Canterbury builders have embraced the Registered Master Builders PlaceMakers 2012 House of the Year by submitting the most entries for a single region in the competition.
Residential entry numbers in Canterbury are up by 60%, and RMBF chief executive Warwick Quinn says the numbers have exceeded expectations given the current climate in the industry.
“Builders in Canterbury have had a tough couple of years, but this increase in entries signifies a positive step forward for the city’s rebuild,” he says.
“It shows us that Registered Master Builders know that showcasing the homes they’re building is a vital component of their marketing, and benchmarking themselves against their peers is a great way to gain recognition.”
Judging is underway in Canterbury, with three panels assessing the new homes and renovations, sustainable entries, show homes and builders’ own homes, looking to find the top houses built by the best builders the country has to offer.
Judges have also begun assessing homes in South Canterbury and Ashburton. These two regions have this year joined forces, forming the South and Mid-Canterbury region.
Travelling from the bottom of the South Island to the top of the North, the judges will scrutinise more than 340 homes in 12 regions across New Zealand between April and July.
John Beveridge, chief executive of principal sponsor PlaceMakers, is pleased to see the increase in entry numbers.
“It’s a real positive to see such an increase in entries in the residential market for this year’s competition, and we’re delighted to see that engagement from New Zealand’s residential building industry,” Mr Beveridge says.
“If entries are an indicator of increased activity in this sector, and the growing importance of quality building practices, then we couldn’t be more delighted.”
This year, for the first time since 2006, the House of the Year competition will run separately to the RMB Commercial Project Awards.
RMBF chief executive Warwick Quinn is enthusiastic about the change, and believes the split of the competition will allow members to more effectively showcase their skills in their respective areas of expertise.
Judging will conclude in early July, before the first regional event in the Southern region on July 7.
The Awards are made possible through the support of principal sponsor PlaceMakers, and supporting sponsors James Hardie, Gib Living Solutions®, Nulook, Department of Building and Housing, Future-Proof Building and Master Build Services Ltd.
