Fifty architectural projects across Auckland and Northland have been deemed the very best in Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects’ Regional Awards this year.

Te Tumu – New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) and The Chief Post Office Refurbishment each won two awards, claiming recognitions in the Interior Architecture and Public Architecture categories and the Commercial Architecture and Heritage categories respectively.

Other noteworthy award-winning projects include:

• Air New Zealand – Hangar 4 by Studio Pacific Architecture is the largest single-span timber arch aircraft hangar in the Southern Hemisphere and a winner in the Commercial Architecture category.

• Yansané McMillan House by Bonnifait + Associates Architects (Atelierworkshop) transformed a suburban home to support specialised mobility needs while maintaining comfortable family living.

• Beca House – Te Paeroa o Te Kawau by Warren and Mahoney brings more than 1,800 staff into a single integrated workplace that supports wellbeing while achieving ambitious sustainability targets.

The Awards this year also featured a strong showing from Northland, with winning entries from Whangārei (Public Architecture), the Bay of Islands (Enduring Architecture) and Pātaua North (Housing).

The seven winning Heritage projects were the most in this category since at least 2008, representing the strength and renewed focus on preserving these buildings as part of Auckland’s ongoing development.

“With an exceptionally strong field of entries this year, the jury saw the transformative impact architecture can have on our lives — shaping our cities, supporting investment, and creating communities — while the quality of heritage and renovation projects reflected a growing appreciation for adapting and renewing existing buildings,” says jury convenor and architect Rachael Rush of Klein Architects.

Rush was joined on the jury by Nicholas Dalton (TOA Architects), Kelly O'Sullivan (SGA Architects) and Brian White (Edwards White Architects).

The winners received their awards at an event at the SkyCity Theatre in Auckland on 18 June.

Full list of 2026 Auckland Regional Architecture Awards winners by category:

Commercial Architecture

• 50 Albert Street by Architectus (Auckland)

• Air New Zealand – Hangar 4 by Studio Pacific Architecture (Māngere)

• Atlas Headquarters by JWA Architects (Milford)

• The Chief Post Office Refurbishment by Cheshire Architects (Auckland)

• Wynyard Quayside by Warren and Mahoney (Auckland)

Education

• St Patrick's Chapel, Dilworth School by Jasmax (Epsom)

• Toi Manawa by Patterson Associates (Ōtāhuhu)

Enduring Architecture

• Moturua Island House (1999) by Pete Bossley Architects (Bay of Islands)

Heritage

• Auckland Art Gallery Kia Whakahou, Kia Whakaora by Ignite Architects and DPA Architects in association (Auckland)*

• Diocesan School for Girls’ Chapel of Our Glorified Lord and St Barnabas’ Chapel by Salmond Reed Architects and Creative Arch in association (Epsom)

• Gardener's Rest by Megan Edwards Architects (Remuera)

• Kiwi Tavern Refurbishment by Cheshire Architects (Auckland)

• Maritime Building Refurbishment by Cheshire Architects (Auckland)

• St James Apartments by Gel Architects (Mount Eden)

• The Chief Post Office Refurbishment by Cheshire Architects and Salmond Reed Architects in association (Auckland)

Hospitality

• Bunker Bar by Studio John Irving (Te Arai)

• Ocean Restaurant by Studio John Irving (Te Arai)

• Te Arai Links Northern Clubhouse by Cheshire Architects (Te Arai)

Housing

• Chamberlain Tower by EADA Architects (Ponsonby)

• Double Courtyard House by Roberts Gray Architects (Te Arai)

• Ember by Monk Mackenzie (Te Arai)

• Jack's House by W3 and Cede in association (Titirangi)

• Matakana Inlet House by Fearon Hay Architects (Matakana)

• Open + Shut by Rogan Nash Architects (Waiheke Island)

• Roseman Whare by Sunday Architects and Burgess Treep & Knight Architects in association (Mount Roskill)*

• Sandtrap by Lloyd Hartley Architects (Omaha)

• Shadow Box by Jack McKinney Architects (Waiheke Island)

• Tahi House by Patterson Associates (Pātaua North)

• Te Whau by Herbst Architects (Waiheke Island)

• Wawata House by Julian Guthrie Architecture (Waiheke Island)

Housing – Alterations and Additions

• Dolly by Studio John Irving (Saint Marys Bay)*

• Long Play House by Megan Edwards Architects (Point Chevalier)

• Onetangi Pavilions by Lynda Simmons Architect and Sayes Jackson Architects (Waiheke Island)

• Red Threads by Pac Studio (Grey Lynn)

• Waka Huia by Pac Studio (Herne Bay)

• Yansané McMillan House by Bonnifait + Associates Architects (Atelierworkshop) (New Windsor)*

Housing – Multi-unit

• 45 Mt Eden by ASC Architects (Mount Eden)

• Community Lane by Architectus (Avondale)

• Exhibit by Monk Mackenzie (Herne Bay)

• Greenslade Court by Monk Mackenzie (Northcote)

• Karori by +MAP Architects (Ōrākei)

• Rongo Te Ata by Ashton Mitchell (Pukekohe)

Interior Architecture

• Beca House – Te Paeroa o Te Kawau by Warren and Mahoney (Auckland)

• Precinct Flex – Pipiri Lane by Warren and Mahoney (Auckland)

• Te Tumu – New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) by Warren and Mahoney, Moller Architects and Woods Bagot in association (Auckland)

• TRA by Jose Gutierrez (Auckland)

Public Architecture

• Rose Street Bus Hub by Isthmus (Whangārei)

• Te Tumu – New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) by Warren and Mahoney, Moller Architects and Woods Bagot in association (Auckland)

Small Project Architecture

• Garden Studio by Henri Sayes (Point Chevalier)

• St Luke’s Hospitality Centre by Andrew Barrie Lab (Mount Albert)

Note: * denotes Resene Colour Award winner.