestyle awards.

Registered Master Builders Chief Executive David Kelly says the organisation is proud to have been showcasing the best of New Zealand residential buildings over the last 32 years.

'Master Builders make up some of the best builders in the country and this competition is an opportunity to recognise their efforts to build quality homes in New Zealand. Each year we reach a new level with innovative designs and excellent craftsmanship.

'With over 550,000 people employed in the sector, we remain a major driver of the country's GDP, contributing over $20 billion to the economy each year. The residential building sector comprises over 60 percent of that total and employs 80 percent of our apprentices.

'Despite no shortage of challenges, we have made progress as a sector during the past twelve months. While the market is definitely softening, as a sector we feel better prepared for the changing cycle that previous ones.

'We are working with the Government to support policy settings focused on smoothing the boom-bust cycles that have beset the sector over the past 30 years. That remains key to maintaining the long-term stability and wellbeing of the industry,” says Kelly.

The Awards are made possible through the support of Altus Window Systems, Bunnings Trade, CARTERS, GIB, Master Build 10-Year Guarantee, Pink Batts, Plumbing World, Resene and APL Window Solutions.