Major sustainability award win for Ngā Mokopuna at Property Industry Awards 2025
It was a fantastic evening at the Property Council Property Industry Awards 2025, with several TBIG projects acknowledged across multiple categories.
Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s Ngā Mokopuna received the Best In Category - Sustainability award at the 2025 Property Council New Zealand (PCNZ) Property Industry Awards, held on 13 June at Spark Arena.
Delivered in collaboration with TBIG, the whare was recognised at Aotearoa New Zealand’s premier property awards for setting new benchmarks in sustainable design, community impact, and its pursuit of Living Building Challenge™ certification.
“There was no blueprint for this one. We’re humbled to have been trusted with such a significant project for the University, and proud to help set new sustainability benchmarks for the industry. I’m so proud of our team. You don’t get many chances in your career to be part of something this meaningful”, says Director of Operations Byron Roff.
Chief judge Andy Evans said that Ngā Mokopuna embraces the past, while still looking to the future.
“You don’t just walk into Ngā Mokopuna, you walk the path of those before you. It breathes with the heartbeat of those who came before, while opening its arms to those yet to arrive. It’s a rare thing: a building that doesn’t speak for the land, but with it.”
The Property Industry Awards recognise projects that not only deliver outstanding returns and enduring value, but also uplift the communities they shape.
See the full list of TBIG winners below:
Nga Mokopuna
Sustainable Building Property Award - Best in Category
Education Property Award - Excellence
Ngā Mokopuna is one of Aotearoa’s most ambitious sustainable buildings - an exemplar of regenerative design and mātauranga Māori, developed as part of Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s marae redevelopment. Grounded in the values of manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga, the project creates a lasting legacy for future generations.
Designed to achieve full Living Building Challenge™ certification - an international standard met by fewer than 35 buildings globally - Ngā Mokopuna generates 105% of its own energy, treats all its wastewater on site, and saves over 300,000 litres of potable water each year. With 94% of construction waste diverted from landfill, it sets a new benchmark for low-carbon, community-centred development in Aotearoa.
“Ngā Mokopuna is in partnership with the land, and our whakapapa. Every beam, every panel, every drop of water in this space is part of a choreography that gives more than it takes. It’s proof that architecture can be humble and alive,” says chief Judge Andy Evans. “Ngā Mokopuna shows us that true sustainability is a conversation between people and place. It doesn’t isolate, it brings together.”
MANUKURA
Education Award - Merit
MANUKURA’s new campus is a vibrant hub for learning, sport, and culture. Designed to support both academic and athletic excellence within a Māori context, the sustainable, state-of-the-art facility serves students and the wider community while embedding cultural identity throughout.
“A year after its opening, I visited MANUKURA and was delighted to see students and staff so enthusiastic about their new kura. It was wonderful to see the project come to life as intended,” says Project Director | Operations Manager Greater Wellington Andrew McCalman.
Tamatea Intermediate school
Education Property Award - Merit
The new development at Tamatea Intermediate School in Napier delivered 14 brand new teaching spaces, an administration block, performing arts centre, special needs unit, and upgraded car parking facilities - creating innovative, inclusive learning environments for both the school and the wider community.
Our team
Tim Schaeffers
Sinea Alexander
Hawaiki Papa Kāinga
Homes and Communities Community and Affordable Housing Property Award - Excellence
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa delivered 24 new warm, safe, and healthy homes for whānau on their papa kāinga at Kupe Ridge. The development, located at the corner of Hawaiki and Kupe Streets, links two significant taonga for the hapū — Takaparawhau and Pourewa — and reflects Whai Rawa’s commitment to community wellbeing and intergenerational outcomes.
The homes were designed to accommodate a range of whānau sizes and needs, with a mix of 1, 2, and 4-bedroom units built to a Homestar 6 equivalent standard. Sustainability features include solar energy, water re-use systems, and a communal māra kai. Whai Rawa also prioritised broader social outcomes, seeking to engage whānau businesses and provide employment and learning opportunities for rangatahi throughout the build.
Our team
Milly McArthur
Oliver Gatehouse
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