The judges said the image selected as the Supreme winner, taken by Andrew Barrett, highlighted a great sense of community and an affordable housing vibe. “It really captures the essence of housing as central to wellbeing and a home, not just a house.” 

Adrienne Miller, CEO of UDINZ and the judging panel facilitator, says the competition was established to help capture great images of urban development here in Aotearoa New Zealand – ones that tell our unique stories.

UDINZ plans to make this an annual competition. Members of the public and the industry are encouraged to “capture those moments when they see good urban development in action, and the effect it has on our communities” for next year’s competition. Miller says this year’s categories will be refined but the overall objective of the competition will remain the same.

Category winners

• Supreme Award: Andrew Barrett of Kāinga Maha, The Residences at Karamū, Christchurch
• Urban Regeneration: Siān Singh, Te Komititanga, Auckland
• Social & Community Housing: Brian Berg (on behalf of Verney Ryan), Bader Ventura Passivhaus, Māngere, Auckland
• Masterplanned Community Building: Andrew Barrett, commissioned by Kāinga Maha, Christchurch
• Density Done Well: Andrew Barrett, Kāinga Maha, The Residences at Karamū, Christchurch
• Climate Change: Jonathan Hartland, Disconnected Communities, Golden Bay, Nelson
• Pacific’s Triple Star: Francesca Collins, Kāinga Ora, Fraser Avenue, Northcote, Auckland
• Yes, I took this on my smartphone: Natasha Pretorius, Auckland Waterfront, Tāmaki Makaurau

Judging panel

• Chris Barton, editor of Architecture NZ
• Lisa Hinton, director of Context Architects (and immediate past chair of UDINZ)
• Pamela Bell, CEO at NZIOB
• George Weeks, chartered planner and urban designer, Kāinga Ora
• Panel facilitator: Adrienne Miller, UDINZ CEO